Walter A. and Dorothy J. Oestreich Concerto Competition
"Winning that competition was a true gift for me, it came at a time when I was not sure what I wanted to do with my voice or with my life, and it encouraged me to continue on and pursue my masters in music." -- Leigh Akin
In memory of his late wife, long-time Concord Chamber Orchestra audience member Walter Oestreich established the Dorothy J. Oestreich Concerto Competition Scholarship Fund in 2000. Upon Walter's death in 2014, it was renamed by the CCO in order to honor him also. Income generated from this fund has provided scholarships to the winner of the CCO’s annual Concerto Competition since the fund’s inception. The competition, held each December, gives an outstanding young musician the opportunity to perform with the Concord Chamber Orchestra in the Concerto Competition Concert in March.
The competition is open to musicians (instrumentalists, pianists and vocalists) who are residents of Wisconsin and/or attend a Wisconsin high school, college or university, and who are aged 25 or younger as of the application deadline. If you would like to be notified when applications are being accepted for the next competition, contact our General Manager.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Concerto Competition
Winner - Ava Kenney (violin)
Ava is a 17-year-old violinist from Madison, WI, and studies with Eugene Purdue, faculty at UW-Madison School of Music. She has been featured on NPR's From the Top, WPR's Midday Show and WMVO - Voice of Monona's Sunday Afternoon Live with Buzz Kemper.
After making her solo orchestral debut at the age of 13 with the WYSO Philharmonia Orchestra, Ava has since performed with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Middleton Community Orchestra and WYSO Youth Orchestra.
She has spent her summers at Colburn’s Sounding Point Academy, Center Stage Strings, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Northwestern Summer Violin Institute, and Heifetz International Music Institute. Ave has performed in masterclasses for James Ehnes, Robin Scott, Annie Fullard, Robert McDuffie, Amy Schwartz Moretti, Danielle Belen, Madeleine Mitchell, Robert Lipsett, Ilya Kaler, Blair Milton, Violaine Melancon, Sharan Leventhal and Simon James.
Ava also enjoys being a member of WYSO’s Honors String Quartet and an Arts Editor for the Sword & Shield newspaper.
1st Runner Up - Clark Snavely (violin)
2nd Runner Up - Jun Lee (cello)
Honorable Mentions: Zak Chen (violin), Grace Kim (cello), Magdalena Masur (violin), Qing Ng (violin), Noor Salameh (cello), Lucy Wu (cello)
The competition is open to musicians (instrumentalists, pianists and vocalists) who are residents of Wisconsin and/or attend a Wisconsin high school, college or university, and who are aged 25 or younger as of the application deadline. If you would like to be notified when applications are being accepted for the next competition, contact our General Manager.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Concerto Competition
Winner - Ava Kenney (violin)
Ava is a 17-year-old violinist from Madison, WI, and studies with Eugene Purdue, faculty at UW-Madison School of Music. She has been featured on NPR's From the Top, WPR's Midday Show and WMVO - Voice of Monona's Sunday Afternoon Live with Buzz Kemper.
After making her solo orchestral debut at the age of 13 with the WYSO Philharmonia Orchestra, Ava has since performed with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Middleton Community Orchestra and WYSO Youth Orchestra.
She has spent her summers at Colburn’s Sounding Point Academy, Center Stage Strings, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Northwestern Summer Violin Institute, and Heifetz International Music Institute. Ave has performed in masterclasses for James Ehnes, Robin Scott, Annie Fullard, Robert McDuffie, Amy Schwartz Moretti, Danielle Belen, Madeleine Mitchell, Robert Lipsett, Ilya Kaler, Blair Milton, Violaine Melancon, Sharan Leventhal and Simon James.
Ava also enjoys being a member of WYSO’s Honors String Quartet and an Arts Editor for the Sword & Shield newspaper.
1st Runner Up - Clark Snavely (violin)
2nd Runner Up - Jun Lee (cello)
Honorable Mentions: Zak Chen (violin), Grace Kim (cello), Magdalena Masur (violin), Qing Ng (violin), Noor Salameh (cello), Lucy Wu (cello)