Orchestra names young artist winners

Three winners have been named in Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra?s Marilyn Minford McCoid Young Artist Competition. SEISO Conductor Robert McConnell, following the competition Saturday, Dec. 6, in Mount Pleasant, announced first-, second- and third-place winners.

Clarinetist Anne Buckwalter won first place. Buckwalter, an Iowa Mennonite High School senior and daughter of Tom and Paula Buckwalter of Wellman, performed the Rondo from Weber?s Fantasia and Rondo.

Violinist Ellen Willhoit, who performed Accolay?s Concerto in A minor, won second place honors. Willhoit, a senior at Ottumwa High School, is the daughter of Dennis Willhoit and Joan Summers Willhoit. Both first- and second-place winners will receive scholarship awards, which are provided by the Morton and Virginia Schmucker Memorial Trust. Also, both winners will perform with the orchestra as soloists for the winter concert series Feb. 14 and 15, 2015.

Third-place honors were earned by West Burlington oboist Kristyn Vedder, who performed the Concerto for Oboe and Strings by Cimarosa. Vedder is a West Burlington High School junior and is the daughter of George and Nancy Vedder.