Twelve students from the West Virginia University School of Music will compete in the school’s Annual Young Artist Competition finals on January 18. The faculty selected students from various studio areas to compete for a chance to be a featured soloist in an upcoming ensemble performance.
“The Young Artist Competition is a wonderful opportunity to see the breadth and depth of talent we have at WVU,” said Rotem Weinberg, director of orchestral activities and visiting assistant professor in the School of Music.
This year, for the first time, the School of Music will host area music professionals as guest judges for the finalists’ performances in the Canady Creative Arts Center Lyell B. Clay Theatre on January 18. Guest judges include Pablo Ardiles, artistic director of the Pittsburgh Youth Concert Orchestra (PYCO), Gerald Lee, professor of piano of West Liberty University and Amanda Morrison, clarinet professor at Slippery Rock University. Weinberg and Scott Tobias, director of bands at West Virginia University, will serve as non-voting advisors to the jury panel.
“The three judges that were selected are all well-known professionals in the area, and we are certain that they will bring an impartial professional perspective,” Weinberg said.
This year’s Young Artist Competition finalists are cello student Ivan Law, flute students Greta Hulterstrum and José Fernando Ramírez-Macías, piano students Jingyi Xu, Madeline Hoover and Muhan Zhang, saxophone student Alexis Mason, trumpet student Josh Lugo, tuba student Evan Turner, viola student Noah Bowles, violin student Samantha Wolf and voice student Songting Xie.
Up to three winners will be selected to perform with one of the School of Music’s premiere ensembles as soloists in a spring or fall semester performances.
“The prestige of being titled a competition winner, combined with the experience of performing with a premiere ensemble gives the winners a major boost to their profile and resume,” Weinberg said.
The annual Young Artist Competition is limited to full-time undergraduate music majors and full-time graduate music students. To apply, students must be studying applied music with a member of the School of Music faculty. Previous winners cannot compete again during the same degree level. The winners will be highlighted in the announcements for their upcoming ensemble performances.
For more information about the School of Music, visit music.wvu.edu.