POUGHKEEPSIE- The prestigious Philadelphia International Music Festival awarded over $20,000 in scholarships and performance opportunities to nine young musicians who took the top spots in PIMF’s semi-annual Online Concerto Competition.
The Grand Prize Winner is 11-year-old oboist Ella Xu of Poughkeepsie, NY, who won a full scholarship to PIMF’s intensive classical music training program, and a featured performance on PIMF’s YouTube Channel. She’ll also take the stage next spring in the PIMF Winners Circle Concert with several members of The Philadelphia Orchestra. The Arthur S. May Elementary School 5th grader competed with Alessandro Marcello’s Oboe Concerto in D Minor, S D935.
“It’s the one that made me fall in love with the oboe!” Ella says. “When I was very young, I came across this concerto on a CD. The oboe’s sound grabbed my attention, and I was so excited that I went straight to my parents and asked if I could try to play this instrument.
“The second movement of this concerto is a deeply emotional adagio. It’s been used in many movies and played very often in concerts too. It’s a part that best shows the expressive singing qualities of the oboe.”
Ella began piano studies 5 years ago and added oboe only three and a half years ago. Her teacher is Allison Rubin. “Music is like a huge part of me, it’s who I am!” Ella explains. “Music makes me feel happy, understood, and alive.”
Musicians in four age groups from 6 to 19 years of age submitted videos for PIMF’s competition from all over the world.
Adjudicators include Marc Rovetti, Assistant Concertmaster, The Philadelphia Orchestra; John Koen, Cello, The Philadelphia Orchestra; Ernesto Tovar Torres, Horn, The Philadelphia Orchestra; and Yuxi Wang, director of Keyboard Studies at The Curtis Institute.
Ella will be attending the Philadelphia International Music Camp and Festival on her scholarship next summer. Young musicians interested in working with principal players and other members of the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra in June and July may still find a summer music home at PIMF this year – there are openings for select instruments with some scholarships still available.
Chat online for additional information at: pimf.org or phone at 856-875-6816. Interested
musicians may also email Operations Director Jacob Heil for additional information: jacob.heil@pimf.org.
