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Young Artist Auditions Winners

David Olsen, marimba and John Kermott, violin

The Young Artist Auditions were held January 10, 2009, and the judges found themselves faced with several strong candidates. They settled on two co-winners and three honorable mentions. The co-winners, David Olsen and John Kermott, will each perform a selection at the Winter Concert in Sterling, February 21, 2009.

David Olsen
Marimba

David Olsen, a junior at Fulton High School, will play the first movement of Paul Creston's Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra, Op 21.

David, 17, is the son of Sue and Darwin Olsen. He participates in both band and chorus in high school, and this year in the Illinois All-State Honors Chorus. He has been a member of district Illinois Music Educators Association organizations since 7th grade, including bands, orchestras, choruses and vocal jazz ensembles. He has held the top percussion chair at University of Iowa Summer Music Camp for the past three years, and has toured in Europe with the Sound of America Honor Choir. He is active in the music of his church, singing, playing drums, and participating in bell choir.

David is looking forward to attending University of Iowa, where present plans are to major in Music Education with a minor in Business. Presently, he is a percussion student of Jack Martinez, and his school music teachers are Nicole Kotman for band and Shawn Anton for chorus. He credits his grade school band teacher, Kristie Workman Holland, for giving him his start in percussion.

 

John Kermott
Violin

John Kermott, a senior from Sterling, will perform the first movement from Giovanni Viotti's Violin Concerto No. 22 in A minor.

John began violin study at age nine. Although home-schooled, he has been actively involved in the music program in the Sterling schools, and presently plays in the orchestra, sings with Varsity Choir and Madrigals, and plays guitar for this year’s musical. He has played in district Illinois Music Educators Association orchestras for the past six years, and this year in the Illinois All-State Orchestra.
John enjoys writing and recording his own music, incorporating violin, mandolin and ukulele into typical guitar, drum and keyboard alternative style. His band, One September, has performed regularly at Youth and Church events for the past three years. He is presently in the college audition process, with a projected major in music composition.

His love for the violin has been passed down from both of his grandfathers; the instrument he plays is a family heirloom built in the 1950’s by his great-great-grandfather. He studies violin with Robert Whipple, and is in his second year as a regular member of the Clinton Symphony.

The panel of judges awarded Honorable Mention to

Matthew Engelson of  Clinton - Trombone
Steven Karvelius of Morrison - Piano
Melanie Saunders of DeWitt - Piccolo

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