Articles
The Idaho Falls Symphony’s Young Artists Competition is held every other year, and is intended to encourage and reward promising young musical talent in the state of Idaho. It provides a venue for young musicians to “get a taste” of competition at a state-wide level, which may serve them well as they progress in their musical careers. The current personnel of the Idaho Falls Symphony boasts many previous winners of the competition. Judges for the competition are distinguished teachers and performers from outside the state of Idaho.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2012 COMPETITION WINNERS!
Annie Brown, Junior Division Winner
Annie was raised in a music-filled home, where she immediately connected with great musical literature. She began her formal training at age 7 on both piano and violin, and ultimately chose piano as her primary emphasis. Now age 16, Annie has been a frequent winner of local, regional, and state piano competitions. She placed first at the Upper Valley Music Teacher's Association Scholarship Competition in 2011 and 2012, first in her division at the Musician's West Piano Competition in 2010 and 2011, and she won top prizes at the Eastern Idaho Music Teacher’s Association Competition in 2010 and 2011. Not only does Annie relish live classical performances, but she also loves to serve others through music in her church, her community, and in her family. Annie has been violin Concertmaster of the Madison High School Orchestra and currently plays violin with the Rexburg Tabernacle Orchestra. She works at Ferguson Music Company and teaches piano performance in her own studio. After graduation from high school, she plans to major in piano performance. Annie currently studies piano with Cheryl Hansen and is a former student of Jacquelin Shaw.
Stephen Busath, Senior Division Winner
Stephen Busath is a 23-year-old senior studying Music Education at BYU-Idaho. He is originally from Elk Grove, California. Stephen started a music program in the 7th grade and began serious study in the 11th grade. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in New England, speaking Spanish, before serving another mission in Illinois and playing for the Nauvoo Brass Band. Stephen is the youngest of five coming from a family full of people in the performing arts.
FINAL RECITAL: 2012 YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITION:
Saturday, November 3rd, 2012
1:00pm Junior & Senior Divisions
Colonial Theater, Idaho Falls
General Admission: Tickets $5/person at the door
Winners Announced at the Conclusion of the Recital
Judging Panel:
Vladimir Kulenovich, Associate Conductor of the Utah Symphony
Bryce Mecham, Professor of Trombone at BYU-Idaho, Rexburg
Thomas Heuser, Music Director of the Idaho Falls Symphony
The 2012 Young Artists Competition Announced
January 13, 2012: IFSS announces the 2012 -2013 Young Artists Competition.
Please Click Here to download the 2012 application form and instructions.
Previous Young Artists Competition Winners
Claire Tueller, piano - 2010 Junior Division Winner
Claire began formal piano study at age five, although spent many hours at the keyboard years earlier with storybooks as her music. Now age 17, she is a frequent winner of local, regional and state piano awards. In 2009, she won the Idaho Music Teacher's Association Senior Piano Competition held in Boise. She received top prizes in multiple divisions of the USU Piano Festival in 2009 and 2010, takin gfirst place in both Late Romantic and Contemporary genres. She won Upper Valley Music Teacher's Association scholarship auditions in 2008, 2009 and 2010. She took first place in her division at the Musician's West Piano Competition in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and received first place finishes at the Eastern Idaho Music Teacher's Association Sonatina Festival in 2003, 2004 and 2006. She currently studies with Professor Gary Amano, Director of Piano Studies at Utah State University. Former piano teachers include Cheryl Hansen and Joan McGann. Claire loves playing piano, loves studying with Professor Amano and loves attending piano camp more than any other summer activity. When she isn't practicing piano, she also plays cello, sings in her high school choir and ballroom dances. She plans to major in Piano Performance after graduating from Madison High School in May.
Jessica Cooley, violin - 2010 Senior Division Winner
Jessica began violin at an early age, making her impromptu debut while standing atop a refreshment table at her first violin teacher's wedding. Her childhood love of music continued to grow as she performed concerts with her seven siblings for community and church events. Jessica participated in the Idaho Falls Youth Symphony, and later became a member of the Idaho Falls Symphony. Jessica is currently pursuing a Masters of Music degree in violin performance at Miami University of Ohio where she serves as a graduate assistant, concertmaster of the Miami University Symphony Orchestra, a member of the graduate octet, and a teacher in the Virginia Pearce-Glick Young Musician's Program. Jessica received her bachelor's degree in violin performance, graduating summa cum laude from Brigham Young University-Idaho. While attending BYU-Idaho on scholarship, Jessica acted as the concertmaster of the BYU-Idaho Sinfonietta and was a first violinist in the BYU-Idaho Symphony, Chamber, and Baroque Ensembles. Jessica has had the opportunity to perform in master classes for Eli Matthews of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, for the New York Chamber Soloists, and for the Cavani, Shanghai, and Ying Quartets. Jessica's teachers have included Judy Fletcher-Davis, Shannon Packer, Monte Belknap, Ted Ashton, and Emma Rubinstein. She is currently a student of Dr. Harvey Thurmer. In addition to performance, Jessica has received teacher training in Suzuki and other pedagogy methods. She has maintained an active teachering studio since 2004. Jessica also has a passion for history, physics, chemistry, camping and travel.
Kristina Willey, Viola – 2008 Winner
Kristina began music lessons at 18 months, on a 32nd size violin/viola; she now studies viola with Dr. Kevin Call at BYU-Idaho on full music scholarships as a Music Major with an emphasis in Viola Performance; former teachers include Dr. David Dalton, Dr. Claudine Bigelow, and Dr. Irene Peery-Fox on piano. A native of Pleasant Grove, Utah, she has won first prize three times in the Utah State Fair, soloed with the Utah Symphony in 2003, and was featured on the national radio program "From the Top" in April 2005. Kristina is a missionary in the Orchestra at Temple Square, was twice principal violist of Utah's All-State Orchestra and Annenberg Debut Symphony in Malibu. She was Utah's Emersen Scholarship winner at Interlochen Arts Camp in 2004. She also participated for 2 years in the Disney Young Musicians' Symphony Orchestra, in the National High School Honors Orchestra, and won the Utah Symphony Youth Guild Competition three times. Kristina is a trained Suzuki violin/viola teacher, and enjoys teaching her students, ages 4-12. Kristina also enjoys drawing, reading, and writing. Kristina performed the Walton Viola Concerto with the Idaho Falls Symphony on February 28, 2009.
Zina Heningway, Soprano – 2006 Winner
Emily Nelson, Cello – 2005 Winner