Violinist Alette Williams, 15, receives the first prize of $5,000 and a concert engagement with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) has announced the results of its 23rd annual Lynn Harrell Concerto Competition, which took place on 19 April at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, TX, US.
The first prize was awarded to violinist Alette Williams, 15, who performed Vieuxtemps’s Violin Concerto No. 5. She receives $5,000 and the opportunity to perform the work in a future engagement with the DSO. The $3,500 second prize was won by pianist Andrew Petrescu, 15, playing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and the $2,000 third prize by cellist Sophie Deng, 18, playing Kabalevsky’s Cello Concerto No. 2.
Cellist Jin Han, 18, received an honourable mention and $500 for his performance of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto. Cellist Ryan Nam, 14, double bassist Tae Han, 18, and violinist Elim Wong, 14, each received a $250 cash prize as finalists.
Williams studies with Julia Bushkova at the University of North Texas and is currently the assistant concertmaster of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra (GDYO). She previously won first prize in the 2024 GDYO Concerto Competition, the 2024 TexASTA Concerto Competition, and the 2020 Boston Youth Symphony Repertory Orchestra Concerto Competition. In 2023, she also received second prize in the Collin County Young Artist Competition and an honourable mention in the Sphinx Competition.
The Lynn Harrell Concerto Competition was founded by Harrell in 2001 to encourage musical talent in the South Central United States. It is open to students aged 8–18 that attend school in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, or New Mexico. This year’s jury comprised Jenna Barghouti, Anastasia Markina, Shira Samuels-Shragg, and Nan Zhang.
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