The Young Artist Competition will return to the Reilly Arts Center this weekend to showcase eight finalists who will be competing in an Honors Recital for an opportunity to perform with the Ocala Symphony Orchestra.
The 32nd installment of the annual competition will take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 14 at the Reilly Arts Center, which is located at 500 NE 9th Street in Ocala. During the Honors Recital, the following young artists will showcase their talents:
Junior Division:
- 17-year-old Isabelle Tseng (violin), of Gainesville, Florida, will perform Tzigane by Maurice Ravel.
- 16-year-old Matthew Phan (piano), of Jacksonville, Florida, will perform Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 by Sergei Rachmaninoff.
- 15-year-old Rianne Lee (cello), of Mount Dora, Florida, will perform Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85 by Edward Elgar.
- 16-year-old Sophie De (violin), of Gainesville, Florida, will perform Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op. 26, (Prelude) by Max Bruch.
Senior Division:
- 21-year-old Jordan McCready (mezzo-soprano), of Des Moines, Iowa, will perform Things Change Jo by Mark Adamo.
- 20-year-old Lillian Yim (cello), of Farmington, Connecticut, will perform Cello Concerto in B minor Op. 104, third movement by Antonín Dvořák.
- 24-year-old Owen Nichols (saxophone), of Tallahassee, Florida, will perform Concertino for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra, movement I and II by Jeanine Rueff.
- 25-year-old Jay Julio (viola), of New York City, New York, will perform Viola Concerto (1st movement: Andante Comodo) by William Walton.
The Young Artist Competition is designed to motivate, encourage, and enhance the musical careers of outstanding young musicians from across the country, according to the Ocala Symphony Orchestra.
The winner from each division will be announced at the recital, and both winners will perform as a soloist with the Ocala Symphony Orchestra during its performance of “Youthful Renderings” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 18, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 19.
In addition to sharing the stage with the orchestra, the winners will also receive a cash prize of $1,800, which will be presented as a check during the Honors Recital.
Tickets for the Young Artist Competition: Honors Recital are available and cost $10 per person. Ocala Symphony subscribers will be able to attend the event for free.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit the Reilly Arts Center’s Young Artist Competition webpage.