Nine young instrumentalists have been picked to solo with the Utah Symphony on its annual "Salute to Youth" concert at 8 p.m. Nov. 17 in Symphony Hall. They are:
- Pianist Ben Chen, 14, Salt Lake City. A native of China, Ben is a ninth-grader at Highland High School. Currently a student of Paul C. Pollei's, he has studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and last year took a fifth prize in the International Stravinsky Awards Competition.- Violinist Victoria Ferris, 14, Salt Lake City. A ninth-grader at Highland High School, Victoria currently studies with Madeline Schatz. She has been a member of the Young Chamber Players of Utah, Utah Youth Symphony and All-State Orchestra.
- Pianist Tamami Honma, 16, Logan. A native of Japan, Tamami previously soloed on the "Salute to Youth" in 1985, when she was 12. Since then she has captured first prizes in both the Utah State Fair and the International Stravinsky Awards Competition. Her current teacher is Gary Amano.
- Percussionist Anthony Adams, 17, Tremonton. A 1989 graduate of Bear River High School, Anthony is a freshman at Utah State University, where he studies with Dennis Griffin. Last February he took the top award in the Utah Chapter, Percussive Arts Society competition.
- Pianist Holly Miller, 17, Logan. A senior at Sky View High School, Holly is a National Merit Semifinalist and a member of the All-State Band. This year she placed first in the USU Piano Festival and fifth in the Young Keyboard Artists Association Competition. Currently she studies with Gary Amano.
- Violist Tanja Mead, 18, Salt Lake City. A student of Mikhail Boguslavsky's, Tanja graduated earlier this year from Bountiful High School. She switched from violin to viola in 1986 and two years later was a national finalist in the American String Teachers Association Solo Competition.
- Flutist Andrew Stamp, 18, Salt Lake City. A native of Canada, Andrew came to Utah with his family in 1974. He is currently a student at Michigan's Interlochen Arts Academy, where he studies with Jacqueline Hoffo. As a composer, he has published a book of flute duets.
- Violinist Heidi Turner, 19, Salt Lake City. Another former "Salute to Youth" soloist (she performed in 1983 and 1986), Heidi also attended the Interlochen Arts Academy until 1987. The past two years she has been at the New England Conservatory of Music, where she studies with Masuko Ushioda.
- Flutist Kristen Gygi, 24, Salt Lake City. A graduate of East High School and the St. Louis Conservatory of Music (where she studied with Jacob Berg), Kristen has performed at both Spoleto Festivals and is former first flute of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Utah Youth Symphony.
The nine were selected by Utah Symphony music director Joseph Silverstein from among this year's Utah State Fair Music Competition winners in auditions last month in Symphony Hall. Also taking part in the selection process were Harold M. Gottfredson of the Utah Symphony and Deseret News music critic William S. Goodfellow.
Co-sponsored for the 30th year by the Deseret News, the Nov. 17 concert - on a Friday this year - will feature music of Lalo, Prokofiev, Ibert, Chopin, Sibelius, Mozart, Bartok, Grieg and Paul Creston (the Concertino for marimba and orchestra). Silverstein will conduct the program.
Individual tickets are priced at $6, $8, $10 and $12, with a special family ticket available for $29. For information, call the Symphony Hall box office at 533-NOTE.