International Young Artist Concerto Competition - January 29-30, 2022
February 2nd, 2022
International Young Artist Concerto Competition
January 29 -30, 2022
Roosevelt University, Chicago Illinois
Esme Aria-Kim was named first-place winner of the International Young Artist Concerto Competition held in Ganz Hall at Roosevelt University on January 29 and 30. On Saturday, Esme was one of 16 semifinalists who had the experience of participating in the unique competition where all the contestants competed live, accompanied by a professional orchestra. Typically, students don’t have the opportunity to play with an orchestra until they win the competition. Esme was one of four finalists who played with the orchestra again on Sunday. She performed the first mvt of Korngold Concerto. Esme will have the opportunity to be on WFMT radio, as well as perform a solo recital at Steinway Hall in NY in 2023.
Almost 70 applicants from five countries and 13 states were in the preliminaries. The orchestra was made up of professionals in the Chicago area, and the judges for the semifinal and final round were distinguished artists Ilya Kaler (violin), Antonio Pompa-Baldi (piano), and Joshua Gersen (associate conductor NY Philharmonic).