The School of Music is pleased to announce the winners of the 87th annual Naftzger Young Artists Auditions. Among the competitors, two Wichita State students were division winner and runner up.
Pulip Han, a soprano vocalist at WSU, was the vocal division winner; and Isabel Blakewell, a soprano vocalist from WSU, was the vocalist runner up. Each of the area winners received a $2,000 prize, and each runner up earned $500 in prizes.
Zachary Costello, a saxophonist from Eastman School of Music, is the 2025 Naftzger Young Artist, earning an award of $5,000. The remaining division winners from the weekend’s competition were Jiyeon Lee, pianist from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and Dylna Kinneavy, a cellist from the Yale School of Music. The remaining three division runners-up were Ethan Stahl, pianist from the University of Colorado-Boulder; Runqi Weng, violinist from Michigan State University; and Riley Bender, flutist from the University of Texas at Austin. The total prizes awarded were $13,000 overall.
While eight students eventually moved on to the finals, 64 students from all over the nation were invited to compete in the first round of the auditions. The finals recital took place at Wiedemann Hall March 23. Judges for the auditions were David Cangelosi, voice; Dr. Thomas Keck, SMU Meadows School of the Arts, winds/brass/percussion; Jodi Levitz, Frost School of Music at the University of Miam, strings; and Dr. Caorline Oltmanns from Youngstown State University.
The Naftzger Yong Artists Auditions and Music Awards are administered by Wichita State University’s School of Music and are made possible by The Naftzger Fund for Fine Arts, Inc. Created by the M.C. Naftzger in memory of L.S. Naftzger, Ida L. Naftzger and Lee Southwell Naftzger II. Continued support for these Awards come from Caesar and Michelle Naftzger.
