November 5, 2025
Four Portland teens win Young Artists competition, earn chatterPDX debuts
The silence before the first note at Portland State University carried its own charge as an audience gathered to see how six finalists would fare. By evening’s end, four teenagers stood out, each earning a $1,000 Lewis-Goldstein scholarship and the promise of a professional-stage debut with a local chamber series.
The competition—the inaugural Young Artists Professional Development Competition—asked more than dexterity. It measured poise in real-world settings, pairing solo work with ensemble reading to test how quickly young players could listen, blend, and lead.
The competition—the inaugural Young Artists Professional Development Competition—asked more than dexterity. It measured poise in real-world settings, pairing solo work with ensemble reading to test how quickly young players could listen, blend, and lead.
PSU finals and Mozart K. 502 test
Finalists played a solo piece of their choice, then sat down with professionals to read the opening of Mozart’s Piano Trio in B-flat, K. 502. The format mirrored the realities of chamber music, where preparation meets instant chemistry.
Sight-reading alongside veterans became the crucible. Balance, intonation, and the subtle art of cueing mattered as much as clean technique, rewarding musicians who could adapt in the moment.
Sight-reading alongside veterans became the crucible. Balance, intonation, and the subtle art of cueing mattered as much as clean technique, rewarding musicians who could adapt in the moment.
Lewis-Goldstein awards and chatterPDX stages
Emily Liu, 15, a Camas High School pianist, built her case with crisp articulation and a calm stage demeanor. Away from the keyboard she also plays oboe, previously serving as principal in a youth symphony concert orchestra, and she brings recent experience as a soloist with a regional orchestra and as a scholarship grand prize winner.
Cellist Kristen Kim, 16, from Westview High School, arrived with a résumé that already includes a Carnegie Hall appearance through a major youth competition and principal roles in statewide ensembles. Her sound carried the hall with unforced projection and centered pitch.
Violinist Kaylee Nah, 15, of Sunset High School, leads as co-concertmaster in a longstanding Portland youth orchestra and directs Project Prelude, a student-run program that delivers free lessons in elementary schools. Multiple solo titles at the state level reflect her competitive edge and consistency.
Andrew Lee, 17, of Sunset High School, co-founded the Euphonos Ensemble to take chamber music into the community and is a veteran of regional orchestras and selective institutes with a keen ear for colleagues.
The winners’ upcoming chatterPDX debuts will place them alongside players from major Portland ensembles, testing rehearsal discipline, repertoire preparation, and small-ensemble communication while bridging student work to professional expectations.
Their leadership in Portland Youth Philharmonic and Metropolitan Youth Symphony strengthens the local ecosystem and carries habits of punctual preparation, collaborative focus, and respect for the score.
Cellist Kristen Kim, 16, from Westview High School, arrived with a résumé that already includes a Carnegie Hall appearance through a major youth competition and principal roles in statewide ensembles. Her sound carried the hall with unforced projection and centered pitch.
Violinist Kaylee Nah, 15, of Sunset High School, leads as co-concertmaster in a longstanding Portland youth orchestra and directs Project Prelude, a student-run program that delivers free lessons in elementary schools. Multiple solo titles at the state level reflect her competitive edge and consistency.
Andrew Lee, 17, of Sunset High School, co-founded the Euphonos Ensemble to take chamber music into the community and is a veteran of regional orchestras and selective institutes with a keen ear for colleagues.
The winners’ upcoming chatterPDX debuts will place them alongside players from major Portland ensembles, testing rehearsal discipline, repertoire preparation, and small-ensemble communication while bridging student work to professional expectations.
Their leadership in Portland Youth Philharmonic and Metropolitan Youth Symphony strengthens the local ecosystem and carries habits of punctual preparation, collaborative focus, and respect for the score.
Portland State University
Key Takeaways
Four teenage musicians from Portland won the inaugural Young Artists Professional Development Competition, earning scholarships and the opportunity to perform with local chamber series chatterPDX.
- The competition not only tested musical dexterity but also evaluated the finalists' poise and adaptability in ensemble settings.
- Emily Liu, Kristen Kim, Kaylee Nah, and Andrew Lee, all aged between 15 and 17, demonstrated exceptional talent and leadership in their performances and community involvement.
- The winners will have professional-stage debuts with chatterPDX, helping them transition from student to professional musicians.