Young Artists Auditions Winners

The DuPage Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is thrilled to announce the winners of its 2025 Young Artists Auditions, an annual event showcasing some of the most talented young musicians in DuPage County and beyond. The competition, held on Sunday, February 2, 2025, brought together a remarkable field of instrumentalists, each demonstrating extraordinary skill and artistry.

First Prize – Joseph Gallwas, Piano
Winner of the 2025 Young Artists Auditions, Joseph Gallwas, captivated the judges with his masterful performance of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26 (1st movement). As part of his award, Joseph will perform this dazzling concerto live with the DuPage Symphony Orchestra on March 16, 2025, at the “Young at Heart” concert at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville.

A Chicagoland native, Joseph has already achieved an outstanding musical career. First performing at Carnegie Hall at age 9, he has since appeared as a concerto soloist with orchestras across the United States and Italy. His accolades include being named Open Senior Overall Winner in the O’Malley Foundation Competition, placing fourth in the International Young Artists Concerto Competition, and advancing to the final round of the CSO Crain-Maling Competition, where he will perform with the Civic Orchestra at Orchestra Hall. A featured soloist on WFMT’s Introductions program, Joseph is studying with Jeff Panko, Mary Sauer, and Sean Bennett at New Music School, and has performed in masterclasses with esteemed artists such as Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Steven Osborne, and Dang Thai Son.

Second Prize – Elle Cho, Violin
Second-place winner Elle Cho, violin, delivered a stunning performance of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major (1st movement). Elle is a Fellow at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy and a decorated soloist and chamber musician. She has performed at prestigious festivals such as Aspen, Bowdoin, and Heifetz Music Institute, and her quartet, Quartet Meravglia, recently won Bronze Medals at the 2024 Fischoff National Chamber Competition, St. Paul Quartet Competition, and Chicago National Chamber Music Competition.

Honorable Mention – Adi Bawiskar, Violin
Honorable Mention was awarded to violinist Adi Bawiskar, who impressed the judges with his performance of Barber’s Violin Concerto (1st movement).

Judges this year included renowned music educators and instrumentalists Emma Germann, Mara Gallagher, and Pattie Barnes.

“The level of talent we see at the Young Artists Auditions each year is truly remarkable,” said Mari Ullrick, Strategic Director of Operations and Engagement. “We are honored to provide a platform for these gifted musicians to share their artistry, and we look forward to celebrating their success at our upcoming concert.”

The DSO is grateful to the DuPage Foundation for its generous support of the “Young at Heart” concert, made possible through the Donald and Dianne Skeet Fund. Their commitment to enriching the arts in our community allows the DSO to showcase and celebrate the next generation of exceptional musicians. Join the DSO on March 16 for an unforgettable afternoon of music, featuring our first-prize winner Joseph Gallwas. For tickets and more information, visit dupagesymphony.org.