Huntington University holds Concerto Competition
FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, November 1, 2005
Huntington, Ind. "The Huntington University Department of Music held its sixth annual Concerto Competition on Thursday, October 20, 2005, in the Zurcher Auditorium of the Merillat Centre for the Arts. Kara Judy
Winners in the college division were vocalists Kara Judy, a sophomore contemporary church music major from Princeton, Ind., and Rusty Eshleman, a senior contemporary church music major from St. Thomas, Pa. Both study under Dr. John Thompson, assistant professor of applied voice & opera workshop.
Also winners were pianists Mark Stonitsch, a freshman mathematics major from Minooka, Ill., and Jolene Gipe, a senior music performance major from Columbia City, Ind. Gipe and Stonitsch study with Dr. Patricia Spedden, director of piano studies.
Rusty Eshleman
The high school division winner was Victor Mormon, a student of Anny Chiu, owner and master teacher at Ascendo Studios in Fort Wayne, Ind. The junior division winner was William Dennis from Kendallville, Ind., a student of violinist Carla Trynchuk at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Mich.
Winners will perform with the Huntington University Orchestra and guest instrumentalists on Friday, April 21, 2006, at 7:30 p.m. in the Merillat Centre for the Arts at Huntington University.
Jolene Gipe
The event was adjudicated by three distinguished judges. Alexander Klepach graduated with honors from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory in 1986 where he earned his Doctorate of Music in Piano Performance. He has performed throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States as a soloist and recitalist with his wife, Olga Yurkova. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1998, and is currently the principal pianist of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic.
Jori Jennings completed her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Voice Performance and Literature at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A mezzo-soprano, she made her Carnegie Hall debut in March, 2002, and has performed extensively in Illinois. She is a professor of music at Moody Bible Institute where she teaches applied voice and opera workshop.
Robyn Jones is currently principal clarinetist of the Louisiana Philharmonic in New Orleans. She has also performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in music performance from Indiana University and Florida State University, respectively, and is a doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota.
