Santa Barbara Symphony Announces 2026 Youth Concerto Competition Winners

Three young musicians selected to perform as featured soloists with the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony next season

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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The Santa Barbara Symphony has announced the winners of its 2026 Youth Concerto Competition, following live auditions held on January 25, 2026. The three winners - Julian Carrera (trombone), Seungyoo Kim-Jung (violin), and Damian Magaña (flute) - were selected from a pool of nine outstanding young musicians and will perform as featured soloists with the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony during the 2026/27 season.

Why it matters

The Symphony's annual Youth Concerto Competition is a key part of its mission to support and guide young musicians in their musical journey, empowering them to reach new levels of skill, experience, and musicality. The competition provides an opportunity for local students to be inspired, practice diligently, and showcase their talents.

The details

The nine young musicians who participated in the competition performed at an exceptionally high level before a panel of professional adjudicators, including Santa Barbara Symphony Music & Artistic Director Nir Kabaretti, Youth Symphony Music Director Dr. Daniel Gee, and Symphony Principal Flutist Amy Tatum. After careful deliberation, the three winners were selected to perform concertos by Rimsky-Korsakov, Lalo, and Reinecke.

  • The 2026 Youth Concerto Competition auditions were held on January 25, 2026.
  • The winners will perform as featured soloists with the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony during the 2026/27 season.

The players

Nir Kabaretti

The Santa Barbara Symphony's Music & Artistic Director.

Dr. Daniel Gee

The Youth Symphony Music Director.

Amy Tatum

The Symphony's Principal Flutist and a member of the competition's adjudication panel.

Julian Carrera

One of the three winners of the 2026 Santa Barbara Symphony Youth Concerto Competition, performing the Concerto for Trombone and Military Band by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.

Seungyoo Kim-Jung

One of the three winners of the 2026 Santa Barbara Symphony Youth Concerto Competition, performing the Symphonie espagnole in D minor, Op. 21 by Édouard Lalo.

Damian Magaña

One of the three winners of the 2026 Santa Barbara Symphony Youth Concerto Competition, performing the Flute Concerto in D Major, Op. 283 by Carl Reinecke.

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What they’re saying

“These auditions showcased remarkable preparation, artistry, and maturity. Choosing the winners required careful discussion, as every performer demonstrated serious dedication and musical growth. We are thrilled to feature Julian, Seungyoo, and Damian as soloists next season and proud of every student who participated.”

— Dr. Daniel Gee, Youth Symphony Music Director (Independent.com)

What’s next

The community is invited to experience the next generation of local talent at the Symphony's next Youth Ensembles concerts, including the Camerata Ensemble & Philharmonia Orchestra Winter Concert on March 14, 2026, and the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony Winter Concert on March 15, 2026.

The takeaway

The Santa Barbara Symphony's annual Youth Concerto Competition provides a valuable platform for young musicians to showcase their talents and be inspired to reach new heights in their musical journeys, further cementing the Symphony's commitment to supporting and empowering the next generation of artists.