El Paso, Texas–The El Paso Society for Musicians of the Future (EPSMF) announces seven finalists for the 2024 Competition for Young Musicians. This competition calls to exceptionally talented students between the ages of eight and nineteen to compete for cash awards with classical music repertoire. The competition has grown to cross borders with local, national, and international applications. The top award is $1800 and the opportunity to perform in EPSMF’s events followed by second and third place awards of $700 and $500. All of the finalists in this competition will be publicly recognized for their achievements.
Competition performances will be live and recorded on Sunday, May 12, 2024, at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church (5005 Love Road, El Paso, TX 79922) at 3PM.
The 2024 Competition Finalists are:
Sophia Cao - piano
Sophia Cao is the sixth grade and attends a public school. She has studied piano for six years and currently studies piano with Anna Habicht. She was the first prize winner in the Borderland Chopin Festival 2023 for Category A, fifth grade and under.
Jane Elizabeth Caranto- piano
Jane Elizabeth Caranto is thirteen and attends the St. Philomena Homeschool Academy. She has studied piano for five years and currently studies with Anna Habicht. She has performed in several Solo and Sonatina festivals as well as Baroque Festivals.
Judy Caranto - piano
Judy Caranto is sixteen and attends the St. Philomena Homeschool Academy. She has studied piano for eight years and currently studies piano with Anna Habicht. She has performed in several solo and sonatina festivals and baroque competitions and placed third in the Borderland Chopin Festival 2023. Judy was a finalist in the EPSMF 2021 Competition for Young Musicians and placed third in the 2022 and 2023 EPSMF Competitions.
Catherine (Sunny) Ellsworth - cello
Sunny Ellsworth is seventeen and is homeschooled. She has studied the cello for twelve years and currently studies with Hyerim Mapp. She has attended the University of North Texas Summer Strings Institute, Louisiana State University Collaborative Piano Institute, the University of Kansas Orchestra Camp, and Interlochen Cello Intensive. She was the second place winner in EPSMF 2023 Competition for Young Musicians and currently plays with the local youth orchestras, El Paso Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Las Cruces Youth Orchestra.
Anna Dang - piano
Anna Dang is thirteen and attends Hornedo Middle School. She studied the piano for eight years and currently studies Anna Habicht. She is a member of the Hornedo Orchestra and the Hornedo Jazz Band. She has also participated in the Midwest 2023 International Band/Orchestra Clinic and in Texas Music Educators Association events.
Isabella Tosado-Díaz - piano
Isabella Tosado-Díaz is seventeen and is homeschooled. She has been playing piano for six years and currently studies with Anna Habicht. She participated in the Borderland Chopin Festival 2023 and has participated in five consecutive years in local Baroque and Solo and Sonatina Festivals.
Bradley Yoshawirja - piano
Bradley Yoshawirja is ten and attends Polk Elementary School. He has been playing piano for five years and currently studies with Anna Habicht. He participated in the Borderland Chopin Festival 2023 and has participated in local Solo and Sonatina Festivals.
The 2024 INSTRUMENTS FOR YOUNG LIVES AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT
This year’s instrument recipients are:
Catherine (Sunny) Ellsworth - cello
Sunny Ellsworth is seventeen and is homeschooled. She has studied the cello for twelve years and currently studies with Hyerim Mapp. She has attended the University of North Texas Summer Strings Institute, Louisiana State University Collaborative Piano Institute, the University of Kansas Orchestra Camp, and Interlochen Cello Intensive. She was the second place winner in EPSMF 2023 Competition for Young Musicians and currently plays with the local youth orchestras, El Paso Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Las Cruces Youth Orchestra. Sunny states, “I hope to be doing music for the rest of my life…”
Teresa de la Peña-Franceschi - violin
Teresa dela Peña-Franceschi is seventeen and a student at El Paso High School. She has been playing the violin for 9 years and currently studies with Eric Rangel. She is first violin in her state qualified quintet and first violin in the El Paso High School Orchestra. According to Teresa, “I find the ways music makes people feel so magical…I want the ability to translate what I feel and what others fell into music allowing others to experience feelings that only fill them more.”
Applications for the 2024-2025 Competition for Young Musicians and Instruments for Young Lives Program will be available in September 2024.