Young Soloists Compete to Perform with IF Symphony
Every other year, the Idaho Falls Symphony presents the Young Artists Competition, a concerto competition in two divisions. The junior division is for students up to eighteen years old (at the time of applying) and the senior division is for college students. Earlier this year, approximately thirty aspiring young musicians submitted video recordings of themselves performing solo works to be reviewed by a panel of judges on behalf of the Idaho Falls Symphony.
Of these thirty applicants, eleven finalists were selected – five junior finalists, and six senior finalists. The junior division finalists are Evelyn Lee (violin), Sophie Lyman (cello), Jacob Timothy McKay (piano), Fernando Perez (flute), and Elizabeth Stewart (piano). The senior division finalists are Sebastian Fraser (cello), Rumeng Liao (violin), Nathan May (bass), Yonsoo Park (violin), Clarissa Tracy (flute), and Tate Wadsworth (horn). They will present a recital at the Colonial Theater on Saturday, September 29, 2018, at 2:00pm.
“Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we’re able to offer cash prizes to the winners, and that has drawn interest from a much wider pool of applicants than years past,” says Thomas Heuser, music director of the Idaho Falls Symphony. The winner of the senior division receives $1,000 and the winner of the junior competition wins $500. Several finalists are from out of state or as far away as Boise. “It will be a tough competition, and I’m looking forward to hearing what these musicians have in store for us,” Heuser, one of the competition judges, adds.
Three judges will select one winner from each division based on the performances at the recital on September 29th. Winners will be announced at the end of the recital. The two winners will then perform their solos with orchestral accompaniment provided by the Idaho Falls Symphony on the final concert of the 2018-2019 season, The Triumph of Shostakovich, on April 27, 2019 at the Idaho Falls Civic Center for the Performing Arts.
