March 30, 2004 – Two award-winning ensembles of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra will present a program of chamber music on Sunday afternoon at the Whim Greathouse.
Presented by the St. Croix Landmarks Society, the two groups of Chicago-area high school students — Pandora's Trio and the Praxis piano quartet — finished in first and second place, respectively, in the 2003 Rembrandt Chamber Music Competition.
The ensembles are merit-based honors chamber groups of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Founded in 1946 as a single orchestra, CYSO today encompasses "a diverse family of music programs that provide opportunities to young musicians at every level," the orchestra's Web site states.
"Each musician has an impressive musical resume and a great love of chamber music, as well as a history of chamber music participation," according to the site.
Pandora's Trio comprises Tim Sawyier on oboe, Hanah Stuart on viola and Kevin Chang on piano.
Tim Sawyier is a long-time member of CYSO. In 2003 he placed second at the Music Teacher's Association National Woodwind Finals, was named a winner at the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra's Young Artists Competition, and won first prize at the University of Iowa's "Octoboefest" High School Oboe Soloists Competition.
Stuart attended Brevard Music Center last summer and was featured with renowned violinist Sarah Chang on the Public Radio International program "From the Top." Recently she received honorable mention in the senior open division of the Midwest Young Artists Walgreen's Concerto Competition.
Chang has won numerous prizes including second place in the Society of American Musicians Piano Competition. He performed on March 7 for the Young Steinway Concert Series at Skokie Public Library's Petty Auditorium.
The Praxis quartet consists of violinist Sharon Chang, violist Anna Solomon, cellist Abraham Feder and pianist Stephanie Wu. All are high school seniors planning to continue their music studies in college, and each has taken part in prestigious summer music programs including those at Aspen and Interlochen.
Individually they have all received top honors in area competitions including the Chicago Viola Society Division I and II contests, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Feinberg Competition, and the Society of American Musicians Competition.
Praxis was a quarter finalist in the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition last season and performed live last fall on classical radio station WFMT's "Impromptu" program. Recently Praxis was invited to perform on PRI's popular radio program "From the Top."
Sunday's program is from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 for general admission and $30 for Landmarks Society members.
The presentation is sponsored by the Prosser ICC Foundation.
For reservations, call 772-0598.
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