2026 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize winner Gaia Daniel
Daniel, a pianist from Minneapolis, is the Emerging Artist category winner.
The Karin Larson YourClassical Prize
MPR
The 2026 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize
Congratulations to the two winners of our 2026 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize!
Tina O’Malley, a soprano from New Brighton, Minnesota, is the winner in our Preprofessional Musician category.
Gaia Daniel, a pianist from Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the winner in our Emerging Artist category.
Each of them receives a cash prize and a recording session at MPR. You can see their winning entries below. Thank you to everyone who voted for their favorite performer in this year’s Prize.
2026 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize winner Tina O'Malley
O’Malley, a soprano vocalist from New Brighton, Minnesota, is the Preprofessional Musician category winner.
Official Rules
Be sure to read the Official Rules for the Karin Larson YourClassical Prize.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find out more about the 2026 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize.
Emerging Artist Finalists
View all of the Emerging Artist Finalists’ entries.
Preprofessional Musician Finalists
View all the Preprofessional Musician Finalists' entries.
2025 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize winner Agnes Barthel
Barthel, an organist from Duluth, Minnesota, is the Preprofessional Musician category winner.
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2025 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize winner Anna Pitsavas Wakely
Pitsavas Wakely, a violinist from Northfield, Minnesota, is the Emerging Artist category winner.
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2024 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize winner Ammy Lin
Chosen by YourClassical listeners as the entry that best celebrated women in classical music.
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About The 2026 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize
Karin (CARE-in) Larson was an extraordinary friend to Minnesota Public Radio who died in 2021 at 82. Her generosity fueled the growth of our classical programming and helped our music education initiatives reach more than a quarter-million children. The Karin Larson YourClassical Prize was established in her memory to honor her love of young people and her dedication to women in classical music. Find out more
Remembering Karin Larson
As we prepare for the third edition of the Karin Larson YourClassical Prize, listen as members of the Larson family remember Karin and her love for classical music and uplifting young artists.
Jeff Larson:
Amanda Forsyth: