Rochester Philharmonic League Announces Young Artists Audition Winners

Rochester, NY – The Rochester Philharmonic League has announced the winners of its March 17 Young Artists Auditions, and the top prize (the Special Award) goes to marimba player Michael Sparhuber, a senior at Brockport High School.  In addition, Sparhuber also won the Instrumental Award and the Instrumental Scholarship. 

Mr. Sparhuber, a private student of Eastman’s Ruth Cahn as well as Brockport High School Band Director Shawn Halquist, was chosen during a separate audition of the five first-place winners of the category awards.  As a result, he will be auditioning for one of the RPO conductors for a chance to perform with the RPO at a future date.  (A digital photo of Sparhuber is available on request.)

Five cash awards of $500 are given to the top prize-winners in each category.  Two $1000 scholarships also are presented to high school seniors who plan to major in music at an accredited college or university in the upcoming 2007-08 academic year.  The category award winners and their schools are:

• ALBRIGHT AWARD (Strings): violinist Eliot Heaton; Geneva High School junior
• ALLEN AWARD (Male Vocal): tenor Aaron Sperber; Pittsford Sutherland High School senior
• DEVERIAN AWARD (Female Vocal): Elizabeth Ruff; Brighton High School senior
• GREER AWARD (Instrumental): Michael Sparhuber
• NESS AWARD (Piano): Daisy Chei; Brighton High School senior
• JAN DeGAETANI SCHOLARSHIP (Vocal): baritone Tobias Greenhalgh; Greece Athena High School senior
• ALDRIDGE-TINKER SCHOLARSHIP (Instrumental): Michael Sparhuber

The RPL also congratulates the category runners-up: violinist William Cho, bass Christopher Adams, soprano Brittany Mruczek, saxophonist Karl Stabnau and pianist Benjamin Hopkins.

The student performers auditioned for a variety of judges including RPO players, Eastman School of Music faculty members and Eastman Community Music School teachers as well as professional teachers from the Rochester area.  The RPL has supported the RPO for more than 75 years.  Today, League members support many activities including RPO educational and outreach programs.