The preliminary round was held in the Browne-McPherson Music Building at Peace College in Raleigh on Sunday, April 23.

A group of eight finalists performed for North Carolina Symphony Music Director Grant Llewellyn, Resident Conductor William Henry Curry and Director of Education Suzanne Rousso at Meymandi Concert Hall on Saturday, April 29.

The competition is an opportunity for local young artists to gain recognition and perhaps perform as a soloist with the North Carolina Symphony.

The first place winner in the senior division is Patrick Kreeger, a 16-year-old pianist from the Greenville who attends Arendell Parrott Academy. A student of Eastern Carolina University professor Henry Doskey, Kreeger performed the Rachmaninoff "Piano Concerto No. 1," first movement.

The second-prize winner in the senior division is flutist Norman Gonzales, a North Carolina School of the Arts sophomore and student of Dr. Tadeu Coelho.

The first-place junior division winner is 13-year-old violinist Maia Cabeza from Chapel Hill, a student of Richard Luby and Patinka Kopec. The second-place junior division winner is 11-year-old Yeeray Low from Morrisville, a piano student of John Ruggero.