2025-2026 Baylor Concerto Competition Results Announced
The winner of the 2025-2026 School of Music Concerto Competition is Nicholas Shih-Pogrebnoy (violin), first year student of Eka Gogichashvili, D.M.A. He performed Béla Bartók's Violin Concerto No. 2, Sz. 112 and will have the opportunity to perform this with the Baylor Symphony Orchestra during the 2026-2027 school year.
“I am incredibly honored to have won the concerto competition at Baylor,” said Nicholas. “I am deeply grateful for the inspiring musical community here — especially my extraordinary teachers — and for the faculty, staff, and students who have challenged me to grow not only technically, but also artistically and personally. This experience has strengthened my love for the violin and my passion to share music in ways that bring people together.”
Congratulations to all of our eight finalists, who gave excellent performances of their concertos:
Mark Andrade, flute - student of Charlotte Daniel
John Bai, piano - student of Shijun Wang
Marco Cornel, clarinet - student of Ran Kampel
Yuxuan Mao, piano - student of Shijun Wang
Zach Monroe, horn - student of Kristy Morrell
Samantha Olsen, double bass - student of Sandor Ostlund
Nicholas Shih-Pogrebnoy, violin - student of Eka Gogichashvili
Nick Tesmer, tuba - student of Kent Eshelman
The final performances were judged by a distinguished five-member panel. Thank you to the following:
Joseph Dubas - Principal Trombone, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Joel Pagán - Professor of Viola, University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley
Stephanie Key - Artistic Director and Clarinetist, SOLI Chamber Ensemble; Clarinetist, Grand Teton Music Festival
Lawrence Loh - Music Director, Waco Symphony Orchestra; Conductor Laureate, The Syracuse Orchestra
Tali Morgulis - Associate Professor of Piano, University of Houston Moores School of Music
The annual Baylor Concerto Competition is open to all woodwind, brass, string, percussion and keyboard students of Baylor University. Students must be enrolled during both fall semester when the prelims take place and spring semester when the finals take place.