Three Instrumentalists Featured in Concerto-Aria at Lebanon Valley College

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L-R: Maria Kolonsky, Kristopher Hartman, Katherine Chandler, winners of the 2012 Concerto-Aria competition at Lebanon Valley College.

ANNVILLE, PA (03/02/2012)(readMedia)-- After a stiff competition last month, three Lebanon Valley College student musicians were named winners of the Concerto-Aria competition and will perform in a concert with the symphony orchestra on March 18. The concert will be at 3 p.m. in Lutz Hall of the Blair Music Center, and is free and open to the public.

The three featured student soloists are Katherine Chandler '13, piano, Kristopher Hartman '13, trumpet, and Maria Kolonsky '12, percussion. Chandler will perform the first movement from the Camille Saint-Saens "Piano Concerto in G Minor, Op. 22." Hartman will perform two movements from Franz Joseph Haydn's "Concerto in E Flat Major for Trumpet and Orchestra." Kolonsky will perform the last movement of Ney Rosauro's "Concerto for Vibraphone and Orchestra."

Conductor Hannes Dietrich, Newton and Adelaide Burgner Professor in Instrumental Music, describes the orchestral section of the concert: "Also on the program is the delightfully charming "Si j'etais roi" overture by Adolphe Adam, the Pennsylvania premiere of the moving and dramatic "A Camp David Overture: Prayer for Peace" by Bruce Roter, and one of my personal favorites, the "Variations on a Theme by Haydn," composed by Johannes Brahms. This is a varied and challenging program, with truly wonderful parts for each section of the orchestra."

Chandler is a junior music major from Lebanon, Pa. She currently studies piano with Dr. Eric Fung. Past teachers include Dr. Dennis Sweigart and Mrs. Nadine Speece. Chandler has been named to the College's dean's list for five consecutive semesters due to her high academic standing. A member of the LVC Concert Choir, she also frequently accompanies student recitals.

"It has been my dream to perform with an orchestra for many years," Chandler said. "I have greatly enjoyed collaborating with the LVC Orchestra for this performance, and I am immensely thankful for this opportunity."

Hartman is a junior music and music education major from Lenhartsville, Pa. He is pursuing a concentration in trumpet performance. At LVC, he serves as the principal trumpeter of the wind ensemble, vice president of the concert choir, president of the Iota Kappa chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and as a campus residential assistant. He participates in the chamber choir, symphonic band, marching band, jazz band, and the student chapter of the National Association for Music Education.

He says he is thankful for his family and mentors, Kristopher Nygard, Douglas Matz, John Copenhaver, and Christopher Heffner for their continued support and guidance.

Kolonsky is a senior music and music education major from Shenandoah, Pa. She will complete concentrations in percussion and jazz studies. She is a recipient of the Edna and Clark Carmean Talent Award in Music, has been a dean's list scholar since her freshman year and was inducted into the Phi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society. Kolonsky recently finished a semester of student teaching in the Cornwall-Lebanon School District at the elementary and secondary levels. She is a member of the LVC Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, College Choir, Percussion Ensemble, The Pride of the Valley Marching Band and NAfME, where she served as vice president. Outside of LVC, she is an active performer with the Reading Pops Orchestra and is one of the founding members of a local marimba quartet. She also serves as a substitute percussionist for the Reading Symphony Orchestra.

"Being able to perform with an ensemble of my peers who share my passion for music is an absolutely exhilarating experience," Kolonsky said. "I'm very excited to be able to share this passion with the LVC community."

The Music Department at Lebanon Valley College was founded in 1866 and is one of the largest departments on campus. It houses programs that provide wide ranging opportunities for performances and skills needed to succeed. Music business, music recording technology, music education, masters of music education, and a host of music bachelor of art degree offerings overlap, without ever losing the focus of music being the central essence of all programs.