Utah Baroque Ensemble is pleased to invite you to our Levente Medvecsky Student Scholarship Competition! This year’s event will be held on Monday, March 17th at 7:00 pm in the Orem Library’s Library Hall. Seven exceptional young musicians will be competing for a $500 scholarship prize:
Tessa Knotts (piano)
Tessa, age 15, has been studying with Daniel Olsen since she was 5. She has played in many festivals. Most recently she was invited to play in the 2024 UMTA honors recital as well as the 2024 Encore honors duet recital. She has loved learning and growing in her musical journey. She enjoys being a percussionist for her high school band, as well as running track and playing ultimate frisbee.
Cohen Young (piano)
Cohen, age 18, attends Spanish Fork High School where he enjoys pursuing his academic interests in astronomy and mathematics. He accompanies his school choir for concerts and festivals. Cohen has been studying with Sharalynn Heath since 2022, and began playing piano at age 6. He will be attending the University of Utah this fall to earn a Physics degree.
Laura Roberts (bassoon)
Laura, age 15, has been playing the bassoon for three years. She has been surrounded by music her entire life thanks to her dad. When she’s not rehearsing or practicing, she enjoys keeping up with her classes, painting, and jigsaw puzzles. Laura is currently a member of the Lyceum Philharmonic Orchestra at American Heritage School and has performed with some of Utah’s top All-State ensembles for the past three years. She would like to thank her family for driving her to all the rehearsals and lessons. She would also like to thank her bassoon teacher, Jessi Vandagriff, for her dedication, time, and support as a friend and role model. Laura looks forward to continuing her musical career and seeing how far it can take her.
Esther Crossley (piano)
Esther, age 17, has been passionate about the piano since she began playing at the age of 7. She is currently studying under Dr. Christie Sowby, NCTM, and aspires to major in piano performance in college. In addition to honing her own skills, Esther runs a thriving music studio where she teaches 13 piano students. She loves competing in piano competitions and pushing herself to grow as a musician. Beyond the piano, Esther also plays the violin, loves to sing, and is an active member of two choirs. When she’s not making music, she enjoys playing spikeball or basketball with her brothers and sister and unwinding with watercolor painting.
Matthew Semper (piano)
Matthew, age 15, could sing before he could talk. His musical foundation was laid through Let’s Play Music, and he was studying piano privately by age 6. Matthew was a winner of the 2021 Utah Valley Symphony Concerto competition, and has been recognized twice as a junior competitor in previous years of the Levente Medveczky Student Scholarship Competition. As a homeschool student, he enjoys engineering, math, reading, games with friends and lots of piano playing. He accompanies a children’s choir in Sanpete County, and takes care of the chickens and pigs on their family property.
Emily Rigby (violin)
Emily, age 17, has been playing violin since she was 4. She is number 5 of 10 children who all play string instruments. She loves to sing and play with her family in church and concerts. Emily is a part of the Young Community Artists program at the Gifted Music School and enjoys working with the friends she’s made. She looks up most to her mom and dad, older siblings, and teacher for pushing and encouraging her to be the best version of herself.
Kate Ko (piano)
Kate, age 17, has loved piano since she started at 5 and has since grown so much under the direction of Maria Heward for the past 5 years. With piano, she has enjoyed accompanying her school orchestra and soloists as well as performing in the Encore Piano Festival. Although piano is her favorite, she also learned violin for 7 years, participating in both school and Lyceum orchestras, and has been serving as a ward organist for one. As a senior at Lone Peak High School, she is always eager to learn and is currently preparing herself for college. Outside of school and music, she enjoys playing video games, baking, and rock climbing with her friends.
Emerson Amonett (piano – exhibition performance)
Although–as an eight grader–Emerson Amonett (piano), is not yet eligible for the competition itself, he will favor the audience with a performance while the adjudicators are deliberating. Emerson, age 14, is the middle son of Thaus and Erika Amonett. He began studying piano under the leadership of Connie Manwaring in the fall of 2021 at the age of 10. In addition to piano, Emerson also studies the organ and saxophone. He was a scholarship recipient of the 2024 UVS Piano Solo Festival – Honor’s Competition. His favorite composer is Chopin. Beyond music, Emerson enjoys playing golf and fishing at Deer Creek with his grandpa. He plans to join the SFHS golf team this coming fall.
Come and support these outstanding young people in their solo performances!
Utah Baroque Ensemble’s 15th Annual Levente Medveczky Student Scholarship Competition was held on March 18th at 7:30 pm in Orem Public Library’s “Library Hall.” The event is open to instrumental artists from Grades 9-12 who are either residents of Utah County or are studying with a music teacher from the county. It is named in honor of Levente Medveczky, who served as organist for UBE prior to his untimely death in 2019.
Finalists who performed in this year’s concert were selected from video auditions. Seven were chosen, including Eva Harmon (violin), Fiona Jiang (piano), Luke Kelley (flute), Annie Poulsen (piano), Dawson Rasmussen (piano), Elizabeth Ricks (piano), and Clara Wadsworth (viola).
What a difficult task for UBE Director Martha Sargent and Alexander Woods, founder of BYU Baroque Ensemble, to adjudicate and select a winner. Every performance was outstanding! While the judges retired to discuss their decision, the audience was treated to a superb “exhibition performance” by bassoonist Laura Roberts (who, as an eighth grader, was not yet old enough to join the competition).
In the end, Clara Wadsworth, a student of Dr. Claudine Bigelow, was selected as winner of a $500 scholarship for her performance of the Allemande movement from J.S. Bach’s Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor (transcribed for viola). Clara will repeat her performance as part of UBE’s spring concert, to be held at 7:30 pm on Sunday, April 14th, at the meetinghouse at 481 E. Center St. in Orem. Congratulations to Clara and to all of the wonderful performers this year!
Utah Baroque Ensemble is pleased to invite you to our Levente Medvecsky Student Scholarship Competition! This year’s event will be held on Monday, March 18th at 7:00 pm in the Orem Library’s Library Hall. Seven exceptional young musicians will be competing for a $500 scholarship prize: Eva Harmon (Violin), Fiona Jiang (Piano), Luke Kelley (Flute), Annie Poulsen (Piano), Dawson Rasmussen (Piano), Elizabeth Ricks (Piano), and Clara Wadsworth (Viola).
Come and support these outstanding young people in their solo performances!
Utah Baroque Ensemble is looking for talented singers to join our group. Come give us a try! We will be holding an “Open House” rehearsal on August 29 from 7:30-9:30. Come sing with us and then if you feel we’re a good match, return for an audition the following week (September 5) at 7:00 pm.
Location:
Grandview Chapel
1081 West 1060 North
Provo, Utah
You are invited by the Utah Baroque Ensemble to come to their Levente Medveczky Student Scholarship Competition this Thursday, March 30th at 7:00 in the Orem Library’s Library Hall. These eight fine musicians will be competing for a $500 scholarship prize: Fiona Jiang, Elizabeth Ricks, Lina-Sophie Heideker, Nicole Clinger, Allison and Sarah Whitt, Kiersten Robinson, and Kelsey Berges.
Come and support these outstanding young women.
Joins us for our Easter Concerts this Spring.
7:30PM-SUNDAY, APRIL 16
481 E CENTER, OREM
7:30PM-SUNDAY, APRIL 23
1081 W 1060 N, PROVO
7:30PM-SATURDAY, MAY 6
ASSEMBLY HALL AT TEMPLE SQUARE, SALT LAKE CITY