Concerto Competition Winners Archive
2025-2026
Winner
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.
Finalists
Sonia Okunev, Dylan Goldbach, Joshua Acree, Madison Shamis, Roger Luo, and Jerry Gan.
Judges
Dr. Timothy McMurray and Mr. Neil Casey.
Repertoire Selections
2024-2025
Winner
Benjamin Webb
Benjamin began his music studies at the Jacobs Guitar Academy in Bloomington, Indiana, at the age of five. At six, he added cello to his musical education, studying under the renowned pedagogue Susan Moses Bloom. His training continued in Suzhou, China, where he studied both guitar and cello under Alexander Suleiman. Currently, Benjamin is a junior at the Fine Arts Center, focusing on strings and taking lessons from Seth Russell, the principal cellist of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra. In 2024, he earned the first cello of the All-State Orchestra. The same year, with the generous support of GCYO, Benjamin had the opportunity to study chamber music at the prestigious Indiana University Summer Strings Academy. Benjamin also enjoys playing piano.
In addition to his musical pursuits, he is an avid chess player with a strong tournament background, having participated in several hundred state, national, and international competitions. He represented South Carolina twice at the Championship of Champions held alongside the U.S. Chess Open Tournament. Outside of music and chess, Benjamin is passionate about bodybuilding and tennis.
Finalists & Repertoire
Benjamin Webb, cello
Haydn Cello Concerto In C, (First Movement)
Hanna Xia, cello:
Boccherini Cello Concerto No. 1, first movement
Kai Tucker, viola:
Hoffmeister Viola Concerto in D Major, first movement
Sonia Okunev, piano:
Mozart Piano concerto No. 17, first movement
Amy Ding, piano:
Mozart Piano concerto No. 21, first movement
Benjamin Webb, Cello:
Haydn Cello Concerto In C, first movement
Johannes Bob, violin:
Mozart Violin Concerto No. 3, first movement
2023-2024
