CIM Announces Winners of Spring Concerto Competition

Congratulations to the winners of the Spring Concerto Competition, which was held Wednesday, March 4, in Kulas Hall.

Harpist Grace Roepke (Kondonassis), who is studying for her master’s degree, and pianist Yuhang Wang (Babayan), an undergraduate student, were selected to perform with the CIM Orchestra in the fall semester under the direction of a guest conductor.   

“I am extremely honored to have been selected as a winner of CIM’s concerto competition,” Roepke said. “One of my passions as a musician is introducing the harp and classical music to new audiences. Being a winner of the competition allows me to showcase the soloist capabilities of the harp with audience members who may have never seen a harp up close and personal before.”

For the competition, Roepke performed Ginastera’s Harp Concerto, which she said is one of the most important works in her repertoire. She’s also excited about performing the concerto with her friends in the CIM Orchestra next year.  

“This concerto shows all the capabilities the harp has to offer, and in turn continues to inspire many new compositions for the instrument,” Roepke said. “I am really looking forward to performing with an orchestra full of my closest friends and colleagues. For my final year at CIM to culminate in a solo performance with the CIM Orchestra seems like the perfect ending to this chapter.”

Wang is equally excited to perform with his friends and colleagues in the CIM Orchestra.

“This will be my first time playing this concerto with an orchestra. I am so excited to perform it with all my friends,” Wang said of his future performance of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor. “The Chopin concerto is a great piece which moves me not only musically but also psychologically – especially in the second movement. It feels like a warm hug from someone you love deeply.”

Faculty members Sam Bivens (music theory), Keith Fitch (composition), Mary Schiller (voice) and Gerardo Teissonnière (piano) served as competition jurists.