The Florida Orchestra Musicians Association announces the winners of the annual Justine LeBaron Young Artist Competition. This year there are two grand prize winners: Luke Fox, 17, of Seminole on trumpet, and Miranda Isbitts, 12, of Clearwater on violin.
The competition is named in remembrance of the former principal horn of The Florida Orchestra, Justine LeBaron. This year 38 classical music students from Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties competed in the senior and junior divisions in piano and instrumental categories. Ages ranged from 10 to 22 years old. Cash prizes totaling about $4,500 will be distributed among 12 winners.
The competition was held March 17 at the Music Center on the Gibbs Campus of St. Petersburg College. John Wilson, former news anchor of Fox 13 television, assisted with the awards ceremony.
The winners in each category are:
Grand Prize
Luke Fox, 17, trumpet, Seminole, Hummel Trumpet Concerto, 1st movement
Miranda Isbitts, 12, violin, Clearwater, Bruch Violin Concerto, 1st movement
Senior Piano
First: Veronica Martinez-Brockhus, 22, Tampa, Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3, 1st movement
Second: Marco Jimenez, 15, St. Petersburg, Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2, 1st movement
Third: Vincent Pham, 10, Tampa, Mozart Piano Concerto No. 13, 3rd movement
Honorable Mention: Hannah Hoover, 17, Tampa
Senior Instrumental
First: Luke Fox, 17, trumpet, Seminole, Hummel Trumpet Concerto, 1st movement
Second: William Ramos, 16, bassoon, Palm Harbor, Weber Bassoon Concerto, 1st movement
Third: Daniel Park, 15, violin, Tampa, Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, 3rd movement
Honorable Mention:
Yu-Tin Lin, 15, Erhu, Tampa
Kira Wales, 17, violin, Clearwater
Junior Instrumental
First: Miranda Isbitts, 12, violin, Clearwater, Bruch Violin Concerto, 1st movement
Second: Sophia Chen, 14, violin, Tampa, Bruch Violin Concerto, 1st movement
Third: Alexey Heroux, 10, violin, Lutz, Seitz Violin Concerto No. 5, 3rd movement
Honorable Mention:
Alexandria Hudson, 11, violin, Trilby
Samantha Kopec, 14, clarinet, Clearwater
Junior Piano
First: Sophia Chen, 14, Tampa, Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2, 1st movement
Second: Vincent Pham, 10, Tampa, Mendelssohn Rondo and Capriccioso
Third: Jithen Shriyen, 12, Land O Lakes, Chopin Grand Waltz No. 5 and Bilotti The Firefly
The competition winners also performed their audition pieces at the afternoon recital following the awards ceremony.
The Florida Orchestra Musicians Association is passionate about making and sharing music with the community, as well as nurturing the next generation of classical musicians.
Funding sponsors of the competition include retired TFO musician William Don Owen and TFO board members Maria P. Cantonis, Peter and Susan Betzer, Jeanne Coleman, Liz Sembler, Jane and Kent Fanning, James R. Gillespie, Gayle Bertelstein and Jane Strom, the North Suncoast Associates Volunteer Guild, and Marilou and Martin van Zanten.