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Artist of the Year 2026 for instrumental music: Naomi Gesk

May 14, 2026

Naomi Gesk is on a mission. She wants to bring a different view of the harp — and harpists like herself — to the forefront.

Literally.

In the context of an orchestra, the harp is positioned at the back — a traditionally solitary and “underrepresented” instrument in Gesk’s own words, that she is working hard to elevate.

Naomi Gesk of Irvine, a senior at University High School, is the 2026 Artist of the Year for the Pacific Symphony Award for Instrumental Music, at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Since the summer of 2024, Gesk, a senior at University High, has led the Irvine Unified School District Harp Ensemble, a group for middle school to high school students of all skill levels on the harp.

Her idea attracted 14 recruits but there was one problem: not enough harps to play. A grant proposal submitted to the Irvine Public School Foundation led to a recent award of $12,300 to purchase instruments and supplies.

Members of the Harp Ensemble have performed as a trio at events ranging from fundraisers and fashion shows to a featured pre-concert spot in the lobby of Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Donald Bren IUSD Honors Concert, where Gesk, 18, has performed on stage as principal harpist since 2023.

For her agility and musicianship on an instrument that dates to ancient times, her demonstrated leadership qualities, her volunteer work bringing soothing and uplifting music to hospitals and churches, and her entrepreneurship as a harpist for hire since the age of 10, Gesk earned the honor of the Artist of the Year program’s 2026 Pacific Symphony Award for Instrumental Music.

Noting the “tremendous power” Gesk demonstrates as an advocate for her instrument, Shawne Zarubica, managing director of Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles, summed up what made Gesk stand out: “It’s the total package.”

Why the harp?

Gesk had been studying piano but, at age 9, reached out to pluck a harp in passing and she’s been mastering the 47 strings and seven pedals of a concert harp ever since.

Her goal is to become a professional harpist and spread what she calls “music’s emotional power.”

By playing for weddings, funerals, garden parties and tea parties, she’s been saving her freelance earnings for college, where she plans a double major in music and psychology.

“As an artist, I want to share the harp’s emotional and restorative effects through performance while serving my community and hopefully a broader audience. I can also see myself pursuing research related to music in an academic setting.”

Instrumental music finalists

In addition to Artist of the Year, the judges selected three finalists from the 16 semifinalists who showcased a variety of genres as musicians and composers.

Casey Cunningham of Yorba Linda, a junior at Yorba Linda High School, is a 2026 Artist of the Year finalist for the Pacific Symphony Award for Instrumental Music, at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Casey Cunningham: He played flute for about a year before switching to saxophone when he started eighth grade. His grandfather, who had played sax his entire life, suggested he try it. Cunningham took to the instrument with more gusto than the piano lessons his grandparents had paid for when he was younger.

Cunningham, a junior at Yorba Linda High, said he joined the school band on a whim. But there he discovered other possibilities for the saxophone beyond classical music. Specifically, jazz. Cunningham, 17, is lead alto saxophonist for the school ensemble. Yorba Linda High band and choir director Bincins Garcia describes Cunningham’s solos as “thoughtful, creative, and grounded in a strong understanding of jazz language, while still reflecting a unique musical voice.” He added, “Casey is not afraid to take risks musically, and this willingness to explore and push boundaries results in performances that are engaging and authentic.”

Cunningham told the Artist of the Year judges that while he is thinking about studying business or science in college, he’ll also pursue playing saxophone with a jazz ensemble. His grandfather, he said, is “definitely really thrilled that I play sax.”

Gracie Fox of Placentia, a junior at El Dorado High School, is a 2026 Artist of the Year finalist for the Pacific Symphony Award for Instrumental Music, at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Gracie Fox: The smile would not leave her face. Sitting behind a drum set to express herself brings out the innate joy in Fox, self-described as “a very shy person.” And jazz makes her see colors.

“I can tell you’re digging it,” Gary Gopar, chair of the music department at Cypress College and Artist of the Year judge, told Fox, 17, when she finished her two pieces — the funk and jazz blend “Count Bubba’s Revenge” by Gordon Goodwin and contemporary Latin “Endure” by Tommy Igoe. “You’re solid,” Gopar added. She started as a rock music drummer; now she does jazz drumming and marching band snare drum, along with playing a variety of concert percussion instruments, including for the Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble.

But Gopar also asked if she ever has imposter syndrome. Her cure for self-doubt is volunteering at a middle school that is a feeder for El Dorado High in Placentia, where she is a junior. The enthusiasm rejuvenates Fox, who said she’d love to teach music: “That’s how we grow this music community. That’s how we build each other up.”

Celine Zhu of Newport Beach, a senior at Tarbut VâTorah...

Celine Zhu of Newport Beach, a senior at Tarbut V’Torah Community Day School, is a 2026 Artist of the Year finalist for the Pacific Symphony Award for Instrumental Music, at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Celine Zhu: History matters to Zhu. That’s why she gravitates toward pieces that have a backstory. Like “John Brown and Blue” by jazz trumpeter and composer Hannibal Lokumbe, which she played for the Artist of the Year judges. A classically trained pianist, Zhu explained that she came across it while researching abolitionist John Brown for her U.S. history class at Tarbut V’Torah, a Jewish community day school in Irvine where she is a senior.

She is not Jewish but was welcomed with open arms at the school, she explained. As a way of giving back, Zhu, 17, has been a Global Ambassador for the Recovered Voices project since 2022, helping to raise awareness of composers who lost their lives and careers under the Nazi regime. Zhu also trains at the Colburn Community School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles.

Alongside her musicianship, she aims for a career in journalism and will study at New York University. She spent a few weeks last summer in New York researching the decline of classical music. Zhu believes the use of new forms of media could help revive interest in classical music: “It’s sad a lot of people think it isn’t relevant anymore.”

The Pacific Symphony Award for Instrumental Music

This instrumental music award is sponsored by the Pacific Symphony.

The Artist of the Year receives $500 and two framed awards — one to take home, and one to hang at school. Finalists receive $100.

In addition, Pacific Symphony is providing:

A meet-and-greet with Artistic & Music Director, Alexander Shelley and a spotlight in the Pacific Symphony newsletter for the winner.
An invitation to attend attend a Pacific Symphony rehearsal, complimentary tickets to a concert, and an invitation to join the brand-new Pacific Symphony Emerging Artists Network for the finalists.
Featured social media spotlights and concert discounts for all semifinalists.

The judges

Special thanks to the judges who helped evaluate students this year.

The judges who evaluated the 130 instrumental music nominees and chose the 16 semifinalists were:

Heide Janssen, Executive Producer, Artist of the Year
Jim Kollias, Beckman High School
Jackson Lai, Fountain Valley High School
Diane Lee, University High School
Alex Segal, Tarbet V’Torah Community Day School
Jake Tompkins, Santa Margarita Catholic High School
Troy Trimble, Fullerton Union High School
Bella Hui-hsin Tseng, Opus 119 School of Music
Aaron Zeilinger, Orange Lutheran High School

The judges who interviewed the semifinalists and chose the three finalists and the Artist of the Year were:

Kenneth Foerch, Assoc. Professor of Music, Vanguard University
Randy Goldberg, Director of the School of Music, Cal State Fullerton
Gary Gopar, Chair, Deptartment of Music, Cypress College
Jeff Held, Asst. Dean, School of Arts & Sciences, Concordia University Irvine
Heide Janssen, Executive Producer, Artist of the Year
Sarah Koo Freeman, Cello Lecturer, UC Irvine
Geoffrey Pope, Director of Orchestral Studies, UC Irvine
Limor Tomer, VP of Programming and Production, Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Jonathan Vietz, Senior Director of Series Marketing, Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Shawne Zarubica, Managing Director, Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles

Artist of the Year 2026 for instrumental music: Naomi Gesk Orange County Register

News Details

Artist of the Year 2026 for instrumental music: Naomi Gesk

Instrumental music finalists

The Pacific Symphony Award for Instrumental Music

The judges

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