The winner of the 2025-2026 Young Artist Competition (Junior Division) violinist Naomi Jones joins the Pasadena Community Orchestra at our March 13 concert. She will perform the Zigeunerweisen by Pablo de Sarasate. You will be thrilled by the playing of this outstanding young artist!
About our YAC Junior Division winner. Naomi Jones is 12 years old and her passion is playing violin. She is a student of renowned violinist Joan Kwuon, at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, California. Naomi began studying the violin at the age of 4 with Megan Shung and subsequently with Aimee Kreston at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music (PCM).
Recently, Naomi won first place in the 2026 Los Angeles Youth Classical Competition for Piano and Strings presented by Fried Music. Her other notable achievements include being a prizewinner in the 2023 Music Teachers’ Association of California VOCE State Finals (solo strings competition) and awarded honorable mention in 2024. She was also a prizewinner in the 2024 Bellflower Young Artist Concerto Competition, and won the MTAC – Glendale Branch, Orchestra Performance Competition.
Naomi has been the Concertmaster of the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia in 2024-2025 and the Concertmaster of PYSO, Overture Strings in 2023-2024, performing at the Ambassador Auditorium. She has also been a member of several chamber music quartets. Naomi has performed in solo masterclasses for Almita Vamos, Martin Beaver and Lina Bahn and performed in chamber music masterclasses for Moni Simeonov and Jonathan Moerschel. During the summer of 2025, Naomi attended Sounding Point Academy at Colburn School with Kathleen Winkler as her teacher.
Naomi also enjoys opera singing, playing piano, studying music theory, as well as reading and photography.
About the Competition: Now in its fourth decade, PCO’s annual Young Artist Competition provides meaningful performance opportunities for young musicians and a chance to appear as soloists with a full orchestra—often for the first time. A panel of professional musicians adjudicates the process, offering a valuable and supportive experience for all who take part. Members of the community can attend for free to observe the process and appreciate the talent of the competitors. The 2026-2027 Young Artist Competition will open for new applications the fall of 2026. Stay tuned!
If you would like to make a gift to support this program, please consider a donation to help us continue offering this opportunity to the next generation of musicians that our entire community can enjoy for free.
