World Renowned Judges Confirmed For The 34th Annual Young Texas Artists Music Competition

“Doc” Fennessy
Folks, it just doesn’t get much better than this Official Texas State Musical Competition, when you have world renowned performing musical artists and professors from all of the nation’s most prestigious music palaces and universities, to come to Texas and evaluate and advise “Tomorrow’s stars of classical music in the world!”
The Judges for the Young Texas Artists Music Competition this year include internationally acclaimed performing artists, faculty representing some of the finest music colleges in the country and respected writers and consultants.
Writer Susan Love Fitts writes that - “We’re thrilled to be able to announce such a knowledgeable, highly qualified panel of judges,” said Emelyne Bingham, artistic director of Young Texas Artists Music Competition (YTA). “Our judges do more than select competition winners: They also provide written critiques for the contestants. I’m certain that the experiences and insights that our 2018 judges bring to the table will be immensely valuable to the performing artists who are still in the early stages of building a career.”
This is the 34th year this class event has progressed to the point of world recognition and the annual panel of judges, the quality of partisans, the Gala Barbecue and the historic Crighton Theatre makes this a highly entertaining evening out at the theatre. This year’s Panel of judges includes:
DANIEL CATANEO, has been on the faculty at Juilliard since 1996. He is an international clinician in Dalcroze Eurhythmics, which teaches concepts of rhythm, structure, and musical expression through movement. Cataneo performs throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia. He also is a musical consultant for Viking Penguin Press, co-founder of the Northern New Jersey Conservatory and Artistic Director of New Jersey’s Cape May Institute.
JOHN ELLIS, has performed as a piano soloist, lecture-recitalist, and collaborative artist at venues ranging from Steinway Hall in New York to the University of Helsinki and the Sibelius Academy in Finland. He also travels the globe as a master class clinician, adjudicator and lecturer on piano pedagogy. As a scholar, Ellis combines music theory, musicology and the humanities with the more traditional pedagogical methods.
LARRY HUTCHINSON, a double bass performer who recently retired from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, is involved in music education activities throughout the U.S.. In 2001, he was named Michigan String Teacher of the Year by the American String Teachers Association. Before beginning his graduate studies, Hutchinson spent four years with the NORAD (North American Air Defense) Band while serving in the U.S. Air Force.
BRIAN LUCE, has presented solo flute performances throughout the U.S., Europe, Korea, Japan and China and has performed concertos with orchestras in the U.S. and the Republic of Korea. His recordings are recommended references by music education associations including The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in London. Luce is a professor of flute at The University of Arizona and a Yamaha Performing Artist.
ROGER PINES, serves as dramaturg—literary advisor—for Lyric Opera of Chicago. He has been a judge in more than 20 cities for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and has judged other prestigious competitions as well. For 12 consecutive seasons, Pines has been a panelist on the Metropolitan Opera Quiz broadcasts. Pines has lectured for major arts organizations in Chicago, Cleveland and San Diego, and for the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.
Folks, there are still tickets available for the Gala Cocktail Party, Barbecue party, the concert and after the show party by calling the Crighton Theatre Ticket Manager Toni Stowe in the theatre Box-office daily between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. at: (936) 441-7469.