December 2023 Concert Program

About the Navaroli Young Musicians Contest The Al Navaroli Young Musicians Competition was established by the South Valley Symphony in 2008 to encourage young musicians to develop their talent and skills. The contest is open to young musicians living or training in southern Santa Clara County, San Benito, Monterey, and Santa Cruz counties. It is named for Gilroy resident Al Navaroli, a passionate music lover and longtime South Valley Symphony supporter who dedicated many years of service to the symphony and died in 2008. Although he was not a musician, Navaroli was a tireless promoter of the orchestra and envisioned an orchestra of between 50 and 60 musicians, two-thirds string players. The competition, which is open to strings, winds, brass, and piano, annually gives musicians between the ages of 10 and 18 the chance to audition before trained professionals, including SVS Music Director Anthony Quartuccio. The lucky winner also earns the opportunity to perform as a featured soloist with the entire ensemble at the orchestra’s spring concert. Winners of this year’s competition, Katelyn Deng, piano with Liszt Piano Concerto No. 2, and Aidan Wong, piano with Rhapsody in Blue, will be featured in upcoming SVS concerts.