The Young Artist Competition was established in 1966 to recognize outstanding Bay Area classical music students. The competition is open to students up to 23 years of age who must perform from memory a complete concerto though students under 16 can compete for the Alvin Dockter Award performing only a single movement. Competitions alternate between strings (violin, viola, cello and bass) and all other instruments (woodwinds, brass, percussion, piano and harp).