Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts Recognizes Exceptional Young Musicians with $17,500 in Prizes

Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts recently concluded its 37th Instrumental Competition, awarding $17,500 in prizes to nine outstanding young musicians during the event at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music’s Barrett Hall. 

The competition featured finalists aged 14 to 18 years old from Los Angeles, Claremont, La Crescenta, and Valencia.  Hanbo Xu, a 16-year-old clarinetist from The Webb Schools in Claremont, was declared the Grand Prize winner. 

A distinguished panel of judges from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by Judging Chair Michelle Tseng, a former winner of the competition, evaluated the finalists’ performances. Suzanne Hart, President of Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts, emphasized the organization’s commitment to supporting symphonic music and nurturing musical talent in the community.

“Our legacy is to support symphonic music through the LA Phil and our mission is to foster musical interest amongst the youth in our community,” Hart said. “This year we witnessed and felt the satisfaction of our work in action. The student becomes the teacher. It doesn’t get better than that!”

Hanbo Xu impressed the judges with his exceptional talent and musicianship. Xu’s dedication to music extends beyond his clarinet performance, as he is actively involved in various musical ensembles and extracurricular activities.

Other notable winners include Cheng-Yueh (Niccolo) Wu, an 18-year-old violinist from the Colburn School, who was awarded first place in the strings category, and Chi-Chun (Aurora) Kuo, an 18-year-old horn player from the Colburn School, who claimed first place in the brass category.

“They are all so amazing and such talented individuals,” Colleen Robertson, Chair of the 2024 Instrumental Competition, said. “They are not only fabulous musicians but they were fun and engaging and just a joy to be around.”

The Instrumental Competition, established in 1985, has been a platform for recognizing and supporting young musicians. Since its inception, Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts has awarded over $685,000 in prizes. Kathryn and Charles Hofgaarden generously donated this year’s prize money.

Funding for programs like the Instrumental Competition and the organization’s Gifts and Grants program typically comes from the proceeds of the annual fundraiser, the Pasadena Showcase House of Design. This year, the Showcase House will be open to the public from April 21 to May 19.

Visit www.pasadenashowcase.org for more information about the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts, the Instrumental Competition, and the upcoming Showcase House of Design.