young artists debut winners announced

The winning young artists for 2013 are:

Emily Brother of West Linn, Oregon is a 15 year-old pianist and studies with Dorothy Fahlman. Emily is a sophomore at West Linn High School and will perform the first movement of the Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1.

Ruta Kuzmickas of Milwaukie, Oregon is a 16 year-old pianist and studies with Jean-David Coen. Ruta is a junior at the Clackamas Web Academy and will perform the first movement of the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2. Ruta is now a two-time winner of the Young Artists Debut! Competition, having also performed in the 2009 concert.

Hannah Moon of Portland, Oregon is a 15 year-old pianist and studies with Kelli Stephens. Hannah is a sophomore at Lincoln High School and will perform the first movement of the Grieg Piano Concerto.

Kiarra Saito-Beckman of Bend, Oregon is a 13 year-old violinist and studies with Kathryn Lucktenberg. Kiarra is an eighth grader at Cascade Middle School and will perform the first movement of the Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5.

Lauren Siess of Vancouver, Washington is a 16 year-old violist and studies with Brian Quincey. Lauren is a sophomore at the Vancouver School of the Arts and Academics and will perform the first movement of the Hindemith Der Schwanendreher.

Michael Siess of Vancouver, Washington is a 17 year-old violinist and studies with Carol Sindell. Michael is a senior at Skyview High School and is now a two-time winner of the Young Artists Debut! Competition having also performed in the 2011 concert. He will perform the first movement of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto.

Joel Whang of Beaverton, Oregon is a 17 year-old pianist and studies with Dorothy Fahlman. Joel is a senior at Southridge High School and is now a two-time winner of the Young Artists Debut! Competition having also performed in the 2010 concert. He will perform the third movement of the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2.

Emily Wu of Portland, Oregon is a 16 year-old violinist and studies with Clarisse Atcherson. Emily is a sophomore at Westview High School and will perform the first movement of the Wieniawski Violin Concerto No.2.

Each young artist will perform their concerto at the April 9^th concert, and will participate in three months of free coaching sessions with DePonte. At these sessions they 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 year¹s 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, “As always, it was difficult to choose only eight of these outstanding musicians to perform. There were other qualified players that I could not squeeze on to the program. This is an outstanding group of young musicians playing some of the world’s most beloved concertos. I truly believe these kids will grow up to change the world, and not just in music. I’d like to thank John Van Buren for his support of our efforts to provide opportunities for young musicians.”

For ticket information about the Young Artists Debut! Concert, April 9th, 2013 call MetroArts Inc at 503-245-4885 or visit their website, www.metroartsinc.org.