Newtown Sax Player Takes 1st Place—

Young Musicians Win GWCC Scholarships

WATERBURY — Six young area musicians in two age categories won prizes in the third annual Music Scholarship Competition sponsored by Greater Waterbury Classic Concerts on November 5.

In the senior group, first prize went to alto saxophone player, Steve Danyew, 16, from Sandy Hook. A student at Newtown High School and a music student of Toni Lavorgna, Mr Danyew played “She Rote” by Charlie Parker and “Largo” from Sonato in C Major by the Baroque composer J.F. Fasch.

Mr Danyew was awarded a full scholarship to Greater Waterbury Classic Concerts’ Summer Music Institute-Festival in August of 2001, a cash prize towards his music instruction, and the opportunity to perform at the opening concert of the 2001-02 GWCC Chamber Concert Series.

Mr Danyew began taking lessons on the piano at age 4, then switched to violin during fourth grade. When he reached fifth grade he changed instruments once again, this time to saxophone, and hasn’t looked back since.

Second place in the senior division went to pianist Ina Cela, 15, from Waterbury. A student at St Margaret’s-McTernan School and a piano student of Zoya Kalmanovsky, Miss Cela performed Invention #13 in A minor by J.S. Bach and Etude in C minor Op. 10 #12 by Chopin. Miss Cela will perform during the GWCC’s chamber concert on January 7. She also won a full scholarship to the 2001 Summer Music Institute-Festival.

Soprano Sherry Langrock from Southbury, a freshman at Pomperaug High School, was awarded third prize in the senior division. A voice student of Jackie Gaudet, Miss Langrock won a partial scholarship to GWCC’s Summer Music Institute-Festival.

The first prize winner in the junior group was Sepanta Mohseni, age 10, from Farmington. A student of Lucille Peterson, Mr Mohseni lived in Waterbury until August 2000. He played “Rondo” from Sonata in C Major K. 545 by Mozart and Limpid Stream by Burgmuller. He will perform during GWCC’s chamber concert on February 25, and will join the other winners at the Summer Music Institute-Festival with a full scholarship.

The second prize winner in the junior division was Shannon Bona, a 9-year-old elementary school student from Middlebury, who also studies with Zoya Kalmanovsky. She played Mazurka in B flat Op. 7 #1 by Chopin and the Third movement from Sonatina in C Op. 20 #1 by Kuhlau. Miss Bona will perform at the May 6 GWCC-sponsored chamber concert and she also won a partial scholarship to the Summer Music Institute-Festival.

Third prize in the junior division went to pianist Gabrielle Brazaukas, 11, from Southbury. She played “Rondo Alla Turka” from Sonata in A Major K. 331 by Mozart and Tarantella Op. #65 by Prokofiev. Mess Brazaukas studies piano with Thomas Mazuroski.