Each year through a rigorous audition process, Young Concert Artists chooses a new group of stunning young musicians to add to its roster with the promise of debuts in both New York City and Washington, D.C. followed by at least three years of career management. This includes providing performance opportunities, promotional and marketing services, travel arrangements, educational residency experience, and extensive professional development. These young people are the future of classical music and we invest in their careers so they may spend a lifetime bringing the gift of music to audiences around the world. 

Young Concert Artists has been dedicated to discovering and launching the careers of exceptional young musicians for 60 years. Our alumni, active in every corner of the classical music world, embody our success. They solo with the top orchestras, perform on the most prestigious concert stages, serve as artistic directors, conductors, and professors, and are recognized as some of the most important ambassadors for this exquisite art form. With such celebrated names as Emanual Ax, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Dawn Upshaw, and Pinchas Zukerman, YCA alumni stand as a testament to the importance of our mission.

Founded in 1961 by Susan Wadsworth, Young Concert Artists has presented nearly 300 artist debut concerts, has commissioned more than 30 compositions from YCA composers, and has facilitated thousands of residencies through the Annaliese Soros Educational Residency Program.

The COVID-19 crisis has turned the music world upside down leaving our artists in an extremely vulnerable position. Performance venues have closed, forcing musicians to reimagine their work lives with an unprecedented immediacy. At Young Concert Artists, we are determined to help our musicians make the most of this extraordinarily difficult time. Until we can get them back on stage, we must Keep Our Artists Working! Learn More