On one of the coldest weekends in recent memory, 10 CAP String Orchestra (CAPSO) students, their teacher and chaperones hopped on a plane to New York, bound for Carnegie Hall. It was time for the Crescendo International Music Competition’s Winner’s Recital.
The ensemble of 10 CAPSO students received first place for their submission to the competition’s audition round. That win earned them the right to play in the Winner’s Recital on February 1, 2026.
Backstage at Carnegie Hall | Photo by Jen Miles
While official photos of the competition haven’t yet been released, watch the video above for a peek into their rigorous rehearsals, backstage-at-Carnegie footage and the students’ reactions to their big win:
“I’m forever grateful.”
“I thought it was just going to be a hobby … now, I’m going places!”
“I’ve never been anywhere out past Tallahassee.”
“We’re actually going to New York! I just love this for us!”
“CAP gives me a lot of opportunities… The hard work that I put toward piano, I go and put in that hard work to everything else that I do.”
“I feel so grateful that I’ve gotten a chance to introduce this into my life. And I feel a duty to share this with the next generation.”
The winning ensemble includes N’Diyah B., Kercy F., Giavanna N., Genala R., Jerome S., Tobyn S., Marielly S., Yuri S., Landon S. and Detrick T. The students range in age from 8th to 11th grades at various Jacksonville-area schools including Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, River City Science Academy and Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies.
Crescendo International Music Competition is a youth music competition held annually since 2007. Competition is open to Junior, Intermediate and Advanced levels for all instrumentalists, vocalists, duets and chamber ensembles.
CAP would like to thank J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver, the Willits Foundation, the King Tide Foundation, Duval County Public Schools, River City Science Academy, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies for their support of CAPSO.
