In FREE Concert, FSYO students compete for a chance to solo with the Symphonic Orchestra
A November 11 Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra recital showcases the 2012-2013 season’s Annual Concerto Competition Finalists as they compete for the chance to play their concerto accompanied by the FSYO’s Symphonic Orchestra. Previous winners have gone on to study at Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, The Boston Conservatory, and many other prestigious institutions.
Finalists underwent a round of auditions to qualify them for this recital. Don't miss this opportunity to hear some of the most talented student musicians in Central Florida!
The recital begins at 6:30 pm, Sunday, November 11, 2012, at the College Park Baptist Church, 1914 Edgewater Drive. Join us in congratulating the students on their hard work during a post-concert reception. Admission is free.
Finalists, in alphabetical order:
Andrew Cheshire, Violin: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Samuel Barber, Opus. 14, Mvmt. 1: Andrew Cheshire is a tenth grade honors student at Merritt Island High School. He began playing violin in second grade when Santa left him a surprise on his piano bench. From that point on, the violin has been an integral part of his life. Andrew and his first violin teacher, Jennie Klim, began a special relationship in 2004 and remain close today, even after “graduating” in 2009 to begin lessons with Amy Jevitt. Both teachers are the reason why Andrew is the musician he is today. He dedicates this concerto to them.
Andrew began FSYO in 2008, the same year he attended Sewanee’s Music Festival at age ten. In a photograph from his summer there, Andrew stands at half the size of the teenagers around him; he loved being with musicians who saw him as equal despite his young age. Likewise, he played as the solo violinist in the orchestra pit for the production of Titanic while his oldest sister stood on stage singing. In 2009, Andrew was selected as concertmaster for the FSYO Philharmonia Orchestra. He began considering the violin as a career, performing solos and securing top rankings at All-County, Solo/Ensemble, and All-State. Currently, he is the associate concertmaster in the Symphonic Orchestra. He thanks his FSYO conductors, Mr. Dupuis and Mr. Lane, for shaping him into a musical leader.
Playing violin will be Andrew’s career path. This year, he had the privilege of playing in a masterclass for the world-renowned violinist Midori. In addition, Andrew received two scholarships: Kennedy Center’s Music Institute and Interlochen’s Summer Arts Program where he served as concertmaster of the World Symphony Orchestra and played on Garrison Keiler’s radio show, “Prairie Home Companion.” Andrew feels blessed to share his music with others, and thanks his parents for allowing him to follow his dream.
Stephen Clayton, Bass Trombone: Concerto for Bass Trombone, Eric Ewazen, Mvmt. 1: Stephen Clayton is an ambitious young bass trombonist. A baritone vocalist in chorus, he enjoys many aspects of music such as conducting and arranging. However he also finds academic pursuits equally interesting, finding particular enjoyment in relating academic studies such as history, literature, philosophy and to a degree, science, to music. He enjoys reading a lot, playing Ultimate Frisbee, running, biking and swimming.
Nicholas Hooks, Bassoon: Concerto in Bb Major, W.A. Mozart, K. 191, Opus 1: Nicholas is a Junior at Edgewood Jr./Sr. High School on Merritt Island and has been playing the bassoon for 4 years. This is his second year in the Symphonic Orchestra of the FSYO. He was a member of the BSYO for two years prior to playing with the FSYO. Nicholas has made the All State Band for the past three years and has been the principal chair in the Brevard All County Band for the past two years. Nicholas has also been a member of the Central Florida Winds, Cocoa Village Playhouse pit and the Melbourne Community Orchestra. He attended FSU Summer Music Camps for three years and this past summer he was accepted into the Brevard Music Center 6 week summer camp program in Brevard, NC. Nicholas plans to study bassoon performance. He currently studies with Dr. Ashley Heintzen, bassoon professor at Stetson University.
John Horzen, Violin: Concerto No. 23, G. B. Viotti, Mvmt. 1: John Horzen began violin lessons at the age of four with Susan Gray McCoy. For the last two years he has studied with Dr. Lev Gurevich. He has been a member of FSYO since 3rd grade, and joined the Symphonic Orchestra last year. He also participated in the Florida All-State Middle School Orchestra, and last year was concertmaster of the Orange All-County Middle School Orchestra. John is a freshman in the IB program at Cypress Creek High School, where he is concertmaster of the school orchestra. When not playing violin, John is either hiding out with a good book, playing saxophone, or watching Doctor Who.
Hannah Lindvall, Violin: Concerto in C Major, D. Kabalevsky, Opus 48, Mvmt. 3: Hannah Lindvall is twelve years old and is in the 7th grade at Trinity Preparatory School. She has been playing violin for 8 years. This is Hannah’s 6th season as a member of FSYO, and she is proud to be Concertmaster of the Philharmonia Orchestra this year. In addition to playing the violin, Hannah enjoys playing keyboards and singing with Oviedo’s School of Rock performance group. She also loves all types of dance and is a member of the Center for Contemporary Dance’s pre-professional program. She studies with Olga Kolpakova.
Emily Pease, Trumpet: Concerto for Trumpet and Strings in E flat Major, J. B. G. Neruda: Emily Pease is a senior at Lyman High School in Longwood, FL. Her trumpet career began in elementary school band at age 11. Since then, she has been in band and jazz ensembles throughout middle school and high school, where she is Field Commander of the Lyman Marching Greyhounds. Annually, she received Superior ratings at Solo and Ensemble, participated in the Florida All-State band since 8th grade, and All-County band since 6th grade. One honor received was being chosen as a semi-finalist in the National Trumpet Competition in Washington D.C. in 2011. She attended Cannon Music Camp for the last two summers, receiving a full scholarship last year. She plans on attending either the University of South Florida or the University of Texas in Austin to major in Music Performance with a minor in Psychology.
Tristan Rhodeside, Violin: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, S. Barber, Opus 14, Mvmt. 1: Tristan Rhodeside is 17 years old and a senior at Satellite High School. He currently attends Brevard Community College full time as an early admissions student and is in the BCC honors program. Tristan was a member of the Brevard Symphony Youth Orchestra for 5 years before joining FSYO in 2011. He is honored to be the concert master for the FSYO this year. Tristan has made Florida All-state Orchestra from 2009-2012. He began performing in 2010 for the inaugural season of the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra as its youngest member. In 2011 Tristan was chosen to play on stage with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra for their Tall and Small tribute concert. Tristan won first place in the Space Coast Pops Young Artists Competition in June of 2011 and was their featured soloist in their gift concert in November of 2011. For the past two summers Tristan has attended Jacobs School of Music Summer String Academy. Tristan has performed many benefits for worthy causes in Central Florida, including mentoring a student in Club Esteem, a club for underprivileged children, United Way, Junior Achievement, Brevard County Libraries, Brevard Theatrical Ensemble, various Brevard County high school musicals, Brevard Symphony Orchestra, and Relay for Life. He is a member of the National Honor Society. Currently Tristan is a member of Music MDs, a wonderful musical organization that plays at Holmes Regional Medical Center Hospital in Melbourne for recovering patients. Tristan is privileged to study with both Professor Ayako Yonetani and Lev Gurevich in Orlando.
Amber Yang, Piano: Concerto in A Major, W.A. Mozart, K. 414, Opus 1: Amber Yang is a 13 years old, 8th grade student at Trinity Preparatory School. Amber started her piano study at the age of 5 in Atlanta. She began her violin lessons after moving to Orlando at the age of 8. Piano and violin have become equally important part of Amber’s life. Using Amber’s own quote, “They give me wings. I am set free in the world of music because of them!” Amber currently studies piano under Dr. Gary Wolf, and violin under Dr. Lev Gurevich.
Amber has received straight superior ratings for the past 5 years in both piano and violin events at Florida Federation of Music Clubs. Amber is also a 2-time state winner of the Federation piano competitions. Amber joined FSYO in 2008 and has been a member of Overture Strings, Prelude, and Philharmonia orchestras. Amber currently plays 1st violin for Philharmonia Orchestra.
Also excellent in math and science, Amber is actively involved in Math Counts and Science Olympiad at school. However, Amber’s favorite subject is Latin. She believes she has found music and math in the language of Latin. Between homework and music, Amber also enjoys running cross country and Track and Field. If Amber has spare time, her favorite pastime is watching the TV sitcom The Big Bang Theory.
See you at the show!
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