A total of nine string players from Key to Change’s Concerto Competition, Jessie Montgomery and Debut Competitive Divisions have won solo guest appearances with orchestras, including the Seattle Symphony. Additionally, they earned free tuition at Key to Change as well as future college scholarships. More than 25 students won other special prizes at the annual festival.
The winners of the Solo String Festival have been announced. Five finalists competed in the Concerto Competition, nine finalists competed in the Jessie Montgomery Competitive Division, and ten students competed in the Debut Competitive Division, which took place at Seattle Symphony’s Benaroya Hall on Saturday, May 10, 2025. More than a dozen students competed in the Non-Competitive Division. Students competed in front of a jury of internationally known professional musicians and educators, as well as members of the Seattle Symphony.
Key to Change Concerto Competition winners:
Mason Nguyen
Sid Siravara
Avi Spillers
Jessie Montgomery Competitive Division winners:
Mason Nguyen, 1st place
Laila West, 2nd place
Sid Siravara, 3rd place
Eden Pawlos, Jury prize
Debut Competitive Division winners:
Natalie Anderson, 1st place
Daniel Elko, 2nd place
Amani Tompkins, 3rd place
Winners of the Concerto Competition will perform as guest soloists next season with the Seattle Symphony. Mason Nguyen will make his debut with Seattle Symphony on October 29, 2025 at the Tukwila Performing Arts Center. Sid Siravara and Avi Spillers will perform in Taper Auditorium at Benaroya Hall on April 10, 2026.
Mason Nguyen, the first place winner of the Jessie Montgomery Competitive Division won a $1,000 college scholarship, a solo debut with the Federal Way Symphony, a set of high-quality strings, a year-long tuition-free (beginning fall 2025) scholarship for music lessons at Key to Change. He will also perform in guest masterclasses with members of the Seattle Symphony and live on the radio on Classical KING FM’s Northwest Focus Live program and Unmute The Voices.
Laila West, the second place winner of the Jessie Montgomery Competitive Division, won a set of high-quality strings and was invited to perform in a guest masterclass. She will also be featured in local news outlets and across Key to Change’s social media platforms.
Sid Siravara, the third place winner of the Jessie Montgomery Competitive Division, won a set of high-quality strings and was invited to perform at select events sponsored by Key to Change. He will also be featured in local media and on the organization’s social media platforms.
Laila West will also make her debut with the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra on October 19, 2025 in the IKEA Performing Arts Center. Both Laila and Sid Siravara will also receive a set of high-quality strings, an opportunity to perform in guest masterclasses with members of the Seattle Symphony.
Natalie Anderson, the first place winner of the Debut Competitive Division, won a $500 college scholarship, a year-long tuition-free (beginning fall 2025) scholarship for music lessons at Key to Change, and a set of high-quality strings. She will perform in a guest masterclass with a member of the Seattle Symphony and appear live on the radio on Unmute The Voices, along with being featured in local media and on Key to Change’s social media platforms.
Daniel Elko, the second place winner of the Debut Competitive Division, won a set of high-quality strings and was invited to perform at select events hosted by Key to Change. He will also receive features in local media and on Key to Change’s social media platforms.
Amani Tompkins, the third place winner of the Debut Competitive Division, won a set of high-quality strings and was invited to perform at select events hosted by Key to Change. She will also be featured in local news and on Key to Change’s social media platforms.
Guest artists who appeared on the adjudication panel included Lynn Chang, Dr. Irina Muresanu, Dr. Tami Lee Hughes, Brittany Britten, Olivia Chew, and Sunny Xia. Students also performed in guest masterclasses for artists, who included Eduardo Rios, Hans Jorgen Jensen and Christian Howes.
