2025 Concerto Competition finalists, from left to right: Sonia Okunev, Dylan Goldbach, Joshua Acree, Madison Shamis, and Jerry Gan (not pictured is Roger Luo). The judges were Dr. Timothy McMurray (left) and Mr. Neil Casey (right).

Announcing The YAO Concerto Competition Winner

Sponsored by The Bichel Foundation

Congratulations to the Concerto Competition Winner, Jerry Gan. Jerry will perform the 1st movement of Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto at the Gunter Theatre Concert, Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 PM. Details below:

Special thanks to The Bichel Foundation for sponsoring the 25-26 Concerto Competition

See the finalist’s repertoire selections below:

About Jerry Gan:

A Greenville native, Jerry Gan is a junior at Christ Church Episcopal School with over a decade of experience on his instrument. He has been studying with the beloved Mary Irwin for 10 years. His previous teachers include the esteemed Betsy Fee. Throughout his high school career, Jerry has served as the concertmaster of the 2024 SCMEA Region II Honors Orchestra and the assistant concertmaster of the 2025 SCMEA All-State Orchestra. He has recorded four years of service with both the Greenville County Youth Orchestra and the Carolina Youth Symphony, the former of which he also serves as concertmaster. Jerry has been recognized as a Piccolo Spoleto Rising Star, a finalist at the Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall, and a finalist at the Southern Violin Association Concerto Competition

In his free time, Jerry plays the fiddle in his high school band and is an ardent fan of the Carolina Panthers. He is also an amateur singer and mandolin player