2026 Annual Youth Festival

A very important part of Tri-County Concerts' program is its Annual Youth Festival, established in 1943. This is one of the area's most prestigious competitions for aspiring young musicians living in Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Auditions are open to high-school and middle-school students in a wide variety of instruments, including piano, strings, winds, voice, and ensembles, as well as a musica diversa category that includes harp, classical guitar, and percussion.

The Youth Festival offers talented students an opportunity to audition before and receive critiques from professional musicians. Each year those students deemed the most outstanding by the judges perform at a live winners’ recital; they also receive monetary awards and their photos and accomplishments are featured on our website.

Our 83rd Annual Youth Festival Winners' Recital was held on May 30, 2026, at 7:00 PM at Swope Music Building, West Chester University in West Chester, PA 19383.

Check back here in early January 2027 for complete information on the 2027 festival. Later in January, teachers will receive by email an invitation to pre-register their students.

Current & Past Winners, Photos, and Short Biographies