15-Year-Old Pianist Wins Stamford Young Artist Philharmonic Concerto Competition

A Scarsdale High School sophomore, 15-year-old Annling Wang, has won first prize in the Stamford Young Artists Philharmonic (SYAP) Concerto Competition which took place at The Palace Theatre in Stamford.

The competition, held April 4, was open to young musicians who qualified to audition based on their musical resume and experience.

Annling performed a movement from Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Second-prize winners were Elena Gribelyuk, 14, of Stamford and 17-year-old Mase McKenna of Trumbull. Third-prize winner was Adam Jackson, 11, also of Scarsdale. All the winners performed concerto pieces for piano.

In recognition and support of the discipline, practice and dedication required for competition by both young musicians and their families, SYAP presented cash prizes to winners — $500 first prize, $250 second prize, $100 third prize. An first-prize winner Annling will have the opportunity to perform with SYAP during its 2015-2016 season.

Svitlana Fiorito, chair of the Concerto Competition, said in a statement, “We are pleased to provide this prize to such an outstanding musician as Annling. We are passionate about music education and we believe that classical music transforms the lives of young people by fostering self-discipline, pride, and character. I am constantly amazed by the level of musical ability and perseverance I see in students today.”

Annling said she was thrilled to win first prize. “I can’t believe I pulled this off,” she said of her decision to perform Tchaikovsky because of its exuberance and incredible beauty. When Annling embarked on preparations for the competition, she didn’t realize the significance of her decision. She said memorizing 56 pages of music for just one movement was quite challenging.

Annling says music has become a haven from the daily grind of school work. She said that despite having gone through a very dark period a few years back when she nearly gave up playing altogether, she now feels fortunate that she persisted with the piano because it has provided her with incredible discipline and perseverance.

For 55 years, the SYAP has been comprised of young musicians from southern Connecticut and northern Westchester counties and who train and perform in three orchestras: Young Strings Ensemble, Young People’s Symphony, and Young Artists Philharmonic.

For more information on SYAP, visit their website at www.syap.org

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Contributed photo: Annling Wang.