Walter A. and Dorothy J. Oestreich Concerto Competition
"Winning that competition was a true gift for me, it came at a time when I was not sure what I wanted to do with my voice or with my life, and it encouraged me to continue on and pursue my masters in music." -- Leigh Akin
In memory of his late wife, long-time Concord Chamber Orchestra audience member Walter Oestreich established the Dorothy J. Oestreich Concerto Competition Scholarship Fund in 2000. Upon Walter's death in 2014, it was renamed by the CCO in order to honor him also. Income generated from this fund has provided scholarships to the winner of the CCO’s annual Concerto Competition since the fund’s inception. The competition, held each December, gives an outstanding young musician the opportunity to perform with the Concord Chamber Orchestra in the Concerto Competition Concert in March.
The competition is open to musicians (instrumentalists, pianists and vocalists) who are residents of Wisconsin and/or attend a Wisconsin high school, college or university, and who are aged 25 or younger as of the application deadline. If you would like to be notified when applications are being accepted for the next competition, contact our General Manager.
The competition is open to musicians (instrumentalists, pianists and vocalists) who are residents of Wisconsin and/or attend a Wisconsin high school, college or university, and who are aged 25 or younger as of the application deadline. If you would like to be notified when applications are being accepted for the next competition, contact our General Manager.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Concerto Competition
Full Concerto Division - Owne Xayboury (viola) Owne Xayboury is a Hmong-American violist currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree at the Manhattan School of Music under Cong Wu. He began his musical journey in 2018 and has since earned several accolades, including first place in the New York Young Virtuoso Music Competition with a Carnegie Hall debut, and runner-up in the Walter A. and Dorothy J. Oestreich Concerto Competition, among others. A multi-year recipient of the prestigious Ruggeri Scholarship for Young Violists, Owne was awarded the $10,000 Wilshire Quinn Musical Arts Scholarship, with CEO Christopher M. Garcia praising his “remarkable artistry and heartfelt passion” (PR Newswire). He has also been featured on NPR Music in collaboration with Grammy Award-winning rapper Common, at the Aspen Music Festival in 2024. Most recently, Owne was one of only nine violists selected to attend Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival and School—one of America’s most intensive and distinguished chamber music festivals. As the first Hmong student at the Manhattan School of Music, Owne hopes to inspire his community, proving that through dedication and perseverance, dreams can become a reality. Honorable Mention Nathaniel Tang (piano) 
One Movement Division - Lucy Wu (cello)
Lucy Wu, 17, studies with Stefan Kartman at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy, a training center for advanced pre-college musicians. Since solo debuting at age 10 with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra as winner of the 2019 MYSO Concerto Competition, Lucy has been featured with the Milwaukee, Madison, Chippewa Valley, and Oistrakh Symphony Orchestras. As winner of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s Stars of Tomorrow, she performed four more times with the MSO in their 2025 Rhythm Rhapsody concert series. Lucy is the 2nd Grand Prize Winner of the 2024 Chicago International Music Competition, selected out of 100 contestants from 13 countries and has won top honors in many other competitions. She is also a member of the renowned Quartet Meraviglia - Bronze Medalist of the 2024 Fischoff Competition. Last summer, Lucy was one of ten cellists selected from nationwide for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America, performing in multiple sold-out concerts at Carnegie Hall and in the leading halls of China, Japan, and Korea. Honorable Mentions Angelina Chang (piano) Johana Kim (flute) Olivia Wen (piano |
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