Stephanie Pizza, YMC Coordinator
2026 Young Musicians Contest Winners
The 2026 Young Musicians Contest (YMC) was held on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the School for Strings. First held in 2008, the contest is intended to foster the development of pre-collegiate flutists by exposing them to a healthy competitive environment and constructive comments from the area's professional flutists. This year's 40 contestants comprised a mix of new and returning players.
Congratulations to the six winners who are scheduled to perform at the Flute Fair YMC concert on March 22, 2026. Many thanks to YMC coordinator Stephanie Pizza and judges Jenna Brixius, Victoria Carchietta, Lisandra Hernandez, Eli Ludlum, Bianca Morris, Jenna Brixius, and Jackie Traish.
Our 2026 Winners
Age 8 and under: Emma Varfolomeyev
Emma Varfolomeyev discovered her love for the flute after receiving tickets to The Magic Flute at the Metropolitan Opera from Santa last year. Inspired by the performance, she began studying Suzuki flute just 11 months ago with Wendy Stern at the Lucy Moses School. In addition to music, Emma is passionate about ballet training at the School of American Ballet (SAB), practicing the Japanese martial art of Kendo, and studying Japanese. She recently also began studying Suzuki cello.
Ages 9-11: Owen Power
Owen Power is a fifth grader at P.S. 859, Special Music School, where he studies with Diane Taublieb. Owen recently won first prize at the 2025 Lyrical Flute International Championship and the Laurin Memorial Award for excellent potential (jury: Sir James Galway). He was also winner of the 2025 Junior Honors recital competition and Festersen Foundation merit scholarship at Interlochen, 2025 King's Peak Competition, and the 2024 New York Flute Club Young Musicians Contest (8 and under). He has performed as guest artist with the Sherman Chamber Ensemble and in Merkin Hall with his wind quintet. Owen has also worked with Susan Rotholz, Judith Mendenhall, Keith Bonner, and Brandon Patrick George.
Ages 12-14: Joan Kim and Amelia Song
Joan Kim, age 14, is an eighth grade student at Brookside School. She began playing flute at age 10. Joan won first place in the 2024 Prima Volta International Music Competition, second place in the 2024 VIVO International Music Competition, and second place in the 2025 Prima Volta Music Competition. She was the winner of the 12–14 Years Old Division of the New Jersey Flute Society 2025 Spring Competition. Joan was the first chair flutist in the 2025 Intermediate Region Symphonic Winds and a member of the 2025 Bergen County Band. She attends the Manhattan School of Music Precollege program.
Amelia Song, age 13, is a student at Horace Mann School. She has been playing the flute for a little over two years and recently earned first place at the International Golden Classical Music Awards. She is a member of the Amadeus Orchestra and continues to develop her musical artistry through performance and ensemble work.
Ages 15-18: Sophie Chen and Taejin Shah
Sophie Chen, age 17, is a junior at Trinity School in NYC. She began studying the flute at age nine and has attended the Manhattan School of Music Precollege since seventh grade, where she studies with Susan Deaver. Sophie has performed with several ensembles, including the YOLA National Festival Orchestra under Gustavo Dudamel, the Los Angeles Philharmonic National Festival Orchestra, and Mostly Mozart's Youth Orchestra in Lincoln Center. She currently serves as principal flute of the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Symphony Orchestra. In addition to the flute, she also studies piano and cello.
Taejin Shah, age 16, is a sophomore at Tenafly (NJ) High School. He began his studies at the Thurnauer School of Music, learning under Noelle Perrin. He was then accepted into the Juilliard MAP program, where he studied with Alice Jones. He was accepted into Juilliard's Pre-College Division the following year, where he currently studies with Bart Feller. He has attended several summer arts camps, including the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, the Philadelphia International Music Festival, and Interlochen Center for the Arts.
