Darlington junior Bonnie Rowland received an honorable mention for her trombone performance in the Rome Symphony Orchestra’s inaugural concerto competition, held in Berry College's Ford Auditorium on Jan. 22. Darlington seniors Veronica Banford and Ashley Zhang also participated.
"We are so proud of these three students," said Kim Tunnell, director of fine arts. "They worked very hard to prepare for this competition and each of them represented Darlington very well."
Model High School senior Timothy Reynolds won the high school division for his performance of the first movement of Wienlawski’s violin concerto in D minor. Shorter University freshman Diane Turnerwon the collegiate division for her performance of the first movement of Mozart’s piano concerto in D minor. Both Reynolds and Turner will perform their winning concerto pieces at the Rome Symphony Orchestra’s spring concert at the Rome City Auditorium on April 30.
Honorable mention recognition in the collegiate division went to Shorter University's Ryan Ferguson for his trumpet performance.
A total of 13 entrants competed in the RSO’s concerto competition. All participants either live in Rome-Floyd County and/or they attend school here. Berry College and Shorter University were represented in the collegiate division, and entrants from Armuchee High School, Darlington School, Model High School and Rome High School made up the high school competitors.
The competitors were judged by three judges, including the RSO’s music director and conductor, Richard Pryor, who also serves as the conductor of the Emory University Orchestra and the Emory University Youth Orchestra; William Ransom, Mary Emerson Professor of Piano at Emory University; and Yinzi Kong, a member of Emory University’s Vega Quartet.
