We are pleased to announce the winner and finalists of the 2022 Levente Medveczky Student Scholarship Competition.

2022 Scholarship Recipient

This year’s winner is Alina Baron, 16. Alina started her violin adventure at age three by showing a great interest in baroque music. She graduated from the Suzuki program and has enjoyed soloing with the Utah Symphony, Utah Valley Symphony, Utah Philharmonic Orchestra, and Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra. Violin is her main instrument, but she also loves the piano, ukulele, and singing. Alina has a talent for sharing music skills with others. She started tutoring violin at the age of 11 and is the president of Joyful Sounds Children’s Choir where she instructs and leads class learning. She also enjoys spending time with family & friends, playing soccer, school, choir, and being outside.

Alina Baron, violin, 11th Grade, Mountain Heights Academy                                        
Student of Chandelle Fairbanks
J. S. Bach, Partita No. 3 in E Major , Preludio (BWV 1006)


Finalists

Bottom row, left to right: Madalyn Thiriot, Ella Madsen, Alina Baron, Spencer Lyle.  
Top row, left to right: Kelsey Berges, Katherine Ricks, Zach Richter, Dawson Rasmussen, and Logan Purser.

Madalyn Thiriot, age 17, began playing the violin when she was 5. She recently moved to Utah from North Carolina and is currently a Junior at Viewmont High School. She was thrilled to finally move to Utah and have “in person” lessons with Professor Morgan. On top of violin, Madalyn is the principal clarinet player for the high school band and at her previous high school, ran cross country and played Lacrosse. She has performed at the highest level in youth orchestra’s, community events, and state orchestra’s in Washington, DC, New York, North Carolina, and now Utah. She is currentlv a member of the Conservatory at the Gifted Music School.

Student of LeeAnn Morgan – Junior, Viewmont High School
J. S. Bach, Sonata for Violin Solo, No. 1 in G minor, Presto (BWV 1001) (violin)


Ella Madsen is 17 years old and has been playing the piano since 2012. She is currently studying the piano under Kalo Latu and previously studied under Susan Smith. She has used her love of piano to accompany her congregation’s worship services and perform for her congregation. Ella was recently accepted into Brigham Young University and plans to attend the university in the fall. In her spare time, Ella enjoys reading and going on hikes in Provo Canyon.

Student of Kalo Latu – 12th Grade, Home School
J. S. Bach, Prelude and Fugue No. 10 in E minor (BWV 855) (piano)


This year’s winner is Alina Baron, 16. Alina started her violin adventure at age three by showing a great interest in baroque music. She graduated from the Suzuki program and has enjoyed soloing with the Utah Symphony, Utah Valley Symphony, Utah Philharmonic Orchestra, and Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra. Violin is her main instrument, but she also loves the piano, ukulele, and singing. Alina has a talent for sharing music skills with others. She started tutoring violin at the age of 11 and is the president of Joyful Sounds Children’s Choir where she instructs and leads class learning. She also enjoys spending time with family & friends, playing soccer, school, choir, and being outside.

Student of Chandelle Fairbanks – 11th Grade, Mountain Heights Academy
J. S. Bach, Partita No. 3 in E Major , Preludio (BWV 1006) (violin)


Spencer Lyle, 17, started his journey in music at age six. He is currently a member of the Lyceum Philharmonic in American Fork, and loves both solo and full ensemble playing. He has won several awards/competitions over the years, including two concerto competitions, third place in a statewide chamber music competition, as well as first place in an international music competition. He is currently under the direction of Dr. Jeremy Starr, and has already been accepted into Utah Valley University for further education. Currently Spencer is working on pieces by A. Khachaturian, J.S. Bach, and Ysaÿe.

Student of Dr. Jeremy Starr – 12th Grade, Lumen Scholar Institute
J. S. Bach, Violin Sonata I, Siciliana (BWV 1001) (violin)

Kelsey Berges, age 17, began her study of piano at age 8. She has been working under her teacher, Daniel Olsen, for the past 7 years. She has been a finalist in several competitions including the Encore Keyboard Competition, Encore Solo Festival, and the UMTA Performance Evaluations, receiving
superior scores. Kelsey began to teach her own piano lessons at age 12 and has been doing it ever since, as she enjoys sharing her love of piano with others. Besides the piano, Kelsey also plays a variety of other instruments, including percussion, electric/acoustic guitar, ukulele, organ, and the violin in the top orchestra at her high school. Some of her other interests include ceramics, running cross country and track, watching Studio Ghibli movies, hiking, and learning Chinese.

Student of Daniel Olsen – Junior, Timpview High School
J. S. Bach, Partita No. 1 in B flat Major, Prelude, Allamande, and Gigue (BWV 825) (piano)


Katherine Ricks, age 17, began playing piano in 2009 at the age of 5. She is the second of six children, who all play the piano as well. In addition to the piano, Katherine has been playing violin for the past 10 years. Right now she is participating in the Hawaii Youth Symphony Program. When she’s not practicing music, Katherine enjoys reading, going to the beach, hiking, and watching movies with her family. She was recently accepted to BYU Provo and plans on attending there in the fall.

Student of Daniel Olsen – Senior, Utah Online School
J. S. Bach, English Suite No. 3, Prelude (BWV 808) (piano)


Zach Richter, age 15, started learning to play the piano when he was 6 years old, and has continued to improve in his musical abilities. He is the third child of four and the only boy in his family. He loves playing soccer, mountain biking, playing pickleball and basketball, and currently runs track for Lone Peak High school. He enjoys learning classical music, as well as contemporary. He has earned many superior ratings for past festival ensembles. He looks forward to learning to drive, going to high school, and continuing practicing the piano.

Student of Maria Heward – 9th Grade, Timberline Middle School
J. S. Bach, Italian Concerto in F Major (BWV 971) (piano)


Dawson Rasmussen is a 16 year old Sophomore at American Leadership Academy and Concurrent Enrollment student at Utah Valley University. He has loved playing the piano since he was 8 years old and studied under Jake Galovich for several years, and for the last 2 years, Daniel Olsen. He plays
professionally for weddings, parties, benefit concerts, church and recently had the opportunity to be the accompanist for the opening act of BYU’s Vocal Point. Dawson is the proud piano teacher to 14 young students and enjoys sharing his love of music with them. He is a member of the National Honor Society, HOSA and National Champion Show Choir, Evolution. In his spare time, he loves to date, be with family and hang out with his Mini Goldendoodle, Banks.

Student of  Daniel Olsen – Sophomore, American Leadership Academy
J. S. Bach, Prelude and Fugue in C minor from Well-Tempered Clavier (BWV847) (piano)


Logan Purser, age 15, lives in Lehi, Utah. He recently received an honorable mention at the 2021 Southern California Viola Society Youth Competition in conjunction with the Primrose International Viola Competition, where he was also invited to perform in a masterclass for the American Viola Society. Other recent accomplishments include placing first in the Utah ASTA 2021 chamber competition, 2nd in the 2021 Utah OPUS competition, being chosen as a finalist in the Utah Symphony’s 2021 Salute to Youth competition, and landing an essay on Mapprs aboard the Perseverance rover. Logan studies viola with Emily Barrett Brown and Mick Wetzel and is a member of the Gifted Music School’s scholarship conservatory program in Salt Lake City, Utah. His passion for music is matched only by his passion for fine automobiles.

Student of Kelly McConkie Stewart – 8th Grade, Home School
J. S. Bach, Cello suite No. 2 in D minor, IV. Sarabande (BWV 1008) (cello)


Exhibition Performances by Junior Performers

In addition to the finalists performances, several junior performers also participated.

left to right: Dawson Rasmussen, Logan Purser, Blake Purser, Kelsey Berges, Katherine Ricks, Lyle Spencer, Ella Madsen, Madalyn Thiriot, Zach Richter, Alina Baron, Whitney Baron.

Blake Purser, cello – 8th Grade, Home School
Student of Kelly McConkie Stewart
J. S. Bach, Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor Saraband (BWV 1008)

Whitney Baron, violin (7th Grade, My Tech High) and Alina Baron, violin
Student of Chandelle Fairbanks
J. S. Bach, Concerto in D minor for 2 Violins, 3rd movement (BWV 1043)