ASO Concert Features Student Concerto Winners
Talented Alma College instrumental and vocal students will perform as soloists during the Alma Symphony Orchestra's annual mid-winter performance.
The Alma Symphony Orchestra will showcase the student winners of the Alma College Concert Competition at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12 in the Remick Heritage Center at Alma College. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors 62 and up, and free for Alma College staff, students and youth 18 and under. Seating is reserved. Call (989) 463-7304 for ticket information.
The featured student artists were selected last November when they performed for a panel of professional judges. There is no set specific repertoire or number of winners; each student is selected on musical skill only.
Students perform with the Alma Symphony Orchestra.
This year’s concert features four soloists, says ASO Director Murray Gross.
“Having four winners is almost unheard of, and having two freshman is even more unusual,” says Gross. “Performing a complete concerto in front of 500 people is a daunting task. This represents a lot of work on the part of every student, and their performances will certainly reflect that.”
Program includes "Rhapsody in Blue."
One of the soloists selected is Greenville freshman Jacob D. Schmeltzer, who will be performing the Trumpet Concerto by Alexander Arutiunian.
“I started playing trumpet when I was eight years old,” says Schmeltzer. “I really like the variety of styles it can play. Preparing for the concerto competition took many hours of practice. The reason I competed in the competition was to give me more experience auditioning for judges and preparing for my juries. Winning the competition took me by surprise. It's a big honor to be one of the students selected to perform.”
March 4 concert to feature "fun music."
Other competition winners include Alma senior Christian Gilbert, playing the Bourgeois Trombone Concerto; Kentwood senior Dana Wygmans, playing “Kol Nidre” by Max Bruch; and Livonia freshman Adam Ferrara, playing Gershwin’s popular “Rhapsody in Blue.”
The program is an eclectic and colorful one, rounded out by four symphonic dances played between the concertos.
“The audience will really enjoy it,” says Schmeltzer. “We’ll be performing a lot of really fun music. It’s going to be very exciting, and the soloists performing will be covering a variety of styles with the Alma Symphony Orchestra.”
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Posted: Wed, February 1st, 2012 at 6:36PM
