Tamanend Student Named Youth Concerto Competition Winner

DOYLESTOWN, PA — A 12-year-old cellist from Tamanend Middle School has been named the 2024 Youth Concerto Competition winner by the Bucks County Symphony Orchestra.

Auditions were held in Doylestown earlier this spring with nine young people ages 10-14 participating.

Elijah Song won first prize in the auditions for his inspired performance of Édouard Lalo’s Cello Concerto in D minor (1st movement). The judges praised his rich tone quality, superior fluency, and excellent phrasing and technique.

As winner of the competition, Elijah received the prestigious Jeanne Marvin Phillips Prize and an invitation to perform with the BCSO at its 2024 Family Concert in December.

Mrs. Phillips was a dedicated music educator and classical pianist who helped establish the BCSO in 1953. The Youth Concerto Competition honors the significant contributions she made to the orchestra’s artistic development and her encouragement of young musicians.

Elijah is a student at Tamanend Middle School, where he plays cello in the string ensemble and piano in the swing ensemble. He participates in the Chess Club, UNICEF Club, STEM Club, and Reading Olympics.

Elijah’s musical journey began at the age of 5, and he currently studies under the guidance of Priscilla Lee, associate principal of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He is a member of the Young Musician Debut Orchestra and the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra, and frequently performs in concerts within the local community alongside his pianist mother and his violinist sister as a member of the Song Trio.

Winning the second prize winner in the Youth Concerto Competition is 14-year-old Elliot Anderson, for his performance of Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. Honorable mentions were awarded to 13-year-old Julie Zheng for her performance of Sarasate’s "Zigeunerweisen" and 13-year-old Raymond Wu for his performance of Saint-Saëns’ "Violin Concerto No. 3 (1st movement)."

For more information about the BCSO Youth Concerto Competition, click here.