The winners of the Dr. Robert Stanger Young Artists Audition for 2018, held at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church in Elmhurst on February 17, have been announced. Conducted by the Elmhurst Symphony Association and sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst and the former Auxiliary of the ESO through its Eunice B. Sidener Scholarship, the competition showcased 23 outstanding high school musicians from many of the western suburbs. Special thanks go to this year’s judges, Kate Carter, Reiko Yamada, and Kara Bancks, who spent manyhours listening to and critiquing these spectacular young performers, choosing four winners:
First Place: Margaret O’Malley, Violin
Concerto No. 3, Op. 6, Movement 1, by Camille Saint-Saëns
11th Grade, Homeschooled, Glen Ellyn
Teacher: Gerardo Ribeiro
Second Place: Matt Dardick, Alto Saxophone
Ballade, Movement 1, by Henri Tomasi
12th Grade, York High School, Elmhurst
Teacher: Roger Birkeland
Third Place: William Lyon, Cello
Cello Concerto in A minor, Movement 3, by Camille Saint-Saëns
11th Grade, Wheaton Academy, Wheaton
Teachers: Julieann Tehan/Tanya Carey
Fourth Place: Nathan Brown, Marimba
Concerto for Marimba and Strings, Movement 1, by Emmanuel Sejourne
12th Grade, York High School, Elmhurst
Teacher: Tom Leddy
Caitlin Yambao, violin, Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, received an honorable mention for her performance.
Stanger Audition first-place winner Margaret O’Malley will perform with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra at a subscription concert during its 2018-19 season. Other winners will perform for Kiwanis and other local groups in the next few months.
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 made the event possible: Bruce Forbush, Mike Surratt, Sarah Sabet, Mary Grether, Rosie Klepper, Irmgard Olson, Lou Saville, and Cynthia Krainc. The Symphony is especially grateful to the Stanger Audition’s main sponsor, the Elmhurst Kiwanis Club, for its long-time support and to the Stanger Audition’s administrator, Becca Anderson, for organizing the event. Thanks also go to the Elmhurst Symphony Auxiliary’s Eunice B. Sidner Scholarship Fund for sponsoring the fourth-place winner. For more information, call the Symphony at (630) 941-0202 or visit www.elmhurstsymphony.org.