Concerto Competition


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.