The Bronislaw Kaper Awards For Young Artists are held annually by the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the piano and strings instrumental categories, which alternate each year. Named in honor of the late Bronislaw Kaper, a renowned film composer who served for more than 15 years as a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association's Board of Directors, the Awards encourage the development of young and gifted musicians.
The Los Angeles Philharmonic announced the winners of the 2008 Bronislaw Kaper Awards for Young Artists. The February 16 competition for the piano instrumental category was held on stage at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Both Yu-Hao Chen of Santa Monica and Connie Kim-Sheng of La Crescenta shared first place on a split decision; Alice Hwang of Brea won second place; Mason Yu of Irvine won third place; and Vijay Venkatesh of Laguna Nigel was named Most Promising Musician.
Among a total of eighteen applicants, twelve young pianists from grades 7 through 12 competed in the first round, playing excerpts from one of the 48 Preludes and Fugues from the Well-Tempered Clavier by Bach, a sonata of their choice, and one of four pre-selected 20th-century works. Five pianists advanced to the finals and performed excerpts from a concerto of their choice.
John Blacklow, Lucinda Carver, Norman Krieger and Mark Robson, selected by Joanne Pearce Martin, the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s principal keyboardist and Katharine Bixby Hotchkis Chair, served as judges.
The two first place winners split the prize of $2,500, made possible by the Foothill Philharmonic Committee; second place winner received $2,000 made possible by Los Angeles Philharmonic Concertmaster Emeritus David Frisina; third prize winner received $1,000, made possible by the West Valley Committee of the Los Angeles Philharmonic; and the Most Promising Musician received $500, made possible by Encore.
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