Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 MSO Youth Concerto Competition!
Jiles Defosse (violin) – Wieniawski Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor (Mvt. 3)
Ayush Mishra (marimba) – Creston Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra (Mvt. 1)
Elaine Zhang (cello) – Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor (Mvt. 3)
Since launching the youth concerto competition in 2016, the MSO has showcased multiple winning soloists, providing an opportunity for musicians in middle and high school to perform with us at our annual concert. We look forward to performing with these talented soloists at our concert on Sunday, June 8th, 2025!
About Jiles Defosse
Jiles Defosse has been playing the violin since he was four years old. Now 15, he is a 9th grader at Broadneck High School. He currently takes private violin lessons with Professor June Huang.
Among his recent awards, Jiles won the state round of the 2024-2025 Music Teachers National Association Junior String Performance Competition in Virginia. He also won 3rd place in the Upper Intermediate Level of the 2024-2025 Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association Concerto Competition.
Presently, Jiles plays in the DC Youth Orchestra, the Broadneck High School Orchestra, and the Broadneck High School Chamber Orchestra. For the last 3 years, Jiles has participated in the Maryland All State Junior Orchestra.
When not practicing at home or in orchestra, Jiles takes the violin to church, retirement homes, and wherever there’s a young kid for him to tutor.
About Ayush Mishra
Ayush N. Mishra is a junior at River Hill High School in Clarksville, Maryland, and resides with his parents and older brother, a college freshman. Ayush has been studying and mastering percussion for the last seven years under the guidance of his private tutor, Robert Miller, and his high school band director, Michael Blackman. His musical proficiency has earned him spots in several prestigious ensembles, including Howard County’s G/T Band and Youth Orchestra and Maryland’s All-State Band and Orchestra.
Ayush is a member of River Hill High School’s Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, and Jazz Band. He also performs with a band he formed with his friends named Honey Mustard. Ayush has participated in numerous musical competitions, achieving honorable mentions in the 2023 HCYO Concerto Competition and the 2024 Army Band Concerto Competition. He was also awarded 2nd place in the 2023 FMMC Ross Roberts High School Competition.
Beyond music, Ayush enjoys playing sports with his friends and exploring his passion for computer science by developing applications, including those related to music.
About Elaine Zhang
Elaine Zhang, age 15, is a freshman at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia. She began her cello studies at the age of 10. Elaine has been an NSO Youth Fellow since 2024 and is a student of Loewi Lin.
Elaine made her orchestral solo debut at age 13 with the Old Dominion University Symphony Orchestra as the winner of the 2023 VMTA Concerto Competition. She also performed with the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras after winning their concerto competition. As the 1st place winner of the 2025 Richmond Symphony League Student Concerto Competition, Elaine will perform with the Richmond Symphony in their upcoming 2025-2026 season.
In 2024, Elaine performed as the opening act with her chamber ensemble at The Anthem for the NSO’s Ugly Sweater Holiday Concert. A member of the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras for the past four years, she currently serves as principal cellist of the American Youth Symphonic Orchestra. Elaine has performed at venues including the Ward Recital Hall at Catholic University of America, the Embassy of Hungary in Washington D.C., the National Building Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, The Anthem, and the REACH and Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center.