Houston, Texas – February 23, 2026—Symphony North of Houston announced the 2026 Young Artist Competition 1st Place Category Winners.
Symphony North of Houston is thrilled to announce the outstanding winners of the 2026 Young Artist Concerto Competition, each representing exceptional musical talent and dedication. For the past 28 years, Symphony North has proudly served as a pioneer among community orchestras, creating a platform for gifted young musicians to shine by performing a classical concerto movement with a full orchestra. Building on last year’s success, Symphony North continues to elevate its Young Artist Competition by recognizing first place winners in three distinct categories: Piano, Strings, and Winds. The Finalist Audition, held on February 21, 2026, showcased inspiring performances, as each finalist competed for top honors in their category.
We extend heartfelt congratulations to our three first place winners, whose artistry and passion truly captivated the judges. These remarkable young musicians will take center stage, performing their concerto movement with Symphony North at the Late Spring Concert on May 17, 2026, at 4:00 PM at Salem Lutheran Church in Tomball, Texas. At this special event, one overall winner will be chosen from the category winners. Each first-place recipient will be awarded a $500 scholarship and trophy, and the overall winner will be recognized with an additional $500 scholarship and trophy. Join us in celebrating their exceptional musicianship and achievement!
Winners
- 1st Place Winds, Jonathan Zhang, with Ingolf Dahl’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone
- 1st Place Strings, Gabrielle Shin, with Felix Mendelssohn’s Concerto in E minor, 1st mvt
- 1st Place Piano, Carl Rubly, with Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 1, 1st mvt
Jonathan Zhang – 1st Place Winds
Jonathan Zhang is a junior at Kinder High School of Performing and Visual Arts. He began playing saxophone in the seventh grade and has since earned numerous honors, including recognition as a 2026 National YoungArts Award Winner in Classical Music/Saxophone, finalist in the 2026 Juanita Miller Concerto Competition, winner of the 2025 HSPVA Concerto Competition, Best Instrumentalist at the 2025 InterContinental Music Awards, First Prize in the 2024 American Virtuoso International Music Competition presented by the American Society of Music Excellence, and Outstanding Performer at the 2024 UIP Texas State Solo-Ensemble Contest.
Gabrielle J. Shin – 1st Place Strings
Gabrielle Shin started playing the violin when she was seven years old and fell in love with it right away!
Formerly a student in the Shepherd School of Music Preparatory Program, Gabrielle performed multiple times in Duncan Recital Hall as well as in other venues around Houston.
In January 2025, Gabrielle won first place in the Junior Strings category at the Clear Lake Symphony Youth Concerto Competition. She subsequently performed the Bruch Violin Concerto with the Clear Lake Symphony in Houston, Texas, in March 2025.
In her spare time, Gabrielle loves reading books, writing stories, and drawing. She also enjoys playing chamber music with her friends and having fun on the tennis court.
In the summer of 2025, Gabrielle studied at the Aspen Music Festival and School as the youngest violin student.
Gabrielle is a 6th grade student at the Second Baptist School University Model in Katy, Texas and studies violin privately with Kathleen Winkler.
Carl Rubly – 1st Place Piano
Carl Rubly (14) lives in Houston, Texas. He is a student of John and Nancy Weems. Since beginning of his piano journey at the age of four, Carl has earned numerous accolades and performed in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Van Cliburn Concert Hall, and the Stude Hall (Rice U).
Most recently, Carl has won the 2026 Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra’s Ogletree Competition 2025 and 2026 Clear Lake Symphony Piano Concerto Competition. Last year he won the 2025 Texas Music Teachers’ Association (TMTA) competition, the 2025 Baylor/Waco Piano Competition and 2025 Blinn College Piano Competition in the 7 & 8 Grade category, following his victory in the same competition’s 5 & 6 Grade category in 2023. Carl’s achievements include performances at the Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and top honors in highly competitive national and international events.
Carl’s first-place awards span across a variety of distinguished competitions, such as the 2019 Golden Classical Music International Piano Competition, the 2020 London Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition, the 2021 Rochelle Liebling Kahan Competition for Child Piano Prodigies, the 2022 and 2023 IMTA piano competitions, the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 Katy Music Teachers Association’s Jazz Festivals, the 2022 University of Houston Forum of Young Artists; the 2022 Critique’s Corner, the 2020 and 2022 Katy Music Teachers Association’s Sonatina Festival, the 2023 Thirteen International Chopin Youth Competition, and the 2024 North Texas Young Artist Piano Competition, and 2025 Texas Music Teachers’ Association (TMTA) competition.
Carl finds joy and fulfillment in participating in concerts, recitals, music festivals, attending master classes, and performing at senior facilities.
For More Information:
| Email: | |
| Phone: | (281) 803-9127 |
| Mail: | 21175 State Highway 249 No. 222 Houston, TX 77070-1655 |
| Web: | https://symphonynorth.org |
| Concert Venue: | Salem Lutheran Church 22601 Lutheran Church Rd Tomball, TX 77377 |
| Donate: | https://symphonynorth.org/donate/ |
| Follow Us; | https://symphonynorth.org/follow-us/ |
