Young Instrumentalists

Competition Slated For January

BRIDGEPORT — Applications are available for the Greater Bridgeport Symphony’s Carlson-Horn Competition for Young instrumentalists.

Sponsored by the Hersher Family Foundation, the two-day event will take place on Saturday and Sunday, January 26-27, 2008, at the Arnold Bernhard Arts & Humanities Center at the University of Bridgeport.

Sunday’s finals, at 1 pm, will be open to the public with no admission charged.

“We are delighted that the competition has returned to the University of Bridgeport. UB is one of the symphony’s major supporters and hosted the competition from 1976 to 1993 and again in 2007,” said competition co-chair Marianne Laska. “The university has also supported the symphony by giving one of its beautiful historic Victorian houses on campus to use as its administrative headquarters.”

“Fairfield and New Haven Counties have many exceptionally dedicated and extraordinarily talented young musicians,” comments Barbara Rogo of Bridgeport, co-chair of the Carlson-Horn Competition, “We have had such high caliber instrumentalists entering this event that our Music Director Gustav Meier — one of the world’s premiere conductors — thought the winners of several recent competitions were ready to perform with the GBSO.”

The competition, now entering its 27th year, is open to all instrumentalists between the ages of 13 and 18 who live or study in Fairfield or New Haven counties. Contestants must be prepared to perform one movement of a concerto plus a work from a contrasting composer, period and tempo.

Total performance time for both pieces is limited to 12 minutes at the preliminaries and 15 minutes at the finals. Contestants must supply their own accompanist. Comments from the panel of professional judges will be available to each contestant.

Students are urged to apply early, as audition space is limited to the first 25 applicants. The deadline for filing an application is January 2, 2008. Applications may be obtained through the symphony office by calling 203-576-0263 or online at BridgeportSymphony.org.

Cash prizes of $400, $200, and $100, along with special award certificates, will be given to the top three finalists. The first prize winner will also be invited to audition for Mr Meier. Many past contestants have appeared with the orchestra and have become recognized artists.

Violinist Ada Pasternak of Fairfield, the 2004 winner, and violinist Alex Weill of Woodbridge, the 2005 winner, made their debuts with the GBSO in 2004 and 2006. Pianist and violinist Anita Chen, the 2007 winner, will be featured in the 2008-09 season.

Further information and applications may be obtained by contacting the Greater Bridgeport Symphony office, 446 University Avenue, Bridgeport CT 06604, or BridgeportSymphony.org.