Solo Performances
Concerto Competition
In keeping with our mission, our concerto competition aims to provide a solo performance opportunity for a young artist of the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony Orchestra who has studied diligently and is prepared to perform a solo with the orchestra in accompaniment.
The competition winner will perform with the orchestra in the spring concerts
Want to Apply?
A video recording with accompaniment is all you need to get started! Just follow the Concerto requirements below then fill out the concerto application
Concerto Requirements
Music must be approved by the conductors prior to recording due date.
Prepare a recording of a movement of an established concerto or composition.
After the conductors preview the recording, the applicant may be invited to the competition audition.
Applicant must provide his or her accompanist.
The accompaniment (music) must be available to rent or purchase for the orchestra.
Previous winners are not eligible to compete.
NOTE: Please refer to email updates to orchestra members for detailed audition instructions.
2024 Concerto Competition Winner
Lucas Huang, Pianist
Lucas Huang, age 15, is an award-winning pianist and oboist from Port St. Lucie, where he is a sophomore honors student at the Lincoln Park Academy. The 2022 first place winner of the Palm Beach County Music Teachers Association Scholarship Competition and the 2022 Florida State Winner of the national Opus competition, as a pianist Lucas was invited to perform in Master classes of internationally acclaimed pianists Kevin Kenner of the University of Miami and Boris Berman, Chairman of the Piano Department at Yale School of Music. A three-time winner of the Lyric Youth Celebration competitions, he has had the honor of performing on the stage of the Lyric Theatre in Stuart. In addition he has been a featured young artist for events of the Stuart Friends of the Atlantic Classical Orchestra and the St. Mary’s Concert Series for the Centenarian concert in 2023. Over the past four years he has been a frequent performer on “Sunset Concerts at the Gallery” and the “Jureit Musicales”, as well as the annual Music-thon sponsored by the Treasure Coast Music Teachers Association to raise thousands of dollars for House of Hope.
For the last four years Lucas has been a piano student of the highly praised and awarded musician, Dr. Marie Jureit-Beamish, Professor Emerita of Music from Principia College. He has also had the great privilege of being coached frequently by internationally renowned pianist Dr. Lindsay Garritson.
As an oboist, Lucas has been a member of the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony since 2022. In 2023 he had the honor of performing in the Florida All-State Middle School Band, and in 2024, he received the “superior rating with distinction” for his solo performance at the Florida State Solo and Ensemble Competition as well as being selected to perform in the highly selective Frost Honor Band Festival at the University of Miami. Having studied oboe with Mrs. Carrie Fox since 2022, he is also mentored by Dr. Billy Liu from Royal College of Music.
A 4.0 honors student at the Lincoln Park Academy, Lucas received the Student of Year Award in Music in 2024; he is also a dual enrollment student at Indian River State College. As an athlete, Lucas is a part of both the winning Lincoln Park Academy swimming and wrestling teams.
2023 Concerto Competition Winner
Kimberly Savage, Cellist
Kim, 15, is one of five musical children and has been playing the cello for 11 years.
Kimberly currently studies with Jackie Robbins. She has also been mentored by Elmar Olivera, David Cole, and David Bjella. Kimberly has performed as a soloist in churches, ensembles, and multiple weddings. In 2023 she attended the Josef Gingold Chamber Music Festival in Miami, where she studied with Rafael Figuroa and Julian Schwarz. Kimberly has performed in ensembles with Andres Cardenas and Gary Levinson. She was mentored by Yuri Becker, Jeffrey Cohen, Wendy Chen, and Andres Cardenas. Kimberly has been the principal cellist for the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony for 2 years and has played with the youth symphony for six years. She has performed with Bach’s Children’s Orchestra, Bach’s Children’s Quart from 2020-2022, Indian River Pops Orchestra, and Young Artist String Orchestra from 2016-2018. When not practicing music, she loves to read, listen to music, hang out with friends, and relax with her dog and bunny.
2022 Concerto Contest Winner
Andrea Martin, Violist
Andrea Martine has been a part of the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony since 2019 and has been a student of Peggie O’Neill for the past eleven years. Performing in the Indian River Pops Orchestra and the Bach's Children Music School Senior Ensemble, Andrea is currently principal violist of both. She was awarded MartinArts Student Performing Artist of 2022. Last summer Andrea was accepted into and attended the six-week Young Artists Orchestra program at the Tanglewood Institute in Lenox, Massachusetts.
Born and raised in Stuart, Florida, Andrea is currently a senior at Martin County High School. With a 4.0 GPA she is a recipient of The Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education Diploma. When not playing the viola, Andrea enjoys spending time in bookstores and nature.
2021 Concerto Competition Winner
Zahava Misshula , Violinist
Zahava Misshula, a multi-talented 15 year old, has been playing violin for 10 years under the instruction of Cynthia Hinkelman and Kathryn Krueger. A homeschooled student, Zahava is currently dual-enrolled at Indian River State College and anticipates completing her associate’s degree in spring 2023.
As a fifth grader, Zahava’s first audition with the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony landed her a seat in the first violin section. Since then she has been principal second violin, as well as principal violist for two straight years. Her continuing dedication to her music and the orchestra provided her with the organization’s Merit Scholarship in 2018 as well as several Music Education Grants for summer study. She has taken full advantage of other programs offered by TCYS including the Virtual Music Theory program during the pandemic taught by Dr. Lindsey Reymore, and the Summer Strings program taught by cellist, Jackie Robbins. In the Academy Orchestra conducted by Thomas Servinsky, she has performed with singer, Patti Russo and concert pianist, Lindsay Garritson.
Last spring, Zahava was concertmistress with Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County’s Philharmonic, conducted by Dr. David Brubeck. In 2020, Zahava was a finalist in the Treasure Coast Symphony Young Artist Scholarship Competition, and has performed solo at “Carousel at the Gardens” for the benefit of Grace Notes Music Foundation. Other performance experience includes solos, duets, and ensembles with Mrs. Cynthia Hinkelman, Ms. Tiffany Goff, Mrs. Cindy Kessler, Dr. Marie Jureit-Beamish, Lighthouse Suzuki Strings, and the Stuart School of Music. in venues throughout Martin and Palm Beach Counties, including Roger Dean Stadium, the Harriett Himmel Theater, Beyond the Stage at the Kravis, the Arts Council of Martin County Sunset Concerts, Women Supporting the Arts, and the Treasure Coast Mall. She has also participated in a masterclass with Mr. Gareth Johnson.
In addition to violin and viola Zahava plays cello and is teaching herself piano. She has studied ballet with Ms. Carla Lewis and Ms. Carissa Kranz since she was 3 years old and loves to perform in a tutu and en pointe in the annual Nutcracker ballet and spring shows every year.
2020 Concerto Competition Winner
Adam Savage, Violaist
Adam Savage is 15 years old and has been playing the viola for seven years. A native of Port St. Lucie, FL, Adam has performed recitals, chamber music, and has been a member of prestigious orchestras throughout the US. Adam has won numerous local and statewide competitions. Recently he was selected to be principle violist in this year’s New World Symphony Side by Side orchestra under Michael Tilson Thomas, was placed in the top 3 in the New World Symphony Side by Side Concerto Competition, and was also awarded Honorable Mention for the New World Symphony “Viola Visions” Young Artist Residency. He has also recently performed in the Blue Candlelight music series in Dallas Texas. Adam has performed in such venues as Carnegie Hall and the New World Center in Miami Beach as a member of the prestigious NYO2 Orchestra. He has also participated in festivals such as The Heifetz Institute on scholarship by Elmar Oliveira, NYO2, Perlman Super Strings, Miami Music Festival, and has been accepted into to the National Youth Orchestra USA in New York.
Adam studies with Michael Klotz, violist of the Amernet String Quartet. Previous teachers include Benjamin Enyart and Peggy Essex-Klammer. He has also performed in masterclass and received additional instruction from violists such as Roberto Diaz (Curtis Institute), Cynthia Phelps (Juilliard School), Toby Appel (Juilliard School), Paul Neubauer (Juilliard School), Lawrence Dutton (Emerson String Quartet), Mai Motobuchi (New England Conservatoy), Jackie Robbins (String mentor), Sandy Robbins (Atlantic Classical Orchestra), and Barbara Westphal (Lubeck College of Music). He has been privileged to perform in ensembles directed by Michael Tilson Thomas (New World Symphony) and Itzhak Perlman (World Renown Soloist/Juilliard School). Adam has also played with orchestras such as the Florida Allstate middle/high school orchestras 2017-present, Honor Orchestra of America, and Academy Orchestra.
Adam currently lives in Port St. Lucie and is dual enrolled at Indian River State College, where he has a 4.0 grade average, as well as 44 college credits. Adam is also a part of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, National Society of Leadership and Success, and is president of the Medical Laboratory Technology club.
2019 Concerto Competition Winner
Brandon Gunter, Cellist
Cellist Brandon Gunter has been a member of TCYS for seven years and the Academy Orchestra for four. A high school junior, Brandon began playing the cello at age five and is currently a student of Dr. Ashley Garritson, principal cello of the Miami City Ballet, the Atlantic Classical Orchestra, and the Nu Deco Ensemble of Miami. Brandon was the winner of the 2017 Treasure Coast Symphony Scholarship Competition and was selected to perform in the side-by-side concerts (2018 and 2019) with the New World Symphony in Miami, under direction of conductor Michael Tilson Thomas. Brandon has had the privilege to work with many inspiring mentors. Locally, he has studied with Cynthia Hinkelman, Jackie Robbins, and Dr. Claudio Jaffe—and currently travels to Miami for weekly lessons with Dr. Garritson. He has participated in masterclasses with cellists Udi Bar-David (principal cello of the Philadelphia Orchestra), Grace Gavin, David Cole, Dr. Nick Curry (University of North Florida), and Julian Schwarz.
A member of the Gunter Family Trio with sisters Brooke and Ava (violinists in TCYS), Brandon has performed widely on the Treasure Coast, including numerous performances for events of the ACO, Sunset Concerts at the Gallery, and the Jureit Musicales. The trio has participated in landmark educational outreach concerts at various elementary schools for the ACO as well as the 2017 Youth Celebration concert at the Lyric Theatre in Stuart. Last fall the trio performed the music of local composer, R. Michael Daugherty. This summer Brandon will be participating in the Greenmountain Chamber Music Festival where he will be studying with Dr. Alan Rafferty of the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. In addition to taking part in the Illinois Chamber Music Festival in 2018, Brandon has also participated in Cellobration” at Lynn Conservatory and “Stringendo” at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Brandon is currently a member of the Bach Children’s School Senior String Quartet under the direction of Peggie O’Neill.
Brandon is grateful to have been exposed to some of the finest symphonic repertoire by the conductors of the TCYS orchestra and has enjoyed the many friends he has made at TCYS. He plans to pursue a career in cello performance after graduating from high school next year. Brandon is especially grateful to his parents (Karen and Brad Gunter), Dr. Ashley Garritson, and Dr. Marie Jureit-Beamish, all who believe in him and support his musical development. In addition to music, Brandon loves school, hanging out with friends, and eating lots of Chinese food—and M & M’s!
2018 Concerto Competition Winner
Shane Savage, Bassist
Shane Savage, a 17 years old bassist from Port. St. Lucie has been immersed in in music since the age of five, beginning with violin, and then moving to cello and piano. At age 10 Shane picked up the double bass and never looked back. Shane’s talent and hard work provided him with the opportunity to study under a number of professional bassists including Bill Hawthorne (Air Force Symphony Orchestra), Janet Clippard (Atlantic Classical Orchestra, former University of Miami), Brian Powell (University of Miami), Michael Hill (Stetson University, UCF, Rollins College, Orlando Philharmonic), Joe Conyers (Philadelphia Orchestra), Hal Robinson (Principal Bassist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Curtis Institute of Music), Ranaan Meyer (Bassist and founder of A Time for Three, University of Michigan), and Jeff Bradetich (University of North Texas).
Over the years, Shane has participated in a number of orchestras and festivals: Treasure Coast Youth Symphony (2012-Present), The Academy Orchestra, Florida All-State Orchestras (accepted 5 straight years including 2018), and Music For All National Festivals Honor Orchestra of America (2015-2017). Shane has also played with a professional/student orchestra performing Verdi’s Requiem (2015), and the NYO2 Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in 2017.
A homeschooled high school junior currently dual enrolled at Indian River State College, Shane plans to graduate high school with an AA degree. Shane is President of the Medical Laboratory Technology club at Indian River State College, enjoys instrumental design, sports, and studying different styles of music.
Shane is currently enrolled in the Masters Degree program at Rice University Shepherd School of Music in Houston, TX.
2017 Concerto Competition Winner
Erick Lora, Cellist
Erick Lora, a 17-year old junior, began playing the cello at the age of 10. Since 2011 he has been studying at the Bach Children’s School of Music with Professor Joachim Bischof, a world class musician and former principal cellist for Staatskanelle Dresden. Erick has been with the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony since 2014 and has been selected to perform with the Academy Orchestra, the youth symphony’s mentoring orchestra. He has won first place in the FACCS state competition for his string solo several times. Erick has been chosen to perform on NPR’s Young Musician Spotlight and regularly performs with the Indian River Pops Orchestra.
Erick attends Indian River State College on a full-time basis as a dual-enrollment student. He has been a member of the National Honor Society in high school and consistently volunteers in several churches in the area. He has participated in a variety of music camps, both as a participant and as instructor.
Erick enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and basketball. He enjoys sharing his talent as part of his church’s praise team, and also teaches younger students to develop their cello skills. His future plans include a career in music and business. He is grateful for the gifts and opportunities with which the Lord has blessed him.
2016 Concerto Competition Winner
Brooke Gunter, Violinist
Brooke Gunter is a fifteen year old classically trained violinist who began violin with the Suzuki Method at the age of five under Cynthia Hinkelman. She has studied under several other nationally and internationally recognized instructors including Cindy Camp of the Julliard Conservatory, Steven Majesty of the Curtis Institute and the Cleveland Orchestra, and Alexsandr Zhuk of the Moscow Conservatory. Brooke now studies under Alan Grunfeld, a member of the Atlantic Classical Orchestra who for many years performed as a studio orchestral violinist in Los Angeles.
A member of the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony since 2011 Brooke has been awarded a merit scholarship and several grants from the organization. She is currently the youth symphony’s concertmaster. In 2015, she won the Treasure Coast Symphony Young Artist Competition, her debut as a soloist playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. For the past three years Brooke was awarded superiors for her performances on piano and violin with the Florida Federation of Music Clubs.
Brooke also enjoys playing classical guitar, viola, cello, and piano. She intends to continue her musical studies after graduation and plans to make the violin a part of her career choice. Brooke serves in her church orchestra, band and choir. Other than music, she enjoys lots and lots of reading.
2015 Concerto Competition Winner
Megan Savage, Cellist
Megan has played cello for eight years, and piano for eleven years. She found her love for music in the seventh grade when she joined the youth symphony. Currently principal cellist of three orchestras, Megan studies under Jackie Robbins. In addition, she has studied under Adrianna Stenvik and Bill Hawthorne. Megan has played with world-renowned musicians such as Terry Barber and Francesco Attesti, and has participated in the Academy Orchestra for four seasons. She was accepted into the ninth- and tenth-grade Florida All State concert orchestra, and the National Honors
Orchestra for the Music For All Festival in Indianapolis. Megan attended the Advanced/Honors summer music camp program at the University of Miami, Frost School of Music. She won first place at FACCS state solo competition her seventh- and eighth-grade years, and received a superior rating for her solo performance at the MPA competition. At age thirteen, Megan began playing cello and piano for services at area churches. She enjoys teaching cello and piano and tutors three students.
A high school sophomore Megan is dual-enrolled at a local college earning a spot on the college’s Dean’s List for achieving a 4.0 GPA. She plans to graduate with her Associate in Arts degree by the end of her senior year in high school. From there Megan will pursue her Bachelor’s and then Master’s in music education and continue teaching music. She gives God the glory for her talent and abilities. Megan now plays with the Atlantic Classical Orchestra in Florida.
2013 Concerto Competition Winner
Timothy Nicholas, Violinist
Timothy Nicholas, a senior in high school at Clark Advanced Learning Center, is a seventeen year old classically trained violinist. He began studying the violin at the age of five and has received his instruction from Ann Setzer of the Juilliard School of Music, Stephen Majeske of the Cleveland Orchestra, and Renata Guitart of Palm Beach Atlantic University. He has also attended numerous summer academies such as the Stringendo School for Strings Music School, the Coda Mountain Academy of Music, and the internationally acclaimed Meadowmount School of Music.
As a soloist, Timothy has won the PBAU Concerto Competition four times and has also won the FACCS State String Competition twice. He has also been a featured soloist on NPR’s Young Musicians Spotlight Program. As an orchestral performer, Timothy has been performing with orchestras since the age of eight and at the age of eleven was the youngest member ever accepted into the Palm Beach Atlantic University Symphony.
He has subsequently played with the Florida Youth Orchestra, the New World Symphony, and the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony, of which he has been the Concertmaster since 2011. Timothy is also an active performer, playing weekly at his home church in Jupiter and at numerous other private events throughout the Treasure Coast and the West Palm Beaches. Also a member of Artists For A Cause, Timothy enjoys utilizing his talent to help raise funds for various charities and non-profit organizations in our local community.
Apart from his musical accomplishments Timothy is passionate about studying both medicine and the nervous system. He will be pursuing his undergraduate education at Case Western Reserve in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology this fall with the ultimate goal of become a neurological surgeon.
2012 Concerto Competition Winner
Hannah Geisinger, Violaist
Hannah Geisinger is fifteen years old and began her early musical training on piano at age five. At seven years of age she discovered the viola and was captivated by its rich tone. Locally she has studied viola with Peggy O’Neil and Cindy Camp as well as piano with Tetyana Kuliush. Currently the principal violist, Hannah has been a member of the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony since 2009. For the past three years she has been chosen to appear on WQCS National Public Radio’s Young Artist Spotlight. As a member of the Academy Orchestra, Hannah recorded with acclaimed American tenor Gabriel Silva on his latest CD, Angelo Casto e Bel. She attended Strings International Music Festival and was chosen to participate in a master class with Kerri Ryan, assistant principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She has attended summer camp at Berklee College of Music and participated in a master class with David Wallace, faculty member of Juilliard and Senior Teaching Artist at the New York Philharmonic. Additionally, Hannah enjoyed being coached by both the principal and assistant principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Choong-Jin Chang and Kerri Ryan.
Participating in her community, she has volunteered at nursing homes and churches, has worked with Artists for a Cause, and has played in the Indian River Pops! Orchestra. Hannah enjoys oil painting and is a member of the ETA Sigma Alpha Honor Society. Hannah attended the Académie Internationale d’été de Nice.
2011 Concerto Competition Winner
Anthony Grande, Percussionist
Cowbells, wood blocks, tympani, chimes, marimaba and many very creative contraptions, make those sounds that so complete the musical compositions audiences love to hear and watch in the orchestra’s vital and colorful percussion section. What the percussionist makes look like fun actually is -- after taking into account the musical talent, focus, and hard work, timing, and precision required to make a fantastic performance.
At eighteen, the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony’s Concerto Competition Winner, Anthony Grande, is plotting his course to becoming a professional percussionist. Practice makes perfect and Anthony is certainly getting a lot of that with his many performances in the Treasure Coast area. A percussionist with the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony since 10th grade, Anthony has also performed with the Indian River Pops Orchestra, the Central Florida Winds, and the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, the St. Lucie County Community Band, the New Gardens Band, and the Ars Flores Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist, Anthony has performed for the Juriett Musicales and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s “A Celebration of Music.” A senior at Lincoln Park Academy, Anthony performs multiple times a year with the Lincoln Park Academy Wind Symphony, the LPA Jazz Band, the school’s Percussion Ensemble and numerous honor bands.
Anthony began his study of music in grade six with Ms. Carmela Barbour, moving to drumset with Neil Santell, and then to percussion with Stix Nickson. Anthony has attended the Florida State University’s Summer Music camps, both the Jazz camp and Senior High Band Camp, and Cannon Music Camp at Appalachian State University where he received the Director’s Award for Percussion. He has received Most Outstanding Percussionist awards from his school, eighteen Superior Medals, and two Superior with Distinction Medals from district and state Solo & Ensemble festivals.
The Treasure Coast Youth Symphony boasts not only the area’s best musicians, but also the many of the area’s top students. Anthony, one of those top students, excels academically while enjoying many outside interests including computers and technology. In the near future, he hopes to attend a school of music as a music performance major, and eventually move into the working world as a part of a professional orchestra.
2009 Concerto Competition Winner
Liana Branscome, Violinist
The vibrancy of Liana’s personality is palpable in the musical vibrations of her violin’s strings. Liana’s love for beautiful music, especially J. S. Bach and Antonio Vivaldi, began at a very early age when she begged her parents for music lessons. Now eleven years of age, she has been playing violin for six years. She currently studies with Suzanne Walter-Geissler at the Palm Beach Suzuki School of Music. Liana also plays the cello and piano, performing on all three regularly at school recitals and her church. She has participated in chamber music groups and has accompanied a number of choral ensembles on her instruments. This is Liana’s first year as a member of the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony and she looks forward to many more.
Liana is home-schooled and loves math and creative writing. When not playing music, Liana enjoys distance running, biking, swimming, crafts and gardening.
Liana is currently managing a solo career performing internationally.
2007 Concerto Competition Winner
Michelle Bessemer, Violaist
“I’m sorry that I can’t be at practice Monday night. I’m performing at Carnegie Hall.” That is an excuse the conductors of the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony are ecstatic to hear. And that is why Michelle missed practice early this semester. By audition last spring, Michelle was selected to perform in the Isaac Stern Auditorium with the 2007 National Festival Orchestra under the direction of internationally renowned conductor Benjamin Zander.
Michelle’s talent, dedication, serious study and performance ability are factors in her other musical achievements which include first place string solo in the 2006 Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, a performance featured on WQCS, public radio, Young Musician’s Spotlight and winner of the 2006/2007 Concerto Contest of the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony.
Now a senior at Morningside Academy, Michelle began her musical study in her earliest grade school years and has studied piano and violin for the past decade. First violin at Morningside for three years, Michelle’s skills and artistry secured her seat to study further at the prestigious North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem during the last two summers.
“I’m sorry that I can’t be at practice Monday night. I’m performing at Carnegie Hall.” That is an excuse the conductors of the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony are ecstatic to hear. And that is why Michelle missed practice early this semester. By audition last spring, Michelle was selected to perform in the Isaac Stern Auditorium with the 2007 National Festival Orchestra under the direction of internationally renowned conductor Benjamin Zander.
Michelle’s talent, dedication, serious study and performance ability are factors in her other musical achievements which include first place string solo in the 2006 Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, a performance featured on WQCS, public radio, Young Musician’s Spotlight and winner of the 2006/2007 Concerto Contest of the Treasure Coast Youth Symphony.
Now a senior at Morningside Academy, Michelle began her musical study in her earliest grade school years and has studied piano and violin for the past decade. First violin at Morningside for three years, Michelle’s skills and artistry secured her seat to study further at the prestigious North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem during the last two summers.
Michelle volunteers as a strolling violinist at local nursing homes and is a mentor and music teacher for elementary students at Morningside Academy three afternoons a week. Michelle is the daughter of Kim and Flo Bessemer of Port St. Lucie.ichelle volunteers as a strolling violinist at local nursing homes and is a mentor and music teacher for elementary students at Morningside Academy three afternoons a week. Michelle is the daughter of Kim and Flo Bessemer of Port St. Lucie.
