Berkshire Symphony Student Soloist Competition

Musicians who will be soloists in the April 11 Berkshire Symphony concert:

Katie Palmer ’10, cello

Christine Bowman ’11, piano

Meng-Lun Hsieh ’08, piano

Noah Lindquist ’08, piano

The Williams College Department of Music will present the annual Berkshire Symphony Student Soloist Competition on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 6 p.m. in Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall on the Williams College campus. There will also be two pre-competition optional studio recitals on Wednesday, Feb. 6 and Sunday, Feb. 10, both at 7:30 p.m. in Brooks-Rogers. These free events are open to the public.

The award for this competition is to appear as soloist with the Berkshire Symphony at the fourth and final regular season concert on Friday, April 11.

The Berkshire Symphony is conducted by Ronald Feldman and includes nearly 70 members, half of whom are students and half of whom are professional musicians. The ensemble presents four major concerts each season; the programs balance orchestral standards with contemporary works.

The competition is open to Williams College students who have completed certain required instrumental or vocal studies and enrolled in qualifying courses. The students must be recommended by their instrumental or vocal teachers. The works may be one movement from a concerto, a single-movement work, a concert or operatic aria, song cycle, etc. for soloist and orchestra. The students are accompanied by professionals for both the optional studios and the competition itself.

Winners of the competition are chosen by a distinguished panel of judges consisting of three or four professional musicians from outside the Williams community. The auditions are overseen by Ronald Feldman, conductor of the Berkshire Symphony and one other music department faculty member.

Event Program