The Adelphi Orchestra Announces 2018 Young Artist Competition Winners And Bold 2018-19 Young Artist Initiative For Upcoming 65th Anniversary Season

In a dramatic turn of events, three outstanding young musicians were selected in the Adelphi Orchestra's 2018 Young Artist Competition from a field of 62 worthy contestants, and 17 remarkable finalists who included Sanford Whatley (Violin), Keila Wakao (Violin), Jisu Choi (Violin), Elizabeth Lee (Violin), Laura Navasardian (Cello), Bryan Cheng (Cello), Eliana Silverman (Violin), Angela Dong (Violin) Sofia Gilchenok (Viola), Kenneth Ryu Naito (Violin), Jiabao Wei (Violin), Charles Zandieh (Cello), Jun Lin (Violin), Sophia Stoyanovich (Violin), Randall Mitsuo Goosby (Violin), Phoebe Gardner (Violin) and Jason Moon (Violin). Distinguished by first and second place, cellist Bryan Cheng, violinist Randall Mitsuo Goosby (who shared first place) and violinist Keila Wakao were selected for the coveted opportunity to perform with a professional orchestra in the upcoming 65th Anniversary Season of the Adelphi Orchestra.

The Adelphi Orchestra's upcoming Mother's Day Weekend Concerts taking place in New Jersey on May 11 and in NYC on May 13th in NYC's historic Good Shepherd-Faith Presbyterian Church will take the opportunity to honor the recently named Young Artist Competition Winners and their remarkable Moms prior to the concerts, which will benefit the Adelphi Orchestra's 2018-19 Young Artist Programing.

Rounding out the distinctions, the complete list of honorees for the 2018 Adelphi Orchestra Young Artist Competition include:

FIRST PLACE: Bryan Cheng, cello / Randall Mitsuo Goosby, Violin
SECOND PLACE: Keila Wakao, Violin
THIRD PLACE - Jisu Choi Violin

DIVISION WINNERS

JUNIOR - Keila Wakao, Violin
RUNNER-UP - Elizabeth G Lee, Violin / Laura Navasardian, Cello

SENIOR - Sofia Gilchenok, Viola / Jun Lin, Violin
RUNNER-UP - Kenneth Naito, Violin / Charles Zandieh, Cello

COLLEGE - Jason Moon, Violin
RUNNER-UP - Sophia Stoyanovich, Violin / Phoebe Gardner, Violin

Traditionally the Adelphi Orchestra's Young Artist Competition's first-place winner is given the honor of performing with the Adelphi Orchestra in a solo role. Over the past 14 years of the competition's history there have been infrequent ties, but this year the selection of a third designee for performance set a precedent: with important scheduling and funding considerations for the orchestra.

For the past several years the Adelphi Orchestra has presented the Young Artist Concerto Concert as the orchestra's season opening concert in October. This Annual Adelphi Orchestra concert has evolved into a featured event in Bergen County, taking place in New Jersey's "Discover Jersey Arts" month. New Jersey's state-wide celebration which coincides with National Arts & Humanities Month.

Originally launched by Americans for the Arts thirty years ago as "National Arts Week" in honor of the twentieth anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts. The national celebration of Arts and Humanities was reestablished by Americans for the Arts and their national arts partners (which include New Jersey's ArtPride) as a month-long celebration, underscoring the shared goals of: FOCUSING on the arts at local, state, and national levels, ENCOURAGING individuals and organizations to participate in the arts; ALLOWING governments and businesses to show their support of the arts; and RAISING public awareness about the role the arts and humanities play in our communities and lives.

With funding for the Adelphi Orchestra's Young Artist Concert provided in part by Bergen County Department of Parks, Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs a regranting agency of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, the Adelphi Orchestra strove to support the goals of New Jersey's Council on the Arts, Art Pride and Discover Jersey Arts and Americans for the Arts with an emphasis on excellent young musicians, and their impact on the future of the orchestral artform.

The compelling recital performances by the field of finalists, proved a conundrum to the Adelphi Orchestra judging panel: Narrow the recognition of excellence or broaden the performance opportunities. The caveat - enlarge the 2018-2019 budget to accommodate the vision.

In deliberations by the orchestra's leadership, it was boldly determined that the orchestra would reimagine their 65th Anniversary Season emphasis, not through the lens of a "retrospective of accomplishments" but rather as "a salute to the future of the orchestral artform" through the narrative of young musicians. The Adelphi Orchestra's leadership decided to expand concert programming for their 65th season to include not only their three 2018 Young Artist Competition winners - but other outstanding young artists as well.

To accommodate this vision for the Adelphi Orchestra's 65th Anniversary Season it was determined that expanded programming would introduce a September concert featuring second place winner violinist Keila Wakao, two October 2018 concerts in New Jersey and New York featuring first place winner, violinist Randall Mitsuo Goosby and two May 2019 concerts in New Jersey and New York featuring co-first place winner, cellist Bryan Cheng.

Additionally, the Adelphi Orchestra will include a March 2019 concert of Brahms and Beethoven featuring the 24-year-old phenom, pianist Drew Petersen, recent winner of the prestigious 2018 Avery Fisher Career Grant.

With the 2019 April 27th Adelphi Orchestra Young Artist Competition Finals Recital taking place once again in New York City at the National Opera Center of America, and six regular season concerts, the Adelphi Orchestra's expanded Young Artist Concert Programming will more than triple its Young Artist Concert programming.

The orchestra is also considering adding an audience favorite vote for 2019 Young Artist Competition in addition to the existing categories, to determine a "People's Choice Award" as a result of the increased number of the orchestra's YouTube views. Over 14,000 views alone were generated by the October 23rd Adelphi Orchestra's Young Artist Concert, a featured event of Discover Jersey Arts Month, presenting the 2016 Young Artist winner, the sixteen-year-old violinist Nathan Meltzer playing the Sibelius Violin Concerto in N*E*R*D minor, Op. 47.

ABOUT THE ADELPHI ORCHESTRA YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM

Over the past 14 years the Adelphi Orchestra Young Artist Program has proudly contributed to the development of over 1,000 young musicians. Competition finalists selected from each year's field of contestants in string, woodwinds and piano competition categories are invited to perform before a public audience. For the past half-decade competition finals have been held in New York City. First place winners are afforded the opportunity to perform as soloists in concert with the Adelphi Orchestra.

Adelphi Orchestra Young Artist Competition First Place winners include Xiaoxuan Shi -Violin (2017) Nathan Meltzer (2016) Ari Boutris, Violin (2015), Ming Nga Cheung, Piano (2014); Dylan Wu, Cello (2013); Anton Rist, Clarinet, Brieuc Vourch, Violin (2012); Jennifer Choi, Cello 2010; Lindy Tsai, Cello 2009: Ethan Siegel, Violin 2008; Philo Lee, Cello (2007); Christina Hughes, Flute (2006); Daniel Baer, Piano (2005)

Recently Adelphi Orchestra's Young Artist Showcase Concerts have gained even greater prestige as featured events in "Discover Jersey Arts Month" during the month of October. Noted conductors who have led the Adelphi Orchestra Young Artists Concerts in both New Jersey and New York include Adelphi Orchestra conductor Richard Owen, Jason Tramm and Joshua Gersen, Music Director of the New York Youth Symphony.

To learn more about the competition visit www. http://adelphiorchestra.org/competition-finals/

ABOUT THE ADELPHI ORCHESTRA

Entering its 65th Anniversary Season, the Adelphi Orchestra is a professional, non-profit orchestra presenting classical concerts celebrating symphonic, chamber, operatic and dance throughout New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area. For over a decade the Adelphi Orchestra has proudly sponsored an annual Young Artist Program and Young Artist Concert Series. The Adelphi Orchestra's concerts feature accomplished national and international guest soloists and distinguished conductors.

Recognized by its peers for the Jersey Arts People's Choice Award in the Favorite Orchestra/Symphony Division, the Adelphi Orchestra is a member of the League of Orchestras. It is northern New Jersey's longest continuously performing orchestra and a member of the New Jersey cultural community for 64 years. The mission of the Adelphi Orchestra is to serve the musical and educational needs of the citizens of New Jersey, with special emphasis given to families with young children, seniors and those with limited financial means. To further this end, numerous concerts are offered free of admission charges.

The Adelphi Orchestra strives to advance the orchestral arts through education, commissions, community partnerships and its robust young artist programing. Within the orchestra, the company fosters a challenging and enjoyable environment where artistic excellence can flourish. Richard Owen serves as the Principal Conductor and Jason Tramm is the Artistic Advisor of the orchestra.

MAY 11TH AND 13TH ADELPHI ORCHESTRA YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM BENEFIT CONCERTS

"Bohemian Rhapsody" can be secured via

Eventbrite Sunday May 13 at 7:00 PM (VIP Reserved - $35 General Presale - $25 Students $10)

Good Faith Presbyterian Church, NYC

152 West 66th Street New York, NY 10023

AdelphiOrchestra.org for May 11th at 7:30 PM, Riverdell Middle School Auditorium In New Jersey

PHOTO CAPTION: ADELPHI ORCHESTRA 2018 YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION WINNERS CELLIST BRYAN CHENG, VIOLINIST RANDALL MITSUO GOOSBY (FIRST PLACE WINNERS) AND VIOLINIST KEILA WAKAO (SECOND PLACE) COURTESEY OF THE ADELPHI ORCHESTRA