Congratulations to Gracie Zielinski for taking first place in Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra’s Level II Young Artists Competition! Gracie has been a member of TRYPO for two seasons and plays in the first violin section of the Young Peoples Orchestra, TRYPO’s advanced symphonic orchestra program.
The Young Artists Competition required applicants to perform two contrasting pieces. To showcase many different colors, techniques, and styles, Gracie chose the third movement of the famous Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor and a violin and piano arrangement of one of Schumann’s most introspective works, “Träumerei” from Kinderszenen.
Gracie prepared for the competition with many months of practice and lessons with her private teacher, Lorien Benet Hart, a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s second violin section. Before her studies with Ms. Hart, Gracie studied with Ramona Coppage. She attributes thinking beyond a short-term goal of just “win this competition” and instead adopting a mindset of focusing on elevating her playing to the best of her ability to making the preparation process more effective and enjoyable.
When asked what she learned from the experience, Gracie shared, “I had to learn how to keep pieces alive and inspired while working on them so extensively. It is a challenge of endurance when preparing music over an intense, long amount of time.”
Gracie won a cash prize and the opportunity to perform at the Winners’ Recital on February 10, 2019. We are so proud of our talented and inspiring young musicians!