Wisconsin Public Radio - Neale-Silva 2008 Finalists

2008 Finalists

Wisconsin Public Radio named eleven individuals and one ensemble as finalists for its Neale-Silva Young Artists' Competition, which recognizes outstanding young Wisconsin classical performers who demonstrate an exceptionally high level of artistry.

This year's competition was open to soloists, duos, trios, quartets or quintets who are between the ages of 17 and 26, and are residents of Wisconsin, or attend a Wisconsin college or university. All instrumentalists and vocal musicians entered by sending in a recording of their abilities.

The finalists, who were selected in a preliminary judging in February, auditioned before a three-judge panel on March 16 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Those auditions determined which of the 2008 Wisconsin Public Radio/Neale-Silva Young Artists received a cash prize and the opportunity to perform on the winners' recital on Wednesday, April 30 in Madison.

The 2008 finalists were:

Bassoon: David Wells (Madison) -- UW-Madison
Clarinet: Brian Viliunas (Greendale, Milwaukee)
Flute: Colleen White (Cedarburg) -- UW-Madison
Flute & Percussion Duo:
- Flute: Kristine Rominski (Woodville)
- Percussion: Michael Mixtacki (Verona) -- UW-Madison
Piano: Katelyn Bouska (Stoddard), Viterbo University-La Crosse
Piano: Amy Lauters (Manhattan, KS) -- Lawrence University-Appleton
Piano: William Martin (Flossmoor, IL) -- Lawrence University-Appleton
Piano: Michael Smith (Davis, California) -- Lawrence University-Appleton
Piano Duo: Paola Savvidou (Cyprus); Jonathan Kuuskoski (Wilmington, NC) --UW-Madison
String Quartet:
- violin: Danielle Simandl (Marquette, MI)
- violin: Katie Ekberg (New Hope, MN)
- viola: Sarah Bellmore (Sherwood)
- cello: Max Hero (Wauwatosa) -- Lawrence University-Appleton
Violin: Elizabeth Larson (Middleton) -- UW-Madison
Violin: Danielle Simandl (Marquette, MI) -- Lawrence University
Viola: Jacki Thering (Waunakee) -- UW-Oshkosh
Voice-Lyric Coloratura Soprano: Janalyn Bump (Cambria) -- UW-Whitewater

For questions or comments about our programming, call Audience Services
at 1-800-747-7444, email us at listener@wpr.org, or use our Online Feedback Form.
Comment about our website? Email it to webmaster@wpr.org.

Wisconsin Public Radio is a service of the
Wisconsin Educational Communications Board
and University of Wisconsin - Extension.