WQXR Blog: It’s Time to Meet the 2017 Avery Fisher Career Grant Recipients

Before his 18th birthday, this Bay Area violinist competed took top prize in the 2013 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, earning him a coveted spot on the roster. Waarts has also competed in the 2013 Montreal International Competition (Second Prize and Audience Prize); the 2014 Menuhin Competition (First Prize); and the 2015 Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition (Fifth Prize, both Audience Prizes). His personal concert repertoire is a breath of fresh air, as he embraces both well-known and rarely performed concertos in addition to his solo recitals and chamber ventures. In this upcoming season, Waarts will be performing alongside the Orchestra of St. Lukes as he makes his New York Concerto debut at Lincoln Center’s Young Artists Gala.

Here’s Stephen’s semi-finals performance of Eugene Ysaye’s Sonata No. 4, at the 2015 Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition: