The 1st annual King Award For Young Artists competition was held in the spring of 2009 in Salina, Kansas. Three medalists were awarded a total of $8,500 in cash prizes and gold medalist Behzod Abduraimov will solo with the Salina Symphony at its 2009 season opener in October.

Following its inaugural year, the Salina Symphony announced a new division for King Award For Young Artists competition, which will include both piano and strings in 2010. The competition has also broadened its scope, and will be open to any student between the ages of 18 and 26 currently studying anywhere in the United States.

Six semi-finalists and two alternates in each division will be selected from DVD submissions and invited to Salina for the semi-final round. Three musicians in each division will advance to the final round on April 17.

Cash prizes for the competition have more than doubled, now totaling $22,000. In addition to the cash prizes, the overall King Award for Young Artists recipient will be invited to perform as a soloist with the Salina Symphony at its fall 2010 season opener.