The Young Artist Cup is an annual competition held for 10th-12th grade students who attend or live in the boundary of Ridgeline and Mountain Crest High Schools. The winners of the competition are the performers for this event.

Over the course of two nights of performances, there are five different musical categories students can compete in: Female Vocal, Male Vocal, Piano, String, Brass/Wind/Percussion. Students who enter the competition are encouraged to prepare music from standard classical repertoire, show tunes and contemporary literature.

The competition location rotates each year between the two high schools and students are allowed to participate each year as long as they have not won first place in a previous year. In addition to the musical portion, Young Artist Cup also holds a graphic arts competition where students at these high schools can create a logo for the program of that year’s competition. Each competition is adjudicated by well -respected and highly trained judges with decades of experience in teaching, performing, composing, arranging and judging. Students are judged on artistry, accuracy, technique, and overall musicianship.   Awards are given to first-, second- and third-place winners in each category.

The purpose of the Young Artist Cup is to encourage appreciation for the arts, stimulate improvement of talent in the arts among the high school age students, and showcase their talents to the community. It is to provide a program where students can be critiqued and suggestions for improvement given in a positive environment. The open competition format is used to promote participation from the students and interest among the public and allow any students wishing to participate an opportunity to perform.  Past Young Artist Cup participants have gone on to excel in music and the performing arts.