Rust's winnings include $4,000 in prize money, a recital in Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Houston and a performance with the Montgomery County Choral Society. ENTERGY Texas, a major sponsor of the competition for the past 10 years, was represented by customer service manager Renee Powers, who made the presentation to Rust.

Rust also received, from state Senator Robert Nichols, a Texas flag that flew over the capitol in Austin on March 2, Texas Independence Day.

Chris Johnson, host of KUHF 88.7 Houston Public Radio's "The Afternoon Concert” and technical director of KUHF's arts program, "The Front Row,” was the emcee for the evening.

Jonathan Jones, a clarinetist currently studying at Southern Methodist University, won first place in the Winds, Brass, Percussion, Harp and Guitar division with his rendition of Carl Nielsen's "Concerto for Clarinet.”

Matthew Loudermilk, a pianist from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, won the piano division with his interpretation of Samuel Barber's "Piano Sonata” and Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2.”

Violinist Jing Wang, a senior at The Juilliard School, placed first in the strings division with his performance of Johannes Brahms' "Violin Concerto in D Major.”

Division winners each received $2,000, and Wang won another $1,000 for the Audience Choice Award.

Taking second place in their respective divisions were: Kimberley Dowda, soprano; Mary Price, violin; Matthew Rush, Marimba; and Zhaolei Xie, piano. They each received a prize of $1,000.

A total of 46 came to Conroe for the three-day competition which is open to Texas residents or students, ages 18-30, who are enrolled in a Texas college, university or music school.

Emelyne Bingham, who is serving her first year as artistic director, put together an impressive panel of judges for the 2008 competition. Esteemed professionals sitting on the panel were: Daniel Cataneo, pianist and musicianship coach with The Juilliard School; Brian Luce, professor of flute, University of Arizona; Bradley Mansell, cellist, Nashville Symphony; David Roth, general director of the Kentucky Opera; and John Salmon, pianist, University of North Carolina Greensboro.

Other sponsors include KUHF 88.7 FM Houston Public Radio, Streater-Smith Honda-Nissan, Southwestern Furniture, Insurance Associates of Texas, Beta Delta Sorority and a host of dedicated volunteers who lend their time and talents to the event all year long.

Exciting plans have already begun for next year's special 25th anniversary celebration. To volunteer or to learn more about next year's event, contact Susie Pokorski, at 936-756-7017 or visit www.youngtexasartists.org.

ABOUT THE YOUNG TEXAS ARTISTS MUSIC COMPETITION The Young Texas Artists Music Competition was created in 1983 by the Montgomery County Performing Arts Society, a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization, to promote excellence in musical performance, to encourage young musicians in their pursuit of high artistic standards, and to foster a love for the performing arts in the community and throughout the state of Texas. The Montgomery County Performing Arts Society is funded in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Conroe Commission on Arts and Culture.