This year's competition promises a new level of talent due to stronger ties with area music programs and universities, as well as additional talent sources. Emelyne Bingham, the competition's new artistic director, said event organizers also reached out to potential applicants via the popular social Web site, Facebook. "The use of Facebook not only allowed for increased marketing,” said Bingham, "but also reached Texas residents attending out-of-state schools.”

The three-day public event gives the contestants, numbering 46 this year, an opportunity to compete for cash prizes and performance opportunities across the state. As in past years, there are four competition categories: Piano, Voice, Strings and a category combining Winds, Brass, Percussion, Harp and Guitar. The competition is open to Texas residents or students, ages 18-30, who are enrolled in a Texas college, university or music school.

After an intense round of preliminaries, the finalists will compete at the CONCERT OF FINALISTS on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Crighton Theatre in downtown Conroe. This year's emcee is Chris Johnson, afternoon concert host for KUHF 88.7 FM Houston Public Radio.

Bingham said that with the reduction of extraneous information between acts, the competition should have a lighter, livelier feel and move at a faster pace. "We are excited about our new format. And judging from the applications, we are very impressed by the talent we have coming in,” Bingham said. "We look forward to an excellent competition.”

Bingham has put together a dynamic and impressive panel of judges for the 2008 competition. Esteemed professionals sitting on the panel are: Daniel Cataneo, pianist and musicianship coach, The Juilliard School; Brian Luce, professor of flute, University of Arizona; Bradley Mansell, cellist, Nashville Symphony; David Roth, general director of the Kentucky Opera; John Salmon, pianist, University of North Carolina Greensboro.

The event also gives back to the young artists by providing them with written critiques from each of the judges, a crucial element for any artist pursuing a musical career.

The competition's success has been due in part to the support of ENTERGY Texas, which has sponsored the competition since 1999, making 2008 the 10th year of their support. To date, ENTERGY Texas has provided over $130,000 to the event.

"The 10-year partnership we have enjoyed with the Entergy Young Texas Artists Music Competition is a good example of our commitment to work with local organizations to enhance the quality of life for our customers throughout Southeast Texas," said Joe Domino, Entergy Texas president and chief executive officer. "We are doubly proud of the caliber of musicians who compete, many of whom have gone on to stellar professional careers, and of schoolchildren invited to attend so they have the opportunity to hear, see and experience an outstanding musical event."

Support also comes from KUHF 88.7 FM Houston Public Radio, Streater-Smith Honda Nisson, Southwestern Furniture, Insurance Associates of Texas and a host of dedicated volunteers who lend their time and talents to the event all year long.

PRELIMINARY ROUNDS are open to the public at no charge, and the schedule, which is subject to change slightly, is as follows:

Thursday - Strings at 12:30 – 2:45 p.m.
Friday – Winds, Brass, Percussion, Harp and Guitar at 9 – 11 a.m.; Voice at 11:15 a.m. – noon and 1:30 – 3:45 p.m.
Saturday - Piano at 9 – 11:45 a.m. and 1:15 – 2 p.m.

Tickets for the Saturday evening CONCERT OF FINALISTS are $22 and are available through the Crighton Theatre box office at 936-441-SHOW (936-441-7469).

Preliminary rounds and the Concert of Finalists are held at the Crighton Theatre, 234 Main Street, Conroe, Texas 77301.

For more information contact Susie Pokorski, chairwoman of the Young Texas Artists Music Competition, 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.