Culver City Symphony Orchestra / Marina del Rey Summer Symphony

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Culver City Symphony

​Parness Competition 2025/26
Following the Live Round of the Parness Competition, held on November 2, 2025 at the Salit Conservatory of Music, the judges were pleased to announce the First Place winners and Honorable Mentions in each age category. Congratulations to all of these remarkable young musicians.
2025/26 Parness Competition Laureates
 
Junior Division
 
First Place: Catherine Huang (Flute)
Honorable Mention: Florence Lau (Violin)
Honorable Mention: Yuna Nam (Violin)
 
Intermediate Division
 
First Place: Liam Thomas (Violin)
Honorable Mention: Eiline Tai (Cello)
Honorable Mention: Dallas Chu (Violin)
 
Senior Division
 
First Place: Dominik Yoder (Piano)
Honorable Mention: Cheyoon Lee (Cello)
Honorable Mention: Dennis Papazyan (Flute)
Honorable Mention: Yutaka Suzuki (Violin)

 

The Parness Competition is sponsored by
​
​​Culver City Symphony Orchestra

P. O Box 4846
Culver City, CA 90231


www.culvercitysymphony.org

[email protected]



Parness Competition History
In the Fall of 1974, a youth fund was started in memory of Maurice Parness. Parness was a long-time friend, sponsor, and member of the Board of Directors of the Orchestra which, at that time, was known as the Marina del Rey Westchester Symphony Orchestra.

The costs of our Parness Competition and solo appearances by our talented Winners and Honorable Mentions have been supported by the Maurice K. Parness Youth Fund and administered by the SoCal Symphony Society since its inception.

The first concert to feature winners of the Parness Competition was held on December 7, 1974 at the Westchester High School Auditorium.

"I played with that orchestra in 1992. It was my first full concerto performance...an important moment in my life, and an exciting one."  

Robert Thies, Pianist, on performing with the orchestra as a winner of the Parness Competition.

​Mr. Thies later went on to be awarded First Prize in the Prokofiev Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia. The only American pianist awarded First Prize in a Russian Competition in four decades.  He is active with concerts and recordings of concertos, chamber music and solo performances.  


​The Competition, and the orchestra, rely upon your generosity. Will you consider a donation to help promote young musicians? 
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