2023 Concerto Competition – Collegiate Level
Thomas Bachert – 2023 Collegiate Concerto Competition Winner
The Collegiate Concerto Competition, sponsored by the Butler County Symphony Association. This year’s competition was held on Sunday, January 22, 2023, at Swope Music Hall, Slippery Rock University. Musicians auditioned for a panel of judges, and the winner, Thomas Bachert, was chosen to perform as a soloist with the Butler County Symphony Orchestra.
Thomas is a saxophonist and aspiring educator. From Pittsburgh, he is a graduate of North Hills High School. Bachert currently attends Slippery Rock University for Bachelor’s degrees in Saxophone Performance and Music Education. There, he is actively involved in many organizations and ensembles, including the wind ensemble and jazz ensemble. He recently performed with his saxophone quartet, the ARC Quartet, at the International Saxophone Symposium in Fairfax, Virginia. As a member of the Slippery Rock University Jazz Ensemble, he has been featured on commissioned recording projects and will be performing at various jazz festivals in Italy and France in July 2023. This is Bachert’s orchestral and soloist debut.
If you have any questions during the application process, please contact the Concerto Competition Coordinator, Heather Helsel, at education@butlersymphony.org.
Emma Kim – 2022 Young Artists Competition Winner
Emma Kim – 2022 Young Artists Competition WinnerOur 2022 Young Artists Competition winner was Emma Kim, a pianist. Please enjoy the audio from when she played the 1st movement of Prokofiev’s Piano concerto No. 3, Op. 26 in C Major during our March 5, 2022, at 7:30 pm concert.
Emma is 17, has played piano since age 5, and has studied with Dr. Marina Lupinacci since age 9. She is currently a senior at North Hills High School. Emma has been a Steinway Society Young Artist for the past eight years, was selected as Pittsburgh Concert Society Young Artist, was awarded Penn State Marian García Competition second prize, and is this year’s PYSO Concerto Competition winner, amongst others. She plays piano for the North Hills Jazz Band and is also captain of the NH Girls Varsity Tennis Team.
