Symphony Orchestra Augusta and the Augusta Symphony Guild held its annual SOA Concerto Competition on Sunday, February 17 at 1 p.m. at the GRU Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre.  This year, SOA is proud to announce two first prize winners.

Charlie Li, a fourth grader at Stevens Creek Elementary School, won first place in the 2013 competition for his performance of the third movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto in G Major, K. 453.  He received a certificate of recognition, $500 award, and a solo appearance with SOA at a Discovery Series Children’s Concert next season.  Charlie is a student of Dr. Clara Park.

Aria Posner, a six grader at Renfroe Middle School in Decatur, won first place in the 2013 competition for her performance of the first movement of Boccherini’s Cello Concerto No. 9 in Bb Major.  She received a certificate of recognition, $500 award, and a solo appearance with SOA at a Discovery Series Children’s Concert next season.  Aria is a current member of both the Atlanta Youth Chamber Orchestra and the Emory Youth Chamber Program.  Ms. Posner is a student of Martha Gerschefski in Atlanta, Georgia.

The 2013 SOA Concerto Competition was open to all instruments and featured 10 students from the CSRA, ages 10-18, performing on piano, cello, viola, and violin. The competition requires each competitor to perform a memorized movement from a selection of his/her choice; however, the work must be a part of the literature for orchestras, as the first and second place winners are generally featured soloists with the orchestra for the succeeding season. Judges were Symphony Orchestra Augusta Music Director Shizuo Z Kuwahara and Associate Concertmaster Micah Gangwer.

The Augusta Symphony Guild developed the SOA Concerto Competition in 1994 as a community outreach project. It continues to be the Guild’s vision to provide opportunities for young, dedicated musicians to have opportunities to perform with the orchestra.

For more information about education and outreach programs, contact Amy Montgomery, Symphony Orchestra Augusta Director of Education & Community Engagement, at 706.826.4706 or amy@soaugusta.org.  For complete information on Symphony Orchestra Augusta, visit the Symphony’s website at www.soaugusta.org.    Located on the second floor of the Sacred Heart Cultural Center, The Symphony office is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.