The Lone Star Wind Orchestra (LSWO) is excited to announce the winner and finalists of the 2014 LSWO Youth Winds Concerto Competition. All the applicants exuded musical excellence and professionalism, impressing the judge’s panel. On February 23rd, over 15 Youth Winds musicians participated in the concerto competition, of which, the judges chose three finalists and a winner.
The finalists are Nathan Salazar, alto saxophonist from McKinney High School, Christopher Liu, clarinetist from Plano West High School, and Sara Rae Sonom, bassoonist from J.J. Pearce High School.
The winner of the 2014 LSWO Youth Winds Concerto Competition is saxophonist Nathan Salazar. He will perform “Giration” from Henri Tomasi’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone with the LSWO Youth Winds on May 11, 2014 at the Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson.
Nathan Salazar is a sophomore at McKinney High School (MHS) and is the son of Alan and Julie Salazar of McKinney, Texas. He receives private music lessons from SMU Professor Donald Fabian of Plano, Texas. He is a two season member of the LSWO Youth Winds, two year member of MHS Symphonic Wind Ensemble, placed 4th at 2014 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) 5A Area C Band High School auditions, first chair at 2013 TMEA 5A All-Region 25 Band High School auditions, fifth chair at 2012 TMEA 5A All-Region 25 Band High School auditions, and twice 2nd Chair at the TMEA All-Region 25 Band Middle School auditions. He was runner up in the 2013 LSWO Youth Wind Concerto Competition, 2013 McKinney Independent School District (MISD) Concerto Contest Champion, and Honorable Mention in the 2012 Collin County Young Artist Competition, Junior Division Winds. He has received four Outstanding Solo Performance Awards, five MISD Solo Contests 1 Ratings and five MISD Ensemble Contest 1 Ratings, and was the recipient of the 2011 Evans Middle School Band Overall Outstanding Band Member Award. He is enrolled in the MISD Gifted and Talented program and has been employed as a soccer referee the last four years. When not practicing his alto, tenor, and soprano saxes 2 to 3 hours a day, he enjoys listening to classical music, going to musicals and plays, watching movies, reading books, and hanging out with family and friends. Nathan plans on attending Southern Methodist University as a double major in Music Performance and Applied Mathematics.
Along with his concerto performance, Nathan Salazar will receive a $500 scholarship. First runner-up Christopher Liu (senior from Plano West) will receive a $250 scholarship, and honorable mention Sara Rae Sonom (senior from Pearce) will receive a $100 scholarship. All three finalists have participated for multiple years in the LSWO Youth Winds.
The Lone Star Wind Orchestra congratulates the finalists and commends all the applicants of the 2014 LSWO Youth Winds Concerto Competition for their participation and performance.
Article written by Christopher Tucker