YoungArtistsattheSchnitz

ConductorNieldePonte

AnnouncesWinnersof the8thAnnual“Young ArtistsattheSchnitz” ConcertoCompetition

Niel DePonte, artistic director and conductor of the “Young Artists at the Schnitz” concerto competition announced this year’s winners of the annual competition. The nine soloists, who were chosen from over 60 entrants January 12th at the competition’s final round at Lewis & Clark College, will perform with DePonte and an orchestra drawn from the ranks of the Oregon Symphony and Oregon Ballet Theatre orchestras on April 26, 2002, at 7:30PM at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The concert is sponsored by the Tri-County Lodging Association: Portland, Oregon, Visitors Association; and the Arnold Marks Family Charitable Trust and is produced by MetroArts Inc., DePonte’s non-profit, arts-education organization.

The winning young artists for 2002 are: Sydnie Yao Reed, a 16-year-old violinist attending South Eugene High School who studies with Carol Sindell; Claire Craig-Sheets, a 17-yearold soprano from Newberg who attends Portland State University and studies with Ruth Dobson; Sojourn Breneiser, an 18-yearold bass-baritone and senior at Rex Putnam High School in Milwaukie who studies with David Jimerson; Albert Cheng, a 15-year-old pianist from Lakeridge High School in Lake Oswego who studies with Elizabeth Stern and is a repeat winner; also a repeat winner is Erik Nielsen, a 15-year-old violinist from Portland and Sunset High School who studies with Carol Sindell; Rosa Li, a 10-year-old pianist from Beaverton and Sexton Mountain Elementary School who studies with Dorothy Fahlman; Kelly Swaim, a 17-year-old flutist attending Prairie High School in Brush Prairie, WA, who studies with Rachel Anderson; Leslie Richmond, a 15-year-old flutist from Beaverton High School who studies with Rosemary Wood; and Andy Liang, an 11-year-old violinist attending the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics in Washington who studies with Kathryn Gray. Each will perform at least one movement of a major concerto written for their instrument on the gala concert and will have coaching sessions with DePonte, where they will discuss not only the interpretation of their concertos but also how to solo with an orchestra, ways to approach repertoire, and about what it takes to be a professional musician.

After the competition, DePonte, who is also music director and conductor for the Oregon Ballet Theatre said, “Every year, for the 7 years I’ve conducted this concert, I leave the auditions thinking, ‘Wow!’ There is so much incredible young talent in our community! Every child with any interest in the arts should come to this concert and see what can be achieved through hard work and passion for a discipline like music—and they should bring their parents! The dedication shown by these young artists, their parents, and their teachers is inspiring and says a great deal about what’s right with our kids.”

For ticket information regarding the “Young Artists at the Schnitz” concerto concert, April 26, 2002, 7:30PM, at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, call FASTIXX at 503 224-TIXX.