Young Artist Competition
Supported by the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association Endowment Fund
Entry Details and Entry Form
Read about past winners
The Lakeshore Wind Ensemble Association's Young Artist Competition celebrates its thirtieth year in 2024-2025. Music Professor Emeritus Michael J. Arendt, established the competition as part of his profound dedication to encourage and recognize talented young musicians. The Lakeshore Wind Ensemble musicians have enjoyed getting acquainted with the many talented young musicians who have entered the competition over the course of the last twenty-seven years.
The many high school and college students who have been part of the competition have demonstrated their dedication to the mastery of their instruments and have an obvious deep devotion and heartfelt passion for making beautiful music. In a time of discouraging budget cuts and program reductions in so many fine arts areas, it is tremendously encouraging to see and hear the contestants each year as they audition. The members of the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble are very welcoming to and supportive of the winners during rehearsals, helping to make the students feel at ease for their concert performance. And our audiences have always been appreciative and amazed at the talent demonstrated by the winners of each year’s competition.
Many of our past competition winners have continued with post-graduate degrees in music and have established careers in teaching and/or performance. And for others, while not pursuing music as a career choice, music remains an avocation and will always be an important part of their lives. All of us in the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble feel honored to have been part of their musical experiences.
Ruthann Ross, LWEA Administrator, rossr@uwgb.edu, 920-683-4733