Larsen Young Artist Awards
Congratulations to our 2010
Larsen Young Artist Award winners ~
Read about him on the Nebraskans for the Arts web page!
First place ~ Sebastian Nabb
Sebastian began playing the violin at age five, and has played viola, piano, and guitar as well. Currently he is studies violin with Prof. David Neely (UNL) and guitar with Greg Sales (UNK).
In his free time Sebastian enjoys tinkering with computers, reading, watching movies and hanging out with his friends.
During his junior year Sebastian decided to stop playing the violin because he was no longer enjoying it. He regards this as one of the most significant decisions he has made with respect to the violin because now he feels like he can really apprecitate playing more than ever before.
Sebastian currently plays in the Camerata Orchestra at Kearney High School and the Kearney Symphony Orchestra. He has also participated in the Tri City Youth Symphony and the Kearney High School Orchestra. Twice he attended the Nebraska All State Orchestra Clinic. He first performed at the Kearney Meadowlark Elementary school talent show in kindergarten. Since then, he has performed numerous times at local and state events, including two solo appearances with the Kearney Symphony Orchestra. Sebastian is a senior at Kearney High School. He is planning on a double major in computer engineering and music. Sebastian will enroll at UNL in the fall.
Sebastian will perform at the 2010 Meadowlark Music Festival with the Dali Sting Quartet on Saturday June 19, 2010.
Second place ~ Justin Lepard
Justin Lepard has been playing cello since he was six years old. He has wanted to be professional musician since he was twelve but only got serious about being a performing cellist this past summer. Justin's mother, often his accompinist, was a piano major in college and his dad played violin, which his younger brother is now playing as well.
Growing up, his parents encouraged his practicing, but now the motivation is entirely his.
One of Justin's biggest challenges has been not knowing how to practice a piece properly. He feels that practice takes practice.
Justing plays in the Lincoln Youth Symphony, the Lincoln Honors Orchestras, and a rock band. His first performance was in a Suzuki recital at the age of six. His goal is to become a professional cellist. Justing will be a senior at Lincoln High School in the fall.
Runners up ~ Jehong Ahn and Preston Bradley
PRESS RELEASE: March 15, 2010
Meadowlark Music Festival announces the winner of the 2010 Larsen Young Artist Awards
Lincoln, Neb. — Meadowlark Music Festival hosts the 2010 Max & Lillie Larsen Young Artist Awards on Saturday, March 13 at First-Plymouth Congregational Church, 2000 D Street, Lincoln. This year’s competitors included Jehong Ahn, Omaha, Ryne Bessmer, Omaha, Preston Bradley, Lincoln, Helen Dowd, Lincoln, Benjamin Fischer, Lincoln, Tim Grady, Omaha, Justin Lepard, Lincoln, Sam Loeck, Lincoln, Sebastian Nabb, Kearney, Joel Ostdiek Columbus, Jessica Qiu, Lincoln, Ian Wright, Lincoln.
The first place winner is violinist Sebastian Nabb. Second place went to cellist Justin Lepard, with Honorable Mentions going to violinist Preston Bradley and violinist Jehong Ahn. Meadowlark Music Festival wishes to congratulate all the contestants and thank them for their participation.
Judges included Kim Osborne Salistean, assistant concertmaster, Lincoln Symphony Orchestra and violinist with the Omaha Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Tyler Goodrich White, director of orchestral music and composition, UNL School of Music. William A. Roehrs, retired music educator with Lincoln Public Schools.
For more information on the Larsen Young Artist Award contest, contact Tamara Cass, Executive Director for Meadowlark Music Festival. Call 402/477-2522 or email tamara@meadowlarkmusicfestival.com.
http://meadowlarkmusic.blogspot.com
With the generous annual support of Max and Lillie Larsen, the Larsen Young Artist Awards competition honors the outstanding talent of young Nebraska string players.
Through this competition, two outstanding string players are selected as recipients of the Larsen Young Artists Award. The winner receives $1,000 plus the privilege of performing with a professional string quartet; the runner-up is given a performing opportunity plus a $500 cash award.
Any high school student from Nebraska is eligible to participate.
Meadowlark Music Festival is nationally known for it’s offering of world-class chamber music and for its commitment to education and outreach.
Please follow the links below to download the application and it's instructions.
Photo left: Max and Lillie Larsen
with 2009 Larsen award winner
Matthew Schaich, a student at
Millard North High School, and
2009 runner-up Jessica Qiu, a
student at Lincoln East High
School.
Students from schools across Nebraska as well as home-schooled students participated in the 2009 competition.
