Young Artist Program 2026
June 29 – July 19, 2026 | San Antonio, TX
Cactus Pear Music Festival is pleased to announce the
22nd Annual Young Artist Program (YAP)—an intensive,
three-week, full-tuition scholarship program for outstanding young instrumentalists. Each year,
4–9 students are selected to participate in chamber ensembles, private instruction, and performance opportunities alongside Festival Artists. Deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians in South Texas, we created this program to give talented high school and college students the opportunity to study and perform chamber music in a professional, collaborative environment. Led by
Education Director Craig Sorgi and
Artistic Director Jeffrey Sykes, the program has supported and inspired
over 120 young musicians since 2004, continuing our mission to pass the torch and keep chamber music thriving for years to come.
Program Overview —
Now Accepting Applicants!
Selected Young Artists will
- Form chamber ensembles to study and perform chamber music
- Work closely with Education Director Craig Sorgi, Education Assistant Karen Stiles, and Festival Artists
- Participate in concerts, outreach performances, and professional development experiences
Instrumentation (varies annually)
- Serious Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Cello students: ages 14–18
- Serious Piano students: ages 14–20
Applicants must live in or near
San Antonio, Texas.
(Room and board not included.)
- Individual musicians and pre-formed chamber groups may apply.
Intensive Course of Study (3 Weeks)
- Five or six private lessons with the Festival Artists
- Six to ten chamber music coachings with the Festival Artists
- Daily supervised chamber rehearsals
- Observation of Festival Artist rehearsals
- Approximately 8 community outreach performances
- Video-recorded performances shared with community organizations
- Complimentary admission to all four festival concerts
Final Young Artist Program Concert:
Friday, July 17, 2026 at 7 PM
University of the Incarnate Word (UIW)
NO APPLICATION FEE REQUIRED!
Auditions & Applications
Application Deadline
Monday, March 23, 2026
Download and fill out the application linked on this page
Auditions
Saturday, March 28, 2026
By appointment only
Trinity Baptist Church | 9 AM - 3 PM
Results announced the same day!
Audition Requirements
Materials Linked Below
Instrumentalists: two contrasting solo works
- No accompanist required
- Sight reading may be requested
Pianists: two solo works plus required chamber excerpts (scores available for download below)
Young Artist Schedule
July 17 is our special Young Artist Program concert, showcasing the exceptional talent of our scholarship winners. This free performance will be hosted at Diane Bennack Hall at the University of the Incarnate Word and is our audience's chance to support the next generation of chamber musicians.
Thursday, July 9 | 10 am
Barshop Jewish Community Center | San Antonio, Texas
Open to the public | No registration needed
Friday, July 10 | 1:30 pm
Blue Skies East | San Antonio, Texas
Blue Skies East residents
Wednesday, July 15 | 3pm
Meadows Retirement Community | San Antonio, Texas
Meadows residents
Friday, July 17 | 7 pm
YOUNG ARTIST PERFORMANCE
Diane Bennack Hall, UIW | San Antonio, Texas
Open to the public | Registration required
