How this Salt Lake City Music School Prepares Students for a Prestigious Utah Symphony Competition
Salt Lake City, UT (PRUnderground) November 10th, 2026
The Diana & Joel Peterson School of Music is proud to announce that several of its students were selected for the Utah Symphony’s 66th Annual Salute to Youth concert, a cherished community tradition where students across the state are selected to perform with the prestigious symphony.
The concert will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m. at Abravanel Hall. It features young Utah musicians selected through a rigorous, multi-round blind audition process to perform as soloists live on stage alongside the Utah Symphony. The concert provides a unique and incredible opportunity for students to play with one of America’s major symphony orchestras, recognized worldwide for its high-caliber performance and recording legacy.
Out of 77 applicants this year, the Peterson School of Music advanced 15 students to the 26-finalist round. Ultimately, four of the five musicians chosen to perform in the Salute to Youth concert represent the school.
For one of them, 10-year-old Caspian Stokes, this was a moment years in the making. He began studying double bass at four, hoping to follow in his brother’s footsteps after he played in Salute to Youth in eighth grade.
At a young age, Caspian is already quite an accomplished musician, placing first at the 2026 UMTA Concerto Competition Elementary Strings Division. He is a full-scholarship student in the Peterson School of Music’s Conservatory, a beneficiary of the Bagley Bass Scholarship, and a member of the Lyceum Youth Orchestras, where he has been featured as a soloist. From an early age, his father noticed that Caspian was gifted and had incredible musical hearing.
Now, he is excited to be preparing for this next opportunity. Caspian shared that during the finals of his Salute to Youth audition, he could feel his heart thumping out of his chest. Days later, his mom called him at school to tell him he had won.
“I jumped out of my seat, and I was crying because I was so excited. Everyone came and congratulated me. It’s one of the best moments of my life,” he said.
He said he is grateful to the Peterson School of Music for being a place where he can make friends and learn about music at the same time, creating a fun environment for developing his passion, while building meaningful connections.
“It’s really great how it brings together all these really talented musicians in one place. That’s the really neat part is the relationships that they’re all building with each other, which I think will persist for the rest of their lives,” said his father, Ben Stokes.
Ben shared that seeing several Peterson School of Music students selected for the concert this year shows the school’s dedication to developing excellent musicians and individuals.
“Having that peer group, I think it gives him a much stronger sense of accomplishment, which is good for reinforcing him to continue down this path and see where it leads,” he said.
Another 2026 winner, Isaac Beus, began playing violin at seven. He said that as a child, he was inspired by the violin he heard on a movie soundtrack, which set him on his musical journey. Now, at 15-years-old, Isaac is currently a full-scholarship Conservatory student and recipient of the Starling Scholarship at the Peterson School of Music. He also won the American Fork Symphony Salute to Youth Competition this year and placed first in the 2025 MTNA Utah Division String Competition and the UMTA competition.
Isaac is eagerly practicing for the Salute to Youth Concert this November, calling it an amazing opportunity.
“He’s worked really hard, so seeing his efforts pay off in this way was very exciting and emotional,” shared his mother, Alainna Beus. “Playing as a soloist with Utah Symphony will be an incredible experience. I was really overjoyed for him.”
Isaac credits the teachers and peer network at the Peterson School of Music with helping guide him toward this major performance opportunity.
“All your friends are on a similar musical journey. You learn together, you compete with each other, and it’s all so interconnected. Since the music world is so small, it’s great to be able to make friends and dedicate ourselves to music together,” he said.
Alainna noted how impactful it has been to see the community the Peterson School of Music creates with students who care deeply about their craft. She added that the experience is all-encompassing, including lessons in music history, active listening, and foundational theory.
“The Peterson School of Music provides a community that has added so much joy to Isaac’s life. It means he isn’t just practicing in isolation all week, but joining like-minded peers who share his passion. They receive valuable orchestra, chamber, and piano experience that builds their foundations as musicians. Alainna said. “All those things come together to make them better musicians, and not just musicians, but also build their character for life as they apply themselves and work hard.”
Lasting Legacy
Two Peterson School of Music alumni who were appointed to violin sections in the Utah Symphony this year have also participated in Salute to Youth as students, saying they will always cherish the experience.
Ellen Hayashi played with Salute to Youth three times, sharing that it is an exceptional program where the orchestra highlights local talent and gives young, driven musicians a chance to elevate their artistry.
“Playing on that stage where some of the greatest soloists have stood brings a sense of reverence for the space, the opportunity, and the moment. When you finally bring your concerto out of the practice room and into Abravanel Hall, with a full orchestra behind you, it is one of the most surreal, intimidating, and exhilarating moments for a young musician. To say that you have played with one of the major orchestras in the US is a really big milestone for any musician, but for a pre-college student, it’s really something to take note of,” she said.
Karen Ferry participated in the competition twice, and was also selected as an All-Star soloist in 2018 — a distinction in previous years where one student was selected to perform an entire concerto with the Utah Symphony during the All-Star side-by-side concert, rather than one movement during the traditional Salute to Youth concert. She described the experience as extremely rewarding.
“Growing up, I watched three of my siblings perform on Salute to Youth, and so I set a goal early on of having that same opportunity myself,” Ferry said. “Over the years of auditioning, I learned that it was the growth I made technically and musically in my preparation for the audition that made it all worth it. I learned that though I couldn’t control who was selected to perform at the concert, I could control the effort I put into my preparation, which in itself was the greatest reward. Being selected to be a soloist with an orchestra of the Utah Symphony’s caliber is such an honor and a true milestone in a young musician’s life – both of my experiences certainly were for me. Not only is it incredibly rewarding to have your hard work and preparation recognized, but getting to experience the life of a professional soloist, even just for one night, really opens your eyes to what’s possible.”
Ferry added that she especially appreciates how Salute to Youth connects young musicians with the professionals they’ve grown up admiring and aspiring to become. She shared how that experience helped inspire her dream of one day joining the Utah Symphony herself. Now, in a full-circle moment, she shares the stage with many of those same musicians — not only as colleagues, but as friends.
The Peterson School of Music is excited to congratulate its students selected to perform in this year’s Salute to Youth. Learn more about the students selected to play this year on the Utah Symphony website. Tickets can be purchased on the 66th Annual Salute to Youth Page.
About Diana & Joel Peterson School of Music:
The Diana & Joel Peterson School of Music, formerly the Gifted Music School, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation committed to providing the highest level of music education. Based in Salt Lake City, the school launched in 2008 with the mission to provide a comprehensive pathway to world-class music education, with an expansive curriculum and distinguished faculty. Through its full-scholarship GRIT program, it ensures students of all backgrounds have access to high-quality instruction. The school stands as a beacon of musical excellence and education, shaping the young musicians of tomorrow. Visit petersonschoolofmusic.org for more information.
