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The xxxx��Ƶ announced today three students from its Preparatory Department have been selected to perform as soloists with the xxxx��Ƶ Orchestra on Thursday, February 8, at 7:30 p.m. in xxxx��Ƶ’s Kulas Hall. Violinist Hana Chang of Shaker Heights, pianist Leo Gevisser also of Shaker Heights, and pianist Gabriel Shapiro of University Heights were named as winners of the annual Preparatory and Continuing Education Department Concerto Competition.

Interim Executive Director of Preparatory and Continuing Education and xxxx��Ƶ Performance Operations Madeline Lucas Tolliver said: “xxxx��Ƶ established this concerto competition in 2012 in order to both showcase the incredible talents of our younger students and to provide them with a high-level competition experience. Many teenage artists don’t have the opportunity to perform with a full symphony orchestra, which makes earning one of these spots particularly valuable in their musical development—as well as an exciting honor!”

Hana Chang will perform the first movement of Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2, Leo Gevisser will give the first movement of Grieg’s Piano Concerto, and Gabriel Shapiro will play the first movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20; the concert will also feature Mozart’s Overture to The Magic Flute. xxxx��Ƶ conducting students Dean Buck, Sean Radermacher, Yun Song Tay and Xuecong (Sunny) Xia will each conduct a work on the program.

The Concerto Showcase concert is a unique collaboration between the xxxx��Ƶ Orchestra and the Preparatory and Continuing Education program. Each year, xxxx��Ƶ students enjoy the opportunity to engage with their teenage counterparts. “The atmosphere in the concert hall is just electric,” explained Tolliver. “The conservatory students are always so excited when the soloists perform, and the soloists appreciate the encouraging and supportive atmosphere.”

Read the entire press release, here.