The Music Institute of Chicago, collaborating with the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra, the Lake Forest Symphony, and Maestro Alan Heatherington, presents the final round of competition in the annual Young Artist Concerto and Aria Competition Wednesday, February 13 at 7 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston. The event is free and open to the public.
Advancing to the final round of competition from an original field of 17 competitors are Rebecca Benjamin (18, Warsaw/Indiana, Sage Foundation Academy Fellow, violin student of Almita and Roland Vamos), performing Sibelius' Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47; Gallia Kastner (15, Arlington Heights, Susan and Richard Kiphart Academy Fellow, violin student of Almita and Roland Vamos), performing Brahms' Concerto in D, Op. 77; and Jackie Tso (16, Loveland/Ohio, Community School student of Almita and Roland Vamos), performing Tchaikovsky's Concerto in D Major. Receiving Honorable Mention is Nathan Walhout (15, Wheaton, Susan and Richard Kiphart Academy Fellow, cello student of Gilda Barston).
This year's winner performs with the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra Sunday, April 28 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie.
Judges for the preliminary round included Elliott Golub, CSO Citizen Musician; Peter Szczepanek, assistant principal cello for the Grant Park Music Festival and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (acting); and Lawrence Rapchak, music director of the Northbrook Symphony.
Music Institute of Chicago
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