THE VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONGRATULATES
PERFORMERS OF 17TH ANNUAL YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITION

Totaling $5250 in cash awards

(Vancouver, WA)  The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra concluded its seventeenth annual Young Artists Competition Sunday, February 27th at TrinityLutheran Church, Vancouver, WA. In each of three instrument categories, first, second and third place winners were selected, with each receiving monetary awards. First place recipients will perform with The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Salvador Brotons, April 9^th and 10^th at Skyview Concert Hall,Vancouver, WA.

Piano

• 1^st – Alexander Zhu                                 $1000
  Teacher – Kelli Stephens
  Rachmaninoff Concerto No.2, op. 18, 1^st Mvt.
• 2^nd – Ruta Kuzmickas                              $500
  Teacher – Jean-David Coen
  ravel, Piano concerto in G major, 1^st Mvt.
• 3^rd – Sherry Liang                                  $250
  Teacher – Barbara Parker
  Saint-Saens Piano concerto No.5, Mvt. 3

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Woodwinds/Brass/Percussion

• 1^st – Kenneth Fukumoto, Alto sax              $1000
  Teacher – Phil Baldino
  Concerto for Alto Sax, Glazunov
• 2^nd – John Church, Trombone                   $500
  Teacher – Henry Henniger
  Concertino for Trombone, David
• 3^rd – Nick Rector, Trumpet                       $250
  Teacher – Paul Nickolas
  Arutunian Concerto for Trumpet

Strings

• 1^st –  David Kim, Cello,                            $1000
  Teacher – Hyun-Jin Kim
  Saint-Saens, Cello Concerto No.1 in A minor
• 2^nd – Lauren Siess, Viola                          $500
  Teacher – Ann Medellin
  Walton Viola Concerto, 2^nd Mvt
• 3^rd –  Kristin Qian, Violin                          $250
  Teacher – Carol Sindell
  Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, 1^st Mvt.

The nine finalists were chosen from thirty-seven entries submitted between October 2010 and January, 2011. Finalists were then judged on interpretation, technique, dynamics and overall musicality. Young Artists performed live in front of an enthusiastic audience of over 200 and a panel of five judges, music professionals from the Vancouver/Portland area. Judges included:

• Sharon Hinckley
• Tatiana Kolchanova
• Don Appert
• Igor Shakhman
• Jim Obanian

David Smith, VSO board member, emceed the event and was preceded by Larry Easter, member of the Friends and long-time supporter of the Young Artists Competition.
Tickets for the April 9^th and 10^th concert are now available online at www.VancouverSymphony.org. The April concert will also include A. Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, narrated by All-Classical FM’s Edmund Stone, and Beethoven’s Symphony No.8, Op.93 in F major.
The 2011 Young Artists Competition was sponsored by Friends of The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. “Generosity of spirit is the commonality that men and women share in the Friends organization,” said Linda Odenborg, Chair of the dedicate group. “We believe in giving back through Education Outreach programs and fundraising events.”

Additional supporters of the Young Artists Competition included Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Liu. Proceeds from Virtuoso Music for Two Pianos, performed by Michael Liu, Fred Lu and Kate Hobbie January 9^th at Sherman Clay & Moe’s Piano, Portland, Oregon also assisted in supporting the February 27^th competition.
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is a 70-member professional orchestra presenting international guest artists and varied programs, October through May. The concert season includes live classical performances led by Maestro Salvador Brotons as well as special events such as the successful February 12th performance of Aaron Meyer & The Vancouver Big Band, or the upcoming In-School concerts. Visit www.VancouverSymphony.org for tickets and information.