Young Concert Artists has announced the semifinalists for the 2026 Susan Wadsworth International Auditions, including four singers among 38 artists from 10 countries.

The vocal semifinalists include sopranos Kerrigan Bigelow and Bridget Esler; mezzo-soprano Sophia Baete; and baritone Patrick Wilhelm. They were chosen from a pool of more than 150 applicants following live auditions in New York and Los Angeles and virtual auditions by video submission. The remaining semifinalists are 30 instrumentalists and four chamber ensembles.

The semifinal round will take place Nov. 4 to 6, 2026, at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center in New York. Finalists will be announced Nov. 7, and the final round will be held Nov. 8 at Merkin Hall. The final is free and open to the public and will be streamed live by The Violin Channel.

The jury includes YCA President Daniel Kellogg, YCA Founder Susan Wadsworth, mezzo soprano Denyce Graves, conductor Jane Glover, pianist Inon Barnatan, clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein, San Diego Symphony President and CEO Martha Gilmer, violist Hsin-Yun Huang, violinist Nicholas Kitchen, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Associate Director for Classical Programming Erin Norton and cellist Paul Watkins.

Winners will compete to join the YCA Roster as soloists or as the Ensemble in Residence, and will enter the organization’s three year YCA Fellowship. The jury will also select up to three Laureates, who will receive $5,000 in career development grants. Winners and Laureates will be announced Nov. 9, followed by a Winners Concert at 7 p.m. at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Room.

“Each year, the world’s most promising young musicians come to us through our rigorous auditions, and in turn, we help launch their careers in transformative ways. The YCA audition process is as prestigious as any of the world’s top music competitions, while representing a broader spectrum of instrumentalists, vocalists, and chamber ensembles. We reflect the future of classical music, which carries a deep commitment to prepare these musicians for long and distinguished careers,” Kellogg said, per an official press release.