About the Festival

The Seattle Young Artists Music Festival is open to young muscians between the ages of 10 and 18 who are striving to improve their artistry in the performance of classical music. The week-long event gives young artists a unique opportunity to be heard, adjudicated, and inspired.

Instrumentalists in piano, strings, woodwinds, brass, and harp perform individually and receive masterclass instruction and adjudication in an unparalleled educational experience. Students perform individually or in small groups before professional music educators whose mission is to nurture confidence and guide students toward improved technical and musical performance.

Adjudicators from around the country are brought to Seattle just for this event and include faculty members and performing artists from the best conservatories in America. Past Adjudicators include representatives from the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York, Juilliard, Eastman, Curtis Institute, The Cleveland Institute, Oberlin Conservatory, Indiana University, and other top tier music institutions.

Competitive and Non-Competitive Divisions

The six-day festival has enabled more than 600 young people each year since 1970 to perform and experience music in a way not otherwise available to them, and serves as a powerful motivation for the countless hours of practice and effort put forth by young classical music students throughout the year.