Category: Competition

2023 Finalists in the Frances Walton Competition Announced Today

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SEATTLE, Washington, April 17, 2023 (9am PST) – The Frances Walton Competition, presented by the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle, announced today its finalist cohort for the 2023 competition.

Applications were open to Classical musicians ages 20-35 from across the United States, who could apply as soloists or in Small Ensembles of two to four musicians. Applications opened on November 1, 2022 and closed on March 1, 2023. This is the second year the Frances Walton Competition has been open to musicians from all U.S. states and territories since its relaunch in the 2021-2022 season.

Finalists compete in Seattle for two Solo Winner and one Small Ensemble Winner titles on Saturday, June 3rd, 2023 from 9am to 5:30pm at University Congregational United Church of Christ (4515 16th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105). Winners are announced at a short ceremony at 6:30pm that evening. The winners perform a concert the following day at 2pm, followed by a reception. 

Information about the Competition and the Finals Weekend June 3-4, 2023 is found at LMCSeattle.org/competition. All finals weekend events are FREE and open to the public with no tickets required. For inquiries, please contact awards@lmcseattle.org.

Solo Finalists  
Steven Baloue, Viola Chicago, Illinois
Hannah Chou, Violin Fremont, California
Forrest Howell, Piano Lafayette, Colorado
Zhengyi Huang, Piano Ann Arbor, Michigan
Yvette Kraft, Violin Spokane, Washington
Ho Yin Li, French Horn Boston, Massachusetts
Jonathan Mamora, Piano Rochester, New York
Melissa McCann, Soprano Bismarck, North Dakota
Hunter O’Brien, Flute Houston, Texas
Kara Poling, Oboe New York, New York
Gracie Potter, Trombone Surprise, Arizona
Madeline Ross, Soprano Portland, Oregon
Jose Uzcategui, Marimba Dallas, Texas
Christoph Wagner, Cello Houston, Texas
Calvin Wong, Saxophone Tempe, Arizona

 

Small Ensemble Finalists:  

Aero Quartet (Ann Arbor, MI; Madison, WI; Santa Clarita, CA)

 Salvador Flores, Soprano Saxophone; Walt Puyear, Alto Saxophone; Matthew Koester, Tenor Saxophone; Brian Kachur, Baritone Saxophone

Kodak Quartet (New York, NY) 

 Edgar Donati, Violin; Martin Noh, Violin; Daniel Spink, Viola; Blake Kitayama, Cello
Phoenix Winds (Pullman, WA) Anthony Kandilaroff, Flute; Jake Berreth, Flute; Kevin Melendez, Flute

New Concert Dates Announced – 2019 Frances Walton Winners

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Diana Yusupov, cello

In September, audiences will have the chance to enjoy several more FREE concerts held in venues located in various parts of Washington State. The programs feature solo and ensemble competition winners of the 2019 Frances Walton Competition, sponsored by the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle. Bring the whole family and inspire your young, budding musicians!

Solo pianist Yukino Miyake and solo cellist Diana Yusupov will display the extraordinary musical skills that helped them win this prestigious competition in concerts that will take place in Raymond, Sekiu, and one more venue, TBA. They will be joined by collaborative pianist Evangeliya Delizonas-Khukhua.

Yukino Miyake, piano

2:00 P.M., SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2019
Raymond Theatre
323 Third Street, Raymond, WA

7:45 P.M., SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2018
Sekiu Center
42 Rice St., Sekiu, WA

Third concert TBA

Audiences will also have three opportunities to hear first-class chamber music by the 2019 ensemble winners, the virtuosic Golden Bear Trio, formed in 2018. The members are not only accomplished chamber musicians and soloists, but also fellow students at UC Berkeley. Their studies include music, molecular and cell biology, architecture, and statistics. The trio is coached by Leighton Fong.  Jolie Huang (piano) is working on BA degrees in science and music.  Billy Fang (violin) has a BA in math from Princeton and is working on a PhD in Statistics.  Emiel Cockx (cello) is from Leuven, Belgium, and studied Civil Engineering Architecture at KU Leuven. He is currently enrolled in the Graduate School of Architecture.

Left to Right: Emiel Cockx (cello), Jolie Huang (piano), and Billy Fang (violin)

2:00 P.M., SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2019
Englewood Christian Church
511 N. 44th Ave., Yakima, WA 98908

7:00 P.M. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019
Lake Chelan Lutheran Church
216 W. Nixon Ave., Chelan, WA

7:00 P.M. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
Performing Arts Center
20 South Cedar Street, Omak, WA

Three Chances to Attend Concert Featuring Frances Walton Competition Winners

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Enjoy a FREE concert featuring two winners of the 2019 Frances Walton Competition sponsored by the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle. The concert will be repeated twice on September 8th, at 1 pm in Kenmore, WA, and at 7 pm in Kingston, WA. The Seattle concert will take place at noon on September 10th. Pianist, Minsun Kim and clarinetist, Ling Hang will display the extraordinary musical skills that helped them win the prestigious Frances Walton Competition. Collaborative pianist, Asta Vaicekonis will join Ling (Holly) Hang. Bring the whole family and inspire your young, budding musicians!

Minsun Kim, piano
Ling (Holly) Hang, clarinet
With Asta Vaicekonis, collaborative pianist

Holly Hang

Minsun Kim

Sunday, September 8th
1:00 PM
Church of the Redeemer
6211 NE 182nd St.
Kenmore, WA 98028

Sunday, September 8th
7:00 PM
Village Green Community Center
26159 Dulay Rd. NE
Kingston, WA 98346

Tuesday, September 10th
12:00 PM
Seattle Central Library
1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104

Announcing the 2019 Frances Walton Competition Winners

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Solo Competition Winners

Ling Hang, clarinet

Diana Yusupov, cello with her collaborative pianist, Evangeliya Delizonas-Khukhua

Diana Yusupov, cello
Ling (Holly) Hang, clarinet
Minsun Kim, piano
Yukino Miyake, piano

Ensemble Competition Winners

Golden Bear Trio( Jolie Huang, piano, Billy Fang, violin and Emiel Cockx, cello)

Golden Bear Trio

Solo Competition Alternates

Cassie Lear, flute
Li Zhen Wu, piano

Ensemble Competition Alternates
Quartet Lyrique

Quartet Lyrique

View highlights from the 2018 Frances Walton Competition’s Puget Sound Tour

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The ensemble winner from the 2018 Frances Walton Competition was the Zēlos Quartet, with Julian Salazar on soprano saxophone, Johnny Selmer on alto saxophone, Robin Lacey on tenor saxophone, and David Cortez on baritone saxophone.

The Zēlos Quartet toured the Puget Sound, making stops in Kenmore, Bainbridge Island, and Seattle. And, they made a great video documenting the trip, with snippets of the performances and a more “behind-the-scenes” look at life on tour. Congratulations to the Zēlos Quartet and the other winners of the 2018 Frances Walton Competition!