The 2011 Young Instrumentalists Competition was held on May 7th at Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin College. Violinist Mary-Wynn Willson, a home-schooled 10th grader from Ft. Defiance, won the annual young instrumentalists competition. There was a field of seven contestants, ranging from 6th to 12th grade, for classical presentations in piano, woodwinds, and strings. Willson, taught by Joan Griffing, played compositions by Accolay and Massenet.
Runner-up in the completion was pianist Devan Visvalingam, a 9th grader at Eastern Mennonite High School, and honorable mention went to flutist Caroline Walsh of Bridgewater, who is in 11th grade at Stuart Hall. Devan and Caroline are taught by Paulo Steinberg and Elizabeth Brightbill, respectively.
The competition is sponsored every spring by Valley Symphonic Concerts and hosted by the Mary Baldwin College music department, chaired by Lise Keiter. |
This year, we were pleased to bring two in-school music education experiences to local students. Thanks to a generous grant from the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge, we brought the acclaimed group Brass Five (www.brass5.com) to Ladd Elementary in Waynesboro and Stuart's Draft Middle School. Students loved their lively program, which featured a fascinating journey through the history of music and instruments. We are grateful to have received another generous grant from the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge to sponsor this project again in the 2011-2012 season.
Bringing programs to our area schools is a vital part of the Valley Symphonic Concerts' mission. |
