The Post published this piece in collaboration with Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra, who provided financial funding for this coverage. All editorial outputs, and opinions published on our platform remain completely independent and objective, aligned with Australian Consumer Law.
Founded by visionary Ku-ring-gai string teachers, the late Barbara Cran and the late Barbara Robinson, the competition began in 1984 with a simple but profound mission: to give young musicians the invaluable opportunity to perform as soloists alongside a full orchestra. Out of a capped pool of 100 eager applicants from across NSW and the ACT, just six finalists have earned the coveted opportunity to compete in this year’s final round.
The competition’s track record speaks for itself. Over its 42-year history, past participants have successfully secured scholarships to elite global institutions like the Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute of Music, and the Royal Academy of Music. Alumni such as Alexander Gavrylyuk, Alexandra Osborne, Natalie Chee, Hyung Suk Bae, and Anna da Silva Chen have gone on to carve out distinguished national and international careers.
This year’s audience will be treated to a diverse and demanding program. The 2026 finalists are:
- Christina Bhang (Junior Section): Korngold – Violin Concerto
- Kiara Morishita-Lee (Junior Section): Mozart – Flute Concerto No 2
- Jeffrey Dong (Senior Section): Chopin – Piano Concerto No 2
- Connie Liu (Senior Section): Sibelius – Violin Concerto
- Leon Spikmans (Senior Section): Bottesini – Double Bass Concerto No 2
- Jaemin Yoo (Senior Section): Bartok – Viola Concerto
The stakes are high, with the finalists competing for prestigious prizes and future performance opportunities. This year’s adjudicators, Dimity Hall and Joshua Batty, face the unenviable task of selecting the winners, while KPO’s Artistic Director Paul Terracini will command the podium to guide the orchestra through these complex works.
More than just a competition, the afternoon is a vibrant celebration of the endurance and future of live classical performance. For classical music lovers, it is a first glance at the stars of tomorrow!
Amily He, Winner of the 2025 NSW School Concerto Competition