The Key Note: Conversations in Music

Two parents with teen children dressed for special event.

Shannon Hesse (right) with her family. She and her husband, Anthony Kitai, met at the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) summer festival in Graz, Austria. He has been a member of the Houston Symphony cello section for 25 years.

As far as Shannon Hesse is concerned, the best way to play piano is to perform with others. “It feels like we’re having a conversation,” said Hesse, a regular collaborative pianist for the Young Texas Artists Music Competition. “We can share ideas and play off of each other. That, to me, is far more rewarding … Read more

Major Milestone: Young Texas Artists Presents 40th Finalists’ Concert & Awards March 8

Woman plays piano at music competition

Daeun Han performs “Totentanz, S. 126” by Franz Liszt during the 2024 Young Texas Artists (YTA) Music Competition Finalists’ Concert & Awards. Han won YTA’s Grand Prize and Gold Medal in the Piano division. Photo by Dave Clements.

This year marks YTA’s 40th classical music competition — 40 years of championing rising stars in classical music and inspiring audiences. And the public is invited to see it all unfold. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at Crighton Theatre, 234 N. Main Street, in the Downtown Conroe Cultural District.

Apply Now for 2025 YTA Music Competition

Woman wearing prize medal holding yellow roses and Texas flag poses with two men and a woman at classical music competition.

From left, Brandon Kiser, deputy district director for the Texas Senate, presents 2024 YTA Grand Prize Winner and Gold Medalist in Piano Daeun Han with the Texas flag that had flown over the state Capitol building on Texas Independence Day. Also shown are YTA founder Jim Pokorski and YTA President/CEO Susie Moore Pokorski. Photo by David Hopper.

The application period for the 2025 Young Texas Artists Music Competition continues through Dec. 31, 2024.