Practice makes perfect and competition offers exposure.
Young musicians from across the country ages 12 to 25 years old showcase their talents during the annual Young Artist Competition hosted by the Ocala Symphony Orchestra. The upcoming finals of the 34th annual competition takes place 3 p.m. Jan 12 at Ocala’s Reilly Arts Center.
Students submit video performances for judging during an initial round before finalists and honorable mentions are chosen to compete in the final round of the junior and senior divisions.
Performers in this year’s competition are coming from Central Florida, including from Sanford, Gainesville and Jacksonville, while others are traveling from as far as Michigan and Texas.
Joshua Mazur and Abigail Mistretta, assistant conductors for the Ocala Symphony, judged the preliminary round of the competition. The final round will be judged by Dr. Raymond Chobaz and Dr. Chuck Pickeral, both longtime professional musicians and educators from the University of Florida.With more than 70 students applying to be considered for the concert on average each year, Matthew Wardell, the Ocala Symphony Orchestra’s music director and conductor said it is important for student’s to have good musical technique including good intonation, correct rhythms and pitches.
“Judges are looking for young artists who are musically convincing,” Wardell said. “Does the musical performance tell a story or make the listener feel something beyond just flats and sharps? Each year it is very difficult to choose finalists as so many of the applicants are truly very good young musicians.”
Finalists receive a
$200 cash award. The two winners of the competition will receive $1,800 each.
Winners will perform their concerto live with the Ocala Symphony Orchestra during a two-day concert, “Youth, Tricksters and Metamorphosis,” at 7:30 p.m. March 8 and 3 p.m. March 9 at the Ocala concert venue. General admission tickets for the show range from $10 to $48.
“This is a rare opportunity for young musicians and truly is the biggest prize of the competition. Young soloists need time in front of an orchestra like
a pilot in training needs time in the cockpit. It is an invaluable and rare opportunity,”
Wardell said.
Anne Elise Teeling, a New York-based opera singer, won the senior division of the 33rd annual Young Artist Competition while she was a student getting her masters in music at Florida State University.
The experience was invaluable.
“There is nothing better than singing with an orchestra. Since I was finishing up my masters, I feel like the experience boosted my confidence and made me feel like a real professional,” Teeling said.
Tickets for the Young Artist Competition at the Reilly Arts Center, 500 NE 9th St., Ocala, are $10 per person. Subscribers of the Reilly Arts Center receive complimentary tickets to the show. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit reillyartscenter.com.
Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
