For the past 11 years, NESE has given string musicians 18 and younger a place to showcase their skills by preparing and competing to perform as soloist with a professional orchestra. The First Place winner receives $500 and a solo performance with conductor Federico Cortese and the orchestra in its spring concerts on Saturday, April 14 at 7:30 at the Rogers Center in North Andover and 3pm Sunday, April 15 at NEC’s Jordan Hall.
This year’s String Competition drew entrants from four of the New England states. From this pool of applicants a panel of judges selected 14 finalists for the Open Division and four finalists for the Under-12 Division. The final live auditions for the Competition were held February 7 at New England Conservatory.
The First Place Winner in the Open Division is 17-year-old cellist Tony Rymer, who will perform the Haydn Concerto in C major with the orchestra. Tony began playing piano at age three and cello at f and has been a winner in the Longy School of Music and New England Conservatory preparatory concerto competitions. He most recently place 3rd in the 2007 Sphinx Competition. A resident of Dorchester and a student at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, Tony is also a musician with Project Step, a program support by the Boston Symphony, Boston University and New England Conservatory. Tony studies cello privately with Laura Blustein and Paul Katz. Ms. Blustein is extremely excited about Tony’s success and commented that “Tony has enormous integrity and intelligence and is a very thoughtful musician. He loves to perform and is a great person”.
Second Place winner, Julia Glenn of Wellesley, MA, will receive a $300 scholarship. Third Place winner, Kevin Lee of Brookline, MA will receive a $100 scholarship. An Honorable Mention was awarded to Sirena Huang of South Windsor, CT. The Under-12 winner was Timothy Hayes of Durham, CT, and he will receive a $200 Savings Bond.
Peter Stickel, New England String Ensemble Executive Director remarked that “this year’s Competition drew the strongest field of up-and-coming musicians in its eleven year history. Each year it pretty much breaks me up seeing the level of commitment and caring from the students, teachers and families alike.”
The Competition prizes will be awarded at the upcoming spring concert on April 15th at Jordan Hall in Boston. The concert, showcasing this year’s String and Flute Competitions winners, begins with the romantic Lyric Suite of Alban Berg, and follows with the exquisite harmonies of J.S. Bach’s Suite No. 2 in B minor performed by 17-year old flutist Brendan Ryan, winner of the 2007 NESE Flute Competition. The first half continues with Tony Rymer performing the virtuosic Haydn Concerto in C. After intermission the critically acclaimed Ensemble presents the lyrical and spirited Serenade in E by Antonin Dvorak.
In addition to the Youth Competitions for flute and strings, the orchestra also supports music programs in the schools with String Fever at the elementary level, Kids to Concerts for middle-schoolers and the New England Musical Heritage Initiative at the high school level.
Immediately following the April 15th concert is NESE’s gala benefit reception “Jazz Pizzicato” at Symphony Hall. Each year the orchestra presents a “Muses and Mentors” award to a great artist shaping the next generation. This year’s recipient is violin virtuoso Roman Totenberg. Contributions from this event will support the orchestra’s innovative educational program, encouraging a lifetime of artistic satisfaction, and creating the audiences, performers, and arts advocates of the future.
For more information regarding the New England String Ensemble’s educational programs, or concert series please call 781-224-1117 or visit www.newenglandstringensemble.org.
