ESCONDIDO -- When the 9th annual California International Young Artists Competition ended Sunday evening, 24-year-old Kathrin Ten Hagen of Germany stood alone at the top.

She took home first prize and $5,000 after an intense weekend that began with 12 violinists competing in the semifinals on Saturday at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido's Center Theater. Five advanced after playing a sonata by Brahms, Beethoven, Franck, Prokofiev or Bartok and a major work of their own choice.

Then on Sunday, the final five performed a concerto they selected, accompanied by the piano.

Often compared to the Olympics because of the level of discipline, sacrifice, training, and performance under pressure, the event occurs annually in the fall and alternates between violin and piano.

Barbara Takahara, volunteer and wife of Young Artists Board Chairman and Executive Director Melvin Takahara, talked about her husband's involvement in the competition.

"He used to just go listen, but after one trip to the competition where he passed a young Korean walking from his hotel to perform in his tuxedo, his heart went out to him. He said we should really be embracing these artists and taking care of them. That's exactly what he did."

Her husband said: "I'm a probation officer and social worker and it's very encouraging as a person and a professional to see young lives moving in such a wonderful direction."

The competitors, all 24 or younger, have resumes well beyond their years. They've performed at places like Lincoln Center and the Hollywood Bowl with city orchestras struggling to keep pace with them.

Timothy Braun, a 22-year old from Los Angeles with nerves of steel, brought down the house down with his Brahms Concerto and said the competition "was nice to come to a local event on an international level."

As a surprise to participants, flags from their native countries were hanging from the balcony, visible only to them on stage. Competitors from Canada, China, Korea, Germany, and all over the United States played to a small audience.

Dimiter Tchernookov, 23, originally from Bulgaria now lives in New York City, said he was happy to be a finalist just to "have a chance to play all the music I've prepared. I would have been sad if I didn't get to play my concerto."

"I like the audience," Tchernookov said, "They hide the fact that it's a competition and you don't feel like you're playing for just judges looking for mistakes."

In the end, three medalists were awarded cash prizes and a scholarship to the Viana do Castelo Music Festival in Portugal this Summer. Ten Hagen, the Gold Medalist, will return to San Diego to perform a public recital and programs at local schools as part of the organization's Music Outreach program.

In addition to Ten Hagen, awards went to SeungLee Ha, 24, of Korea who garnered second place and $2,000; Tchernookov, third prize and $1,000, and honorable mentions went to Braun and Shanshan Yao, 24, from China.

California International Young Artists Competition is a public benefit corporation whose mission is to encourage the appreciation and performance of classical music by young people. It also practices music education outreach to the San Diego County community, focusing on teaching and encouraging the appreciation of classical music among young public school students.

Competition sponsors and donors included the City of Escondido, John Martinoff Auzin, Ivy Bodin, California Center for the Arts, Escondido, DeAnna LoCoco, Dr. & Mrs. David L. Tagge, Hans & Renate Mesch, Young L. Robbins, and Friends of Musical Arts.