The Southern Adventist University’s Symphony Orchestra Concerto Concert, scheduled for Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists, will feature the winning soloists of the School of Music’s Concerto Competition, accompanied by Southern’s Symphony Orchestra. The event is free and open to the public.
The winners included Breanna Thornton, junior music performance major, and Jonathan Harper, senior music major, who were selected from 19 finalists that auditioned for the School of Music’s 23rd Concerto Competition. Students grade 8 through undergraduate college level from the tri-state region competed for the opportunity to play a movement of a piece with the Symphony Orchestra.
Five judges, including Laurie Minner, Ken Parsons and Scott Ball from the School of Music, graded students on things such as rhythm, interpretation, accuracy and stage presence.
“We looked for students who can really perform and bring all aspects of performance together,” Ms. Minner said.
For many of the winners, playing a solo with a full symphony orchestra accompanying them is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as well as a learning and enhancement experience.
“The chance to prepare a piece to that level of performance in front of judges really pushes them and brings them to the next step in their music preparation,” Ms. Minner said.
The Concerto Competition was started in 1990 by Orlo Gilbert, former professor at the School of Music, who dedicated 30 years of his life to improving the music program through the creation of the Symphony Orchestra and the Concerto Competition. Since then, dozens of musicians have had the experience of performing their chosen pieces with a full symphony.
Jonathan Harper, 21, has studied piano since age eight and is a senior music major. He will be performing Prokofiev, Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, op.16, Allegro tempestoso.
Breanna Thornton, 19, began studied violin at age four. She is a sophomore music performance major and two-time winner of the Concerto Competition. She will be performing Dvorak, Violin Concerto in A minor, op.53, Finale: Allegro giocoso ma non troppo.