Steinway Piano Gallery Concerto Competition Winners

Each year the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra holds a Concerto Competition which is open to all members of the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra and Preparatory String Orchestra. Sponsored by the Steinway Piano Gallery, the two winners of the Senior Division perform as featured soloists on the spring concert with the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra and win a cash prize. The winners of the Junior Division win cash prizes.

MYO Concerto Competition Winners

Senior Division 2007-2008

Matt Suitt, Violin – W.A. Mozart Violin Concerto No. 3 in G, I. Allegro moderato

Matt Suitt

Matthew Suitt, 17, is a senior at Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro. A violin student of Susan Mullen and most recently of Karen Clarke, he has been involved in the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra and previously the Preparatory Strings Orchestra since 1998.

He has also studied piano with Pat Ward and trumpet and French horn with Mike George.

He has been a member of Tennessee’s All State Orchestra as a First violinist the past two years. He attended The Governors School for the Arts in 2006 as well as the Triple Threat String Camp at Belmont University in Nashville. He plans to study violin in college, majoring in music education.

Jesse Kasinger, Violin – Viotti Concerto No. 22, I. Moderato

Jesse Kasinger

Jesse Kasinger is a 9th grade homeschooler. He is the only son of Buddy and Thuy Kasinger from Springfield, TN. His mother began teaching him violin at 9, but is now currently studying with Denise Baker at Blair. He has been a recipient of the Potter Pre-College Scholarship at Blair School of Music and has placed first in the Regionals and State TACS Fine Arts Competition for string solo. He has been a member of the MYO for three years. He is also a member of his church orchestra where he frequently plays solos and ensembles. Jesse and his family visits nursing homes weekly to play their violins and his two younger sisters sing.

In addition to violin, Jesse also takes martial arts, where he holds a second degree brown belt in Isshinryu Karate. He participates in IKA Youth Tournaments, where he has placed first and second in sparing and katas. His hobbies also include basketball and soccer.

He appreciates his parents and music teachers for their investment in all his musical accomplishments.

His future aspirations would to become a virtuoso and coach basketball for a christian school.

Junior Division 2007-2008

1st Place— Christa MacKrell, Violin: Violin Concerto No. 7 in a minor, Pierre Rode

2nd Place – Collin Lewis, Clarinet: Concerto No. 3 in B-flat, Carl Stamitz

Senior Division 2006-2007

Daniel Lee, Violin – Concerto No. 4 in D Minor: I. Andante – Moderato: Henri Vieuxtemps

Daniel Lee

Daniel Lee lives in Coalmont, Tennessee. He is home schooled and a junior in high school. He started playing the violin at the age of seven, and currently studies with Dr. Ann Rylands in Chattanooga. He also began playing the piano at the age of six and is now studying with Kay Rhee at the Blair School of Music. This year, Daniel received the Potter pre-college scholarship for violin and piano at the Blair School of Music.

Daniel has been a member of the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra for six years, as well as a member of the Curb Youth Symphony for two years. last summer Daniel received a scholarship to attend the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. After high school Daniel is planning to continue his studies in music or optometry, preferably at Vanderbilt University. Daniel likes to read, ride his ATV and play the saxophone.

David Zimmerman, Tuba – Tuba Concerto: I. Allegro: Edward Gregson

David Zimmerman

David Zimmerman is a senior at Tullahoma High School. He is the son of Duff and Meg Zimmerman of Winchester. David began playing tuba in sixth grade. He studies privately with Atticus Hensley. David has also played electric bass guitar since 8th grade. He participates in many musical organizations including jazz band, jazz combo, youth hand-bell choir, church ensembles, and several rock bands.

David has been a member of the 1st Mid-State band for six consecutive years and a member of the All-State band for three successive years. This summer he attended Interlochen Arts Camp and was 1st chair in the World Youth Wind Symphony. David was also selected as one of six high school tuba players in the country to attend the semi-finals of the Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Competition. The previous summer, David attended the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts and performed in the Honors Recital. He has attended workshops and festivals at the University of TN, TN Technological Institute, and Middle Tennessee State University.

In addition to his musical accomplishments, David is also a National Merit Commended Student and has won numerous regional and state math awards. After high school, David plans to attend either Stanford or Vanderbilt University.

Junior Division 2006-2007

1st Place— Christa MacKrell, Violin: Violin Concerto No. 3, I. Allegro: W.A. Mozart

2nd Place – Cana MacKrell, Violin: Concerto in the Style of Vivaldi, I. Allegro: F. Kreisler

Honorable Mention: Tyler Loucky, Cello: Nora Lee, Viola

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Senior Division 2005-2006

Elizabeth Gassler, Cello—Allegro appassionato, Saint-Saens. 11^th grade, Cedar Hall

Elizabeth Gassler is junior in high school at Cedar Hall School in Christiana. Elizabeth, daughter of John and Ellen Gassler, is the youngest of three children in a musical family and has enjoyed music from a very early age.

She began singing in a local children’s choir at age three and began studying piano the same year. Elizabeth took up the cello at age nine, studying in Murfreesboro with Jean Bills and continuing with her until she was fifteen.

She now studies in Knoxville with Alicia Randisi-Hooker. Elizabeth joined the Preparatory String Orchestra in 2001 and the MYO in 2003. Elizabeth has attended the Central Pennsylvania Suzuki Institute for four years. She has participated in the Mid State Orchestra Clinics for five years and has been selected for All State Orchestra for the past two years. Elizabeth also has participated in the Advanced Summer Orchestra in the Franklin, TN Cello Workshop at UT Knoxville and the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts in 2005. Elizabeth currently participates in the Curb Youth Symphony in Nashville under the direction of Carol Nies, as well as the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra.

Kyle Hayes, French Horn—Horn Concerto No. 1 in E-flat, Richard Strauss. 12^th grade, Siegel High School.

Kyle Hayes is a senior at Siegel High School, where he participates in concert band, symphonic band, jazz band, and the horn ensemble. He has performed with the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra since 2003 and also performs with the MYO Chamber Ensemble for various civic organizations throughout the region. He currently performs with Murfreesboro Chamber Winds, under the direction of Ken Ozimek. He has attended the Southeast Chamber Music Institute in Cookeville, TN and The Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts.

He has played the French Horn since 2002, studying privately with Mike George, Linda Patterson, and currently with Radu Rusu at Middle Tennessee State University. Kyle also plays the flute, clarinet, piano, and the trumpet.

Kyle enjoys playing pool and going to Starbucks. After graduating from high school, He plans to double major in Music Education and Music Performance. He plans to play with a professional orchestra as well as teach high school music.

Honorable Mention: Heather Nagy, Flute, and Craig Bullington, Violin

Junior Division 2005-2006

1^st Place—Charis MacKrell, Violin. Concerto in G, Haydn, I. Allegro moderato
2^nd Place—Christa MacKrell, Violin. Concerto in A, Vivaldi, I. Allegro

Senior Division 2004-2005

Kimberly Frederick, violin—Romance in F—Ludwig van Beethoven. 11^th grade, Aaron Academy.
Elizabeth Hunt, oboe—Haydn Oboe Concerto in C. 11^th grade, Siegel High School.
Honorable Mention—Daniel Wood, trombone

Junior Division 2004-2005

1^st Place—Jamie Motok, Violin
2^nd Place—Christa Mackrell, Violin

2003-2004 Winners

1^st Place—Beth Ervin – Flute, 12^th grade – Blackman High School
2^nd Place—Jesse Langston – Clarinet, 12^th grade - McMinnville High School
3^rd Place—Sean Donovan – French Horn, 12^th grade – Oakland High School
Honorable Mention—Shannon Stewart, 9^th grade – Antioch High School

Senior Repertoire

The Steinway Concerto Competition Conditions of Entry

The Steinway Concerto Competition Application

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