Norwalk Symphony Orchestra 2nd Young Artists Festival

The Norwalk Symphony Orchestra will host its second Young Artists Festival on
Saturday, February 1, 2014, in Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Avenue in Norwalk. This day-long festival is open to string students of all levels who have at least two years of study and have not yet graduated high school. The festival offers four different levels which serve to encourage and recognize the talented young musicians in Fairfield County. Additionally, the festival will host a Concerto Competition which is open to all instrumentalists through high school.

Festival registrar and NSO Board Member Becki Christopherson observes, "The primary purpose of this festival is to give young musicians the opportunity to perform in the context of the greater Fairfield County musical community. Opportunities like this do not exist in Fairfield County but are common throughout the country. " 

Younger students with at least two years of study are invited to perform for judges and receive constructive feedback and recognition. Older string students with at least four years of study can perform longer pieces and receive adjudicated feedback and recognition. These two levels are non-competitive but provide valuable training to prepare students for future competitions. The Junior and Senior Competitions, for more serious students, presents those winners with cash prizes of $150 and $300, respectively.

The Concerto Competition is open to students of all ages who reside in Fairfield
County. In order to be eligible to compete in the Concerto Competition, these
students must submit a video of their playing.

Those passing the preliminary round will be invited to a live audition the day of the festival in the acoustically stunning Norwalk Concert Hall. Norwalk Symphony Orchestra Maestro Jonathan Yates and other judges will select a winner who will then be invited to perform their concerto with the orchestra at the subscription Family Concert on March 9, 2014!

This concert, which will start at 3:00pm, is especially geared towards the youthful audience (student tickets are only $5!) and includes Saint-Saens’ children’s classic Carnival of the Animals.

Members of the Norwalk Youth Symphony will perform “Side by Side” with the members of the NSO. The winners of the Concerto and Junior Levels will be announced in a special press event at 5:00pm on February 1 at the closing reception in the lobby of Norwalk City Hall. For more information, please call the symphony at 203.956.6771.

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