PORT ANGELES — The Bachs and Beethovens of the future are prepping for this weekend’s Young Artist Competitions, hosted by the Port Angeles Symphony.
Both events will be held Saturday at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 E. Lopez Ave.
The 10th annual Junior Young Artist Competition will be held from about 9:30 a.m. to 10:40 a.m., organizers said.
This will be followed by a short break and the start of the 30th annual Young Artist Competition at about 11:15 a.m.
Following a second break at noon, the competition is expected to begin again at 12:30 p.m., with the final performance at about 2:45 p.m.
There are seven contestants in the junior category and 13 in the young artist category, organizers said.
The contestants will perform using a variety of instruments, including violin, flute and piano.
The competitors must perform a music selection of concert quality not to exceed 10 minutes in length and may choose to have a piano accompanist.
Audience members can arrive or leave anytime between the performances during the competition day.
Audio or video recordings of the performances are not permitted.
The event, which is free to the public, is a prime place to experience some of the most outstanding young musicians on the North Olympic Peninsula, organizers said.
Robbin Eaves, young artist committee chair, encourages the public to come out and root on the competitors.
Attendance provides “encouragement for students,” she said.
“I think that some of the performances will just blow your mind. I mean, these kids . . . you just can’t believe it, and they have worked so hard.”
Performance experience
For the students, the competitions “sharpen their ability to perform in an adjudicated setting,” Eaves said.
“If they are going to go on to musical careers or education, it prepares them for that sort of a format.”
The performances are judged by professional musicians — appointed by Eaves — known for their ability to work with young musicians and evaluate a musical performance.
Often, the judges verbally review these evaluations with the students immediately after their performance, Eaves said.
The student musicians “have a wonderful opportunity to access critique from the adjudicators,” she said.
The judges are Jonathan Pasternack, Port Angeles Symphony conductor; Deborah Rambo-Sinn, owner of Olympic Music School in Sequim; Marie Myers, former conductor and flutist; and Phil Morgan-Ellis, founder of the Sequim Community Orchestra.
“If a student wanted to really expand their abilities, they will get technical support as well as general self-esteem and good direction for them,” Eaves said.
Cash prizes
The first-place winner of the Young Artist Competition will receive a $500 prize, while the runner-up will get $250.
Results are emailed to all competitors the afternoon of the competition.
The Junior Young Artist Competition was designed for students not yet ready for the Young Artist Competition, organizers said.
The junior competition is open to any North Olympic Peninsula instrumental music student currently in the ninth grade or below who has not competed or applied for the Young Artist Competition or won first prize in the prior year’s junior competition.
The first-place winner of the junior competition will receive a $250 prize, while the runner-up will get $125.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
