Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The public is invited to attend the Ninth Annual Statewide Young Artist Competition for all orchestral instruments.
The event will be Jan. 20 in the Performing Arts Center of Warsaw Community High School. There is no admission charge.
The competition begins with the junior division at 10 a.m. and will continue into the early afternoon with contestants from the upper grades.
Sponsored by the Wagon Wheel Symphony of the Lakes and the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, the competition was founded by the late Thomas Stirling, who was music director for the symphony and the theater. Those in the senior division will compete for the Thomas N. Stirling Memorial Scholarships, which will be awarded to the top three musicians. The top winner in the senior division will also be given the opportunity to perform with the Symphony of the Lakes in a future concert.
There are two divisions for the competition. The junior division is for fifth through eighth grades. The senior division is for musicians in ninth through 12th grades.
Competition will have opportunities for students who play any of the following instruments: orchestral strings (including harp), brass, woodwinds, percussion and piano. Students must meet specific eligibility requirements to participate. Attendance at the entire competition is open to the public without charge.
Dr. Jason Luke Thompson, conductor of the Wagon Wheel Symphony of the Lakes, said, “Our organization recognizes that Indiana is blessed with so many wonderful young musicians around the state. We want to offer students a unique opportunity to compete, to earn scholarships, and also have an opportunity to perform with the Symphony of the Lakes in the future. Our musicians come from all over Indiana, so it’s important to us that we’ve expanded this opportunity for students beyond northern Indiana.”
For more information, call the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts at 574-267-8041.
