Las Vegas Philharmonic & Cox Communications Presents Competition Prize

The Las Vegas Philharmonic and Cox Communications presented checks to the winner, Kelsea Au, and runner-up, Erika Dalton, of the 2015 Cox Communications Young Artists' Concerto Competition on Saturday evening, March 5th before the Las Vegas Philharmonic's concert at Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center. The competition took place Saturday, October 3, 2015 at the College of Southern Nevada, Cheyenne Campus. The panel of judges selected violinist Kelsea Breanne Au as winner and violinist Erika Dalton as runner-up. Stephanie Stallworth, Cox Communications Director of Public and Community Relations and Jeri Crawford, Las Vegas Philharmonic President & CEO presented the checks to the two students on Reynolds Hall stage. Au received a cash prize of $2,000 and had the opportunity to perform as soloist in all 10 performances of the Las Vegas Philharmonic's Youth Concert Series in November 2015 and January 2016. Dalton received a cash prize of $1,000 to use towards her music education.

Au is 16 years old and is a junior at Green Valley High School. A native Las Vegan, Au has been playing violin for 11 years and currently studies under Ms. Yuri Cho. She was awarded a scholarship to participate in the seven week Chautauqua Music Festival and has performed as soloist with the Ottawa Chamber Symphony and as concertmaster for the Honor Orchestra and Nevada All-State Orchestra. Au plans to use the prize money towards performing in a summer music festival.

Dalton is 15 years old and attends Nevada Virtual Academy. She has played violin for 11 years and currently studies under Las Vegas Philharmonic Concertmaster, De Ann Letourneau. Dalton has won several competitions including last year's concerto competition, the American Protégé International and the ENKOR International. Dalton's goal is to attend a top music conservatory on full scholarship. She plans to use the prize money towards Meadowmount Music Camp to study with Sally Thomas in the summer of 2016.

The Young Artists' Concerto Competition has been a key component of the orchestra's education and community outreach since 1999, with the Las Vegas Philharmonic's free annual Youth Concert Series reaching 180,000 school children to date. By presenting a young musician on stage in close age to the children in the audience, the organization hopes to inspire young students to play an instrument and develop a life-long appreciation for classical music.

Cox's support of The Las Vegas Philharmonic is part of the Company's longstanding support of the arts - in particular, youth art education - and is part of the Cox Hearts for Arts program.

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