An Tran, a doctoral guitar student of Anne Waller, won the grand prize in the 2017 Classics Alive Young Artists Auditions. Final auditions were held on October 14 at Pepperdine University.

Winners of the Classics Alive Young Artists Auditions are selected based on exceptional musicianship, technique, ability to communicate as a performer, and future potential. The competition is open to piano, strings, woodwinds, brass, guitar, and harp as well as small ensembles. 

The grand prize includes an artist management contract of at least two years, membership on the roster of Classics Alive Artists, a cash prize of $1,000, and several performance and recital opportunities, including a solo concerto performance with the Boulder Chamber Orchestra and a solo recital on the Classics Alive Presents Concert Series.

Born and raised in Hanoi, Vietnam, An Tran is an award winning and active performing guitarist. He previously won first prize in the 2016 Hamilton International Guitar Competition, second prize in the 2016 Berlin International Guitar Competition, and has taken top prizes in the Society of American Musicians Guitar Competition and the Vietnam National Guitar Competition, among others. He received the Laureate Award of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.

An received his initial musical training at the Vietnam National Academy of Music and went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from North Park University, where he studied guitar with Dr. Julie Goldberg. An completed his master’s degree from Yale University under the tutelage of Benjamin Verdery.