For the first time, the MasterWorks Festival had someone local win its concerto competition.
And she's only 16.
For winning the competition, Rebecca Benjamin, daughter of Bryan and Marie Benjamin, Warsaw, will play the violin with the MasterWorks Festival Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Rodeheaver Auditorium, Winona Lake.
MasterWorks Director Patrick Kavanaugh said the concerto competition is the biggest competition the festival has every year. Forty people competed, but only three, including Benjamin, were chosen to play with the orchestra. Benjamin also is only the second person from Indiana to win since the competition began.
For the competition, Benjamin played the first movement of Mendelssohn's "Violin Concerto".
"She rocked," said Kavanaugh. "It was hot. I think her violin was on fire."
A homeschooled student, Benjamin said she started playing the violin when she was about 3-1/2 years old.
At age 2, Benjamin said she went to a Suzuki recital where cellos and violins were being played. Her mom asked her what her favorite was, and she picked the violin. After that recital, whenever Benjamin heard the violin being played, she knew she wanted to be a violinist.
A year-and-a-half later, her parents decided to let Benjamin have her way. They took her to Grace College where she was told she was ready. Her first violin was only 1/16th the size of a standard violin.
For her first five years, Joy Karesh was Benjamin's teacher. She was taught how to play songs like "Pop Goes the Weasel" on the violin.
Then Benjamin moved on to study with Eloise Guy in a Suzuki program in Fort Wayne. She studied privately with her, but also was taught theory, group lessons and string orchestra.
At age 12, Benjamin moved on to Derek Reeves, the principle violinist with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. Reeves is Benjamin's current teacher.
Besides her teachers, Benjamin said she's also had lessons with Barnabas Keleman and Stephen Clapp. Keleman has been a gold medalist of the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. Clapp is the dean emeritus of Julliard.
Winning the MasterWorks Concerto Competition was big for Benjamin.
"Growing up here on Winona Lake, I always saw the finals and winners. To actually be a winner and performer is a real honor and a dream come true for me. It's very special," Benjamin said.
"I hope she remembers us when she's rich and famous," said Kavanaugh.
He said the judging for string players was based on five areas: intonation, interpretation, sound quality, technique and stage presence.
"She really moves with the music," said Kavanaugh.The competition wasn't Benjamin's first victory this year. On May 13, she won the Fort Wayne Philharmonic concerto competition. With that win, she was able to perform with the Philharmonic.
In the future, Benjamin wants to major in violin performance at a music school or conservatory.
"They'll all be competing for her soon," said Kavanaugh.
"I want to thank the community for all their support, love for the festival and donations to help me and some other kids. And the Lord, too, for the talent he has given me," Benjamin concluded.
