Meet Concert Artists Guild's 2025 Finalists

The competition has selected 6 instrumentalists and two ensembles to advance to the final round

Founded in 1951 and based in New York City, the Concert Artists Guild (CAG) has supported the careers of over 500 emerging musicians. Open to musicians under 35, depending on the instrument/vocal category, its annual competition offers a platform for national and international career development. 

The final round will be streamed LIVE on The Violin Channel on May 30 at 3:30 PM (ET).

The eight finalists are pianists Anthony Ratinov, Derek Wang, Zitong Wang, and Kayden Kelly, violist Emad Zolfaghari, clarinetist Andrea Caputo, plus the Erinys Quartet and Cerus Quartet.

All winners will receive management from CAG in North America, a New York debut performance opportunity, and participation in CAG's Citizen Musician Bootcamp. 

Additionally, Grand Winners will receive international management (Americas and Europe) jointly with CAG and with London’s Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT), as well as a performance at the prestigious Wigmore Hall.

The competition’s 2025 jury comprises Michelle Cann, David Frost, Adriaan Fuchs, Jeremy Ney, Erin Lunsford Norton, and Orli Shaham.