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Concerto Competition

2007 Concerto Winner

2007 CONCERTO COMPETITION WINNER
Elaine R. Fitz Gibbon, 17, a junior at Davis Senior High is a member of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and principal cellist of the Davis High School Symphony Orchestra. She was formerly co-principal of the Sacramento Youth Symphony Premier Orchestra and a past member of the Folsom Lake Symphony Orchestra. Elaine won first prize in the American String Teachers Association Solo Competition, Sacramento Region Junior Division in 2005 and 2001 and went on to perform at the State Level in 2005 and 2006. For the past four years Elaine has performed recitals in the Sacramento Westminster Presbyterian Church, "Music at Noon" Concert series, both solo and with her sister, Lucy (on soprano and violin). In 2006, Elaine performed a solo at the "Jammies" hosted by the Sacramento News and Review and will appear in the March 30th, 2007 event at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. She also soloed in the SYS Premier Orchestra 2005 "Music of the Holocaust" concert at the Mondavi. Other venues include performances with the Chamber Music Society of Sacramento, ASTA/CAPMT recitals at the Crocker Art Museum, the St. John's Young Artists Recital, and the Sacramento Philharmonic League Young Artist Awards Recitals. In 2005 she was the chosen recipient of the Swift Fund for the Arts Scholarship for the SYS Premier Orchestra. She has also been awarded scholarships from the Icicle Creek Music Festival, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, the Sequoia Chamber Music Workshop, and the Sacramento Philharmonic League.

Elaine began her cello studies at the age of 5 with Susan MacDonald and has been a student of Julie Hochman since 1997. She currently receives additional coaching from Andy Luchansky through the CSUS ACE Program and with Jean-Michel Fonteneau in Berkeley. She has performed in numerous master classes of visiting Mondavi Center artists. Elaine has participated in the SYS summer and winter chamber music workshops, the Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute chamber and orchestra programs, as well as the Sequoia Chamber Music Sessions at Humboldt University. In 2003 she took part in the British American Chamber Music Exchange in Oxford and London, England and toured Brazil with the SYS Premier Orchestra. Elaine is a member of the California Scholarship Federation and the DSH German Club and is a teacher of beginning level cellists.

>> What is the DHS Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition?

- An annual music competition
- Open to all DHS students*
- Using any appropriate instrument

This DHS Symphony Orchestra event encourages DHS musicians to showcase their skills. The Concerto Competition is open to all DHS students, *except those who have won the competition in a previous year.

The concerto competition is an annual event to choose one student musician who will play a concerto with the Orchestra and will receive a $200 award. (Depending on the orchestra's performance schedule, the first runner-up might also have the opportunity to play his or her piece with the Orchestra.)

What music should be played for the competition?
The audition piece should be from a concerto that is appropriate for the DSHS orchestra. It is preferable that the audition piece not be longer than 15 minutes since there may be many competitors. Please feel free to talk to Mr. Moreno for guidance. **The musicians should provide their own accompanists and copies of the music for the judges to write on.

Who may compete?
The Competition is open to the entire DHS population. A musician who won this competition in a previous year may not compete again.

What instrument may competitors play?
The musician may compete on any appropriate instrument.

When is the competition & where is it held?
The competition is usually in February or March so that the Orchestra will have adequate time to practice the concerto before the performance. The competition takes place on the DSHS campus.

When does the winner perform with the Orchestra?
The winner will perform with the Orchestra at a public concert decided upon by the director. Performances in the past have been featured at the end of the year Pops Concert and the Wennberg Concert held at the Mondavi Center.

NOTE: For the 2006-07 school year, the concerto winner will perform at the Wennberg Concert in the Mondavi Center on Saturday, April 28.

Who will judge the competition?
The judge(s) will be a musician(s) who is very familiar with orchestral performance but does not know the competitors well.

Who will be the audience for the competition?
The competition will be open for an audience but it will not be advertised. Usually the audience is very small and is made up of a few parents, other competitors and friends.

How do I sign up for the Concerto Competition and what information do I need to provide?

Mr. Moreno has a sign up sheet. You need to provide the following:

  • The name of your piece, the movement and the composer
  • The approximate length of your piece
  • The instrument you will play
  • Whether two pianos will be needed

    • Every year, this competition displays a wide range of excellent musical talent by Davis students. Come and showcase your hard work with your favorite musical instrument!

    Angelo Moreno
    DHS Chamber & Symphony Orchestra Director
    Orchestra Boosters
    Web Site Coordinator

    This site is provided with the assistance of the Davis Community Network.