TALENTED YOUTHS TO COMPETE FOR CASH PRIZE
AND POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM WITH THE OREGON SYMPHONY ____________________________________________________________________________________

Portland, Ore. ... Talented young musicians from throughout Oregon and neighboring Clark County, Wash., will compete in the day-long Oregon Symphony 2002 Mrs. Henry L. Corbett, Sr. Young Artists Competition Sunday, June 9, beginning at 9 a.m. in Portland State University's Lincoln Recital Hall, Room 75. The competition will be free and open to the public. This annual event, now in its 29th year, is sponsored by the Oregon Symphony Women's Association.

Approximately 25 students will perform a first or third movement from a concerto of their choice (or standard solo work with orchestral accompaniment). The first-place winner will receive a $500 cash prize, a Music Max subscription to the 2002-03 Symphony season and may be invited to perform as a soloist in a future Symphony concert. On the panel of judges will be Symphony President Tony Woodcock, Apprentice Conductor Jonathan Pasternack, Assistant Concertmaster Erin Furbee and Principal Trombone Aaron LaVere.

The Young Artists Competition, designed to identify and encourage young instrumentalists and pianists aspiring to careers in music, is open to individuals who will be high school students during the 2002-2003 school year, are residents of Oregon or Clark County and have the recommendation of their private music teacher. The competition was implemented in 1973, and was made possible by a gift from Mrs. Henry L. Corbett, Sr., who was a long time symphony supporter and honorary member of the Oregon Symphony Women's Association. The aim of the competition is to encourage and nurture young instrumentalists by providing opportunities for their artistic growth. Winners include Thomas M. Lauderdale, Samuel Johnson and current Symphony musicians Associate Concertmaster Peter Frajola, cellist Kenneth Finch, and violinists Ron Blessinger, Julie Coleman and Jonathan Dubay. More information on the competition can be found at the Symphony's Web site at www.orsymphony.org.