concerto competition

Symphony Young Artist Concerto Competition won by Thief River Falls pianist

Grand Forks, ND, February 11, 2012 – The Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra held its annual Young Artist Competition at the Josephine Campbell Recital Hall on the campus of the University of North Dakota on Friday, February 10.

Performers under 22 years of age living within 120 miles of Grand Forks competed for the chance to perform with the full symphony orchestra on March 24, 2012 at the Empire Arts Center in Grand Forks. All entrants performed from memory in this two-round competition. Judges for the performance were Alexander Platt, Music Director of the Symphony, pianist Christopher Lockhart, MD of Grand Forks, and violinist Karl Peterson of Eden Prairie, MN.

1st Prize, the Lee Barnum Award: Aaron Fagerstrom, Thief River Falls, 1st Prize, the Lee Barnum Award – Concerto # 2 for Piano and Orchestra by Camille Saint-Saens; The Barnum Awards includes at least one performance with the Symphony 2nd place: Carolyn Braus, Fargo, Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra by Pierre Max Dubois 3rd place (tie): Austin Soderstrom, Grand Forks, Concerto for Cello and Orchestra by Edward Elgar and Lihue Czakis, Grand Forks, 3rd place (tie) – $100, Concerto in G major for Viola and Orchestra by George Philippe Telemann.

The Paige Towne Award for exemplary performance by a student under 19 years of age went to Brett Drevlow of Thief River Falls for his two concerto entries on string bass (Capuzzi) and piano (Rachmaninoff #2).

Music Director Alexander Platt: “The performers played at a consistently high level, reflecting not only their intense preparation and talent but also the superb teaching available in the region. The winners rose above a very strong field. Any of our prizewinners would do beautifully in performance with the orchestra but we are very pleased to be having Aaron [Fagerstrom] as our soloist.”

“The Symphony is doggedly committed to provide unique, irreplaceable musical
experiences to the young people in our region,” says Executive Director Philip McKenzie. “With sufficient support there is no limit to the impact we can have.”

A limited number of tickets for this very popular concert on March 24 are now on sale by visiting www.ggfso.org/tickets.

Contact:
Philip D. McKenzie
mckenzie.phil@yahoo.com
3350 Campus Road, Mail Stop 7084
Grand Forks, ND 58202