After a two-year pause, the Young Texas Artists Music Competition is back this weekend continuing its nearly 40-year legacy in Conroe.
Once again the music competition will feature classical artists ages 18-30 or 20-32 for the voice competition who are Texas residents or affiliated with a Texas music school. Preliminary rounds begin on Thursday and continue Friday and Saturday morning.
Then Saturday evening brings the Bach, Beethoven and BBQ gala in front of the Crighton Theatre, the Finalists Concert in the Crighton Theatre and the YTA Afterparty.
New this year are art, poetry and dance exhibitions. A fine art show is at 1 p.m. Friday at 202 Main in downtown Conroe. A contemporary dance showcase is set for 2 p.m. Friday at 202 Main. On Sunday, The Red Brick Tavern in downtown hosts a poetry showcase at 3:30 p.m.
“After nearly every concert and awards program, someone approaches me in awe of the inspiring talent they just saw and heard,” said Susie Moore Pokorski, President/CEO of Young Texas Artists (YTA), which presents the competition. “And I understand — if you’re new to our audience, it’s difficult to anticipate the level of excellence our competition draws. It’s that talent, and the passion of our young competing artists, that drives our ongoing commitment to being a source of encouragement, support and growth opportunities.”
Young Texas Artists, founded in 1983 in Conroe, is a one-of-a-kind nonprofit presenter of music competitions and events, career development programs and cultural enrichment outreach.
Named an official music competition of the state of Texas, it is one of the few competitions in the nation with four performance divisions including voice, piano, strings and winds, brass, percussion, harp and guitar.
Contestants this year are vying for a share of $40,000 in monetary prizes — double the amount offered at the last competition in 2019 — along with career mentoring and performance opportunities.
The public is invited to the preliminary rounds of its competition and attendance is free. The lineup includes Strings division preliminaries at 9 a.m. Thursday; Winds, Brass, Percussion, Harp and Guitar at 9 a.m. Friday; Voice at 2:30 p.m. Friday and Piano at 9 a.m. Saturday. These rounds will all take place at the Crighton Theatre.
During the finalists’ concert which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the top two finalists from each category will perform, and gold and silver medals will be awarded for each division. YTA will present the Grand Prize and Audience Choice Award as well.
Competition judges include — Miyoko Lotto, a pianist who is on the faculty at New York University, the Manhattan School of Music and the Perlman Music Program; Brian Luce, a flute player who is a Professor of Flute at The University of Arizona and a Yamaha Performing Artist; Bradley Mansell, a cellist, is a member of the Nashville Symphony and an award-winning educator; Roger Pines, a familiar voice on the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts’ “Opera Quiz” since the 2005-06 season, recently completed his 26-year tenure at Lyric Opera of Chicago and Maria Schleuning, violinist, has been a member of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra since 1994 and has been a featured soloist with it and numerous other U.S. orchestras.
The Bach, Beethoven & Barbecue gala begins at 5 p.m. Saturday and features a Texas barbecue dinner, dancing to Texas swing music and a live auction. The action takes place in the YTA’s Grand Pavilion in front of the Crighton Theatre.
Then St. John Flynn, former Arts and Culture Director for Houston Public Media, will serve as master of ceremonies at the Finalists’ Concert & Awards program in the Crighton Theatre. Flynn is a writer, speaker and arts and culture consultant, and he recently served as producer and host of YTA’s four-part video series, “YTA Insights — A Journey Into the World of Classical Music,” which is still available on YTA’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/YoungTexasArtists/videos and the YTA YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/3KzFdhF.
Baritone Michael Mayes, YTA’s 2002 Gold Medal Winner in Voice and an internationally acclaimed opera singer, will be the guest of honor at the Finalists’ Concert & Awards and the Bach, Beethoven & Barbecue gala.
Mayes, who was raised in Cut and Shoot, has performed leading roles with major companies, stunning audiences across the United States and Europe. During the YTA awards program, Mayes will sing and share insights from his career.
“Hearing Michael, whether he is describing the power of opera or performing an aria, is an electric experience,” Pokorski said. “We know audience members will be mesmerized by his story and his magnetic stage presence.”
Following the announcement of the winners, at around 9:45 p.m., the festivities continue with the YTA Afterparty, sponsored by the Conroe Service League. The night will feature another performance by Mayes, along with more live Texas music, desserts and champagne toasts to the competition winners.
Bach, Beethoven & Barbecue reservations include all of the weekends’ programming. Events can be attended separately as well, including the Finalists’ Concert & Awards. Concert admission is $30 for adults and $16 for students.
Tickets are available at https://www.ytamc.com/bach-beethoven-barbecue.
Visit www.ytamc.com for more information on the Young Texas Artists Music Competition.
shernandez@hcnonline.com