A Community Band Tradition in Jacksonville, Florida
A Community Band Tradition in Jacksonville, Florida
The First Coast Wind Symphony and Jacksonville University are pleased to announce the FCWS 2025 Concerto Competition for High School Musicians. This 14th annual young artist event is designed to promote music education in Florida by providing talented students an opportunity to perform a solo work with wind symphony.
The winner will be chosen through a competitive audition process, and will perform with the First Coast Wind Symphony in concert on May 4, 2025 at Jacksonville University. The winner will receive a $1,500.00 cash award. The second-place student will receive a $500.00 award.
The concerto competition is open to woodwind, brass or percussion musicians enrolled in a Florida high school (grades 9-12.) Previous concerto winners are not eligible to apply again.
The winner of the competition was John Kutudis, who will perform the Alexander Glazunov "Concerto in Eb Major" for alto saxophone on May 4. John is from Longwood and attends Lake Brantley High School. His saxophone teacher is Daniel Ferri. In addition to full participation in his high school marching, concert and jazz bands, John has been selected to perform in Florida All-State and All-County bands. He has earned superior ratings in several FBA District and State Solo and Ensemble Festivals.
The second-place winner of the 2025 concerto competition was flutist Alice Hu, who performed the Carl Reinecke "Ballade" Op. 288. Alice attends King High School in Tampa. Her flute teacher is Francesca Arnone. In addition to performing in the Tampa Bay Winds and Metropolitan Youth Orchestras, she has been selected for Florida All-State band and orchestra. Recent awards include the London Young Musician, Swiss International Music Competition, International Youth Music Competition and the Special Venue Music International Competition Award.
The winner of the competition was Madelyn Urbine, who performed the first movement of the Richard Strauss "Horn Concerto No. 1" on May 5. Madelyn attends Buchholz High School in Gainesville. She has been playing horn for five years under the guidance of teacher Margaret Dixon. Madelyn was selected for the Florida Music Education Association All-State Concert Orchestra, Concert Band, and Symphonic Band. As a sophomore and a junior, she was selected as a finalist in the U.S. Navy Band Young Artist Solo Competition, performing with the band twice in Washington, D.C.
The second-place winner of the 2024 concerto competition was Noah Marsh. Noah performed the James Curnow "Rhapsody for Euphonium" with the FCWS on May 12. Noah is a senior at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville. He plays euphonium in the DA Wind Symphony, as well as trombone in Jazz Ensemble 1. Noah has played in ensembles that have performed at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, College Band Directors National Association, the New York Wind Band Festival at Carnegie Hall, and the Western International Band Clinic in Washington. He has also played in the Florida Music Education Association All-State Symphonic Band during his junior and senior years.
The winner of the competition is flutist Samuel Lewis, who will perform the Doppler "Hungarian Fantasy" with the First Coast Wind Symphony in concert on May 7, and will receive a first-place award of $1,500. Samuel is from Middleburg, FL and attends Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville. His private flute teacher is Rhonda Cassano.
The second-place winner is trumpeter Thomas Roberts from Niceville, FL, who will receive an award of $500. His private teachers are Jon Yates and Todd Craven.
