For immediate release: March 6, 2008
KSO Continues Its Tradition of Winning Performances
 The guests soloists were young, but the music was big. In fact, the March 2, 2008 performance of the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra was grand.
Vincent Meklis and Mindy Park were co-winners of the 2008 Arthur D. Montzka Young Artists Concerto Competition and their talents and musicianship resounded throughout Boutell Memorial Concert Hall at Northern Illinois University.
Award-winning cellist Mindy Park, of Palatine, seemed to guide the orchestra through Shostakovich’s moving Concerto in Eb Major. This gifted 17 year old is currently a member of the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy Program, the principal cellist of the American Academy Chamber Strings and a student with Hans Jorgen Jensen of Northwestern University.
Her cello performances have been featured on Chicago’s WFMT’s Introductions series as well as From the Top on National Public Radio. A dedicated musician, to be sure; Mindy Park is also a high school senior who enjoys watching Spiderman movies and America’s Dance Crew on TV.
Vincent Meklis of Orland Park took the stage after intermission and held the audience rapt as his bow and fingers flew across his violin on Tzigane by Maurice Ravel. At 15, he has performed at numerous venues in the United States, China and Europe, and presently studies with Almita and Roland Vamos at the Music Institute of Chicago where he is a Merit Scholarship recipient.
Meklis began playing the violin when he was four and remains devoted to music. “I love the violin,” he said. “It’s such an incredible way to express emotion.” He is also an accomplished magician, an aspiring gourmet cook and baker and an avid fan of the Three Stooges.
According to Linc Smelser, conductor and music director, Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s genuine enthusiasm and excitement for the concerto competition performance is a long-standing tradition. “We are all thrilled to play with these talented, impressive young musicians.”
The Concerto Competition is an inspiration that dates back to 1985, when Arthur D. Montzka conducted the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra. He initiated the tradition —open to musicians under the age of 18 and living within a 75-mile radius of DeKalb — to compete for the opportunity to solo with the orchestra and for a monetary award. Many musicians have auditioned since and many of the winners have gone on to prestigious schools of music and successful careers.
In November of 2002, Mr. Montzka was killed in an auto accident. The following January the KSO Board of Directors officially named the event the Arthur D. Montzka Concerto Competition to honor its founder.
Under the direction of conductor Linc Smelser, the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra also presented Roman Carnival Overture, by Hector Berlioz and Ottorino Respighi’s Roman Festivals. This concert is supported in part by the Mary E. Stevens Concert Trust and Marilyn Montzka.
A dedicated company of professional, student, and amateur musicians, the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit community group that has provided a venue for local musicians to showcase their talents in an orchestral setting since 1976.
The Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra season is supported in part by grants from the Illinois Arts Council and the DeKalb County Community Foundation.
For additional information and group ticket sales call 815-756-3728 or visit the website at www.kishorchestra.org (email: KSOMgr@kishorchestra.org).
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