Since 1995, the Alachua County Youth Orchestra has hosted the David Hubbell Concerto Competition which highlights its winner as the ACYO’s spring concert guest soloist. Young musicians are invited to submit an application to audition in February of each year. Once their proposed concerto or aria is approved by the ACYO Conductor, they perform the piece by memory in the presence of adjudicators who determine if there is a winner. This prestigious award has launched the music careers of successful musicians from our area; the ACYO is proud to support their growth and exposure.
Please note the following important dates for the 2026 Concerto Competition:
- Application and fee payment due to ACYO by Sunday, January 18, 2026.
- Competition Auditions will be held Saturday, January 24th, 2026 beginning at 1:00 pm in the UF Music Building, Room 101.
The competition winner performs at the ACYO Spring Concert at 7:00 pm tentatively scheduled for Sunday, April 26, 2026 at the Curtis M. Phillip Center for the Arts at UF.
Complete the 2026 Hubbell Concerto Application and return via email to Dr. Graham. Additional information,including eligibility, procedures, audition and selection details, are found in the attached application.
Pay the $30.00 application fee for the Hubbell Concerto Competition here.
David Hubbell Concerto Competition Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Grade | Selection | Composer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Leila Warren | 10 | Concerto for Violin & Orchestra in D minor | Sibelius |
| 2024 | Sophie De | 12 | Violin Concerto in G minor, Allegro Moderato | Bruch |
| 2023 | Simone Seely | 11 | Symphonie Espagnole | Eduard Lalo |
| 2022 | Nicholas Dang | 11 | Piano Concerto No. 2, Andante sostenuto | C. Saint-Saens |
| 2019 | Karla Meijas | 12 | Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E minor | Mendelssohn |
| 2018 | Maxwell Remmer | 10 | Cello Concerto #1, Allegretto | Shostakovich |
| 2017 | Jenny Baik | 11 | 2nd Piano Concerto | Sibelius |
| 2016 | Ellen Li | 12 | Piano Concerto in A Minor | Grieg |
| 2015 | Skyler Covert | 10 | Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 | Tchaikovsky |
| 2014 | MinJia Zhong | 12 | Piano Concerto No. 2 | Chopin |
| 2013 | Bailey-Michelle Collins | 10 | Piano Concerto in A minor | Grieg |
| 2012 | Julia Lee | 6 | Concerto for Violincello and Orchestra | Elgar |
| 2011 | Michael Helvey | 9 | Symphonie Espagnole for Violin and Orchestra | Lalo |
| 2010 | Kimberly Fang | 12 | Violin Concerto no. 5 in A minor | Vieuxtemps |
| 2009 | Katherine Shen | 12 | Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor | Chopin |
| 2008 | Jimmy Wong | 12 | Violin Concerto in D minor | Sibelius |
| 2007 | Lucy Zhong | 9 | Piano Concerto | Grieg |
| 2006 | Christine Shen | 11 | Concerto No. 3 in B minor | Saint-Saëns |
| 2005 | Vivia Chengsi | 8 | Shostakovich Piano Concerto | Shostakovich |
| 2004 | Alan Clark | 7 | Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 50 | Kabalevsky |
| 2003 | Victoria Brown | 12 | Piano Concerto in A minor | Grieg |
| 2002 | Jung-Yun Lee | 9 | Cello Concerto in E minor | Elgar |
| 2001 | Taiko Pelick | 10 | Piano Concerto No. 1 G minor | Mendelssohn |
| 2000 | Dwanleen Eric. Shen | 12 | Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major | Tschaikowsky |
| 1999 | Angela Simmens | 8 | Suite Hebraigue for Viola and Orchestra | Bloch |
| 1998 | Micah Killion | 12 | Concerto for Trumpet in E flat | Arutunian |
1997 | Shu-Ping Shen | 12 | Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso for Violin & Orchestra | Saint-Saëns |
| 1996 1996 | Elaina Cook Prentis Lee | 11 | Violin Concerto # 5 Violin Concerto in E minor | Mozart Mendelssohn |