The Young Artists Auditions (YAA), a co-sponsored event of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra (HSO) and the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild (HSOG) was held Sunday, January 23,2022  in Roberts Recital Hall on the UAH Campus.  This exciting event featured five very talented and dedicated young artists, a committee of ready and excited HSOG volunteers and the event was able to be held live and in-person…three big pluses for the day!

Artists who competed in the event were:

• Elizabeth Ames, cello, from Tallassee, AL
• James Clark, cello, Madison, AL
• Nathaniel Han, cello, Huntsville, AL
• Elias Loo, bassoon, Huntsville, AL
• Christina Showalter, cello, Madison, AL

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All of the artists who competed received a complimentary YAA t-shirt and a certificate.

Event winners were:

James Clark—1^st place and received a check for $400—The winner will perform as a soloist on stage at the opening of the FREE Family concert

Elias Loo—2nd place and received a check for $300

Elizabeth Ames—3^rd place and received a check for $200

From L to R: Elias Loo, James Clark, and Elizabeth Ames

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Special thanks goes out to Sharon Hicks, HSO Education Director, for her leadership and guidance in planning and making the YAA a special event and day for the artists.  Thank you so much to Janet  Neeley, HSOG Education Chair, for her constant support and willingness to help as the YAA returned to a live event following the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions of last year.  A very special thank you to the YAA Committee members who stepped up to assist in any role needed to make the auditions a memorable occasion for the artists. Committee Members were: Bess Csar, Betsy Cunha, Susie Fortner, Jacque Hudson, Barbara Loflin, Michele Slaton and co-chairs Linda Thomas and Pat Cross.  And a final thank you to Naomi Dubois, HSOG President, and Dan Halcombe, HSO President and CEO, as the always constant behind the scenes support needed as the YAA event planning occurred.