BPA Announces Winner Of BSO Young Artist Competition

Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce the 1st Place Winner of the BSO's 2019 Young Artist Concerto Competition is Emily Jeeho Park (piano) for her performance of Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26 (1st movement). Renee Ruiyi Qin (harp) was awarded 2nd Place for her performance of Handel's Harp Concerto in B-Flat Major, Op. 4 No. 6 HWV 294. Also this year, the judges issued an Honorable Mention to Yvette Kraft (violin) for her performance of Karl Goldmark's Violin Concerto in A minor (1st movement).

Emily Jeeho Park, 16, is a junior at Skyline High School in Sammamish. She began her piano studies at the age of six-and-a-half and has been studying under Dr. Sasha Starcevich since the age of eight. Emily made her orchestral debut as a soloist with the Orquesta Filharmónica de la Universidad de Alicante, Spain at age 13. She has been a top prize winner in many competitions, including the Solo and Concerto divisions of the Eastside Music Teachers Association Scholarship Competition, the Chopin Northwest Competition, the Washington State Solo and Ensemble Contest, the Music Teacher National Association Competitions, and the Seattle Young Artists Music Festival. She was also awarded third prize at the 2017 ENKOR International Music Competition and more recently, Emily performed as a soloist with the Seattle Youth Symphony at Benaroya Hall as the winner of the 2018-2019 SYSO Concerto Competition.

Renee Ruiyi Qin is a junior at Sentinel Secondary School. She studies harp under UBC professor and retired Vancouver Symphony Orchestra principal harpist, Elizabeth Volpé Bligh. Renee is the principal harpist in the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Lions Gate Youth Orchestra. In 2018, Renee performed Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz along with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at the Orpheum Theatre. She also performed as a guest harpist with the UBC Symphony Orchestra at the Chan Center. Renee is a first prize winner of the Canadian Music Competition in 2018 and received a scholarship from the West Coast Harp Society.

Yvette Kraft, 16, made her debut with the Spokane Symphony at the age of eleven. Since then she has won or distinguished herself in multiple competitions and summer camps. This past summer she attended Center Stage Strings in Michigan and the Liberec International Violin Academy in the Czech Republic. She currently studies with Simon James in Seattle, WA.

BSO Music Director Mario Alejandro Torres congratulates all participants in the BSO's 2019 Young Artist Concerto Competition, saying, "it was a great treat to hear all of the contendors. Maestro Pablo Rus (who kindly joined us as judge) and I were very impressed at the high level of musicality of each performer, and settling on the winner was no easy task."

BSO's 2019 Young Artist Concerto Competition 1st Place Winner Emily Jeeho Park will join the BSO for their spring concert, Rebellion! on April 13 & 14 to perform Edvard Grieg's Piano concerto in A minor, Op. 16.

Don't miss the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra's upcoming February concert as Maestro Mario Alejandro Torres leads the BSO in a concert that is sure to rouse the imagination. Tickets and performance details are available online at www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org, by phone at 206.842.8569 or in person at BPA, 200 Madison Avenue North, Bainbridge Island. BPA Box Office hours are 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and one hour prior to each performance.

Bainbridge Performing Arts extends special thanks to Media Sponsors Classical KING FM 98.1 and KCTS 9 - Public Television and Community Sponsors Carly's Rolling Bay Café and Wicklund Dental. BPA is supported, in part, by Bainbridge Community Foundation, the City of Bainbridge Island, and One Call for All. Bainbridge Performing Arts is pleased to offer an "Open Doors" program. Free and reduced-cost tickets to most events are available to community members in need through our partner Helpline House thanks to a grant from the Mabee Family Foundation. Please contact the BPA Box Office at 206.842.8569 or Helpline House to reserve tickets today.

Find out more about BPA at www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org,