The 2023 Young Artist Cup winning logo design was created by Jared Hochstrasser from Hyrum.
MILLVILLE — Mountain Crest and Ridgeline high school students will have an opportunity to showcase their musical abilities during the 24th Annual Young Artist Cup on Wednesday and Thursday, March 28 and 29 at the RHS Auditorium.
“These particular students have an interest in music,” Young Artist Cup Coordinator Ruthanne Ellis said. “Sometimes I think students with an interest in music perhaps don’t have the opportunities to showcase their talents as much as other students.”
The Young Artist Cup is a competition for students at the south end high schools to perform in one of five categories. The competition also annually includes a logo competition for high school students interested in art or graphic design to design the logo for that year’s competition.
The winner for the logo design category was chosen in December. The design chosen to represent the 2023 Young Artist Cup was created by Jared Hochstrasser from Hyrum.
About 22 students will perform each night, with piano and band instruments including percussion, wind and brass on Wednesday and string instruments with male and female vocal performances on Thursday.
According to Ellis, participation in the competition had been impacted by the COVID pandemic but, this year, participation is back up.
“I think it took students awhile to kind of get back into the rhythm of performing because the last two years our numbers have been a bit low,” Ellis said. “It’s just taken people awhile to kind of getting back into the groove of really gathering and performing for a public audience.”
One of this year’s participants in the vocal category, MCHS Senior Elyse Dayley, said she is excited to participate in this year’s cup because of the new talent.
“Every single year there are more talented people,” Dayley said. “I’m always excited whenever people jump at the opportunity to sing on stage and compete for money that they can put towards education.”
During the event, two judges will be present for each category and each judge has a score sheet which will allow them to observe and decide the winners.
Each category will have three winners with each winner receiving a cash prize and a trophy award for their artistic ability.
Dayley said one of the reasons she is inspired to participate in the competition has been watching her friends in previous competitions.
“It’s always been such a great experience to watch all of my friends go up there and perform,” Dayley said. “I’ve always looked up to them and wanted to do it.”
Local piano teacher Annette Colledge has had multiple students participate in previous competitions and she said it provides an opportunity for students to gain experience performing in front of an audience, overcome stage freight, learn performance etiquette and motivates them to practice more.
Colledge said because students perform in front of an audience instead of just judges like in other competitions, it can have a positive impact on the students’ life and mental health.
“They have a very appreciative audience with their peers and families,” Colledge said. “They get that positive experience of performing for someone who really appreciates the hard work that they’ve gone to.”
Previous Young Artist Cup winner Sarah Daines said performing in the competition helped her gain confidence.
“It gave me more confidence when I went on later to perform other places,” Daines explained. “I think it’s a great opportunity for other young people to get that experience.”
The Committee for the Young Artist Cup has been fundraising since January for prizes and certain costs and, thanks to the community, they have enough resources to keep this event going.
“It’s a nice community event that people are really supportive of,” Ellis said.
Admission is free and refreshments will be provided. The community is encouraged to attend and support these budding artists.
Kenzie Hoehne contributed to his report.