PORT ANGELES — Fifteen of the North Olympic Peninsula’s most devoted young musicians will perform in the 31st annual Young Artist Competition on Saturday.
The public is invited to witness the musical contests at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 E. Lopez Ave.
The competition will award $1,400 in cash prizes. The Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra hosts the event each year, while local donors provide the prize money.
Admission is free to the public, and organizers say this is a chance to see — and support — a slate of outstanding local players.
The youngest ones — in the Junior Young Artist Competition for those in ninth grade and below — will start shortly after 9:30 a.m.
These seven students from across Clallam and Jefferson counties will give performances of concert-quality classical music, said Robbin Eaves, an active symphony board member and organizer of the competition.
“I have heard some of the most beautiful, enlivened performances” at this event, Eaves said.
The Young Artist Competition has four volunteer judges who not only choose the winners but also give the performers feedback.
They are Port Angeles Symphony conductor Jonathan Pasternack, Port Angeles educator and symphony violinist Sabrina Scruggs, pianist Carol Rich and flutist Patty Monson.
Each player’s performance will run less than 10 minutes, so the junior competition is expected to wrap up by 12:20 p.m., Eaves estimated.
After a half-hour lunch break, the senior Young Artist Competition, the main event bringing together eight musicians up to age 18, will start at 1 p.m.
Eaves expects the performances to wrap around 3:30 p.m.
While friends, family and other community members are encouraged to attend, no video or audio recording is allowed.
“It takes a lot to get to the point in practicing that they’ll play a whole solo piece in front of people,” Pasternack said.
While many teens study an instrument for years, only a handful actually go on to pursue musical performance or music education in college, he added.
10 percent are students
With some pride, Pasternack noted that about 10 percent of the symphony personnel is students. Some are teachers in the music community. Altogether, he sees them as a “really big family.”
In the senior Young Artist Competition, the top winner receives $500 in cash, second place brings $250 and third place $200. This competition typically attracts high school and young college students.
The Junior Young Artist Competition, meanwhile, has a first prize of $250 cash, a second prize of $125 and $75 for third place.
The winners will be announced soon after the competition ends.
All the performers receive “a lot of feedback,” Pasternack added. “It’s a positive experience for them.”
For Eaves, the annual competition reflects a vibrant arts community, with inspired young people keeping it that way.
“This is a testament to the power and support of our current school music programs, private teachers, parents and arts organizations,” including the Port Angeles Symphony, whose Adventures in Music program brings live performances to schools across the North Olympic Peninsula.
“I’m very excited for this program,” Pasternack said. “I want to see it continue for years into the future.”
For more information about the competition and about the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra, whose 84th season of concerts is underway, phone the symphony office at 360-457-5579, email PASymphony@olypen.com or visit www.portangeles symphony.org.
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Assistant Managing Editor Mark Swanson can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55450, or mswanson@peninsuladailynews.com.
