Norwalk Youth Symphony Announces Winners of Concerto Competition

Norwalk CT

23 June, 2021

12:43 PM

Description

New Canaan, Westport young musicians win of Norwalk Youth Symphony concerto competition The Norwalk Youth Symphony (NYS) recently named two of its senior musicians, one from New Canaan and the other from Westport, as this year’s winners of its annual concerto competition. The prestigious competition is conducted annually with winners chosen by a team of judges. Noah Dorfsman, a 2021 honor roll graduate of New Canaan High School, and Sophia Lauterbach, an honors graduate from Staples High School, were winners in this year’s competition. Dorfsman, a cellist, performed Schelomo: Rhapsodie Hebraique by Ernest Bloch, while Lauterbach, a flutist, performed Fantasie, Opus 79, by French composer Gabriel Fauré. “Hearing both of these fine young students play their selections with such mastery of technical skill and musicianship was truly gratifying,” said Jonathan Yates, NYS music director and conductor of the Principal Orchestra. “The music they performed challenges even established orchestral musicians.” Yates, along with Janet Rosen, Norwalk Symphony Musician, served as judges in the annual competition. Now in its 65th year, NYS is recognized as the region’s premier youth orchestra, dedicated to enriching the lives of young people by providing the finest training, practice and performance opportunities so students can learn, share and enjoy the power of music. While the majority of the students sign up for NYS for the sheer enjoyment of playing great music with friends, numerous NYS graduates have enrolled in prestigious conservatories, such as Juilliard, Eastman School of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, Berklee College of Music, Hartt College of Music and the New England Conservatory, said Sara Watkins, NYS executive director. In addition to the concerto competition, Dorfsman was recently honored as the recipient of the Ramer Memorial Award, a scholarship presented in recognition of his leadership, preparation and commitment as a member of NYS. The annual award is chosen by fellow members of the orchestra’s graduating class and was presented at the spring concert earlier this month. A member of the Norwalk Youth Symphony for 10 years, Dorfsman was its principal cellist for the NYS principal orchestra. He is the son of Beth and Michael Dorfsman. As a musician in the New Canaan High School orchestra, Dorfsman also received the Leonard Bernstein Award for Orchestral Excellence. He will be attending the University of Miami this fall, majoring in economics and minoring in music. Lauterbach is the daughter of Carine and Michael Lauterbach. She has been a member of NYS for 7 years, beginning with the Phil Winds Ensemble. She has also been selected to perform with the Connecticut Music Educators Association All-State Orchestra. She will be attending Tufts University in the fall. Already preparing for the 2021-2022 season, NYS expects to enroll 200 musicians in its various orchestral ensembles, providing student musicians in the fourth grade through high school with the opportunity to learn, experience and perform classical music while they form lasting friendships with children from throughout the Fairfield, New Haven and Westchester counties. In their weekly rehearsals, they are led by a staff of highly trained conductors and teachers who nurture a love for the music in the young players. For beginning and younger musicians, NYS offers orchestra opportunities in its Prelude orchestra, and its Philharmonia Strings and Winds ensembles. Brass musicians are also offered the opportunity to play in brass ensembles and last year, NYS began providing coaching and performance opportunities for small chamber ensembles. For further information about registering to audition for NYS, go to Norwalkyouthsymphony.org. Its Email address is: [email protected].