Amazing Prodigies, Great Concertos

A Gala Concert spotlighting the ten outstanding winners of the 15th Annual Young Artists Debut! Competition conducted by Niel Deponte

Sunday, May 3, 2009, 7:30pm, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

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On January 10th, the 2009 Young Artists Debut! Concerto Competition winners were announced. The ten soloists, chosen from over 70 entrants at the competition’s final round, held at Lewis and Clark College, will perform with Niel DePonte and an orchestra drawn from the ranks of the Oregon Symphony and Oregon Ballet Theatre orchestras on Sunday, May 3, 2009, 7:30 PM at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

The concert is sponsored by The Arnold Marks Family Charitable Trust, The Portland Center for the Performing Arts, and is produced by MetroArts Inc, DePonte's nonprofit arts-education organization.

Each young artist will perform at least one movement of a major concerto written for their instrument at the gala concert and will attend coaching sessions with DePonte. There they will discuss not only the interpretation of their concertos, but also how to solo with an orchestra, ways to approach repertoire, and what it takes to be a professional musician.

After this year's competition, Niel DePonte, who is also music director and conductor for Oregon Ballet Theatre and who has been nominated for a Grammy Award as a concerto soloist himself said, "This is an exciting class of young artists and, on average, one of the youngest we've ever had. I look forward to working with them for the next few months and having them make appearances in schools and other venues along the way. They are terrific role models for other children, showing what hard work and determination can achieve."

Each young artist will perform at least one movement of a major concerto written for their instrument on the gala concert and will attend coaching sessions with DePonte. There they will discuss not only the interpretation of their concertos, but also how to solo with an orchestra, ways to approach repertoire, and what it takes to be a professional musician.

After this year's competition, DePonte, who is also music director and conductor for Oregon Ballet Theatre and who has been nominated for a Grammy Award as a concerto soloist himself said, "This is an exciting class of young artists and, on average, one of the youngest we've ever had. I look forward to working with them for the next few months and having them make appearances in schools and other venues along the way. They are terrific role models for other children, showing what hard work and determination can achieve."

For ticket information about the Young Artists at the Schnitz concerto concert, May 3, 2009 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, call MetroArts Inc at 503-245-4885 with any questions.

Purchase tickets now for the Young Artists at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall May 3, 2009.

Purchase CD - Young Artist Debut! Recital Showcase

Meet the 2009 Winners of the 15th Annual Young Artist Debut! Competition

Natalie Yu of Beaverton, Oregon is a 15 year-old violinist and studies with Kathryn Gray. This is her second appearance at the Young Artists Debut! Concert. Natalie attends Southridge High School and will perform the 1st movement of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D Major.

Fred Lu of Vancouver, Washington is a 15 year-old pianist and studies with Carol Rich. Fred attends Skyview High School and will perform Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1.

Keith Buncke of Lake Oswego, Oregon is a 15 year-old bassoonist and studies with Mark Eubanks. Keith attends Lake Oswego High School and will perform the Weber Andante e Rondo Ongarese.

Ruta Kuzmickas of Portland, Oregon is a 12-year-old who studies piano with Jean-David Coen and Alexandre Dossin. She attends Alder Creek Middle School and will perform the first movement of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor.

Emily Sokoloff of Eugene, Oregon is 15 year-old violinist who studies with Kathryn Lucktenberg. This is her second appearance at the Young Artists Debut! Concert. She attends South Eugene High School and will be performing the 3rd movement of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto.

Cara Gabrielson of Portland, Oregon is a 17 year-old soprano who studies with Angela Niederloh. Cara attends Beaverton High School. She will sing the aria Da Tempeste Il Legno Infranto from Julius Ceasar by Handel.

Andrea Moon of Portland, Oregon is a 15 year-old pianist and studies with Kelli Stephens. Andrea attends Lincoln High School and will perform the first movement of the Saint Saens Piano Concerto No. 2.

Adria Ye of Lake Oswego, Oregon is an 11 year-old pianist and a 6th grade student at Westridge Elementary School. Adria currently studies with Elizabeth Stern. She will perform the first movement of the Mozart Piano Concerto in D Minor.

William Goforth is an 18 year-old tenor who studies with Linda Appert. This is his second appearance at the Young Artists Debut! Concert. He is a senior at the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics and will perform the duet Un Soave Non So Che from La Cenerentola by Rossini with Maya Dair.

Maya Dair of Portland, Oregon. Maya is an 18 year-old mezzo-soprano and studies voice with Angela Niederloh and Mia Hall Savage. She attends the Portland Waldorf School.