Elmhurst Symphony Announces 2022 Stanger Audition Winners

The winners of the Dr. Robert Stanger Young Artists Concerto Audition for 2022, held at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church in Elmhurst on February 19, have been announced. Conducted by the Elmhurst Symphony Association and sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst and the former Auxiliary of the ESO through its Eunice B. Sidener Scholarship, the competition showcased twelve outstanding high school musicians from Chicago and several suburbs. Special thanks go to this year's judges, Rika Seko, Rebecca Boelzner and Sara Sitzer, who spent many hours listening to and critiquing these spectacular young performers, choosing five winners:

First Place: Elinor Detmer, violin

Violin Concerto in D minor 1st movement, by Jean Sibelius

12th Grade, Home School

Teacher: Almita Vamos

Second Place: Esme Arias-Kim, violin

Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35, 1st movement, by Erich Wolfgang Korngold

10th Grade, William Fremd High School

Teacher: Almita Vamos

Third Place: Ella Saputra, violin

Violin Concerto, 1st movement, by William Walton

11th Grade, James B. Conant High School

Teacher: Desiree Ruhstrat

Fourth Place: Sofia Radovic, violin

Violin Concerto, Op. 14, 1st movement, by Samuel Barber

11th Grade, Heritage High School

Teacher: Desiree Ruhstrat

Honorable Mention: Sofia Grimes, violin

Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, 1st movement, by Max Bruch

11th Grade, Glenbard South High School

Teacher: Drew Lecher

Stanger Audition first-place winner Elinor Detmer will perform with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra at a subscription concert during the next season. Other winners will perform for Kiwanis and other local groups later in the year. All winners receive certificates and the first four winners receive monetary awards.

Thanks go to Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church and staff for the use of the church and their able assistance and to the dedicated Symphony volunteers who helped make this event possible. The Symphony is especially grateful to the Stanger Audition’s main sponsor, the Elmhurst Kiwanis Club, for its long-time support, and to the Symphony Board for its support. Thanks also go to the Elmhurst Symphony Auxiliary’s Eunice B. Sidner Scholarship Fund for sponsoring the fourth-place winner. For more information, call the Symphony office at (630) 941-0202 or visit www.elmhurstsymphony.org.

Photo: Elinor Detmer, violinist, Stanger Audition first-place winner