Can Newtown’s Youth Again Win Top Prizes?

Musicians Invited To Vie For Music Honors

RIDGEFIELD — Music students from Newtown and surrounding towns are being invited to compete in the fifth annual Music Performance Competition sponsored by Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra. Last year, oboist Jeff Reinhardt and pianist Jim He, both of whom live in Newtown, were the first and second place winners.

Every program must have a purpose to give it a strong foundation. With this belief in mind, Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra sponsors its Music Performance Competition to promote, encourage and reward emerging music students in the area of music performance.

Music students in grades six through twelve, who are studying the piano or an orchestral instrument in the winds, strings or brass sections, are invited to compete in one of these four categories for prizes and recognition among their peers and in the press. There will be cash prizes of $400, $300 and $150 for the first, second and third-prize winners. In addition, there may be a grand prize awarded. This prize, if awarded, will be given to a competitor who plays a movement of a concerto with orchestral accompaniment and will include a cash prize of $500. If a grand prize is awarded, the winner is given the opportunity to perform with the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra at the Family or Youth Concerts during the following season.

 This year’s competition will be held on Saturday, October 2, at the Cleves Auditorium in Veterans Park Elementary School in Ridgefield.

To be eligible to enter, applicants must be nominated by their music teachers, with the approval of their parents. The judging at this event is by professional musicians in the four categories of strings, winds, piano and brass.

A “Winners Recital and Awards Presentation” for the winners of the 2004 Music Performance Competition will be held on Sunday, October 24, at 4 pm, again at Veterans Park Elementary School.

Deadline for 2004 applications is August 23. Applicants are limited to the first 25 qualified entries received.

Since its inception four years ago the event has promoted keen competition among gifted students throughout the county. The competition provides an opportunity for young musicians to showcase their talents before a professional panel of judges, and again during a public recital held in the fall.

Forms are available from the RSO website, www.RidgefieldSymphony.org, or by calling 203-438-3889. Applications can be mailed to RSO, PO Box 289, Ridgefield CT 06877.

“The competitors in the past have been astonishing,” said Rachel Cuffari, who directs the event for RSO. “They have given high quality and outstanding performances. We expect this year’s participants to be equally skilled.”