Announcement
Portland Choir & Orchestra is pleased to announce the 2026 Youth Musician Scholarship, to be presented Saturday 16 May at our upcoming concert, Prairie Fire.
Through this scholarship Portland Choir & Orchestra is aiming to create opportunities for equity-deserving young musicians who not only demonstrate exceptional skill but also a deep commitment to using their music to benefit the world.
Applications are closed for this season. Results will be announced here and at our Prairie Fire concert Saturday 16 May 2026.
Contribution
Please consider contributing to our scholarship fund by making a donation.
2025
Portland Choir & Orchestra is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Youth Musician Scholarship program. Applications were received and reviewed from high school students throughout the Portland and Vancouver metropolitan areas.
The Grand Prize Award of $1,000 announced at the 26 April 2025 Brahms Requiem concert went to Emily Liu, a freshman at Camas High School. Emily is principle oboist in the MYS Concert Orchestra and her application includes performances on piano and oboe. You can view the YouTube play list submitted with Emily’s application here. The Grieg Piano Concerto with Central Oregon Symphony at the head of the list is especially compelling.
In addition, Kou Yuasa, a pianist and senior at Sunset High School, received the Executive Director’s Award of $500. Kou’s high school tenure includes Drum Major, Concert, Symphonic, Jazz, and Funk Bands, and Wind Ensemble.
Portland Choir & Orchestra congratulates each of the applicants and wishes to encourage their continued pursuit of musical studies and to share their talents with others. Each applicant not listed here will receive $100 for submitting their application.
Portland Choir & Orchestra expresses gratitude to the golfers who participated in the annual PCO Golf Classic Tournament last September. It is because of them that funds were available to offer the Grand Prize award this year. In addition, PCO also wishes to extend thanks to our generous donors without whom these awards would not be possible.
Portland Choir & Orchestra will once again host the PCO Golf Classic at the Stone Creek Golf Course on Saturday 28 June 2025. Registration for this fun event to help raise Youth Musician Scholarship funds to award next year is available here.
2024
Portland Choir & Orchestra was pleased to announce the winners of its first annual Youth Musician Scholarship program. This inaugural effort resulted in thirteen applications from students from various locations in the Portland and Vancouver metropolitan areas. Two applications were from the sixth grade, one was from the ninth grade, two were from the eleventh grade and six were from the twelfth grade.
The Grand Prize Award of $1,000 announced at the May 11, 2024 Carmina Burana concert went to: Nikita Istratov, a pianist and Senior at Sunset High School. You can view Nikita’s audition YouTube play list here.
Two other major awards were also announced just prior to the concert:
Janae Ausbie, a vocalist and Senior at Tigard High School received the Executive Director’s Award of $750.
Kennadi Jones, a vocalist and Senior at Ridgefield High School received the Artistic Director’s Award of $500.
Portland Choir & Orchestra congratulates each of the applicants and wishes to encourage their continued pursuit of musical studies and to share their talents with others.
Portland Choir & Orchestra expresses gratitude to the golfers who participated in the first annual PCO Golf Classic Tournament July 2023. It is because of them that funds were available to offer the Grand Prize award this year. In addition, PCO wishes to extend thanks to Rob & Kim Perkins, a member of the Choir and an anonymous donor who generously offered funding
to make the other two awards possible.