Butler symphony names Young Artist competition winner
Sophia Lee is the winner of the 35th annual Young Artist Competition held in January by the Butler County Symphony.
She will perform with the orchestra at its March 8 concert.
The competition featured six students from the region. It was open to high school age musicians who live within a 25-mile radius of Butler, or any high school age musician in a Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 5 school.
Each year, the competition alternates between high school and college-aged students.
Sophia attends North Allegheny Intermediate High School. She is a student of Gretchen Van Hoesen, principal harpist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
The 15-year-old has swept several first prizes including the 2013 American Harp Society National Competition Intermediate I Division in Los Angeles, the New Artist Division of the 2012 International Young Artist's harp competition in Rabun Gap, Ga., and the Solo Strings Division of the Duquesne Young Artist national competition in 2010 and 2012.
She will perform the first movement of the “Concerto for Harp and Orchestra in E flat major” by Reinhold Glière.
The March 8 concert will feature guest performer and Buffalo Philharmonic clarinetist Sal Andolina in a tribute featuring American standards by Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Jerome Kern.
Tickets are available at the symphony office, 259 S. Main St., or by calling 724-283-1402. Tickets also are available at www.ShowClix.com. Tickets are $23 for adults and $5.50 for students.
For information, visit butlersymphony.org.
