International Woodwinds and Brass Competition 2021
American Protégé International Woodwinds and Brass Competition is designed for solo performers and ensembles of all ages, nationalities and countries, who would like to challenge themselves in a very competitive environment. The Competition is open for Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Oboe, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Piccolo, Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Flugel, Tuba and other woodwinds and brass instruments. Participants are required to submit video recording of recent performance for the audition.
In 2021, American Protégé International Woodwinds and Brass Competition attracted a large number of very competitive applicants from 8 countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, China, Singapore, South Korea, Slovenia and Thailand.
Eligibility
We invite school students and adults to participate in the Competition. There is no age limit for the adult participants.
Multiple winners will be chosen in each of the following age groups:
Category: | Age: |
Young musicians | 5 - 9 |
Junior | 10 - 13 |
Intermediate | 14 - 17 |
Amateur (without Professional Degree) | 18 and older |
College students and professionals | 18 and older |
Awards
Winners can choose to perform at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City on the dates to be announced, or to receive a Winner’s Package by mail.
$300 Scholarship, Judges’ Favorite Award Trophy, Judges’ Distinction Award Trophy and other Special Awards may be granted based on the judges recommendations.
American Protégé
International Woodwinds and Brass Competition 2021 Results
American Protégé Scholarship Award Winner:

Heralded as “highly virtuosic” (The Saxophonist) and “a saxophonist in command of his instrument, with no shortage of hues in his playing” (Dr. Bob Fuson II), soprano saxophonist Nick May is sought after as a highly expressive, intuitive performer that “brings his personality to every performance – full of genuine joie de vivre!” (Javier Oviedo, Executive Director, The Classical Saxophone Project) and quickly garnering attention for his compelling programs comprising transcriptions of works written for violin that have been described as “Incredible, bringing to life some of the best music that has ever been written.” (Maestro Hughes, Arapahoe Philharmonic). Since his solo debut at the age of eighteen with the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, May’s career has taken him throughout the United States, Singapore, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark, appearing recurrently as a guest artist and recitalist.
Winners by Age Category
Name | Age | Country/State |
First Place Winners: | ||
Junior Category, Age 10 to 13: | ||
Yige Zhou, flute | 11 | Irvine, CA |
Student of Hye Sung Choe | ||
Davin Lee, clarinet | 13 | Lincolnshire, IL |
Student of Keunjin Jung | ||
Matthew Wang, clarinet | 13 | Trumbull, CT |
Student of Robin Seletsky | ||
William Kang, clarinet | 13 | Englewood Cliffs, NJ |
Student of Jay Hassler | ||
Yixuan Chen, flute | 13 | Sugar Land, TX |
Student of Rebecca Powell Garfield and Joyce Lao | ||
Intermediate Category, Age 14 to 17: | ||
Anna Lin, flute | 14 | Irvine, CA |
Student of Judy Ho | ||
Grace Kim, flute | 14 | Mason, OH |
Student of Randolph Bowman | ||
Jae Eun Park, flute | 14 | Irvine, CA |
Student of Ching-Yi(Judy) Ho and Sabrina Bounds | ||
Stephen Zhang, trumpet | 14 | Palo Alto, CA |
Student of Jacob Brodski | ||
Anej Gorenjak, trumpet | 15 | Ravne na Koroškem, Slovenia |
Student of Prof. Matjaž Dobrovnik and Prof. Špela Horvat Gonc | ||
Hyomin Lee, flute | 15 | Gyeonggi-do, South Korea |
Student of Misun Lee | ||
Allison Kuan, flute | 16 | Mountain View, CA |
Student of Dr. Chin-Fei Chan | ||
Avery Chen, flute | 16 | Sunnyvale, CA |
Student of Isabelle Chapuis | ||
Erin Li, flute | 16 | Palo Alto, CA |
Student of Ray Furuta | ||
Jason Xu, saxophone | 16 | Toronto, Canada |
Student of Wonki Lee | ||
Joshua Jung, oboe | 16 | Frisco, TX |
Student of Ha Eun An | ||
Miranda Jiang, bassoon | 16 | Short Hills, NJ |
Student of Marc Goldberg | ||
Jeewoo Kang, flute | 17 | Hoffman Estates, IL |
Student of Ann Haymee | ||
Youngho Cho, flute | 17 | Ridgewood, NJ |
Student of Jisun Park | ||
Advanced Category, College Students and Professionals: | ||
Ian Ting Wai Pang, clarinet | 27 | Elmhurst, NY |
Student of Charles Neidich | ||
Ji young Yoon, flute | 25 | New York, NY |
Student of Judith Mendenhall and Soo-kyung Park | ||
Nick May, soprano saxophone | 27 | Parkville, MO |
Amateur Category: | ||
Richard Hillson, cornet | 40 | Jersey City, NJ |
Second Place Winners: | ||
Young Musicians Category, Age 5 to 9: | ||
Avery Misbach, flute | 8 | Atlanta, GA |
Student of Nicole Frankel | ||
Junior Category, Age 10 to 13: | ||
Pakawat Poldetch, clarinet | 10 | Bangkok, Thailand |
Student of Prapanpong Maneewong | ||
Emma Bensoussan, French horn | 11 | Sydney, Australia |
Student of Christopher Howes | ||
Ivarine Kanthamanond, flute | 11 | Bangkok, Thailand |
Student of Tipok Phinitsakul | ||
Subin Kim, clarinet | 11 | San Jose, CA |
Student of Katie Ryu | ||
Ardisha Thawrani, flute | 12 | Cincinnati, OH |
Student of Amanda Martin | ||
Roy Wang, clarinet | 12 | Champaign, IL |
Student of John Hutch | ||
Chenyuan Lou, saxophone | 13 | Shanghai, China |
Student of Dr. Andrew Harrison | ||
Junseo Lee, clarinet | 13 | San Jose, CA |
Student of Kyungeun Ryu | ||
Sophia Lin, flute | 13 | Irvine, CA |
Student of Judy Ho | ||
Intermediate Category, Age 14 to 17: | ||
Claire Lee, flute | 14 | Pleasanton, CA |
Student of Tina Kim | ||
Jianna Kim, flute | 14 | Lansdale, PA |
Student of Olivia Staton | ||
Alexis Kwon, flute | 15 | San Ramon, CA |
Student of Yuna Kim | ||
Jason Park, Bb clarinet | 15 | Cupertino, CA |
Student of Hyemin Yun | ||
John Park, saxophone | 15 | Closter, NJ |
Student of Wonki Lee | ||
Joseph Baik, clarinet | 15 | Portland, OR |
Student of Hyeyoung Jeong | ||
Kenneth Rhee, Bb clarinet | 15 | Irvine, CA |
Student of David Chang | ||
Levana Lai, flute | 15 | Saratoga, CA |
Student of Xuemei Zou | ||
Rachel J. Kim, flute | 15 | Old Tappan, NJ |
Student of Jisun Park | ||
Scarlett Sheng Lin Huang, clarinet | 15 | Singapore |
Student of Li Xin | ||
Seowon Han, flute | 15 | Fullerton, CA |
Student of Tina Kim and Whitney Ting | ||
Andrew Lim, trumpet | 16 | Irvine, CA |
Student of Matthew Kim | ||
Clara Hinsdale, flute | 16 | Tampa, FL |
Student of Taylor Irelan | ||
Hannah Jo, flute | 17 | Seoul, South Korea |
Student of Jungyeon Choi | ||
Xiangliang Yang, trumpet | 17 | Shenzhen, China |
NICEXY Trio: | ||
Jaehyun Lim, Bb clarinet | 15 | Saratoga, CA |
Kyuwon Kim, clarinet | 17 | San Jose, CA |
Paul Woo, piano | 16 | San Jose, CA |
Students of Sonyoung Kang | ||
Advanced Category, College Students and Professionals: | ||
Stephanie Pizza, flute | 23 | Ridgewood , NJ |
Student of Judith Mendenhall | ||
Amateur Category: | ||
Judy Lee, flute | 21 | Fullerton, CA |
Student of Yong mi Choi |
Other applicants received Diploma of Participation
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WINNERS!