Lucas Yeh is an accomplished violinist and academic, excelling in all areas of his life. A straight-A+ student throughout his school years, Lucas has consistently demonstrated exceptional discipline and dedication. He has achieved first-chair positions in middle school and high school All-Region orchestras, culminating in his role as Concertmaster of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra. Lucas has won numerous first prizes in prestigious music competitions across Texas, placed second in the 2024 Juanita Miller Concerto Competition, and reached the finals in the National YoungArts program. Notably, he performed at Carnegie Hall and was featured in a WFAA news story for his remarkable violin achievements.
Lucas currently studies with Professor Aaron Boyd at Southern Methodist University and has participated in masterclasses with world-renowned violinists Cho-Liang Lin, Andrés Cárdenes, and James Ehnes. As the President of the Chamber Music International Young Ambassadors, Lucas is a leader in fostering musical excellence. He enjoys performing duets with his younger brother Louie, also a talented violinist, and together they bring joy to their community through music.
Beyond his musical talents, Lucas has a passion for exploring history, particularly Egyptology, and loves traveling to historically rich destinations like Egypt. He enjoys attending music concerts, ballet performances, studying science, and experimenting in the kitchen. A devoted animal lover, he adores his four cats and a dog.
Lucas plans to pursue a pre-med major, combining his passions for music and medicine. He envisions a future as part of the World Doctors Orchestra, leading a life that embodies “M&Ms” – music and medicine.
Gregory Faught has studied double bass since the age of 13. He was awarded 1st Prize in the 2023 Bellagrande International Music Competition, 2nd Prize in the 2023 Medici International Music Competition, Silver Prize in the 2023 Euterpe International Music Awards Competition, and 2nd Prize in the national division of the 2024 OPUS Music Competition. In addition, he garnered 1st Prize in the String Area Concerto Competition at Texas Tech University in both 2023 and 2024.
Greg served as principal bassist for the 2022 TMEA All-State Sinfonietta Orchestra as well as the 2023 TMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra and was principal bassist of the Texas Tech University Orchestra during the 2023-2024 academic year. He is a member of the Lubbock Symphony, the San Angelo Symphony, and the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestras.
Greg is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Double Bass Performance at Texas Tech University and studies under Dr. Mark Morton.
Applications are reviewed by a panel of judges who will select the winners for each division.
Applicants will be notified of results no later than December 15, 2024. The winners are expected/required to perform at the Winner's Concert with the TexASTA Orchestra at the 2025 TexASTA Session at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio on Saturday, February 15, 2025. Monetary awards will be given immediately following the performance.
Senior Division: $1,000 award and performance with the TexASTA Orchestra at the 2025 TMEA Convention.
Junior Division: $750 award and performance with the TexASTA Orchestra at the 2025 TMEA Convention.
In order to include performances with orchestra for our competition winners, the approved concertos were selected because their instrumentation is exclusively or mostly strings, with very limited winds, brass, and/or percussion, or arrangements for string orchestra are available. Our goal is to continuously add repertoire to this approved list. Please contact us if you would like us to consider and approve other concertos by emailing Dr. Jack Unzicker, TexASTA Competition Chair, unzicker@uta.edu.
Alette Williams, junior division
Lucas Gabriel M. Furtado Assis, senior division
Ray Zhang, junior division
Ariya Tai, senior division
Arman Deendar, junior division
Nicholas Garcia-Hettinger, senior division