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 2024 Concerto Competition
Winner - Zak Chen (violin)
Zak Chen won the Tuition Waiver Award and started his college studies in the fall of 2023 at University of Wisconsin - Madison, double majoring in music and chemistry. He currently studies violin with Dr. David Perry. Before college, Zak was a scholarship fellow at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy. He studied violin with Almita Vamos and Dr. Bernard Zinck.
Zak has recently been chosen as the winner of the 2023 Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition at Mead Witter School of Music. He was the Winner of 2023 Wisconsin Philharmonic Shining Star Competition, 2023 and 2022 Civic Music Association of Milwaukee High School Competition, a finalist of the 2022 Bolz Young Artist Competition, honorable mention in the
2022 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s Stars of Tomorrow Competition, winner of the 2020 Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra Senior Concerto Competition, and recipient of the 2022 Civic Music Association of Milwaukee High School Award for Outstanding Achievement in Musicianship, Scholarship, Leadership, and Service.
Zak also enjoys playing in chamber groups and orchestras. He is currently a member of the Symphony Orchestra and
a chamber group at Mead Witter School of Music. He was the violinist of the Calcifer String Quartet of the Music Institute of Chicago. Calcifer was the medal winner in St. Paul String Quartet Competition and their recordings were broadcast on WFMT this year. Zak was the concertmaster of Milwaukee Youth Symphony Senior Orchestra from 2019-2022 and performed with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in 2022.
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 2024 Concerto Competition
Winner - Zak Chen (violin)
Zak Chen won the Tuition Waiver Award and started his college studies in the fall of 2023 at University of Wisconsin - Madison, double majoring in music and chemistry. He currently studies violin with Dr. David Perry. Before college, Zak was a scholarship fellow at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy. He studied violin with Almita Vamos and Dr. Bernard Zinck.
Zak has recently been chosen as the winner of the 2023 Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition at Mead Witter School of Music. He was the Winner of 2023 Wisconsin Philharmonic Shining Star Competition, 2023 and 2022 Civic Music Association of Milwaukee High School Competition, a finalist of the 2022 Bolz Young Artist Competition, honorable mention in the
2022 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s Stars of Tomorrow Competition, winner of the 2020 Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra Senior Concerto Competition, and recipient of the 2022 Civic Music Association of Milwaukee High School Award for Outstanding Achievement in Musicianship, Scholarship, Leadership, and Service.
Zak also enjoys playing in chamber groups and orchestras. He is currently a member of the Symphony Orchestra and
a chamber group at Mead Witter School of Music. He was the violinist of the Calcifer String Quartet of the Music Institute of Chicago. Calcifer was the medal winner in St. Paul String Quartet Competition and their recordings were broadcast on WFMT this year. Zak was the concertmaster of Milwaukee Youth Symphony Senior Orchestra from 2019-2022 and performed with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in 2022.
1st Runner Up - Owne Xayboury (viola)
2nd Runner Up - David Hilt (clarinet)
Honorable Mention - Grace Halloran (violin)
2nd Runner Up - David Hilt (clarinet)
Honorable Mention - Grace Halloran (violin)