This year, Utah Baroque Ensemble’s 16th Annual Levente Medveczky Student Scholarship Competition was held on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th) at 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.
Performers for this year’s concert were selected from video auditions. Seven finalists were chosen: Esther Crossley (piano), Tessa Knotts (piano), Kate Ko (piano), Emily Rigby (violin), Laura Roberts (bassoon), Matthew Semper (piano), and Cohen Young (piano).
This year’s participants (l to r) Kate Ko (piano), Matthew Semper (piano), Esther Crossley (piano), Cohen Young (piano – Grand Prize Winner), Tessa Knotts (piano), Laura Roberts (bassoon), Emily Rigby (violin), Emerson Amonett (piano – exhibition performance)
UBE Director Martha Sargent and Alexander Woods, founder of BYU Baroque Ensemble, adjudicated the performances, all of which were superb! While the judges retired to discuss their decision, the audience was treated to an engaging “exhibition performance” by pianist Emerson Amonett (who, as an eighth grader, was not yet old enough to join the competition).
This year’s grand prize winner was pianist Cohen Young, a student of Sharalynn Heath.
Cohen Young performs Corrente from Partita No. 6 by JS Bach
Cohen’s confident performance of Corrente from Partita No. 6 by Johann Sebastian Bach was truly captivating. He will repeat his performance as part of UBE’s spring concert, to be held at 7:30 pm on Sunday, April 13th, at the meetinghouse at 481 E. Center St. in Orem.
Laura Roberts also received a special recognition award for her excellent performance of Bassoon Sonata #5 Movements 3-4, by Johann Ernst Galliard.
Congratulations to Cohen, Laura, and to all of the wonderful performers this year!