Show some support for local music students and attend the 14th annual Florida Orchestra Young Artists Competition, taking place in the Performing Arts Building of HCC-Ybor at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5.
The competition is for students up to the age of 22, with senior and junior divisions. Each division includes piano, string and woodwind/brass/percussion sub-categories. Categories are judged by panels of distinguished musicians and music educators from The Florida Orchestra and nearby colleges and universities. More than 70 students from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sarasota, Manatee, Pasco and Polk Counties are taking part in the competition.
The afternoon recital of the six senior division finalists is open to the public, with winners receiving scholarships, savings bonds and the opportunity to perform with The Florida Orchestra.
One of last year's Young Artist Competition winners, Geoffrey Pilkington, is the featured player in The Florida Orchestra's upcoming Coffee Concert, Orchestral Smorgasbord.
Founded in 1988, the competition is designed to promote the study of instrumental music among young people residing in the Orchestra's service area. The competition is funded in part by the Tampa Guild of The Florida Orchestra.
Another successful outreach program, Bring a Child to the Orchestra, which started in 1991, makes it possible for children and accompanying chaperones that might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend a symphony concert. Applications are distributed to local social service agencies, community organizations, churches and individuals on request. Participants receive a certain number of vouchers per season, and these vouchers are in turn exchanged for tickets to Masterworks, Pops, and Coffee concerts.
For more information about the Young Artists Competition, call 813-286-1170, ext. 303. HCC-Ybor's Performing Arts Building is located at 15th Street and Palm Avenue, Ybor City.
This article appears in Jan 3-9, 2002.