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| The Ruth Kern Young Artist's Concerto Competition Sponsored by the Atlanta Music Club. Every year winners are given the opportunity to perform as solo artists with the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra. This years winners will play on Sunday in April 19th, 2009 at 3:00pm. Next year's auditions will be held in January, 2010. Receipt of Audition applications and tapes/CD are due by January 29th, 2010. If you have any questions e-mail to competition@acsorch.org or phone (404) 271-2533 (Jeff Daniel). Download the the application form and information here. Application click here.. Audition Requirements
Finals
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The 35th Annual Ruth Kern Young Artists' Concerto Competition Winners in concert with The Atlanta Community Orchestra. Congratulations to this year 2009 winners!!! |
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| 2009 Winners - Josine Jansen & Brian Locke & Hannah Wolkstein & Stephanie Ng & Angela Guo |
| Undergraduate Division | Senior Division | |
| Josine Jansen - Violin | Stephanie Ng - Piano | |
| Brian Locke - Piano | Angela Guo - Piano | |
| Hannah Wolkstein - Cello | ||
Josine Jansen - Violin - Josine
(J.A.E.M.) Jansen was born in Breda, The Netherlands on October 29, 1988. At age 11, Josine entered conservatory (Fontys Conservatory and Royal Conservatory of The Hague), while attending Grammar School. After graduating Grammar School at age 17, she studied violin with Prof. Detlef Hahn at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, UK. She is pursuing her bachelor studies with Mr. Sergiu Schwartz at the Columbus State University, Schwob School of Music in Georgia, USA since January this year (2009). Josine has received numerous awards and participated in many festivals and master classes throughout the world, including London Masterclasses Royal Academy(2008), the Bowdoin International Music Festival USA (2007), Holland Music Sessions (2006), Margess International of Switzerland (2003, 2006), International Summer campus Rostock Germany (2006), Goch Stringtime Germany (2004, 2005) and Peter the Great Festival (2002, 2004) with musicians such as György Pauk, Herman Krebbers, Petru Munteanu, Robert Rozek, Jaqueline Ross, Vera Beths, Stefan Metz Josine was warded by the Guildhall Trust London and the Niemeijer Foundation (Netherlands). Her studies at the Schwob School of music are made possible by the 'Patrons of Music' of the Schwob School of Music (CSU, Columbus, GA) (January 2009). |
Brian Locke - Piano - Brian Locke has become
an active musician since he began studying piano at age 8. He has performed throughout
Atlanta, GA; Columbia, SC; Detroit, MI; and many other cities around the United States.
Past festivals and competitions include the Oberlin International Piano Competition
Festival, Southeastern Piano Festival, the UNCG Music Program, and is a four-year veteran
of the Brevard Music Festival. During the summer of 2008 he was one of eight pianists
chosen to attend the Heifetz International Music Festival in New Hampshire. In July 2009
he will perform at the Burgos Music Festival in Spain. He has studied with many
well-respected performers and pedagogues such as Charles Fugo, James Howsmon,
André-Michel Schub, Jeffrey Sharkey, Barry Snyder, Douglas Weeks, and André Watts. In
April 2009 he will make his orchestral debut playing Ravel Concerto in G Major with the
Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra. An accomplished accompanist and chamber player, Brian has played for numerous choral and orchestral ensembles in Georgia and South Carolina and is frequently sought-after to collaborate with musicians of all ages and professional levels. He recently was chosen as the staff accompanist for the Ridge Choral Society. Knowing the importance of the advancement of the arts in the community, he works with the USC Arts Institute in Columbia, SC to further this cause. He has created highly-acclaimed community arts events such as the most recent project in which he performed with and coordinated Saint-Saëns' Le Carnaval des Animaux using a joint venture of art, dance, poetry, and music. He sings in the choir at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia and he is an instructor of piano at the USC Community Music School. Brian Locke was born in Detroit, MI and grew up in Kennesaw, GA. He is the sole recipient of the Bong Hi Kim memorial music scholarship given by David Kim, concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra. A former student of Steinway-artist David Watkins and organist Greg Hulse, he now is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at the University of South Carolina under Dr. Marina Lomazov. |
Hannah Wolkstein - Cello - Hannah
Wolkstein is a cellist currently studying with Wolfgang and Mariana Laufer. She attended
the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she studied with Parry Karp. Hannah has performed in masterclasses for Laurence Lesser, Lynn Harrell, Richard Aaron and members of the Emerson, Brentano and Takacs String Quartets. Hannah has attended numerous music programs, including the Meadowmount School of Music,
Encore School for Strings, Henry Mancini Institute, Interlochen Center for the Arts,
Innsbrook Institute, Quartet Program and the Pablo Casals Festival in Prades, France.
While attending Interlochen, she was a member of the World Youth Symphony and performed
with Itzhak Perlman. |
Stephanie Ng - Piano - Currently
studying piano with Professor David Watkins at Kennesaw State University, Stephanie began
winning competitions at a young age and studied at the Moscow Conservatory in Moscow,
Russia. She made her first orchestral appearance when she was 13, playing Rachmaninoff's
Second Piano Concerto. In December 2008, she performed Dvorak's Second Piano Quintet with
the Halcyon Quartet in the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. In addition to piano, Stephanie
plays the violin in the Walton Philharmonia Orchestra. Apart from her music, Stephanie
enjoys going to concerts with friends and playing Ultimate Frisbee. |
Angela Guo - Piano - Angela Guo, a
seventeen-year-old musician currently enrolled in the 11th grade at The Westminster
Schools, has been heavily involved in the world of piano since the age of four. After
entering her first competition at the age of six, piano engrained itself as an
inextricable part of her both her life and identity. Throughout her high school years, she
has studied with Dr. William Ransom, head of the piano faculty at Emory University, and he
has been vital in every aspect of her musical development. As a performer and a competitive pianist, Angela has been honored in both the statewide and national levels. Recently, these achievements include being awarded co-champion in the teen division of "Searching for a Star," a national recording competition with over five thousand entries conducted by the Kawai Corporation of America, as well as being named two-time winner and conference recitalist of the Georgia Music Teacher's Association spring auditions. She has also performed on the Little Carnegie Hall concert series held by the Gainesville ProMusica society and as a result, appeared live on 88.1 FM radio in both an interview and a performance. At the age of sixteen, Angela became 1st Alternate in the Georgia Music Teacher's Association High School Concerto Competition; as a freshman, she earned 1st Alternate in the high school division of the Music Teacher's National Association competition in the Georgia district. Aside from her achievements in piano, Angela is also a distinguished cellist. Her position as a member of the prestigious Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra as well as principal cellist of her high school orchestra have provided her with exposure to areas of music beyond solely the realm of piano and this has helped strengthen her development in other aspects of music. She is selected annually for the Georgia Music Teacher's Association's All-State Orchestra, and has been invited to participate in clinics and festivals at the University of Georgia and side-by-side with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. In addition to performing, Angela is also been involved with community outreach and uses her musical talents in service projects. Along with her chamber music quartet, she has performed for distinguished individuals at community events and venues such as nursing homes, hospitals, and the AGAPE center's annual fundraising event. Academically, she is an honor student involved with many student-run activities both inside and outside of school. A nationally competitive policy debater of two years, Angela has received numerous awards at various tournaments, including 2nd place her freshman year at the Novice National Championships. Dedicated and committed to having her voice heard, she is a writer/columnist and a senior opinions editor of her school newspaper, a co-founder of her school's Model UN team, and an officer in both her Young Democrats Association chapter as well as an officer in a religious/racial student-run diversity club. Angela remains undeniably enthusiastic and excited about traveling as a selected exchange student to the Netherlands near the end of the semester to learn about water initiatives and public policies surrounding droughts and floods. This will complete the final stage of the efforts of a small group of school-chosen student advocates to help rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Despite numerous hobbies and commitments, music remains Angela's dose of sanity throughout her teenage years and will always play a crucial part in her life. She wishes to continue her involvement with piano and cello in both high school and college as she pursues her interests in law, English, and the political sciences.
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| 2008 Winners - Clara Starkweather & Emily Tyndally & Yaniv Gutman & Eilizabeth MacCorquodale |
| Clara Starkweather - Piano | Emily Tyndall - Clarinet | |
| Yaniv Gutman - Violin | Eilizabeth MacCorquodale -Violin | |
| 2007 Winners - Michell Cardenas & Nelli Jabotinsky & Steven Naimark & Robyn Quinnett |
![]() Michelle Cardenas (violin), twenty-year old violinist Michelle Cardenas began taking violin lessons at the age of six. Following her father, who served in the U. S. Army, Michelle lived in Korea, Texas, Alaska, and Georgia. She placed second in the Savannah Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition in 2001. While attending Luzerne Music Festival during the summer of 2002, she first met and studied with her current teacher, the renowned violinist, Sergiu Schwartz, and inspired by her peers' love for music, Michelle began to make music and violin her main focus. After moving from Georgia to South Carolina that same year, she began to commute to Atlanta, Georgia to study with esteemed instructor Sonja Foster, driving five hours each Saturday to take lessons. At the age of sixteen, Michelle made her solo debut with orchestra, playing the third movement of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor with the Buckhead Youth orchestra in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2005, she was an Arts Recognition and Talent Search Merit Award Winner. After she successfully auditioned and was accepted into several music conservatories, including the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, the Eastman School of Music, and the School of Music at Northwestern University, Michelle transferred to the Schwob School of Music, Columbus State University, where she pursues her violin studies with Turner Distinguished Violin Professor Sergiu Schwartz . As a winner of the 2007 Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, Michelle will appear as a soloist with the orchestra performing the Vieuxtemps Violin Concerto No. 5 under Maestro Juan Ramirez. Summer 2007, Michelle Cardenas has been awarded a full scholarship to attend the prestigious Bowdoin International Music Festival. |
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![]() Nelli Jabotinsky (violin), began studying the violin at the age of six with her father, Alex Jabotinsky, in Israel, where she moved from her native Russia, in 1989. She continued her studies in Israel with Haim Taub, concertmaster of the Israel Phiharmonic Orchestra. A recipient of annual scholarships and prizes from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation, Nelli attended summer courses for chamber ensembles at the Jerusalem Music Centre, founded by Isaac Stern and Pablo Casals and participated in the Keshet Eilon Violin Master Courses, where she also studied with famed violinist Ida Haendel. Nelli has performed in solo and chamber music concerts throughout Israel. As a winner of the 2002 Young Talent Competition, she appeared as a soloist with the Haifa Symphony Orchestra. While studying with Sergiu Schwartz at Lynn University Conservatory of Music in Florida, Nelli won the 2005 Conservatory Concerto Competition and performed the Bruch Violin Concerto with the Lynn University Philharmonia Orchestra. As a winner of the
2007 Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, Nelli will appear as a
soloist with the orchestra performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto under Maestro Juan
Ramirez. |
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![]() Steven Naimark (clarinet), Alpharetta, GA, has performed as a featured soloist with the Columbus State University Philharmonic Orchestra as a winner of the 2006 Columbus State University Concerto Competition and has also performed as a featured soloist with the Centennial High School Band and Alpharetta City Band. In April 2007 Steven will perform with the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra as a winner of the 2007 Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition. He is currently principal clarinet of the CSU Philharmonic Orchestra and the CSU Wind Symphony, performing regularly in Columbus and touring to Savannah, Atlanta, and Charleston, SC. Steven is also an active freelancer in Georgia, performing as guest principal clarinet of the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra in LaGrange, GA, and in the orchestra pit at Georgias historic State Theatre, the Springer Opera House. He also performs frequently as a chamber musician, performing with the CSU clarinet quartet at the 2007 Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference. In March of 2007, Steven performed by invitation in a regional masterclass for Chicago Symphony Associate Principal clarinet and recording artist John Bruce Yeh held at Columbus State University. In the summer of 2005 Steven attended the
Domaine Forget Music Academy in Quebec, Canada, and in the summer of 2006 he studied music
history in Paris, France as a part of the CSU Study Abroad program. A member of the
International Clarinet Association, Steven was the official photographer of the ICAs
2006 Clarinetfest held in Atlanta, GA, and his photographs will be published in the
ICAs journal The Clarinet in 2007. Steven plans to attend the Belgium
Clarinet Academy in Ostend, Belgium in July 2007, where he will study with Eddy
Vanoosthuyse and Robert Spring. Steven is a junior majoring in clarinet performance at the
Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University, Columbus, GA, where he studies with
Dr. Lisa Oberlander. |
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![]() Robyn Quinnett (soprano), born on the island of Montserrat in the Caribbean, Robyn Quinnett began playing the violin at the age of eight. She completed high school at fifteen in order to dedicate more time to pursue her violin studies. Meanwhile, she was actively pursuing her interest in Figure Skating winning World Figure Skating Competitions in her age category, with one silver and nine gold medals. At fifteen she became the youngest person to win First Prize of the national Mariam Hayes Young Artist Competition. Her solo engagements include appearances with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, New World Chamber Orchestra in Miami, and the Symphony Orchestra of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Recently she became a Semi-Finalist in the Sphinx Competition where she was awarded a full scholarship to attend the Aspen Music Festival and School. Robyn gives frequent recitals throughout the southeast United States. As a winner of the 2007 Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, Robyn will appear as a soloist with the orchestra performing the Saint-Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso under Maestro Juan Ramirez. Currently she is studying with
renowned concert violinist and pedagogue Sergiu Schwartz at the Schwob School of Music,
Columbus State University. The violin Robyn now plays is a modern instrument by the
Italian maker Maurizio Tadioli generously sponsored by David Kerr Violin Shop in Portland,
Oregon. Robyns other prominent interests include world literature, philosophy,
visual arts, and modern compositions. |
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| 2006 Winners - Katie Baughman & Stephen Upshaw & Keru Cai | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Katie Baughman (soprano), recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from Georgia State University with a degree in a vocal performance where she is now pursuing her Master's degree in the studio of Dwight Coleman. During her time at GSU, she was the recipient of the Florence Kopleff Vocal Scholarship, Peter Harrower Opera Scholarship as well as winner of the GSU Honor's Recital Competition. Recent performances include the Young Artist Regional Concerto Competition Concert with Buckhead Youth Orchestra, Handel's Messiah with the Atlanta Hanaro Choir, and the premier of scenes from Curtis Bryant's new opera, The Anarchists. Upcoming engagements include the role of Miss Wordsworth in Britten's Albert Herring, soprano soloist in Mozart's Requiem and Laurey in Oklahoma!. |
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![]() Stephen Upshaw (viola), having already amassed an impressive list of musical accomplishments, violist Stephen Upshaw has furthered his musical study at the Amelia Island chamber music festival in Florida, the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, and most recently, the Heifetz International Music Institute in New Hampshire. These institutions have provided invaluable connections and experiences; Stephen has had the opportunity to work with world renowned musicians as well as teachers from the New England Conservatory, Yale University and the Juilliard School. In addition to his summer studies, Stephen has held the principal viola position at Harrison High School for four years; he has also held the principal viola position in the Georgia All state orchestra for four years and as of this year, is the principal violist of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. Outside of Georgia, he held the principal viola position with the World Youth Symphony in Interlochen, Michigan and was featured in concerts in New Hampshire, Illinois, Maine and Michigan. In addition to his orchestral experience, Stephen has participated in numerous competitions with much success. His principal teachers have included Elana Nolte, Herold Levine, Michelle LaCourse and his current teacher and mentor, Dr. Marilyn Seelman. Next year, Stephen hopes to attend a music conservatory and eventually play in a professional orchestra. |
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![]() Keru Cai (piano), was born in China on March 4, 1990, and moved to the United States with her parents at the age of 2. She started her piano lessons in 1995 with Ms. Wenzao Chen. Keru has also taken lessons with several other well-known piano teachers in Atlanta area, including Ms. Pingyun Hsu, Ms. Virginia Hutchins, Ms. Edith Schiff, and Dr. David Watkins of Kennesaw State University. She is now taking lessons with Dr. William Ransom, head of the piano faculty at Emory University, as one of his few private students. During the last 11 years of her piano career, Keru has won numerous awards and recognitions in local, state, and national piano competitions and performances, including first place in the GMTA Spring Auditions for 4 years, first place in the GMTA Concerto Competition in 2005, first place winner in the Kawaii National Recording Competition in 2004, first place of the National Youth Conference Keyboard Competition in 2004 and 2005, first place in the Cobb Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Concerto Competition 2005, first place in the GHP Concerto Competition in 2005, second place in Margaret Guthman Piano Competition in 2005, and first place in the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra Ruth Kern Young Artists Concerto Concert in 2006. Keru has also been participated in several intensive piano and music study programs, including the University of Georgia Summer Music Camp in 2004 and the Georgia Governor's Honors Program in 2005, both as a piano major. In addition to piano, Keru has also studied cello for 6 years. As a key member of her middle and high school orchestras, she has played as first chair in several musical events. In addition to music, Keru has also achieved exceptional accomplishment in her school academics. She graduated from Chalker Elementary School in 2000 and J.J. Daniel Middle School in 2003, both with the honors of the Principal's Lists. She had also won numerous awards and recognitions in the both schools, including the President's Awards. She has been recognized by Who's Who among America's High School Students, The National Society of High School Scholars, and National Honor Society. She is currently a junior in the International Baccalaureate Program at Campbell High School of Cobb County, and she is currently the Valedictorian of her class. In her first SAT test on January 2006, Keru scored 2400, a perfect score that only a handful of students have achieved across the nation. Keru participates in numerous extra-curricular and community service activities, and she is the Captain of Academic Bowl Team, the Treasurer of Orchestra, the President of French Club, an Officer of Math Team, and an active member of several interest clubs. She has been a volunteer piano player for a local church for 4 years, and she enjoys performing piano and cello at nursing homes. She also teaches private piano lessons in her spare time. Keru likes classical music, movies, history, French, literature, psychology, and Chinese culture. She wants to go to Harvard or Yale and become a college professor of history or psychology, playing piano all the way. |
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