YAC Past Winners

The Young Artist Competition - 2011 Winners

The Peter E. Tannenwald Awards, named in memory of one the Young Artist Competition's foremost supporters, consist of First prize, now $1000 and a solo appearance with either the Philharmonic Orchestra or the Chorale during the following concert season, and Second and Third Prizes of $650 and $350 respectively.

The Leonard D. Wood Awards, named in honor of Maestro Wood who conducted the Orchestra for many years, are intended to reward excellence in our younger contestants and to encourage them to continue to compete. It is awarded to a contestant who is 18 years of age or younger. The Wood Awards are $500 for First Place, $350 for Second Place and $150 for Third Place.

The Penelope Davis Hart Honorable Mentions are awarded at the discretion of the judges.

The 2011 competition took place on April 23rd. The prize winners in the overall competition are:

Peter E.Tannenwald Awards

Inesa Gegprifti

1st Place: $1000 Performance Award
INESA GEGPRIFTI Pianist Inesa Gegprifti was born in Tirana, Albania, starting piano lessons at the age 6. Inesa has been among the top prize winners in such international competitions as The Piano and Chamber Music Honors Competition at the Boston Conservatory, Boston U.S.A., “Paolo Spinchich” International Competition, “Nuovi Orizzonti” International Chamber Music Competition in Italy, “Bitola Interfest” in Macedonia, “Young Musicians International Competition” in Kosovo, “Kenget e Tokes”, EPTA International in Albania. In 2050, Inesa toured as soloist and chamber musician with young musicians in Kosovo and Macedonia. During May and June 2010, she toured with Lithuanian violinist Egle Jarkova (Duo Aelia) in Italy and Slovenia.

In 2006, Inesa was awarded a full scholarship to the United World College of the Adriatic and “Scuola Superiore Internazionale di Musica da Camera del Trio di Trieste” in Trieste, Italy supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Davis Association. This led to chamber music and solo classes by the renowned Maestri of Trio di Trieste. In 2008 she received a full scholarship to the Boston Conservatory supported by the Davis Association pursuing her Bachelor Degree in Piano Performance in the studio of Mr. Max Levinson. For 2010-2011, she was awarded the Dr. Hans and Ricardo Lewitus scholarship. , piano

2nd Place: $650 AI-YING CHIU, piano

3rd Place TIE: (2 prizes of $350 each)
JULIANA CHALSEN, piano
STEVE KIM, piano

Leonard D. Wood Awards

Ilana Zaks

1st Place: $500
ILANA ZAKSIlana Zaks, 11 years old from Needham, MA began studying violin at the age of three and a half with her mother, Anna Korsunsky. Currently she is a student of Professor Donald Weilerstein.

At the age of six, Ilana made her first appearance with the chamber orchestra. In April of 2011 she received the First Prize in the Leonard Wood Award of the YAC from the Philharmonic Society of Arlington. Also she is a First Prize winner of 2011 James R. Powers concerto competition of the Boston Civic Orchestra and the finalist of the Feinberg Competition of the Brockton Symphony. Ilana is the First Prize winner of the “Young Promise” International Competition and the Bay State Contest. Ilana, an enthusiastic recitalist, is a passionate chamber music player. She has participated in the International Chamber Music Festival at the St. Marks School. , violin

2nd Place: $350 ZLATOMIR FUNG (12), cello

3rd Place TIE (2 prizes of $150 each):
JACLYN FRESHMAN (17), violin
ALEX KINMOUTH (17), oboe / B. Kim (16), violin - double concerto