PORT ANGELES — Young musicians from Port Townsend and Port Angeles took top honors at the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra’s 25th annual Young Artist Competition on Saturday.
Violinist Marina Gittins of Port Townsend won the Young Artist contest for high school and college students, while pianist Cole Urnes of Port Angeles won the Junior Young Artist contest, said Bonnie Christianson, chairwoman of the orchestra’s youth committee.
Middle school and high school musicians from Port Townsend, Port Angeles and Sequim competed in the event, which was free and open to the public, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Angeles.
Gittins, a home-schooled high school senior from Port Townsend, won $500.
She studies violin with Ronald Patterson.
Her winning selection was Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Opus 22, Movement 1 by Henryk Wieniawski.
Urnes, a Port Angeles High School freshman, won $250.
A student of Thelma McCoy, he performed Polonaise in B-flat minor by Francesco DeLeone as his selection.
He also is a member of the Port Angeles Symphony brass section, where he plays trombone and tuba.
Receiving honorable mention in the Young Artist division were Erin Hennessey on the violin and Julia Tatum on the piano.
Receiving honorable mention in the Junior Young Artist division were Annalise Thomas on the piano and Michael Helwick on the double bass.
Six players competed in the Junior Young Artist division, which was open to students in sixth to ninth grade.
Another eight were entered in the Young Artist contest.
The adjudicators were Port Angeles Symphony conductor Adam Stern, principal violist Lili Green and violinist Kristin Smith.
To learn more about other orchestra events, including a concert this coming Saturday in the Port Angeles High School auditorium, phone 360-457-5579 or visit www.PortAngelesSymphony.org.
