From a field of 12 competitors, three students were selected as winners in the return of the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Department of Music Concerto Competition: David Earnest, trombone; Kayla Holsopple, tuba; and Austin Widmann, trumpet.

Organized by Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ assistant professor and director of orchestral studies, Alexandra Dee, and associate professor and director of bands, Timothy Paul, the Concerto Competition offered juniors, seniors, and graduate students the opportunity to compete to perform as featured soloists with the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Symphony Orchestra or Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Wind Ensemble. This marks the return of a competition of this kind to the Department of Music after a long hiatus, and the competition field included students performing on piano, woodwind, brass, and string instruments.

The three winners will appear on upcoming concerts by the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Symphony Orchestra and Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Wind Ensemble:

  • David Earnest (student of Kevin McManus) will perform Red Sky by Anthony Barfield with the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Wind Ensemble on May 1 at 3:00 p.m. in Fisher Auditorium.

  • Kayla Holsopple (student of Zach Collins) will perform Concerto for Tuba and Strings by Arild Plau with the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Symphony Orchestra on April 29 at 8:00 p.m. in Fisher Auditorium.

  • Austin Widmann (student of Kevin Eisensmith) will perform Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra by Alexandra Pakhmutova with the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Symphony Orchestra during the fall 2022 semester (concert date TBD).

2021 Concerto Competition Participants