Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra names four Stanger Audition winners
The 2021 winners of the 51st Dr. Robert Stanger Young Artists Concerto Audition, held at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church in Elmhurst on Feb. 13, have been announced.
Conducted by the Elmhurst Symphony Association and sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst and the former Auxiliary of the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra through its Eunice B. Sidener Scholarship, the competition showcased 10 outstanding high school musicians from several of the Chicago suburbs.
Special thanks go to this year's judges, Kuang-Hoa Huang, Jean Hatmaker and Karen Mari, who spent many hours listening to and critiquing these spectacular young performers, choosing four winners:
• First place: Isabel Chen, violin, Violin Concerto in A minor, 1st movement, by Dvorak, senior at Glenbrook North High School (teacher Almita Vamos);
• Second place: Sidney Lee, viola, Viola Concerto, 1st movement, by Bartok, junior at Buffalo Grove High School (teacher Roland Vamos);
• Third place: Esme Arias-Kim, violin, Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, 1st movement, by Paganini, freshman at Fremd High School (teacher Almita Vamos);
• Fourth place: Ruth Kim, violin, Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 82, 1st movement, by Glazunov, sophomore at Adlai E. Stevenson High School (teacher Desiree Ruhstrat)
Stanger Audition first-place winner Isabel Chen will perform with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra at a subscription concert during its 2021-22 season.
Other winners will perform for Kiwanis and other local groups later in the year. All winners receive monetary awards.
Thanks go to Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church and staff for the use of the church and their able assistance and to the dedicated Symphony volunteers who helped make this event possible.
The symphony is especially grateful to the Stanger Audition's main sponsor, the Elmhurst Kiwanis Club, for its long-time support; to the Stanger Audition's coordinator, Michael Surratt, for organizing the event; and to the Symphony Board for its support. Thanks also go to the Elmhurst Symphony's Eunice B. Sidner Scholarship Fund for sponsoring the fourth-place winner.
For more information, call the symphony office at (630) 941-0202 or visit www.elmhurstsymphony.org.