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Our Congratulations To
The Winners of the 2008 Competition
ALICE COLEMAN PRIZE - $7,500
Jasper String Quartet

Rice University
J Freivogel, Violin
Sae Niwa, Violin
Sam Quintal, Viola
Rachel Henderson, Cello
James Dunham, Coach
COLEMAN-SAUNDERSON PRIZE FOR WOODWINDS & BRASS - $4,000
Amethyst Quartet

Northwestern Univeristy
John Salinas, Soprano Sax
Sean Hurlburt, Alto Sax
Luke Gay, Tenor Sax
Zachary Pfau,, Baritone Sax
Frederick Hemke, Coach
HONORABLE MENTION
A441 Wind Quintet

Eastman School of Music
Helen Kong, Flute
Shane Helfner, Oboe
Dan Nebel, Horn
Poyao Richard Chen, Bassoon
Chien-Kwan Lin, Coach

The 2008 competition took place on Saturday, April 12th in Caltech's Ramo Auditorium. The winners will present a formal concert on Sunday, April 13th. The program for this year's Winners Concert is available online as a PDF file.

The judges for the 2008 competition were:Download the Application

  • Gloria Cheng, Piano
  • James Buswell IV, Violin
  • David Lee Jackson, Trombone
  • Douglas Masek, Saxophone
  • Phyllis Young, Cello

Each year, everyone is welcome to attend both days of this exciting annual event.

Groups interested in participating in the 2009 competition, please watch this page for the 2009 application


The Competition began in 1947 as the Coleman Auditions for young, non-professional performers; today's competing ensembles have an average age of less than 26. From a modest beginning, the annual Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition (renamed in 1982) has become a highly respected national and international event with competitors coming from the major music schools across the country.

Many Coleman Competition winners have gone on to become widely acclaimed artists. An abbreviated list of past winners includes Glenn Dicterow; Grant Gershon; Jeffrey Kahane; Anne-Marie McDermott; Paula Robison; Nathaniel Rosen; Morton Subotnick; the Ahn Trio; eigth blackbird; and the Cavani, Colorado, Pacifica, Tokyo, and Vega Quartets.

Held annually in late April, the Competition offers an opportunity for these musicians to perform before an outstanding panel of nationally chosen judges for three prizes totaling $15,500. Previous judges have included Jascha Heifetz; Natalie Limonick; Mehli Mehta; Gregor Piatigorsky; Artur Rubinstein; Eudice Shapiro; Anrold Steinhardt; Henri Temianka; the Beaux Arts Trio; and the Amadeus, Budapest, Opus One, and Smetana Quartets.