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Five musicians taking part in Lethbridge Symphony’s Young Artist Competition

Sep 9, 2018 | 10:11 AM

LETHBRIDGE – The Lethbridge Symphony is welcoming five outstanding young musicians to compete in the Live Audition Finals of the 2018 Young Artist Competition on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 3 p.m. in the ATB Community Room at Casa.

The Young Artist Competition was started in 1985 and continues with the generosity of the Helen Johnson Memorial Fund.

Not only does the winner get a chance to perform as a guest soloist with the Symphony, they also receive a cash donation thanks to the sponsorship of Mark and Bev Bellamy.

The field of competition is narrowed down to five finalists through a blind round of adjudication, no easy task.

Catherine McLaughlin (principal bass, Lethbridge Symphony), Sarah Viejou (principal horn, Lethbridge Symphony), and Dr. Janet Youngdahl (soprano, Lethbridge Symphony guest artist) all said they heard some impressive audition recordings.

“I just know they had quite the job on their hands,” executive director Melanie Gattiker noted. “And I am very glad that I was not the one who had to complete this difficult task.”

This year’s finalists are described as passionate, experienced and ready to bring a powerhouse of talent to the competition.

They include 13-year-old Luka Coetzee (cello), 15-year-old Chris Fang (violin), 13-year-old Jacques Forestier (violin), 24-year-old Daniel Kim (piano), and 12-year-old Anna Stube (violin).

Live round adjudicators Julie Amundsen (cello, Lethbridge Symphony), Airdrie Robinson (violin, Lethbridge Symphony associate concertmaster), and Magdalena von Eccher (piano, Lethbridge Symphony guest artist) all have their work cut out for them.

These five musicians will perform all or part of the major solo work they would like to perform with the Lethbridge Symphony in the 2019-2020 Season in front of a live audience, and everyone is welcome to attend. Tickets for the event are $8 at the door.

The 2016 winner was violinist Yan Li, who wowed the audience with her stunning talent at the 2017-2018 Season closing concert this past May.