Concert Highlights Local Youth Musicians

Two Marlborough musicians are among the six finalists who will perform in the third concert of the Yacyshyn Concert Series on Wednesday, May 23.

The concert, presented by the Friends of the Marlborough Public Library, will showcase six finalists from auditions held in March. 

The concert will be presented in the Bigelow Auditorium of the Marlborough Public Library, 35 West Main St., and is free and open to the public.

Performing will be Chris Syers, trombone, Marlborough;  Elizabeth & Ben Anderson, violin & cello, Westboro; Kayleigh Fay, clarinet, Marlborough; Karen Bouchard, piano, Ayer and Fuming Qiu, piano, Shrewsbury. 

Each will receive a scholarship Award plus the “Anick Award for Musical Excellence” named in Honor of Connie Anick for her ten years of serving as Friends Music Chair and the founder of the Young People’s Performing Arts Festival Concerts.   

Kayleigh Fay is a student at Marlborough High School, has been playing the clarinet since the 5^th grade. She has been participating in the Central District Festival since 10^th grade and studies privately with Kelly Shepherd. She is Drum Major in her school marching band, editor of the yearbook, and Cross Country captain. She will be attending the University of Connecticut in the fall.

Chris Syers is a junior at Marlborough High School participating in the Jazz Ensemble, Jazz II Ensemble, Wind Ensemble and Concert Band. Chris is drum major in the marching band.  He is president of Tri-M, the music honor society chapter at MHS.  Chris participated in Central District Junior Concert Band (2008), Central Junior District Jazz Band (2009), Senior Cenral District Band/Orchestra (2010-2012) and All State orchestra in 2011.

He is in his third season performing with Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra.  In addition to his musical interests, Chris’ extra-curricular activities include Latin Club (President) and National Honor Society.  He also plays varsity volleyball.

Fuming Qui is a freshman at Shrewsbury High School.  He started piano lessons at age 6, and has been a piano student of Olga Rogach for about three years. Through his lessons, he has come to enjoy classical and romantic works and the challenge of learning how to bring each piece to life. Besides piano, he has played violin for a few years as part of the school orchestra. Music has been an important part of his life and will continue being so, in an enjoyable and rewarding way.  Outside of the music world, he has done well in a handful of math and speech competitions, winning first to third place awards in both categories. He is also part of his high school’s crew team, a challenging and rewarding sport.

Elizabeth and Ben Anderson have been performing traditional and contemporary Scottish fiddle music together for four years. Elizabeth, 18, has studied classical violin and fiddle for ten years. She is a three-time winner of the New England Scottish Fiddle junior competition, and has taken second place in the New England Open (adult) competition and fourth in the National Open. She teaches private violin and fiddle lessons. Ben, 14, has been playing violin and fiddle for eight years and cello for five years. He took second place in the New England Scottish Fiddle junior competition this year. Elizabeth and Ben attend the Boston Harbor Scottish Fiddle School every summer and share their love of this music at performances throughout the greater Boston area.

Elizabeth and Ben attend Westborough High School.

Karen Bouchard, age sixteen, has been studying piano with Niva Fried for over ten years.  Karen is a junior and an Honor student at Littleton High School.  She also attends the Japanese Language School of Greater Boston on Saturdays.  Karen is a regular recipient of the first places, the second place, and Honorable Mentions at Massachusetts Music Teacher Association Bay State Contests since she was eight years old.  She has been selected and performed piano six times at the American Fine Art Festival Winners’ Concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York City since 2005.  Karen has received the Schubert Award (2010) and the Chopin Award (2012) at University of Rhode Island Piano Competitions Senior Pianist Division.  She also has been participating in various competitions and recitals such as Music Teachers National Association’s Piano Competitions, New England Piano Teachers Association’s Competitions and Winners Recitals.  Besides Karen’s piano study, she has been playing flute in her School Concert Bands for seven years.  Additionally, she has received multiple awards as an artist of Shodo (Japanese Brush Calligraphy).  Karen also enjoys solving technical problem and preparing for competitions in the Engineering Club and is a serious student of Kendo (Japanese Fencing). 

This concert is sponsored by and funded and sponsored in part by the Ezra Cutting Trust—Bank of America, Trustee; in part by a grant from the Marlborough Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency and in part by The Friends Memorial Fund established by an anonymous donor who donated $25,000 .  The Friends are also pleased to announce that Price Chopper’s Golub Foundation has become a Special Sponsor of this concert and have made a Special Grant to partially fund the concert. 

Deborah Tanski, Grants Administrator for the Golub Foundation said: “It is indeed a great honor for the Price Chopper’s Golub Foundation to support the cultural efforts of The Friends of the Marlborough Public Library.  The Golub Family has been committed to supporting non-profit organizations in their market areas and is pleased to support The Friends efforts.”  

Leslie Havens, Music Chair of The Friends, states “The caliber and talent of this year’s finalists once again points out the pool of talent in this area as the Young People’s Performing Arts Festival Competition held March 17 was once again outstanding.  The finalists were selected by a panel of three judges Andy Baer, Alan Johnson and Steve Stapleton. 

"This concert presentation has become a launching pad for many of the finalists who have gone onto very productive musical careers,” Havens said. 

This concert marks the Third concert of the 2011-2012 Yacyshyn Concert Series named in memory of The Friends First Music Chair Martha Yacyshyn in this the Friends 42^nd Season of presenting a music series.