Over the weekend a musical event with big repercussions was held with several young musicians. You may remember Youth Orchestra’s of San Antonio—YOSA—was holding a competition.
“On Saturday afternoon we had the YOSA Concerto Competition at St. David’s Episcopal Church.”
Troy Peters is YOSA’s Music Director.
“Ten musicians from the YOSA Philharmonic played—a really great group of students.”
Judging was done by Peters and two of the San Antonio Symphony’s standouts.
“We had the Associate Conductor Akiko Fujimoto and Concert Master Eric Gratz. And at the end of the day, we chose a winner: Chris Gokelman is going to be playing the First Movement of the William Walton Viola Concerto with the San Antonio Symphony in January, which is a 20th Century masterpiece for the Viola; it really shows off this dark, expressive instrument. And he’ll play the same piece when he stands up in front of the Antonio Symphony.”
I wondered what was Gokelman's reaction to winning.
“I know Chris is looking forward to this chance. Not only to be a soloist, but to work with San Antonio’s professional musicians. For anybody as a musician the first time you get to be a soloist is scary, and exciting. But to do that with a top level orchestra is a meaningful and powerful opportunity.”
We’ve more on YOSA here.