Young Bellevue Musicians Shine in Sammamish Symphony Competition

Local musicians from Bellevue took top honors at the recent Youth Concerto Competition.

The following information is from the Sammamish Symphony Orchestra:

The Sammamish Symphony Orchestra hosted its annual Youth Concerto Competition on Jan. 26 2013 at Music Works Northwest in Bellevue. 18 youth musicians ranging in age from 12 to 19 auditioned for the opportunity to guest solo with the orchestra at its concert on June 9, 2013, 2pm at Eastlake Performing Arts Center,Sammamish. In addition, the top three finalists received a scholarship stipend.

First place: Olivia Claire Marckx of Bellevue - Cello 

            Herbert’s Concerto No. 2, 3rd movement

Marckx, 13, is an 8th grader at Odle Middle School in Bellevue. She has been studying cello with her mom since age 5 ½, and also works with Raymond Davis and Chuck Jacot. 

Second Place : Amelia Yisin Sie of Bellevue – Violin

            Prokofiev’s concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63 I. Allegro moderato

Sie, 16, who is a parttime student at Newport High School and homeschooler,  made her solo debut with the Seattle Festival Orchestra at age 8.  She is the 2012 winner of Seattle Young Artist’s Music Festival Concerto Competition and has been featured on National Public Radio’s ‘From the Top’ program.

Third Place: Karissa Leigh Zadinsky of Issaquah - Cello

            Schumann’s concerto in A minor, Op. 129, I. Nicht zu Schnell

Karissa Zadinsky, 18, began studying ‘cello at age 7 with Leslie Marckx. Karissa graduated a year early as Salutatorian from the Insight School of Washington and began performing professionally as a substitute cellist in the Seattle Symphony this fall. 

The distinguished judges for the competition were Lisa Bergman, Pianist, Arts Administrator, and announcer for King FM; Walter Schwede, Professor of Violin at Western Washington University and Area String Coordinator; and R. Joseph Scott, Conductor and Music Director, Sammamish Symphony Orchestra.

The following volunteers facilitated the event: Naoki Komoto, student of Economics from Bellevue College; Donna Mansfield, violinist, Sammamish Symphony; Renee Kuehn, marketing director, Sammamish Symphony.

For further information about our winners, judges, or opportunities to volunteer at concert events, please direct your request to me at YCC@Sammamishsymphony.org.

Get community news from Bellevue Patch in your Facebook and Twitter feeds.