Prize Winners Announced at Texas Music Festival Young Artist Competition

Violist Brian Bires has been awarded 1st prize at the 2019 Texas Music Festival Cynthia Woods Mitchell Young Artist Competition

American violist Brian Bires has been awarded 1st prize at the 2019 Texas Music Festival Cynthia Woods Mitchell Young Artist Competition – in Houston, Texas, United States.

A graduate of the Baylor University School of Music and the University of Houston Moores School of Music, Brian is a former prize winner at the Moores School of Music, Baylor School of Music, Houston Civic Symphony and Clear Lake Symphony Concerto Competitions.

"We're thrilled for Brian's win with his formidable interpretation of the Cecil Forsyth Viola Concert in G Minor ... All five musicians in the final round - viola, two violins, bassoon and clarinet - were of exceptional talent," Festival General and Artistic Director Alan Austin has said.

Brian will next year perform as an invited soloist with conductor Carl St. Clair and the Texas Music Festival Orchestra - as well as being offered the opportunity to perform a solo engagement with the Gewandhaus Akademisches Orchester.

Joint 2nd prize at this year's competition was awarded to clarinetist Evan Schnurr and violinist Yue Yang.