YOUNG ARTISITS CONCERTO COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED

New Haven, CT, January 3, 2008: The New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) is pleased to announce the winners of its 2008 Young Artists Concerto Competition. The winners will be featured as soloists in the NHSO’s Young People’s Concerts and Family Concert in the spring.  

Receiving first place in the High Strings Division is 13 year old Sirena Huang, of South Windsor, CT. Sirena is an accomplished violinist and attends the 8 th grade at Renbrook School. Her music teacher is Stephen Clapp of the Julliard School Pre-College Division. Additionally, Sirena was named overall winner of the competition and will be recognized onstage at the January 17 th Symphony Series Concert at Woolsey Hall where she will receive the grand prize of $1,000. An accomplished performer Sirena was selected three times in three consecutive years as the youngest of ten “Exceptional Young Artists” worldwide at the “Starling-Delay Symposium for Violin Study” at the Julliard School. In 2006, Sirena was invited to play for the King of Jordan and thirty other Nobel Prize Laureates in the World Peace Conference.

Thirteen year old Alexander Beyer of Fairfield, CT placed first in the Piano Division. Alexander attends Fairfield Woods Middle School and is under the musical direction of Yoshie Akimoto. Alexander has received many musical honors including being named Young Musician of the Year in 2002 in Santa Cruz, CA. He has also placed first in the Baroque and French Categories at the Connecticut Schubert Piano Competition. Alexander is a high honors student, and a member of his community Clean Energy Task Force. He enjoys playing soccer, tennis, and the cello in his spare time.

The winner in the Woodwinds Division is 17 year old oboist Julia DeRosa of New Canaan, CT. Julia is a Junior at New Canaan High School and is under the musical direction of Richard Dallessio ( Julliard Pre-College). Most recently, Julia was selected as a member of the 2006-2007 Connecticut All-State Orchestra as Principal Oboe. She is also a part of the 2007 All Eastern Honors Ensemble with the New Canaan High School Woodwind Quintet and a recipient of the Roger Nierenberg Youth Commendation Award.

Placing first in the Low Strings Division is 15 year old cellist Jennie Brent of New Haven, CT. Jennie is in her first year at the Foote School and she studies with Ole Akahoshi. Jennie has received many wonderful opportunities throughout her musical career, most notably as a cellist in the Philharmonic Orchestra at the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Division and as a member of the Choate Chamber Orchestra. In addition to her passion for playing cello, Jennie is also an experienced pianist, enjoys creative writing, skiing, and studying dance with the New Haven Ballet.

The NHSO would also like to congratulate the first runners-up in each division: Chelsea Starbuck-Smith (violin), 16 years old of Easton, CT, Stanley Cai (piano), 12 years old of Ridgefield, CT, Ariel Fein (flute), 18 years old of Easton, CT, and Danielle Merlis (cello), 16 years old, of Westport, CT. The first runners-up will receive a private coaching session with the NHSO’s Music Director, William Boughton.

1/7/2008