Pasadena Showcase House Instrumental Competition 2018 Opens for Entries

Kids have talent, and never more than now have we recognized this fact with reality television bringing us kids doing everything from cooking to science.

Many children have great musical talents as well, and they have often not been recognized until later in life. The Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts has been trying to fight against that notion since 1985, giving local children the chance to show off their skills in a competition.

Over $500,000 has been awarded to the kids of Pasadena since the Instrumental Competition first started. Children who are proficient in string, woodwind and brass instruments are invited to participate for the chance to win between $500 and $6,000.

With a judging panel that included members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, last year’s Showcase House competition was fierce. Children and young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 demonstrated their musical prowess.

19-year-old tuba player Cristina Cutts Dougherty won the 2017 Grand Prize for Exceptional Talent and Musicianship while first prize for strings went to 20-year-old Johanna Nowik for her viola performance. 23-year-old Nicholas Davies won the top woodwinds trophy for his clarinet playing and trumpet player Seth Johnson, 22, was the winner of the first prize in the brass category.

This year’s Showcase House competition is now open to enter until October 15. Participants must be a full-time student and either live in or attend school in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Imperial, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara or Ventura.

Entry costs $30 each and must include a recent photograph, resume, proof of age, and the all-important audition. Judges will watch the audition tape and rate each candidate based on their technical accuracy, interpretation, and overall performance.

The Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts final Instrumental Competition will take place at Olin & Ann Barrett Recital Hall in Pasadena on November 10. So if your child has what it takes to beat other musical talents, get them involved before it’s too late.

Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts is located in Pasadena. For more information call (626) 578-8500 or visit https://www.pasadenashowcase.org