Special Music School High School Concerto Competition Winners’ Concert

FREE concert

The six remarkable winners of the 2023 Special Music School High School Concerto Competition have won prizes at prestigious international competitions and performed with The Philadelphia Orchestra and others. At the Winnerrs' Concert, they'll perform with the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony under the baton of David Bernard at Merkin Hall at this annual concert showcasing some of NYC’s most extraordinary young performers. Kaufman Music Center’s Special Music School is New York's only K-12 public school that provides intensive music education during the school day, including fully-funded instrument lessons, music classes and ensembles along with academics without the financial barriers usually associated with the study of music.

String Division Winner
Bianna Bell, violin, Grade 12
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH  –  Violin Concerto No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 129, Movement 1. Moderato

Piano Division Winner
Sophia Shao, piano, Grade 9
SERGEI PROKOFIEV  –  Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat Major, Op. 10

Vocal Division Winner
Lucie Freeman, mezzo-soprano, Grade 12
GEORGES BIZET  –  Two Arias from the opera Carmen:
HABANERA  –  L'amour est un oiseau rebelle 
SEGUIDILLA  –  Près de remparts de Séville

Winds, Brass, Percussion & Guitar Winner
Romero Biagini-Rosenbaum, classical guitar, Grade 12
JOAQUÍN RODRIGO  –  Concierto de Aranjuez, Movement 1. Allegro con spirito

Wildcard Winner
Anna Kesselman, piano, Grade 10
FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN  –  Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11, Movement 1. Allegro Maestoso

Wildcard Winner
Griffin Frost, cello, Grade 9
|PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY  –  Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33

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