Contestants in the First Annual Young Artist’s Competition were (from left) Ben Meulink, Warsaw Community High School (marimba), Abigail Brunk Greaser, Goshen High School (violin), Thomas Wheeler, homeschooled (cello), Rachel Horning, Goshen High School (viola), Drew Tomasik, Warsaw Community High School (trumpet), Hannah Marker, Penn High School (harp), Andrew Scott, Elkhart Central High School (cello), Analiese Helms, Warsaw Community High School (violin), and David Zoschnick, Warsaw Community High School (oboe). (Photo Provided)

By HANNAH SCHUTTER
Director of Marketing, Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts

Ben Meulink, the son of Steven and Judie Meulink and a senior at Warsaw Community High School, was the top winner of the First Annual Young Artist’s Competition conducted Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Warsaw Performing Arts Center. Meulink, who performed “Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra” by Paul Creston, won a scholarship and the opportunity to solo with the Symphony of the Lakes at the orchestra’s upcoming “Master and His Pupil” concert on Saturday, April 18 at the Rodeheaver Auditorium.

Meulink was one of nine student competitors in Sunday’s event, which was organized and conducted by Symphony of the Lakes administration and players, and was sponsored by Tri Kappa.

The second place winner, who also was awarded a scholarship, was Drew Tomasik, the son of Andy and Wendi Tomasik, and a senior at Warsaw community High School. Tomasik, a trumpeter, played “Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto” by Alexander Arutiunian.

The bronze, or third place, winner was David Zoschnick, a sophomore at Warsaw Community High School, who played the first movement from an oboe concerto by Ralph Vaughn Williams. Zoschnick is the son of Bruce and Deisy Zoschnick, and he also received a scholarship.

Additional competitors came from Elkhart Central High School, homeschool, Goshen High School, and Penn High School. In addition to the winning performances on marimba, trumpet and oboe, there were also performances on violoncello, violin, viola, and harp.

Sunday’s program was hosted by symphony committee member Judy Becker, and awards were presented by the chair of the symphony committee, Mike Gavin. Members of the symphony and guidance committee also provided refreshments during intermission, and other services, along with the usher corps from the Wagon Wheel Theatre.

Judges in the competition were Mary Jeane Kraft, a local cellist who plays with the Symphony of the Lakes, the Gentle Winds trio, and has been active in the MasterWorks Festival. A second judge is local band director Martin Becker, a trumpeter who directs the Grace College Community Wind Ensemble and has won the “Indiana Outstanding Bandmasters Award” and was inducted into the Indiana Band Director Hall of Fame in 2010. The third judge was Tom Stirling, who plays violin, is the musical director and conductor of the Symphony of the Lakes, and is musical director for Wagon Wheel Theatre.

The orchestra’s next performance will be at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 18, 2015, in the Rodeheaver Auditorium in Winona Lake. For further information log onto the symphony’s website at symphonyofthelakes.com, or the symphony’s Facebook page, or contact the ticket office at Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts for tickets and information.