Gordon and Jean L. Petitt Annual Music Scholarship Competition

The Gordon and Jean L. Petitt Annual Music Scholarship Competition is designed to give musically gifted students the opportunity to perform on stage with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra and to receive a cash award. 

Applications are open to all students up to age 18, residing and attending school or homeschool in Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Portage, Summit, Medina, Lorain, Mahoning, Erie, Huron, Ashtabula, and Stark counties.  *Applicants may be of any age up to 18 but must not be attending college or university.    

Contestants can be vocalists, dancers, or instrumentalists. They must be prepared to perform a full-length musical selection from memory not to exceed 8 minutes. There must be an arrangement available to be performed by the applicant with symphony orchestra. The selection choice may be drawn from standard popular music repertoire, including songs, dances or instrumental solos found in Broadway musicals, jazz, rock or light classics. 

Anyone with questions as to repertoire or the suitability of their selection, may write to Bettyjeane Quimby, at bettyjeaneq@clevelandpops.com . Auditions will take place on Sunday, November 8, 2026, from 5:00 -9:00 PM at The Music Settlement, University Circle. 

The winner of the competition will perform a solo with The Cleveland Pops Orchestra at one of its concerts, as determined by Conductor Carl Topilow. A cash prize of $1,000 will also be awarded. The winner must be available to rehearse with the orchestra at times designated by the music director. 

2026 Scholarship Competition 

Application deadline is Thursday, November 5, 2026.

See official Rules and Requirements here. 

Click here to Submit an Application 

Previous Winners

Congratulations to the 2025 Winner of Gordon and Jean L. Petitt Annual Music Scholarship Competition:

Nicholas Jacques, cello

2024: 

  • Lizzy Noall, vocalist; currently attending The Ohio State University

2023:

  • Eivissa Pla Sorolla, violin; currently attending the Cleveland Institute of Music
  • Sabrina Kerze, piano

2022:

  • Alexandra Newman, vocalist; currently attending the Manhattan School of Music
  • Lindsey Ross, vocalist; currently attending Oberlin Music Theatre, 2024 Jimmy Awards

2021:

2019:

2018:

  • Elizabeth Huang, violin; founder of the nonprofit group, Youth Bridging Through Arts
  • Alex Zhu, violin

2017:

  • Kate Klika, vocalist; performed in Lyric State Company’s production of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
  • Célina Bethoux, violin; 2021 Junior Silver Medal Lumière Quartet at Fischoff National Chamber Music Association

2016:

2015:

2014:

2013:

2012:

  • Jiana Peng, piano; released her debut album, Chopin Preludes and Other Works in 2022

2011:

  • Kaley Ann Voorhees, vocalist; recently performed in the Broadway and International Tours of Prince of Broadway
  • Sophia Madorsky, vocalist

2010:

  • James Thompson, violin; member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Bowers Program 

2009:

  • Alexis Floyd, vocalist; portrays Neff in the Netflix series Inventing Anna 

2008:

  • Sarah Arnold, violin

2007:

  • Chad Hoopes, violin; guest artist at the Menuhin Festival in Gstaad, Switzerland, the Rheingau Festival, & at Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 
  • Meredith Kochan, vocalist 

2006:

2005:

  • Jerry Lang, II, piano

2004:

  • Annie Marie Sivertson, vocalist

2003:

  • Yihao Wu, piano

2002:

2001-02:

2001:

2000:

  • Nicholas DiEugenio, violin; curator of the upcoming The Gut Instinct Chamber Music Project (2025) 

If you have further questions, please contact (216) 765-7677.

Your tax-deductible gift to the Gordon and Jean L. Petitt Memorial Music Scholarship Fund is an investment in the future of fine music. Your gift will be acknowledged in the Cleveland Pops program book. Please send your contribution to our office OR fill out our online donation form.

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