2020-27 YAC Winners

COSMIC Symphony is delighted to present “Symphonic Journeys,” a musical voyage that will take you through the works of Lalo, Rachmaninoff, and Dvořák! This concert will feature COSMIC’s 2025 Young Artist Competition winners Henry Horst, piano (senior division) and Elizabeth Tober, violin (junior division) taking center stage with COSMIC accompaniment. As always, these concerts are presented free of charge with no tickets required, and donations are greatly appreciated.

Elizabeth Tober, violin, junior division winner:

Elizabeth Tober has been studying the violin since the age of three. She began in the studio of Katherine Budner and now studies with Dr. Jeffrey Howard of Towson University. Elizabeth has consistently been recognized as an extraordinary player, serving as Concert Master in Charles County and Tri-County Honors Orchestras. Elizabeth was also the Principal Second Violinist of the 2025 Maryland All-State Senior Orchestra. She is currently in the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, which was invited to play Pictures at an Exhibition at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra. Along with these activities, Elizabeth has also attended Interlochen Summer Violin Intensive, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and was the Assistant Concert Master for the National Philharmonic Orchestra Summer Strings Institute. Elizabeth has performed a variety of solo, chamber, and orchestral works including the Beethoven Violin Concerto, Bach Chaconne, and the Mendelssohn Octet. Elizabeth plans on studying violin performance in college with a minor in Spanish Language and hopes to continue on to law school. She is extremely fortunate to have been given this opportunity to play the exuberant first movement of the Lalo Violin Concerto with the COSMIC Symphony.

Henry Horst, piano, senior division winner:

Henry Horst is an accomplished pianist whose eclectic musical background encompasses jazz, rock, pop, and classical styles. His dynamic versatility is matched by a robust foundation in vocal performance, having been a distinguished member of the Maryland All-State Chorus for two consecutive years and a chamber singer at the University of Maryland. Along with his solo activities, Henry is also an accomplished choral accompanist. He accompanied the St. Paul’s Concert Chorale on their tour in Ireland (2023), and won the Outstanding Accompanist award at Hershey Park with the St. Paul’s Honor Choir. He has also accompanied instrumentalists and vocalists at the University of Maryland.

Henry’s composition skills are as varied as his performance repertoire, encompassing works from classical to contemporary pop music. He honed these skills at the prestigious Walden School for Composition in Dublin, New Hampshire, where he attended for two summers.

Henry has studied with Dr. Michael Angelucci at the Peabody Preparatory. During that time, Henry was accepted into the Peabody Piano Academy, an accelerated program for the most gifted pianists at the Preparatory. He has also attended Piano Week, performed in masterclasses with guest artists, and participated in numerous recitals and other departmental performances.

Among his notable accolades, Henry won third place in the Greater Columbia Music Teachers Association Spring Piano Competition, first place in the MSMTA State Spring Solo Piano Festival, and first place in the Baltimore Music Teachers Association Zurstadt Senior Piano Competition. He earned a coveted position as one of three pianists chosen to perform in the Vella Silver Honors Recital at the Peabody Preparatory in 2024 and won the COSMIC symphony Young Artists Competition senior division in 2025.

Henry is a sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Music in piano performance at the University of Maryland under the guidance of Professor Bradford Gowen, where he earned a top scholarship in the School of Music. At the University of Maryland, Henry has played in a variety of recitals, guest master classes and choral performances as a UMD chamber singer. Most notably, he played in a masterclass for acclaimed pianist Rebecca Penneys. Henry extends heartfelt gratitude to his family, teachers, and friends for their unwavering support throughout his musical journey.

22-23 February 2025

Ellyanna Tyson is a 17 year old high school senior, born and raised in Southern Maryland. Elly started her musical journey with the Southern Maryland Youth Orchestra and Choir. She studies voice with Wendy Podsednik and piano with Chiara Selby. During her musical study, she has taken part in choral, duet, and solo concerts throughout Southern Maryland. She has also had the opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall and the French Embassy. Additionally, Elly has participated in three different two-week long Summer Performing Arts with Juilliard sessions. She has been on stage with Newtowne Players, Port Tobacco Players, Children’s Theatre of SoMD, and L’Opera Comique de Washington. Elly is grateful to COSMIC Symphony for selecting her as the 2023 first runner up and 2024 first place winner. Elly plans to pursue music in college and to see where that takes her. She is incredibly blessed to be able to share her love of the arts with others.

02-03 March 2024

Please join us in congratulating our Young Artist Competition Junior Division Winner: Violinist Esther Bonney and our Senior Division Winner: Cellist Alexander Wu. In addition to their $250 cash prize and certificate of recognition, both have won the opportunity to perform with COSMIC Symphony at our March concerts – details to come!

We would like to thank all of our wonderfully talented competition applicants for taking the time to showcase their talents. We are lucky to have you in our community!

Congratulations as well to our Junior Division runner up: soprano Ellyanna Tyson, and our honorable mentions: clarinetist Lino Alarcon and soprano Mallory Kearns and our Senior Division runner up: clarinetist Steven Toth, and our honorable mention: pianist Emma Huckabee.

São Francisco Junior Division

Esther Bonney http://perushamans.com/?kref=hCuKo9kbFZlF
Elyanna Tyson – Runner Up
Lino Alarcon – Honorable Mention
Mallory Kearns – Honorable Mention

Senior Division

Steven Toth
Emma Huckabee – Honorable Mention

11-12 March 2023

Edvard Grieg: Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 16. Jane Liang, piano.

Winners of the 2019 – 2020 Young Artist Competition are Jane Liang (Piano), Frank Horrigan, runner up (Violin) and Tom Wilson, runner up (Trumpet)!

Since the March 2020 concert was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the winners of the 2019-2020 competition had the opportunity to play in the March 2023 Family/Young Artist Competition Winner concert. Only Jane Liang was available to perform, and she played the Edvard Grieg Piano Concerto in A Minor.

(Photos: Jane Liang and Will Esterling)