Walden Chamber Players
Young Artist Competition
2010
Winner: Sasha Scolnik-Brower, cello
Sasha Scolnik-Brower cello, is a tenth-grade student at Phillips Academy, Andover. He is a student of Andrew Mark, and a member of the Boston Youth Symphony, Federico Cortese, conductor. Former teachers have included Jan Muller-Szeraws and Tom Kraines. In 2008, he was a prizewinner in the New England String Ensemble competition and in the Massachusetts String Teacher’s Association Competition, as well as being a semifinalist in the American String Teachers Association National solo competition. In the summer of 2010 he toured with the BYSO in the UK, and played a concert in France with his sister, pianist Sophie Scolnik-Brower, and mother, flutist Julie Scolnik.
Sasha Scolnik-Brower
Runner-up: Rosie Salvucci, double bass
2009
Winner: Malinda McPherson, viola
Malinda McPherson, 17, is currently a junior at Belmont High School. She began violin studies at age 8 with Marta Zurad, and currently studies viola with Patricia McCarty. Malinda is a member of the New England Conservatory’s Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. Her quartets at NEC’s Preparatory Division have performed in master classes with William Bolcom and Sebastian Currier, and in the 2008 NEC Preparatory School Chamber Music Gala in Jordan Hall. As a member of the The Greenmeadow Quartet, she has won an honorable mention in the collegiate division of the International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition. Malinda also won the New York Viola Society’s Rosemary Glyde Scholarship in 2008. In May 2009 she will perform as a guest artist with the Alcyon Chamber Ensemble. As a diversion from the classical repertoire, Malinda has performed with the Harvard-Radcliffe Gilbert and Sullivan Players. This coming summer will be her third at the Meadowmount School of Music. During previous summers, she has attended the Apple Hill Chamber Music Festival and the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts, where she studied Cape Breton fiddle and step dance. When she is not holding a textbook or viola, Malinda enjoys teaching violin, playing on her school’s Ultimate Frisbee team, and arguing on her school’s Mock Trial team, of which she is the captain.
Malinda McPherson
Runner-up: Miki Nagahara, violin
2008
Winner: Bobby Chen, 'cello
Bobby, age 16, was born in Newton, Massachusetts and currently attends Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. Since his first cello lessons at age 9, Bobby has won many competitions, granting him solo performances with the the Brockton Symphony, Quincy Symphony, Newton Symphony, Arlington Symphony, and the New England Conservatory. He was also invited to solo at Boston’s New Year’s Eve celebration in 2004. In 2008, he was the youngest semi-finalist in the Stulberg International String Competition. Also, Bobby is a fourth year member of the New England Conservatory’s Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, as he was accepted into the orchestra at the earliest possible age. In addition to YPO Bobby plays in his school’s Academy Chamber Orchestra. He has attended the Greenwood Chamber Music Camp for two years. Bobby studies with Emmanuel Feldman at the New England Conservatory, and has performed in master classes for esteemed artists such as Bion Tsang and Joel Krosnick. Before taking up the cello, Bobby began playing the piano at age four, and won first place in the Massachusetts Music Teachers Association competitions. Outside of music, Bobby is an active athlete, playing on school basketball, football, and track& field teams. A dedicated academic student, he balances his time between school, music, sports, and following the Boston Celtics.
Left to right, Walden cellist Ashima Scripp, YAC winner Bobby Chen, violinist Annie Rabbat, and Walden artistic director and violist Christof Huebner.
Runner-up: Sophie Applbaum, 'cello
2007
Winner: Chloe O'Connell, violin
Chloë O’Connell, a senior at Concord Academy in 2007, was a member of both the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra and concertmaster of the Longy Youth Chamber Orchestra. She has played in master classes for artists such as Pamela Frank and Roman Totenburg, and was the winner of the Longy 2006 Concerto Competition, Senior division. She studied with Janet Packer for four years, and is currently a student at Brown University.
Left to right, Walden violinist Tatiana Dimitriades, 2007 YAC winner Chloe O'Connell, Walden artistic direcotr and violist Christof Huebner, and Walden cellist Ashima Scripp.
“I felt so at home and overjoyed to be
playing gorgeous music, surrounded by such
receptive and supportive musicians. I don't
know of another competition that focuses on
chamber music - measuring the compatibility
of a musician within a group as well as solo
ability. Chamber music has always been the
strongest part of my musical identity, so I
was immediately drawn by this competition!
The final round was a wonderful and
educational experience, and I am honored
that I will be able to perform with you in
the future!"
- Malinda McPherson, YAC Winner 2009
“"I've entered many competitions in the
past but they were always solo efforts that
did not involve working directly with a group
of experienced professional musicians.
I enjoyed that the Walden Chamber Players
Young Artist Competition gave me a taste
of what it would be like to work as a
professional. I studied and prepared even
harder so that I would do well among the
professional players but I found that it was
actually easier to work among them because
they were so attuned to me. They had a
higher level of musical awareness which
allowed me to learn and merge more easily
with their playing style. All in all, it was a very
positive, enjoyable, unique, and uplifting
experience."
- Bobby Chen, YAC Winner 2008