Charis Shing is the 2026 winner of the Florence Frager Young Artist Competition and will join the St. Louis Civic Orchestra as guest soloist on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 7:00 pm at Kirkwood First Presbyterian Church (Kirkwood, Missouri), performing Vieuxtemps’ Violin Concerto No. 5.
Charis began playing violin at age four and currently studies with Joo Kim, first violinist of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. She is in her third season with the St. Louis Youth Orchestra.
At age ten, Charis made her solo debut with the Alton Symphony Orchestra as the Deborah Fox Guild Award recipient. She has since appeared as a soloist with the Town and Country Orchestra, University City Orchestra, and the Community Music School Young People’s Symphonic Orchestra, following wins in concerto competitions. Most recently, she earned first prize in the Belleville Philharmonic’s Stars of Tomorrow competition and performed with the orchestra in March 2025.
Charis is a two-time winner of the MTNA Missouri Junior Strings Competition (2023–2025) and was a national finalist in 2025 after winning the West-Central Division.
A dedicated chamber musician, Charis has participated in the Community Music School Preparatory Program for the past two years. She was the youngest of six finalists and received the program’s full scholarship for the 2024–2025 season. She was also named a 2024–2025 Radar Young Artist by the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis.
Charis extends heartfelt thanks to Ms. Joo Kim, Annette Burkhart, Vera Parkin, Laura Holzen, Rebecca Pantano, Ed Sandheinrich, and her parents for their unwavering support.
FREE Concert – St. Louis Civic Orchestra – Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 7:00 pm
- Shostakovich – Festive Overture
- Saint-Saëns – Danse Bacchanale
- Ravel – Mother Goose Suite
- Vieuxtemps – Violin Concerto No. 5, Charis Shing, Violin
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