KASTA Solo Competition

The KASTA State Solo Competition seeks to recognize exceptional performance on string instruments in the State of Kansas at three levels: the Preparatory Division (Grades 8 and below), Junior Division (Grades 9-12), and the Senior Division (college/university undergraduate or graduate student, age 29 years or younger).

The application deadline is Friday, January 24th, 2025.

  • The competition will take place Thursday, February 27th, 2025 (5:00-7:00 pm) at the Century II Convention Center in Wichita, KS as part of the KMEA In-service Workshop.

  • One winner from each division (Preparatory, Junior, and Senior) will be selected. The overall winner will be recognized and perform on Friday, February 28th at the annual KASTA awards luncheon at KMEA. In addition, the following prizes will be awarded by KASTA: 

    Preparatory Division
    First place: $100

    Junior Division
    First place: $250

    Senior Division
    First place: $400

  • Complete the online application and mail your $20.00 entry fee (cash or check made out to KASTA) to:

    [Chair pending]

    Application deadline is Friday, January 24th, 2025.

    Registration fee is due by Friday, February 14th, 2025.

    Students will be notified of the competition schedule by Friday, February 14th, 2025.

  • PREPARATORY DIVISION: (up to Grade 8) Applicants for the preparatory division are expected to prepare a maximum of TEN (10) minutes of music from ONE (1) piece. Pieces shorter than 10 minutes are acceptable and encouraged. Cuts to orchestral tuttis are permitted and encouraged. Please time your piece carefully to ensure this limit is followed. Pieces may either be accompanied or written for solo instrument. However, if the piece is written with accompaniment, the applicant is required to perform with live accompaniment in their video. 

    JUNIOR DIVISION: (Grade 9-12) Applicants for the JR division are expected to prepare a maximum of TEN (10) minutes of music from ONE (1) piece. Pieces shorter than 10 minutes are acceptable and encouraged. Cuts to orchestral tuttis are permitted and encouraged. Please time your piece carefully to ensure this limit is followed. Pieces may either be accompanied or written for solo instrument. However, if the piece is written with accompaniment, the applicant is required to perform with live accompaniment in their video. 

    SENIOR DIVISION: (Enrolled undergraduate and graduate college students; 29 years old or younger) Applicants for the SR division are expected to prepare a maximum of FIFTEEN (15) minutes of music from ONE (1) or TWO (2) pieces. Cuts to orchestral tuttis are permitted and encouraged. Please time your piece carefully to ensure this limit is followed. Pieces may either be accompanied or written for solo instrument. However, if the piece is written with accompaniment, the applicant is required to perform with accompaniment. 

RULES:

  1. Competitors must be current students residing in Kansas.

  2. Past KASTA State Solo Competition 1st place winners are not eligible to compete again in the division they previously won.

  3. All competitors are required to memorize their music, regardless of the division, with the following exceptions:

    • Duo sonata repertoire with piano

    • Chamber ensemble repertoire

  4. If pieces are accompanied, competitors must perform with accompaniment.  A staff accompanist will be available if competitors are not able to provide their own. Contact [Chair pending] to reserve the accompanist by January 24th, 2025. The cost will be $50.00, which includes one 30-minute rehearsal and the competition performance. Payment is due by the day of the competition. If selected as the overall winner, the accompanist used at the competition must be the accompanist used at the luncheon.

  5.  Time limitation – 

    • Preparatory Division – A maximum of 10 minutes of music from 1 piece

    • Junior Division – A maximum of 10 minutes of music from 1 piece

    •  Senior Division – A maximum of 15 minutes of music from 1 or 2 pieces

  6. The overall winner across divisions must be available to perform at the KASTA luncheon on Friday, February 28th.

  7. The competition will be open to the public so that family members and teachers can attend.

  8. Judges’ comments will be given to students within a week of the competition.

  9. Chamber ensembles are permitted to compete provided that:

    • No non-string instruments are used except for piano.

    • The ensemble does not exceed 8 instruments.

  10. Competitors are required to bring TWO copies of the music, with measures numbered, for the judges. If the piece is performed with accompaniment, the accompaniment scores should be the copies submitted to the judges.

  11. Results will be announced immediately upon completion of the  judges’ deliberation. 

Please encourage your students to participate this year as a showcase of the fine string students and teachers we have in Kansas!

KASTA Solo Competition
Past Winners

  • Senior Division Winner
    Karla Lugo, Wichita State University

    Junior Division Winner
    Ryan Byun, Andover Central High

    SchoolPreparatory Division Winner
    Jiarong Michele Wang, Salina South Middle School

  • SENIOR DIVISION
    First Place: Chaeyun Hyun, student of Raul Antonio Munguia
    Runner-Up: Mengielly Diaz Cortes, student of Leonid Shukaev and Mark Laycock

    JUNIOR DIVISION
    First Place: Sophie Thiessen, student of Valerie Sullivan and Laura Hutchins
    Runner-Up: Laura Ward, student of Laura Black and Eric Crawford

    PREPATORY DIVISION
    First Place: Victoria Ward, student of Laura Black and Lynn Fuller
    Runner-Up: Allison Ward, student of Laura Black

    OVERALL WINNER
    Chaeyun Hyun, student of Raul Antonio Munguia

  • Takuto Kametsu, Senior Div., 1st place
    Taylor Herrman, Senior Div., 2nd place
    Isaac Wu, Junior Div., 1st place
    Jake Chun, Junior Div., 2nd place
    Eli Jia, Prep Div., 1st place
    James Hurrel, Prep Div., 2nd place

  • Tan Ngo, Senior Division, 1st place
    Melody Tzang, Junior Division, 1st place
    Wyatt Gaugler, Junior Division, 2nd Place
    Laura Ward, Prep Division, 1st place

  • 2020

    Tam (Ivy) Le Bang Nguyen, Sr Div, 1st place
    Tan Ngo, Sr Div, 2nd place
    Anne Brungardt, Jr Div, 1st place
    Joseph Gogadi, Jr Div, 2nd place
    Laura Dan Ward, Prep Div, 1st place
    Ryan Byun, Prep Div, 2nd place

    2019

    Rebekah Hillis, Sr Div, 1st place
    Cameron Quick, Jr Div, 1st place
    Anne Brungardt, Jr Div, 2nd place
    Sharon Sun, Prep Div, 1st place
    Diego Xavier Coy Dick, Prep Div, 2nd place

    2018

    Leah Rozales, Sr Div, 1st place
    Valerie Goertz, Sr Div, 2nd place
    Peter Dilley, Sr Div, 2nd place
    Therese Brungardt, Jr Div, 1st place
    Grace Manson, Jr Div, 2nd place
    Augustin Au, Jr Div, 3rd place

    2017

    Kansas Wesleyan Univ Quartet, Sr Div, 1st place
    (Caroline Beckman, Alicia Mora, Taylor McClain, Thomas Forrester)
    Ryan Masatto, Sr Div, 2nd place
    Christina Minton, Sr Div, 3rd place
    Leah Rozales, Jr Div, 1st place
    Carly Yi, Jr Div, 2nd place

    2016

    [no record]

  • 2015

    [No record]

    2014

    Natalia Korenchuk, Sr Div, 1st place
    Guo Lin, Jr Div, 1st place

    2013

    [No record]

    2012

    Eva Roebuck, Jr Div, 1st place

    2011

    Gaeun Kim, Sr Div, 1st place
    Emily Shehi, Jr Div, 1st place

  • 2010

    [No record]

    2009

    Emily Shehi, Jr Div, 1st place

    2008

    Virginia Francis Brungardt, Jr Div, 1st place

    2007

    Rachel Brandwein, Sr Div, 1st place
    Hannah Kim, Jr Div, 1st place

    2006

    Erman Turkili, Sr Div, 1st place
    Jessica Borth, Jr Div, 1st place

  • 2005

    Quinn Lake, Senior Division, 1st place
    Adele Stein, Junior Division, 1st place

    2004

    Rachel Brandwein, Sr Div, 1st place
    Adele Stein, Jr Div, 1st place

    2003

    Catherine Clyatt, Jr Div, 1st place

    2002

    Kristina Yoder, Sr Div, 1st place
    James Park, Jr Div, 1st place

    2001

    Steven Duckworth, Sr Div, 1st place
    Josh Boulton, Jr Div, 1st place

    2000

    Amy Lee, Solo Competition Winner

  • 1999

    Michele Prizzo, Solo Competition Winner
    Amy Lee, Solo Competition Winner

    1998

    Julianne Stokke, Sr Div, 1st place
    Justin Caulley, Jr Div 1st place

    1993

    Sara Avery, First Place (May)
    Kristina Yoder, First Place (Feb)
    Robert Owen, Runner-up (Feb)