Northwestern Students Win Music Competition

February 17, 2009 – The Northwestern College Music Department announces the winners of the 2009 Concerto-Aria Competition, which took place Saturday, Feb. 7 in Nazareth Chapel. The winning students were chosen from among 15 contestants who participated in the competition.

Andrea Needham, flute, won the concerto division with her performance of Ballade by Frank Martin.

Shaylee Carlson, soprano, won the aria division with her rendition of "Ain't It a Pretty Night?" from Carlisle Floyd's Susannah.

Needham and Carlson will perform as featured guest artists with the Northwestern College Orchestra at the Spring Music Festival on May 3 at 7 p.m. at Wooddale Church in Eden Prairie, Minn.

Rebecca Molitor, piano, and Natalie Cromwell, soprano, were also recognized with honorable mention.

This year’s adjudicators were Thomas Ashworth, faculty of the University of Minnesota and trombonist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra; Lawrence Weller, retired faculty of the U of M, singer and conductor; and Paul Wirth, artistic director with the Central Minnesota Music School in St. Cloud, Minn., piano performer and instructor.