Young Artist Audition Winners Announced
For immediate release: March 11, 2019
Media contact: Nicole Morelle, 399-3645
2019 Young Artists Audition Winners Announced
Awards Presented by Rochester Philharmonic League
Rochester, NY – Founded in 1929 to support the education and outreach programs of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), the Rochester Philharmonic League (RPL) has held and funded its annual Young Artist Auditions for high school musicians since 1955. This year’s competition – held at the Eastman School of Music on Sunday, March 10th – saw talented high school students from the Greater Rochester Area compete for a total of $5,500 in cash awards and scholarships.
Five cash awards of $500 were offered for female vocalist, male vocalist, strings, piano and instrumental (woodwind, brass, percussion, harp or guitar). The winners and runners-up from the five award categories then competed for the vocal and instrumental $1,000 college scholarships. A Special Award winner – chosen from among the winners in the award categories – also has the opportunity to audition for a solo performance with the RPO. All winners are invited to perform in a free, public recital in Kilbourn Hall at the Eastman School of Music during the summer.
Here are the 2019 award winners (name, instrument, grade, school, hometown, and private teacher):
Special Award (an opportunity to perform with the RPO)
Winners: Christine Ott, French Horn, grade 11, Homeschool, Maura McCune Corvington
Jashanti Henry, flute, grade 12, School of the Arts, Rochester, Jan Angus
Aldridge-Tinker Scholarship for Instrumentalists ($1000 college scholarship each)
Winner: Christine Ott, French Horn, grade 11, Homeschool, Maura McCune Corvington
Jan DeGaetani Scholarship for Vocalists ($1000 college scholarship)
Winner: Charles Tomaszewski, Baritone, grade 12, Honeoye Falls-Lima High School, Hannah Harrow
Helen and George Greer Instrumental Award ($500)
Winner: Christine Ott, French Horn, grade 11, Homeschool, Maura McCune Corvington
Runner-up: Jashanti Henry, flute, grade 12, School of the Arts, Rochester, Jan Angus
Mildred and Julius Ness Award for Piano ($500)
Winner: Noah Lee, piano, grade 11, The Harley School, Jacob Ertl
Runner-up: Henry Qin, piano, grade 11, Pittsford Sutherland High School, Alla Kuznetsov
Nobel Hirsh Award for Male Vocalists ($500)
Winner: Charles Tomaszewski, Baritone, grade 12, Honeoye Falls-Lima High School, Hannah Harrow
Ruth and Sidney Salzman Award for Strings ($500)
Winner: Andrew Guo, violin, grade 10, Brighton High School, Renee Jolles
Runner-up: Jessica Tang, violin, grade 11, Pittsford Mendon High School, Jeremy Zhu
Tessa Martin Award for Female Vocalists ($500)
Winner: Olivia Crawford, soprano, grade 11, Wayne Central High School, Susanna M. Adams
Honorable Mention: Clare DeMarco, soprano, grade 11, Mother of Divine Grace (Homeschool), Dr. Mario Martinez
The Rochester Philharmonic League (RPL) was founded in 1929 as a volunteer support group for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. For more than 80 years, the two organizations have collaborated to further their common goal of providing great music and music education in the greater Rochester community. The League’s current activities focus on educating young people about music and the RPO, and on fostering the advancement of music talent in the community’s youth.
The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) has been committed to enriching and inspiring our community through the art of music since its founding in 1922. The RPO presents approximately 140 concerts and broadcasts a year, serving up to 160,000 people through ticketed events, education and community engagement activities, and concerts in schools and community centers throughout the region. Music Director Ward Stare joined the ranks of former notable RPO music directors, including Eugene Goossens, José Iturbi, Erich Leinsdorf, David Zinman and Conductor Laureate Christopher Seaman. Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik has earned a national reputation for excellence in pops programming during his 25-year tenure with the RPO. Each season, the RPO reaches more than 22,000 children through its specific programs for school-aged children
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