Nashville, Tenn. (February 28, 2017) – The Nashville Symphony has announced the winners of the 2017 Curb Concerto Competition, one of the state’s top musical competitions, which annually distributes thousands of dollars in prize money to students between the ages of 14 and 18.

 

A dozen promising music students from across Tennessee participated in this year’s competition, with the winners being selected following adjudicated performances at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on February 25-26

 

Violinist Kaili Wang, an 11th grade student at Harpeth Hall School, earned top honors for her performance of the first movement from Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D Minor. A 2015 winner of the Curb Concerto Competition, Wang studies under Dr. Carolyn Huebl at Blair School of Music and has been a seven-year recipient of the Myra Jackson Blair scholarship.

 

The recipient of numerous awards and recognitions both in Tennessee and throughout the country, Wang currently serves as concertmistress of the Curb Youth Symphony and has previously been selected as concertmaster for the Mid-State and All-State orchestras of Tennessee. She recently returned from a service internship in Uganda, where she performed for an audience that included young people from orphanages and ministries.

 

As the 2017 Curb Concerto Competition Grand Prize winner, Wang will receive $2,500 and two full subscriptions to Nashville Symphony’s Aegis Sciences Classical Series. She will also appear as the featured soloist at the annual Side-by-Side Concert with the Curb Youth Symphony on May 17, where she will perform her winning selection.

 

First runner-up in the competition was awarded to violinist Maggie Kasinger, a 10th grade student from Springfield, who will receive $1,000 and two partial subscriptions to the Aegis Sciences Classical Series. Second runner-up honors were split between violinist Chloe Harvel and pianist Daniel Hosny, each of whom win $250 and a pair of Nashville Symphony concert tickets. Photos of all competition winners are available by request.

 

One of 20 Nashville Symphony education and community engagement programs that reach and engage more than 80,000 Middle Tennessee children and adults every year, the Curb Concerto Competition is a key component of the organization’s mission to promote and support young musicians statewide.

 

“Tennessee is home to some incredibly talented and promising young musicians who will help shape the future of classical music both here in Nashville and beyond,” said Nashville Symphony director of education and community engagement Walter Bitner. “The Curb Concerto Competition is a source of great pride for the Nashville Symphony, and on behalf of all of our musicians and staff, I congratulate this year’s winners and applaud all of the participants for their commitment and dedication.”

 

Ticket Information for Free Side-by-Side Concert
 

The Nashville Symphony’s Side-by-Side Concert annually showcases some of Middle Tennessee’s most gifted young music students performing alongside the GRAMMY® Award-winning Nashville Symphony. Directed by Nashville Symphony music director Giancarlo Guerrero, the concert will also feature Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. Admission to the concert on May 17 is free and open to the public, and tickets will be available in the Main Lobby of Schermerhorn Symphony Center starting at 5:30 p.m. on the evening of the performance. Click here for more information.