Dr. Maxim Kuzin leads the Palisades Symphony Orchestra.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
The annual Palisades Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. on June 16, at the Palisades Lutheran Church, 15905 Sunset Boulevard.
This will be the first concert held under the leadership of newly appointed conductor/music director Dr. Maxim Kuzin. The orchestra founded in 1966 by the late Loel Lish offered free concerts, that includes the youth showcase featuring young artists.
Musicians in elementary through high school, residing in Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Malibu, Topanga, Brentwood and Venice are invited to audition.
The audition must be a single memorized concerto, movement, or aria. After submitting an application form, auditions were held in March before a panel of judges. The winners not only receive a monetary award, but have the opportunity to perform with the Palisades Orchestra.
The 2024 Young Artist Winners:
Elementary School Category:
Nathaniel Shpigelmacher
- Noelle Spencer (1st place, Eva Holberg Award) from The Archer School for Girls showcases her exceptional violin skills with J.B. Accolay’s Concerto No. 1. Noelle has been studying violin for seven years and has performed in festivals and recitals sponsored by the Hollywood Music Teachers Association.
- Nathaniel Shpigelmacher (2nd place) from New World Montessori School performs Charles de Beriot’s Concerto No. 7, Movement I. With nine years of violin study, Nathaniel has received scholarships from the Westside Committee of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and participated in master classes and international festivals.
Middle School Category:
Volodymyr Soputnyak
- Volodymyr Soputnyak (1st place), a 9th-grade pianist from Venice High School, brings his international accolades to the stage with Yuri Polunin’s Concertino in A minor. A native of Ukraine, Volodymyr has won many international competitions in his homeland, France, and the United Kingdom and currently studies under Scott Sutherland.
- Vivienne Shiao (2nd place), performing Eduardo Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole, Movement I, attends Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences. She has performed at Carnegie Hall with the Honors Performance Series Middle School Orchestra and is a member of the California Association of Independent Schools Honors Music Festival.
- Ian-Rhie Kim (3rd place), a cellist from Santa Monica High School, presents Luigi Boccherini’s Concerto No. 9 in Bb Major. Ian-Rhie has toured Berlin with his school orchestra and has been a Junior Division winner at the Kiwanis Society.
High School Category:
Lauryn Varnell
- Andrew Huang (1st place) from Venice High School performs Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto, Movement I. Andrew has been a principal cellist of the Pasadena Youth Orchestra and has received scholarships through the Music Teachers’ Association of California.
- Margaryta Kuzina (2nd place) from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts sings In My Dreams from Anastasia, The Musical. Margaryta started singing at age 3 and has performed leading roles in musical theater and opera productions and has been involved in concerts raising funds for Ukraine.
- Lauryn Varnell (3rd place, David M. Meyer Memorial Award) from Campbell Hall plays Julius Conus’ Violin Concerto, Movement I. Lauryn is the Concert Master of the Colburn Youth Orchestra and has won numerous awards, including 1st prize at the Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition.
Music Director’s Award:
- Timotee Allouch Chantipie from Lycée Français de Los Angeles performs Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Movement I. Timotee has won several first place awards in competitions and performed as a soloist with the Los Angeles Doctors’ Symphony and the Culver City Chamber Orchestra.
Denisa Hanna, President of the Palisades Symphony Orchestra said, “We warmly invite you to witness the blossoming of these young musicians’ careers and join us in celebrating a landmark moment in the history of the Orchestra. Experience the future of classical music, shaped by a legacy of excellence and a renewed vision of artistic growth and innovation.”