The Las Vegas Philharmonic and Cox Communications presented checks to the the winner and runner-up of the 2015 Cox Communications Young Artists’ Concerto Competition on March 5 before a concert at Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center.
The competition took place Oct. 3 at the College of Southern Nevada, Cheyenne Campus. The panel of judges selected violinist Kelsea Breanne Au as winner and violinist Erika Dalton as runner-up.
Au received a cash prize of $2,000 and had the opportunity to perform as soloist in all 10 performances of the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s Youth Concert Series in November 2015 and January 2016. Dalton received a cash prize of $1,000 to use towards her music education.
Au is 16 years old and is a junior at Green Valley High School. A native Las Vegan, Au has been playing violin for 11 years and currently studies under Yuri Cho. She was awarded a scholarship to participate in the seven week Chautauqua Music Festival and has performed as soloist with the Ottawa Chamber Symphony and as concertmaster for the Honor Orchestra and Nevada All-State Orchestra. Au plans to use the prize money toward performing in a summer music festival.
Dalton is 15 years old and attends Nevada Virtual Academy. She has played violin for 11 years and currently studies under Las Vegas Philharmonic Concertmaster De Ann Letourneau. Dalton has won several competitions including last year’s concerto competition, the American Protégé International and the ENKOR International. Dalton’s goal is to attend a top music conservatory on full scholarship. She plans to use the prize money toward Meadowmount Music Camp to study with Sally Thomas in the summer of 2016.