The Charleston International Music Competition is proud to recognize its’ outstanding musicians through our Audience Favorite Prize. Each competition, one finalist is selected as the winner of this special award and receives a $500 cash prize. Below, you can find a list of all past Audience Favorite Prize winners, along with their instruments, competition details, and links to their winning performances. We congratulate these musicians for their tremendous musical talent and the lasting impact they have made on audiences worldwide!
Charity Mapletoft – 2025 Classical Music Competition
Charity Mapletoft is the recipient of the $500 Audience Favorite Prize for her vocal performance of ‘Temerari, sortite … Come scoglio’ from Così fan tutte by W. A. Mozart for the 2025 Classical Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Anya Parson – 2025 Winter Music Competition
Anya Parson is the recipient of the $500 Audience Favorite Prize for her performance of Waltz in E Minor, Op. Posth., B. 56 by Frederic Chopin on the piano for the 2025 Winter Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Astghik Grigoryan – 2025 International Piano Competition
Astghik Grigoryan is the recipient of the $500 Audience Favorite Prize for her performance of Toccata by Aram Khachaturian on the piano for the 2025 International Piano Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Demirkan Yay – 2025 New Year’s Music Competition
Demirkan Yay is the recipient of the $500 Audience Favorite Prize for his performance of Viola Concerto in D Major, 1st Movement by Franz Anton Hoffmeister on the viola for the 2025 New Year’s Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Alexander Quinn Francis – 2024 Romantic Music Competition
Alexander Quinn Francis is the recipient of the $500 Audience Favorite Prize for his performance of Rhapsody in G Minor, Op. 79, No. 2 by Johannes Brahms on the piano for the 2024 Romantic Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Drue Lucien Ely Gratuito Metillo – 2024 Autumn Music Competition
Drue Lucien Ely Gratuito Metillo is the recipient of the $500 Audience Favorite Prize for his performance of Sonatina in F Major by Ludwig van Beethoven on the piano for the 2024 Autumn Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
We celebrate the achievements of these talented performers and look forward to honoring more musicians in future competitions. Visit our YouTube channel to watch the latest performances from our finalists.