Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra Announces Stanger Audition Winners

The 2021 winners of the 51st Dr. Robert Stanger Young Artists Concerto Audition, held at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church in Elmhurst on February 13, 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 10 outstanding high school musicians from several of the Chicago suburbs. Special thanks go to this year's judges, Kuang-Hoa Huang, Jean Hatmaker and Karen Mari, who spent many hours listening to and critiquing these spectacular young performers, choosing four winners:

First Place: Isabel Chen, violin

Violin Concerto in A minor, 1st movement, by Dvořák

12th Grade, Glenbrook North High School

Teacher: Almita Vamos

Second Place: Sidney Lee, viola

Viola Concerto, 1st movement, by Bartok

11th Grade, Buffalo Grove High School

Teacher: Roland Vamos

Third Place: Esme Arias-Kim, violin

Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, 1st movement, by Paganini

9th Grade, Fremd High School

Teacher: Almita Vamos

Fourth Place: Ruth Kim, violin

Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 82, 1st movement, by Glazunov

10th Grade, Adlai E. Stevenson High School

Teacher: Desiree Ruhstrat

Stanger Audition first-place winner Isabel Chen will perform with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra at a subscription concert during its 2021-22 season. Other winners will perform for Kiwanis and other local groups later in the year. All 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; to the Stanger Audition’s coordinator, Michael Surratt, for organizing the event; and to the Symphony Board for its support. Thanks also go to the Elmhurst Symphony'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.