JANUARY 2026 NEWSLETTER

Happy New Year
from Junior Chamber Music!

JCM enters 2026 with deep appreciation for the community that has grown around us since our founding in 2002. It is now a thriving community of students, families, and coaches. Thank you for continuing this journey with us.

Faculty Concert Recap

JCM annual faculty concert on December 7 was a tremendous success. Thank you to everyone who joined us and supported our incredible coaches. As we mentioned, it’s a joy to see your coaches in action, performing with the same passion and artistry they bring to your rehearsals.

Coaching Sessions in Full Swing

Groups across all regions are meeting with their coaches, shaping their chamber works week by week. It’s inspiring to witness your pieces evolve, from first read‑throughs to expressive, unified performances.

Upcoming Events

Stay up to date with everything happening across all JCM branches by visiting our online calendar. You’ll find dates for concerts, master classes, competitions, and more, all in one place.

JCM Chamber Music Competition

The JCM Chamber Music Competition is one of the most respected youth chamber competitions on the West Coast and a signature opportunity reserved exclusively for our JCM ensembles. It offers a prestigious platform for young musicians to perform at a high level, with multiple rounds of evaluation and the chance to be featured on the Da Camera Society Chamber Music Series. This competition highlights the artistry, dedication, and growth of our students across all branches and stands as a defining milestone in the JCM season.

Key Dates

• February 26, 2026: Preliminary Round submission deadline

• March 1, 2026: Semi‑finalist notifications

• March 7, 2026: Live Semi‑Finals, Finals, and Prizewinner Concert at Cerritos College

We encourage all eligible ensembles to apply and take advantage of this exceptional opportunity.

More Upcoming Competitions

Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition
www.fischoff.org
Due date: December 15, 2025 - February 18, 2026
Fees: $135 per ensemble
Eligibility: Age 19 or younger and in high school.
Audition video: At least two contrasting movements, minimum of 15 minutes of total playing time.
Prizes: Quarterfinal & Semifinal Rounds on Friday, May 8 at the University of Notre Dame (in Indiana)
1st Prize and Gold Medal - $2,500
2nd Prize and Silver Medal - $2,000
3rd Prize and Bronze Medal - $1,500
**Finalists featured on NPR’s From the Top


Los Angeles Youth Classical Competition for Piano and Strings
www.friedmusic.com/competition
Date: Sunday, January 18, 2026  
Location: Fried Music, 7 N 3rd Street, Alhambra CA 91801
Eligible instruments: Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello  
Age eligibility: 6–18 (as of January 18, 2026)  
Early Application Deadline ($25 off app fee): December 20, 2025
Final Application Deadline: January 2, 2026


JCM Concerto Competition
https://www.juniorchambermusic.org/young-musicians-concerto-competition
Due date: January 31, 2026
Competition date: February 28, 2026
Fees: $90-$100 solo. Ensemble: $60/performer.
Eligibility: JCM students only. See website for repertoire restrictions.
Category A: 11 & under (combined with CAPMT)
Category B: 14 & under
Category C: 21 & under
Category D: All ages, multi-instrument
Prizes: Performance with Orchestra Collective of Orange County (OC of OC) in Daniel Recital Hall at CSULB in September 2026.


MTAC LA County Scholarship Competition for Solo and Chamber Music
mtaclacounty.org/programs/branch-programs
Due date: April 1-15, 2026
Fees: $30 teacher fee (if not a member of MTAC-LA)
$40-$45 per applicant
Category 1 - Ages 16-18
Category 2 - Ages 13-15
Category 3 - Ages 10-12
Category 4 - 9 & under
Competition on May 2, 2026 in Alhambra
Each Division has 1st, 2nd, 3rd cash prizes ranging from $325-$675


Musical Arts Club of Orange County Competition
www.musicalartsoc.org
Due date: April 2026
Fees: $40 teacher membership
$50 student application
Numerous divisions and ages - see website
Repertoire free choice
Prizes: Trophies and comments
Finalist performance in May at CSULB


John Child Walker Music Competition
www.walkermusiccompetition.org
Due date: April 2026
Fees: $40 Teacher membership fee
$50 per applicant
Eligibility: Teacher must be a member of the Musicians’ Club of Pomona Valley
Prizes: Trophies, $100, and comments.


Southwestern Youth Music Festival
www.symf.org
Due date: July 2026
Teacher membership due May 1st, 2026
Student fees apply
Numerous divisions, levels, and ages - see website
Repertoire for ensemble is free choice.
Prizes: Trophies and comments

Haydn Piano Trio No. 39 in G Major

This month, we highlight Haydn’s Piano Trio No. 39 in G Major, often nicknamed the “Gypsy Trio.” A few fun notes about the piece:

• The trio is known for its brilliant piano writing, reflecting Haydn’s late‑period virtuosity.

• The famous final movement incorporates Hungarian “gypsy‑style” rhythms, giving it a fiery, dance‑like character.

• It’s a wonderful example of Haydn’s humor, elegance, and inventiveness, perfect inspiration for young chamber musicians learning to balance clarity with personality.

Listen to some performances by JCM students of this piece and notice how each ensemble brings out the energy and character of the movements.

Faculty Feature

Ben Solomonow

A prize winner of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, Ben Solomonow has been featured on the American national radio stations WFMT and NPR, and has been invited to perform at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Ravinia's Bennett-Gordon Hall, and the Seoul Arts Center. In recent years, Solomonow's collaborations have included those with Mitsuko Uchida, Josef Silverstein, Gary Hoffman, Emanuel Ax, Miriam Fried, Roberto Diaz, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Martin Beaver, Meng-Chieh Liu, Rami Solomonow, Vadim Gluzman, Clive Greensmith, Anton Nel, Ilya Kaler, Paul Coletti, Atar Arad, members of the Tokyo, Vermeer, Juilliard, Borromeo, Brentano, Cleveland, Calidore, and Pacifica Quartets. As an active chamber musician, he has performed at the Marlboro Music Festival, Ojai Music Festival, Ravinia Music Festival, Festival Mozaic, North Shore Chamber Music Festival, Red Rocks Chamber Music Festival, and with the Chicago Chamber Musicians. Recent concerto appearances include performances with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra at the SOKA Performing Arts Center under Carl St. Clair, and the Colburn Orchestra at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and under Xian Zhang. Having completed his bachelor and master's degrees at the Colburn Conservatory of Music under Clive Greensmith, Solomonow continued to pursue a Graduate Certificate under Ralph Kishbaum at the University of Southern California. Other influential teachers have included Hans Jensen, Gary Hoffman, and Arnold Steinhardt. As a Stradivari Society Artist, Solomonow performs on an 1898 Vincenzo Postiglione cello on generous loan by the Stradivari Society of Chicago.

We Want to Feature YOU!

Got an awesome story, fun fact, or performance video to share?
We love celebrating our students & alumni.

Send your stories or clips to Aimee: aimee@juniorchambermusic.org for a chance to be featured!

Stay Connected!

Follow us for daily inspiration, student spotlights, and behind-the-scenes fun:

• Instagram: @juniorchambermusic

• Facebook: @juniorchambermusic

• YouTube: @juniorchambermusic

As we begin 2026, we carry that same spirit of music, growth, and community into the year ahead. Thank you for continuing to be part of JCM. We’re excited for all that this new season will bring.

With gratitude,
The Junior Chamber Music Team