Winners 1998 - 2018
DSO Annual Young Artist Competition
The Delta Symphony Orchestra is proud to be a part of their past on the way to their future.
Find out what past winners are doing now. Young musicians from New York, Connecticut, Georgia, California, Florida, and more, traveled to Jonesboro to compete for prize money and awards. The Grand Prize Winners performed with the DSO, and included their wins and experiences to their resumes. Â
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1998 Winner
Joanna Cotten
Soprano, accepted into Julliard. Professional Singer
1998 Winner
Andrew Skoog
Tenor, Associate Professor of Voice
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
2014 Division Winner
Genevieve Kimbrough
Soprano
2017Â Grand Prize Winner
Morgan Short
Harpist
2016 Grand Prize Winner
Sarah Stembel
Lyric Soprano
2016 Grand Prize Winner
Haeun Kim
Violinist
2017Â Grand Prize Winner
Susan Yang
Pianist
2018Â Grand Prize Winner
Tracy Wong
Pianist
2018Â Grand Prize Winner
Thomas Nguyen
Saxophone
2016 Neale King Bartee Award
Sarah Beth Overcash
Violinist
2015 Division Winner
Lindsay Cunningham
Soprano, Opera
1993 Winner
Tony Kitai
Cellist, accepted at Eastman and now performs in the Houston Symphony. Acting Associate Principal Cellist, Memphis Symphony and the Iris Chamber Orchestra.
1995 Grand Prize Winner
Nikola Takov
Violinist, Portland Symphony, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Indian Hill Symphony.
1992 Winner
Ying Li
Flute
1988 Winner
Jon Hynes
Pianist, accepted at the Paris Conservatory. Visiting Professor of Music
University of Central MissouriÂ
Aroussiak Baltaian
Faculty, Music Department
University of Southern California
1991 Winning Trombonist
David Herring
2013 Grand Prize Winner
Cori Beasley
Soprano
2010 & 2012 Grand Prize Winner
William Overcash
Violinist, accepted into Oberlin College & Conservatory.
2009 & 2010Â Neale King Bartee Award Winner
Garrett Overcash
Violinist, Film Composer/Arranger, and Music Producer
Hevanti Productions, LLC
2008 Grand Prize Winner
Grant Harbison
Trumpet, Band Director, Jonesboro High School
2013 Neale King Bartee Award
Lauren Braden
Mezzo Soprano, Canadian Opera Company's Studio Ensemble
2010 Grand Prize Winner
Paul Vest
Cellist
2002 Grand Prize Winner
SSG J. Martin Bishop
Trumpet, The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" Ceremonial BandÂ
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2012 winner Renee Smith sings professionally in Texas.
2004 winner Linnaea Brophy was accepted into the New England Conservatory.
2000 winner Jerry Hou conducts orchestras in Europe.​
1996 winner Philip Ross is a professional oboist with the St.Louis Symphony.
1995 winner Tyrone Block is finishing his doctorate at the University of North Texas.
1995 winner Amanda Bone plays professionally in Europe.​
1993 winner Rossitza Jekova is a violin teacher at the University of Arkansas.
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2018
Grand Prize Winners
Tracy Wong/PIANIST, Cincinnati, OH
Thomas Nguyen/SAXOPHONIST, Conway AR
___________
2017
Grand Prize Winners
Megan Short/HARP, Boonesville, VA
Susan Yang/PIANO, Ann Arbor, Michigan
___________
2016
Grand Prize Winners
Haeun Kim/VIOLIN, Birmingham, Â AL
Sarah Stembel/LYRIC SOPRANO, New Orleans, LA
Neale King Bartee Award Winner
Sarah Beth Cash, VIOLIN, Brinkley, AR
Division Winners
Antonia Makridakis, FLUTE, Jonesboro, AR
Mi Ou Lee/PIANO, Lawrence, KS
___________
2015
Grand Prize Winners
Dan Cao/PIANO, Chicago, IL,Â
Emma Hoeft/CELLO, Kansas City, MO
Neale King Bartee Award Winner
Charlotte Jeong/FLUTE, Jonesboro, AR
Division Winners
Lizzy Hamilton/FLUTE, Athens, OH
Lindsay Cunningham/SOPRANO, Nashville, TN
___________
2014
Grand Prize Winners
Nathan Cottrell/CELLO, Memphis, TN
Michael Barnes/MARIMBA, Lawton, OK
Neale King Bartee Award Winner
Charlotte Jeong/FLUTE, Jonesboro, AR
Division Winners
Connor and Elizabeth Dan/PIANO, Cordova, TN
Genevieve Kimbrough/SOPRANO, Little Rock, AR
 ___________
2013
Grand Prize Winners
Cori Beasley/SOPRANO, Arkansas State University
Yuta Nishimura/PIANO, Arkansas State University
Neale King Bartee Award Winner
Lauren Braden/MEZZO SOPRANO, Jonesboro, Ar
Division Winners
Lydia Wilkens-Reed/CELLO, Memphis, TN
Cody Hutchinson/EUPHONIUM, Jonesboro, AR
Charlotte Jeong/FLUTE, (Valley View)Â Jonesboro, AR
Junior Prize Winner
Greta Hacker/PIANO, Jonesboro, AR
___________
2012
Grand Prize Winners
William Overcash/VIOLIN, Oberlin, OH
Renee Smith/SOPRANO, Jonesboro, AR
Division Winners
Connor and Elizabeth Dan/PIANO, Cordova, TN
Luci Disano/CLARINET, Greedy, CO
Zachary McCoy/VIBRAPHONE, Humboldt, TN
___________
2011
Grand Prize Winners
Caroline Kim/VIOLIN, Germantown, TN
Luca Pruitt/XYLOPHONE, Huntsville, AL
Neale King Bartee Award Winner
Josh Carter/PIANO, Jonesboro, AR
Division Winners
Katie Liesner/SOPRANO, Memphis, Tn
Jamie Keys/CLARINET, Coralville, IA
Barrett Kelley/PIANO, Walnut Ridge, AR
Junior Prize Winner
Duane Chen/PIANO, Little Rock, AR
Henry Huang/PIANO, Little Rock, AR
___________
2010
Grand Prize Winners
Paul Vest/CELLO, Memphis, TN
Mi Ra Lee/PIANO, Korea St./Joe, MO
Neale King Bartee Award Winner
William Overcash/VIOLIN, Brinkley
Division Winners
Maddie Bowden/VOICE, Jonesboro, AR
Junior Prize Winner
Hannah Todd/VIOLIN, Mountain Home, AR
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2009
Grand Prize Winners
Anna Kang/VIOLIN, Memphis, TN
Chaz Allen/PIANO, Springdale, AR
Neale King Bartee Award Winner
William Overcash/VIOLIN, Brinkley, AR
Division Winners
Christian Carichner/TUBA, Conway, AR
Stephanie Costognia/FLUTE, Bradely, IL
La Marcus Miller/BARITONE, Dallas, TX
___________
2008
Grand Prize Winners
Yi Wu/PIANO, Little Rock, AR
Grant Harbison/TRUMPET, Jonesboro, AR
Division Winners
Anna King/VIOLIN, Memphis, TN
Jonathan Shields/TENOR, Jonesboro AR
Richard Lup/FLUTE, Glendale Heights, IL
___________
2007
Grand Prize Winners
Tara Mueller/VIOLIN, Fayetteville
Luca Strazullo/PIANO, Jonesboro, AR
Neale King Bartee Award Winner
Chris Overcash/VIOLA, Brinkley, AR
Division Winners
Kofi Martin/CLARINET, Joensboro, AR
Aaron Metzger/TRUMPET, Pittsburg, KS
Jonathan Shields/TENOR, Jonesboro AR
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2006
Grand Prize Winners
Rachel Lin/VIOLIN, Germantown, TN
Brendan White/PIANO, Jackson, TN
Neale King Bartee Award Winner
Nickolas Alsup/PIANO, Harrisburg, AR
Division Winners
Jonathan Shields/TENOR, Jonesboro AR
Daniel Harrelson/TROMBONE, Jonesboro, AR
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2005
Grand Prize Winners
Erica Leung/PIANO, Trenton, Tn
Angelika Machnik/CELLO, Oklahoma CIty, OK
Neale King Bartee Award Winner
Garrett Overcash/VIOLIN, Brinkley, AR
Division Winners
Daniel Harrelson/TROMBONE, Jonesboro, AR
Cassie Black/SOPRANO, Jonesboro, AR
Roman Ruiz/CLARINET, Russellville, AR
___________
2004
Grand Prize Winners
Linnaea Brophy/VIOLIN, Bartlett, TN
Kevin Brewer/PIANO, Arkadelphia, AR
Neale King Bartee Award Winner
Kofi martin/CLARINET, Jonesboro, AR
Division Winners
Tony Garcia/TROMBONE, Searcy, AR
Mindy Pounders/SOPRANO, Cleveland, MS
___________
2002
Grand Prize Winners
Daniel Liu/VIOLIN, Conway
Dawson Hull/PIANO, Jackson, TN
Neale King Bartee Award Winner
Marty Bishop/TRUMPET, Jeonsboro, AR
Division Winners
Jeremy Blackwood/BARITONE, Jonesboro, AR
Michelle Zebrowitz/SAXOPHONE, Memphis, TN
Junior Prize Winner
Linnaea Brophy/VIOLIN, Bartlett, TN
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2000
Grand Prize Winners
Danling Gao/PIANO, Jonesboro, AR
Laura Colgate/VIOLIN, Memphis, Tn
Neale King Bartee Award Winner
Jana Young/PIANO, Jonesboro, AR
Division Winners
Jerry Hou/TROMBONE, Jonesboro, AR
Emily Smith/BASSOON, Searcy, AR
___________
1999
Grand Prize Winners
Maeve Brophy/PIANO, Memphis, TN
Adam Pendleton/SAXOPHONE, Macomb, IL
Neale King Bartee Award Winner
Emily Rodgers/SOPRANO, Jonesboro, AR
Division Winners
Harmony Fortson/SOPRANO, Jonesboro, AR
Michael Lorman/TROMBONE, Hattiesburg, MS
Laura Colgate/VIOLIN, Cordova, TN
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1998
Grand Prize Winners
David Kim/VIOLIN, Memphis, Tn
Ynu Zang/PIANO, Memphis, TN
Neale King Bartee Award Winner
Eric Skaug/VIOLIN, Jonesboro, AR
Division Winners
Nathan Wentworth/BAARITONE, Memphis, Tn
Jeremy Gott/SAXOPHONE, Hattisburg, MS
Scott Tignor/TUBA, Jonesboro, AR
___________
1996
Grand Prize Winners
Ivan Laley/CELLO, Conway
Dia Sawyer/SOPRANO, Jonesboro, AR
Neale King Bartee Award Winner
Philip Ross/OBOE, Jonesboro, AR
Division Winners
Ivanka Driankova/PIANO, Conway, AR
Clay east/TROMBONE, Oxford, MS
Angela Rhodes/FLUTE, Magnolia, TN
___________
1995
Grand Prize Winners
Katerina Zeitseva/PIANO, Conway, AR
Nikola Takov/VIOLIN, Conway, AR
Neale King Bartee Award Winner
Amanda Bone/FLUTE, Jonesboro, AR
Division Winners
Lacy Tilton/MEZZO SOPRANO, Jonesboro, AR
Dionne Hansen/FLUTE, Memphis, TN
Tryrone Block/TROMBONE, Monticello, TN
___________
1994
Grand Prize Winners
Karen Tchougarian/PIANO, Conway, AR
Borislava Iltcheva/VIOLIN, Conway, AR
Division Winners
Jason Marus/BARITONE, Fayetteville, AR
Andrew Gott/BASSOON, Bolivar, MO
___________
1993
Rossitza Jekova/VIOLIN, Conway, AR
Tony Kitai/CELLO, Germantown, TN
Kiril Zahariev/PIANO, Conway, AR
___________
1992
Aroussiak Baltaian/VIOLIN, Conway AR
Ying Li/FLUTE, Cookeville, Tn
Layne Baxter/PIANO, Memphis, TN
___________
1991
Dale Peppers/BARITONE, Jonesboro, AR
David Herring/TROMBONE, Arkadelphia, AR
Stephen Field/PIANO, Memphis, TN
___________
1990
Teri Chastain/SOPRANO, Brookland, AR
David Sanderson/TRUMPET, Jonesboro, AR
Michael Harrison/PIANO, Batesville, AR
___________
1989
Joanna Cotten/SOPRANO, Forrest City, AR
Mary Kay Wooley/OBOE, Hattiesburg, MS
Michael Harrison/PIANO, Batesville, AR
___________
1988
Andrew Skoog/TENOR, Jonesboro, AR
Brent Woods/CELLO, Fayetteville, AR
Jon Hynes/PIANO, Fayetteville, AR
