The ArtsLIVE! Young Artist Competition Rises to a High Note

With hearts pounding and a total of eighteen hundred dollars of cash prizes to be won, nine youth performers competed February 8, 2026, 3 pm at The Fredericksburg Baptist Church. The students competed on violin, piano, cello, clarinet and voice performing works by classic, romantic and contemporary composers. Winners were Jeanette Larson, violin, first prize; Benjamin Wade, bass vocalist, second prize; and Valerie Chen, clarinet, third prize.

The ArtsLIVE! Young Artist Competition offered its first competition nearly 25 years ago. This year, the annual competition received its first funding from the Cornelia Bryant Endowment Fund, in partnership with the Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region.

ArtsLIVE! continues to bring high quality performances to the Fredericksburg region into their 37th season this Spring. In partnership with The Stafford Opera Troupe (www.staffordoperatroupe.weebly.com), ArtsLIVE! will underwrite performances to four Title 1 Elementary Schools, presenting "The Best of the Pirates of Penzance." Additionally, the ArtsLIVE! 37th Chamber Music Festival will be offered May 13 - 24, including performances by world renowned artists and professional, local artists. Tickets will go on sale in March and may be purchased at the website: www.artsLIVEva.org.