Performing Arts Showcase - Bravo 2026: Competition Winners in Concert
What does it take to perform on stage? For the 2026 BRAVO! Competition winners, it started long before the spotlight — with years of practice, dedicated teachers, and the courage to audition before a panel of professional musicians.
Modeled after NPR’s From the Top, the BRAVO! Showcase Recital brings student musicians from the Kalamazoo area together for a free public concert that’s equal parts celebration and culmination. This year’s performers ranged from a clarinettist exploring the jazz-inflected world of Joseph Horowitz to a pianist drawing inspiration from his own sisters — each one stepping into a moment that’s been years in the making.
But the concert is only part of the story. Before taking the stage, competitors participated in an improv workshop at Crawlspace Theater — building the stage presence and self-confidence to match their musical skill. Behind them: families, teachers, collaborative partners, and a network of community supporters that makes every note possible.
Established in 2001 and part of Fontana Chamber Arts’ outreach program since 2015, BRAVO! carries forward the legacy of its founders and the teachers who shaped a generation of local musicians. Fontana is proud to sponsor the competition once again.
Watch the full 2026 BRAVO! Showcase Recital:.
