PASADENA, CA – Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts (PSHA) awarded $20,000 in prizes to eight outstanding young musicians at its 38th Annual Instrumental Competition, held on March 30, 2025, at Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music. The competition featured high school finalists aged 17 and 18 from communities across Los Angeles County, including San Marino, Diamond Bar, La Crescenta, and Castaic.
The Grand Prize for exceptional talent and musicianship was awarded to 18-year-old flutist Kimberly Tsou, who studies at the Colburn School and serves as the principal flutist in multiple orchestras. Her passion for the flute began at age 9 after seeing a performance of Peter and the Wolf. The prize will help her travel to auditions and competitions as she pursues her dream of becoming a professional flutist.
Celebrating Talent and Dedication in Local Youth
“This is a tremendous opportunity for young musicians to perform before a panel of professionals and gain valuable feedback,” said Matt McIntyre, PSHA President. “We’re proud to support and encourage local high school students through this experience.”
The seven-member judging panel, composed of Los Angeles Philharmonic musicians, was led by Cathy Karoly, who has served in the Philharmonic for nearly three decades. Judges praised the performers for their discipline, emotional expression, and dedication to their craft.
Instrumental Competition Chair Jennifer Crastz noted how well-rounded the students were, often balancing intense academic loads, musical commitments, and community service. “It’s inspiring to witness such passion and perseverance,” she said.
Top Winners by Category
- Brass:
First Prize – Jasper Kugler, 17, tuba (Crescenta Valley High School). Kugler, a second-time finalist, plays multiple brass instruments, founded a brass quartet, and dreams of performing in a major orchestra and on film soundtracks. - Woodwinds:
First Prize – Enhan Li, 18, flute. A Colburn School student originally from China, Li has performed in orchestras nationwide and aspires to be a soloist.
Second Prize – Damian Silvera, 17, clarinet (Castaic High School). Silvera is a drum major, swim athlete, and multilingual honor band member planning to study music at UCLA. - Strings:
First Prize – Sophia Leung, 18, violin (Colburn School). Leung has performed widely and trained at the Heifetz Institute.
Second Prize – Yejoon Kwon, 18, violin. Kwon, originally from South Korea, was recently featured on NPR’s From the Top and aims to form a string quartet.
Honorable Mentions Recognize Emerging Talent
- Angela Wang, 17, flute (Diamond Bar High School), credited her grandfather for sparking her interest in the instrument. A member of numerous youth ensembles, she also enjoys classical literature and science.
- Antonio Shyu, 17, cello (San Marino), was inspired by a cello performance and calls the instrument his “voice.” Shyu is a music tutor and co-founder of Love Through Music, a nonprofit that brings music to underserved communities.
Supporting Music Education Through Design
Since its inception in 1985, the Instrumental Competition has awarded more than $700,000 in scholarships to young musicians. This year’s prize money was generously underwritten by Kathryn and Charles Hofgaarden. Funding is made possible through proceeds from the annual Pasadena Showcase House of Design, which marked its 60th anniversary this year.
Additional PSHA programs include the Youth Concert, Music Mobile, and Gifts and Grants, all aimed at enriching arts education for young people across Southern California.
For more information on upcoming programs or to support the organization’s efforts, visit pasadenashowcase.org.
