Elmhurst Symphony announces young artist audition winners

Elmhurst Symphony Association has announced the winners of the Dr. Robert Stanger Young Artists Audition for 2017.

Held last month at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, the competition showcased 25 outstanding high school musicians from many of the Western suburbs.

This year's judges - Jean Hatmaker, Susan Merdinger and Dianne Ryan - spent hours listening to and critiquing the young performers, choosing four winners:

• First place: Aditi Prakash, who performed "Viola Concerto, Movement 1," by Walton. She is a senior at Naperville North High School. Her teacher is Thomas Wermuth.

• Second place: Jack Boettcher, who performed "Cello Concerto No. 1 in E Flat Major, Op. 107" by Shostakovich. A sophomore at Naperville North High School, he is taught by Hans Jorgen Jensen.

• Third place: Thomas Huang, presented "Piano Concerto, Op. 38" by Barber. He is a sophomore at Barrington High School and instructed by Soyoung Kee.

• Fourth place: Nicole Weirui Tong performed "Violin Concerto, Op. 14" by Barber. A freshman at Naperville North High School, her teacher is Desiree Ruhstrat.

Six performers received honorable mentions: Evelyn Capelli, piano, Oak Park River Forest High School; Christina D'Antonio, viola, Wheaton-Warrenville High School; Kaylin Liu, violin, Metea High School; Rebecca Moy, violin, Classical Consortium; Margaret O'Malley, violin, Glen Ellyn, home-schooled; and Isabella Spinelli, violin, Illinois Math and Science Academy.

First-place winner Aditi Prakash will perform with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra at a subscription concert during its 2017-18 season. Other winners will perform for Kiwanis and other local groups in the next few months.

For more information, call Elmhurst Symphony office at (630) 941-0202 or visit www.elmhurstsymphony.org.