Four of the five young musicians chosen to perform as soloists with the Utah Symphony at its 66th Annual Salute to Youth concert are students at the Diana & Joel Peterson School of Music in Salt Lake City. PR Underground reported that the Nov. 18 concert at Abravanel Hall features students selected through a multi-round blind audition from 77 applicants statewide.
According to PR Underground, the Peterson School of Music advanced 15 students to the 26-finalist round. Selected performers include 10-year-old double bassist Caspian Stokes, a full-scholarship conservatory student and Bagley Bass Scholarship recipient who began studying at age four, and 15-year-old violinist Isaac Beus, a Starling Scholarship recipient who started playing at seven after being inspired by a movie soundtrack.
Both students credited the school’s peer community for supporting their development. Stokes described the school as a place where he can make friends while learning music, and Beus said classmates share interconnected musical journeys. Parents noted the school’s curriculum includes music history, active listening, foundational theory, orchestra and chamber experience.
Two school alumni newly appointed to Utah Symphony violin sections previously participated in Salute to Youth as students. The nonprofit school, formerly Gifted Music School, launched in 2008 and offers a full-scholarship GRIT program to expand access to instruction across backgrounds.
For more information, visit prunderground.com.