GREENSBORO, N.C. (July 17, 2024) – Eastern Music Festival (EMF), a summer educational program and renowned music festival hosts an annual concerto competition for Young Artists. Participants select solo pieces with orchestral accompaniment, lasting up to 18 minutes. The Concerto Competition Finale, featuring memorized standard solo repertoire, is held on the last Thursday of the season. This event allows students to perform with a full symphony orchestra, showcasing their summer development.
EMF proudly announces the seven winners of the 2024 Concerto Competition. Nearly 100 students competed from a pool of over 260. The winners will perform their concertos on Thursday, July 25, at 8 p.m. in Dana Auditorium at Guilford College.
Giah Bush, a 19-year-old violinist from West Park, FL, completed her bachelor’s at 17 from Florida International University, where she was co-concertmaster of the FIU Symphony Orchestra. She has performed with renowned artists like Joshua Bell and Amernet String Quartet. Currently, she is pursuing a Master’s at Lynn Conservatory and will perform Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, op. 61 (mvt. I).
Sarah Darragh, a clarinetist from Toronto, Canada, graduated from the University of Toronto and was a member of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. She has played in masterclasses with numerous esteemed clarinetists and will pursue a Graduate Diploma at McGill University. She will perform Debussy’s Première Rapsodie.
Taylor Esbenshade, a bass trombonist from Asheville, NC, is in his fourth year at The Peabody Institute, studying under Randy Campora and David Murray. He has been active in both classical and jazz programs. He will perform Ewazen’s Concerto for Bass Trombone (mvt. I).
Jayon Felizarta, a violinist from UNCG, has won numerous competitions and is the concertmaster of the UNCG University Symphony Orchestra. He has been involved with the local musical community since youth. He will perform Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D major, op. 77 (mvt. I).
Gahyun Kim, a pianist from South Korea, earned her bachelor’s at Seoul National University and her Master’s at Peabody Institute. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate at Frost School of Music. She will perform Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, op. 18 (mvt. III).
Carter Reynolds, a flutist from Naperville, IL, is a third-year undergraduate at the University of North Texas, double majoring in flute performance and music education. He has participated in prestigious masterclasses and competitions. He will perform Martin’s Ballade.
Xiao Kaiwei, a pianist from China, studied at the Central Music School of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory and is now at the Manhattan School of Music. He has won top prizes in several international piano competitions. He will perform Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S. 125.
The Concerto Competition performance is a highlight of the EMF season, conducted by Grant Cooper and José-Luis Novo.