Piedmont Wind Symphony
Robert Simon, Artistic Director
Winston-Salem, NC
- Student Concerto Competition Winners-

Piedmont Wind Symphony Announces 
Student Concerto Competition Winners

(WINSTON-SALEM, NC-January 2003) The future of music in North Carolina is in good hands if the PWS Concerto Competition is any indication. The competition was so strong that the judges ended up awarding a tie for first place. Laura Kruep, a junior at Northwest Guilford High School, and Leah Shaw, a senior at Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem were awarded first place. They will each be presented with a check for $750 from Allegacy Federal Credit Union at the next PWS concert on March 11, 2003 where they will also perform as soloists. The Competition, in its second year, is again sponsored by Allegacy Federal Credit Union. Allegacy is an active sponsor of various community events, especially those that promote the arts in the Winston-Salem area.

Third place and $100 will be awarded to Reid Settle, a senior at Page High School, for his trumpet performance of the Concerto for Trumpet in B-flat by Joseph Hayden. "Nice tone, technique and musicality," stated the judges after his audition. A Wind Ensemble and Marching Band student of Ed Kimbrough at Page High School and a private student of Tim Hudson, a Carolina Brass member, Reid plans to major in trumpet performance in college. 

"Terrific potential", "lovely talent", "impressed by the quality of teaching", were among the observations from the three judges of this demanding competition. They were Philip Dunigan, retired professor of music at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Robert Listokin and Mark Popkin, both currently teaching music at North Carolina School of the Arts.  All three judged the competition last year, the inaugural year, and were very impressed with the quality of this year's applicants.   

Philip Dunigan has performed with orchestras such as the Symphony of the Air, the New York City Opera and the New York City Ballet and recently retired from the North Carolina School of the Arts, where he taught flute for 37 years. Robert Listokin has been a frequent clarinet soloist with the Piedmont Chamber Orchestra and the Winston-Salem Symphony as well as a current faculty member at NCSA. Mark Popkin has been a faculty member of the North Carolina School of the Arts since its founding in 1965. He has performed as principal bassoon with the New Jersey Symphony, the New York Pops, the New York Choral Society and the Winston-Salem Symphony, and has played with the Houston Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the New York City Center and Metropolitan Opera Orchestras, to name just a few.

High school musicians from throughout the Triad were invited to enter the competition, held on November 16th at Wake Forest University.  Sponsored by Allegacy Federal Credit Union, the competition is the brainchild of Robert Simon, Artistic Director of the Piedmont Wind Symphony.  "Music was an important part of my student life," commented Simon. "It is essential to provide students with well rounded educational experiences, and we're grateful that Allegacy Federal Credit Union agreed to support the opportunity for young musicians to experience the achievement of competing in this format and then performing with the Piedmont Wind Symphony in concert."

Laura Kruep impressed the judges with her talent on the B-flat clarinet playing the Concertino Opus 26 by C. M. von Weber. She plans to pursue a degree in music, and is hoping to audition at the NC School of the Arts.  "My ultimate goal is to play with a professional orchestra and perform as a guest soloist", she stated. "Shows loads of talent and superb teaching," commented the judges, complimenting both Laura and her teachers, Northwest Guilford High School band director Brian Roberts and private teacher Linda Julian.    
Leah Shaw performed the Concerto in B-flat by Mozart on her bassoon, "Very energetic, fine musicality, and preparation," were some of the judges' comments on her audition. Leah has played with the Piedmont Wind Symphony for the last two years under the tutelage of her private teacher, Jonathan Julian. Barry Howard, band director at Mt. Tabor, calls her "one of the best students I have ever taught" praising her talent and preparedness. Her goal is to pursue a college major in music, focusing on bassoon or piano.   
The second place winner of $250 is Ashley Hollandsworth, a senior at North Forsyth High School.  Ashley auditioned with Ballade for Solo Alto Saxophone by Alfred Reed.  According to her band director, Jim Kirkpatrick, "she has the ability to stop our class in our tracks with her sound!" The judges concurred commenting that she displayed a lovely sound, nice phrasing and vibrato.