BSO Announces Winner of 2014 Young Artist Concerto Competition

Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra has announced the 2014 winner of the BSO's 2014 Young Artist Concerto Competition - Christopher Son Richardson, piano, age 15 from Lake Forest Park, who performed Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 54, 1st movement. Jennifer Chong, piano, was awarded second place for her performance of Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 16, and Andrew Liu, piano, was awarded third place for his performance of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, op. 18, 1st movement. The judges also announced two Honorable Mentions, which were given to Tristan Greeno, piano and Quinn Price, violin.

Richardson will perform Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 54, 1st movement in the BSO's concerts on February 22 & 23, 2014. The BSO's winter concert - "The Pines of Rome" - will take listeners from the quiet sounds of Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony performed by the BSO, Richardson, and Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra to "Bainbridge By:" a world premiere commissioned for the BSO by Erich Stem, to one of Respighi's most epic tone poems written about his beloved Rome.

Tickets for the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra performances are $19 for adults and $16 for seniors, students, military, and teachers; each youth receives free admission when accompanied by a paying adult. Patrons may purchase tickets online at www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org, by phone at 206.842.8569 or in person at BPA, 200 Madison Avenue North, Bainbridge Island. BPA Box Office hours are 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and one hour prior to each performance.

Christopher Son Richardson, Winner, BSO 2014 Young Artist Concerto Competition: Christopher Son Richardson is a student of Dr. Duane Hulbert at the University of Puget Sound, and a scholarship student of John O'Conor at the Aspen Music Festival and School. He also studied with Stanford University's Frederick Weldy, and Chamber Music on a scholarship at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He has appeared on NPR's "From the Top" and on KRCB 91.1 as a featured performer. Performing at the Finney Chapel in the Cooper International Festival's Artist Recital Series, his performance was broadcast live on WCLV 104.9. Selected as one of this year's full scholarship winners at the National Chopin Foundation of the US and a winner at the National YoungArts Foundation, he has performed in prestigious venues throughout the USA, including Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Harris Concert Hall, the Music Tent (Opening the Special Sarah Chang Event concert), McCallum Theater, and Miller Hall at the World Forestry Center. He was the winner of the Senior Duet category at the Washington State MTNA competition with his brother Daniel. He was a prizewinner at the 2013 International e-piano competition and played with the Minnesota Orchestra. He won second prize at the 2011 Virginia Waring Concerto, Rosalyn Tureck International Bach Competition, and 2012 LA Liszt International (and the Best Performance of any piece from Annees de Pelerinage). In 2012, he was the winner of State CAPMT Concerto, Contemporary and Honors Auditions, MTNA CA State wide (and Alternate at the MTNA Southwest Division), as well as the American Fine Arts Festival. He won second prize at the California state VOCE chamber music competition with his trio from the SF Conservatory of Music. He won first prize in the 2011 Seattle International Piano Competition and at the International Russian Competitions (2012, 2013), the Ross McKee, the Berkeley Etude Club, Pacific Musical Society, Sylvia M. Ghiglieri, East Bay competitions and the Classical Masters. He won third prize at the Lennox International Young Artists Concerto. A first prize winner in 2008 San Francisco Chopin competition, as well as the East Bay Music Festival Piano competition of 2009, he was also a summa cum laude first place winner in the Classical, Romantic, and Duet categories of the "Kids Play The Darndest Things" competition and was chosen the best performer at the winners' concert. He also won a gold medal at the Carnegie Hall International Young Musician Festival, and eight gold medals at the US Open Music Competition. He has received coaching from Douglas Buys, Catherine Kautzky, Seymour Lipkin, Dmitry Rachmanov, Robert Shannon, Robert Schwartz, Rita Sloan, and William Wellborn.

Photo Credit: Stella Sick at the e-Piano International Competition in Minnesota

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