Finalists and Winners of the 2026 MSBOA Outstanding Soloist Competition
Thursday, April 16, 2026
MSBOA is pleased to announce the 14 Finalists for the 2026 Outstanding Soloist Competition held at Eastern Michigan University on Friday, April 10, 2026. 109 students participated in this year's competition. A huge thank you goes out to EMU for hosting this event! They were extremely supportive, accommodating, and their building worked very well. Thanks also goes to the 16 adjudicators that were a big part of the day.
The fourteen (14) students pictured below were selected as the finalists of this year’s MSBOA Outstanding Soloist Competition.
14 Finalists (L to R in no particular order):
Andrew Root - Trumpet, Marshall HS; Elan Chu - Piano, Marquette HS; Aaron Liu - Clarinet, Okemos HS; Saya Farrell - Oboe, Walled Lake Central HS; Mira Shelgikar - Euphonium, Ann Arbor Huron HS; Chris Oh - Violin, Novi HS; Salem Dihn - Flute, Ann Arbor Huron HS; Lang Ren - Cello, Ann Arbor Huron HS; Mia Bayardo - String Bass, H.H. Dow HS; Bradlee Coggins - Marimba, Holly HS; Bailey McClain - Alto Sax, Waterford Kettering HS; Clara Paulson - Horn, Ann Arbor Pioneer HS; Carter Swartout - Tuba, Milford HS; Joshua Pembrook - Trombone, Plainwell HS
The four (4) students pictured below were selected as the four winners of this year’s MSBOA Outstanding Soloist Competition.
Four Winners (L to R):
Bailey McClain - Alto Saxophone, Waterford Kettering HS; Bradlee Coggins - Marimba, Holly HS; Saya Farrell - Oboe, Walled Lake Central HS; Clara Paulson - Horn, Ann Arbor Pioneer HS
The four (4) winners have been invited to perform in this year's Showcase Concert on May 8, at Oakland University.
Congratulations to all of these students, programs, and their directors for such an outstanding display of musicianship and professionalism.