2009 Results

The 2009 Competition for Young Artists, held Tuesday, May 12th, brought 16 student musicians aged 12-18 to Alden Memorial Hall, Worcester Polytechnic Institute to compete for the four scholarshop prizes awarded. Students from Paxton, Auburn, Northborough, and Fitchburg were winners.

 * First Prize: $1,100 from The Music Guild Award and performance as soloist at the Music Guild’s Showcase for Young Artists Luncheon on May 20th went to 16-year-old Christopher Coyne of Paxton, an oboe player from Wachusett Regional High School, and student of Joe Halko. Chris received his award at the Music Guild Annual Luncheon & Young Artist Concert held at Tatnuck Country Club in Worcester. Chris was accompanied in his performance by the 2008 Musi Guild Prize Winner, pianist Mackenzie Melemed.

* The Sylvia Gafvert Stubblebine Scholarship Awards, from The Greater Worcester Community Foundation: Additional prizes were awarded to 17-year-old flute player Krysten Renihan of Auburn, a student at the Pakachoag Community Music School, 17-year-old Algonquin Regional High School student Sterling Chu of Northborough, and piano student of Olga Rogach, and Cynthia Schilling, 15-year-old pianist from Fitchburg and student of Connie Drexler. Performance opportunities at Music Worcester’s Annual Meeting or other special events at the discretion of Music Worcester.     

 Each Spring Music Worcester, Inc. administers The Young Artist Competition for student musicians. Prizes may be used by the winners for lessons, equipment, summer studies, college. It is our great pleasure and honor to be part of the continuing mission to foster young musicians. The field of student musicians performing for the prizes was incredibly rich in talent and made the judges' decisions very difficult. Each performer was very talented. Congratulations to all!

 The Competition is open to highly talented student musicians, ages 12 to 18, who are Worcester County residents, and considered eligible by their music teacher. Applicants must perform a movement from a concerto or a work from the standard classical repertoire, 5-7 minutes in duration, on an orchestral instrument or piano.