Winners Announced in 22nd Annual Walgreens National Concerto Competition

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 31, 2018
contact: Christine Escobar, Communications Associate, 847-926-9898, ext. 313, christineescobar@mya.org

Winners Announced in 22nd Annual Walgreens National Concerto Competition,

hosted by Midwest Young Artists Conservatory

HIGHWOOD, IL. - Over 250 exceptional young musicians from all corners of the country, competed in Midwest Young Artists Conservatory’s 22nd Annual Walgreens National Concerto Competition from December 27 to 29 at Ravinia’s Bennett Gordon Hall and the MYAC Center in Highwood, IL.

Students from elementary through 12th grades competed for more than $20,000 in scholarships and cash prizes in the MYAC Division and the Open Division, which were both further divided into the Junior Level (up to 8th grade) and the Senior Level (9th through 12th graders).

A panel of distinguished judges selected the winners and delivered individual comments on each performance. Most exciting of all, the prize for these young musicians is the chance to perform their winning pieces with MYAC’s full orchestras, and on the prestigious “From the Top” radio program. Walgreens Corporation’s annual sponsorship enables MYAC to provide students with preeminent artist-educator judges, a video recording of their performance, written performance evaluations, and an inviting and nurturing environment in which to participate.

Overall winners will perform at the February 24th MYAC concert at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall at Northwestern University. Category winners are chosen to perform at a Winners Recital at Bennett-Gordon Hall on the Ravinia Campus in Highland Park on March 10, 2019. Winning soloists may also be selected for performance opportunities with Midwest professional and community orchestras.

2018 Walgreens National Concerto Competition Winners:

OVERALL OPEN DIVISION GRAND WINNER: James Baik, cello

*The Overall Open Division Grand Winner is chosen from the Open Junior and Open Senior Division winners.

JUNIOR OPEN DIVISION

OVERALL DIVISION WINNER: Kimiko Darcy, piano

VOCAL CATEGORY:

Honorable Mention:

Miriam Faybysh

WINDS CATEGORY:

Winner: Louis Auxenfans, clarinet

Honorable Mention:

Grace Choi, flute

EARLY MUSIC CATEGORY:

Winner: Ella Wimbiscus, cello

Honorable Mention:

Eric Wang, piano

 

STRINGS CATEGORY:

Honorable Mention:

Madeline Cha, violin

Bianca Ciubancan, violin

Karim Al Zahabi, violin

Sameer Agrawal, violin

 

PIANO CATEGORY:

Winner: Kimiko Darcy

Honorable Mention:

Rosabelle Shi

Emmie Guo

Caleb D. Kim

Clara Zhang

 

SENIOR OPEN DIVISION

OVERALL DIVISION WINNER: James Baik, cello

 

WINDS / OTHER CATEGORY:

Winner: David Lee, clarinet

Honorable Mention:

Taylor Akin, bassoon

Robert Black, tuba

Nicolas Quero, flute

 

EARLY MUSIC CATEGORY:

Winner: Rabia Brooke, violin

 

STRINGS CATEGORY:

Winner: James Baik, cello

2nd Place: Rabia Brooke, violin

Honorable Mention:

Zechariah Mo, viola

Nicholas Boettcher, double bass

Claire Metcalf, violin

 

PIANO CATEGORY:

Winner: Ben Hoang

Honorable Mention:

Sakurako Eriksen

Justin Chang

Ashley Kim

 

SENIOR MYAC ORCHESTRA DIVISION

OVERALL DIVISION GRAND WINNER: Ezra Burca, viola

 

WINDS CATEGORY:

Winner: Nick Nocita, bassoon

Honorable Mention:

Sebastian Ingino, clarinet

Joanna Choe, flute

 

EARLY MUSIC CATEGORY:

Winner: Liam Diethrich, violin

 

STRINGS CATEGORY:

Winner: Ezra Burca, viola

Honorable Mention:

Christopher Gottardi-Littell, violin

Daria Chudnovsky, violin

Bella Kim, viola

Haoming Song, cello

 

PIANO CATEGORY:

Winner: Sebastian Ingino

 

JUNIOR MYAC ORCHESTRA DIVISION

OVERALL DIVISION GRAND WINNER: Ruth Kim, violin

 

STRINGS CATEGORY:

Winner: Ruth Kim, violin

Honorable Mention:

Jacob Fisher, bass

Momo Frederickson, violin

Nick Ingino, violin

John Lee, violin

David Wu, cello

 

OTHER CATEGORY:

Winner: Sophia Katsuma

Honorable Mention:

Richelle Shi

 

PIANO CATEGORY:

Winner: Elizabeth Romanyuk

Honorable Mention:

Jocelyn Gao

 

EARLY MUSIC CATEGORY:

Winner: Jacob Fisher, bass

Honorable Mention:

Sofia Radovic, viola

Gabriella Radovic, violin

 

MYAC’s classical, jazz, and choral programs serve students from grade school beginners through advanced pre-collegiate performers. For tickets to any of our future concerts and events, or more information about MYAC’s programs visit mya.org or call 847-926-9898.

 

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