| Semi-Finalists |
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Jennifer Arnold
Instrument: Viola
Age: 17
Teacher: Stanley Konopka
Credits: Jennifer joined the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra as a violinist in September, 1991, at the age of 10. She has performed as soloist with the Interlochen Intermediate Symphony Orchestra, the World Youth Symphony, the Suburban Symphony and the renowned Cleveland Orchestra at its key concert. Jennifer is cur-rently principal violist of the Cleveland Youth Orchestra and studies both violin and viola.
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 | Jannina Barefield
Instrument: Violin
Age: 15
Teacher: Paul Kantor
Credits: Jannina was the 1996 winner of the Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra Concerto Competition. She is also the current winner of the Michigan ASTA Solo String Competition. After making her debut at Orchestra Hall at the age of 11, Jannina has performed with the Met. Orchestra, the Met. Youth Symphony and others. She is currently Concertmaster of the DSCO and 1st violinist with the DSCO String Quartet.
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Jocelyn Butler
Instrument: Cello
Age: 16
Teacher: Suzanne Veiga
Credits: Jocelyn is principal cellist in the Central Kentucky Youth Symphony as well as being principal cellist for the 1998 Kentucky All-State & Festival Orchestras. She is also a Kentucky semi-finalist in the ASTA Solo Competition. Jocelyn is the recipient of awards from the Central Kentucky Chamber Music Society and the MTNA and NFMC Competitions. She is also accomplished on piano as well as french horn.
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Yerdua Caesar-Kaptoech
Instrument: Violin
Age: 18
Teacher: Taras Gabora
Credits: Yerdua has been the featured soloist at the NANM Conference in Philadelphia, the Barge Music concert series, and the 1992 NAACP conference. She held the position of Concertmaster of the Orchestra de Camera and is a member of the Oberlin and San Francisco Youth Orchestras. Yerdua is also an award recipient from the NANM, the Lervernia McArthur Competition and the Marin Music Chest.
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Christina Castelli - 1st Place Laureate (tied)
Instrument: Violin
Age: 19
Teachers: Roland & Almita Vamos
Credits: Christina is a finalist in the 1998 Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition in France and is also a finalist in the 1998 ASTA Competition for viola. She was the winner of the 1997 William Primrose International Viola Competition, received the Bach Prize in the 1996 Kingsville International Young Performers Competition and was named a 1996 Presidential Scholar in the Arts.
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Joseph Conyers
Instrument: Bass
Age: 16
Teacher: David Warshauer
Credits: Joseph is a scholarship recipient from the American Symphony Orchestra League, has received the Continental Societies' Fine Arts Award and placed first in the Omega Psi Phi Competition. He has also won the Savannah Symphony Concerto Competition on Bass while placing as runner-up on piano. Joseph has been principal in the Savannah Symphony Civic Orchestra and the GISA All-Select Orchestra.
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Gerald Johnson
Instrument: Violin
Age: 18
Teacher: Julia Bushkova
Credits: Gerald, who is graduating from IAA this year, has held the position of con-certmaster of the Junior D.C. Youth Orchestra. He has also won the Feder Memorial String Competition and earned third prize in the DCYOP's Concerto Competition. Gerald has performed in various professional settings, including the ceremony honoring Dr. Martin Luther King during President Clinton's First Inauguration.
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Shelby Latin
Instrument: Violin
Age: 16
Teacher: Eleanor Stanlis
Credits: Shelby is the Bronze Medal winner of the 1997 NAACP Act-So Awards and 1st Place winner of the Rock Valley College Concerto Competition and Mendels-sohn Chandler Starr Miller Scholarship Auditions. She has also held the Concertmaster position at the RAYSO. Shelby has attended the prestigious Interlochen Arts Camp, Encore School for Strings and Ottawa University's Sound Encounters.
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Lemarr Lovett
Instrument: Bass
Age: 17
Teacher: Dennis Roy
Credits: Lemarr was a finalist in the 1997
Massachusetts ASTA Solo Competition, won 2nd Prize in the Harry & Marion Dubbs Concerto Competition and First Prize in the International Society of Bassists Competition. He has also held the principal bass position in the New England Conservatory's Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and the 1995 Southeast District Music Festival.
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Tai Murray - 1st Place Laureate (tied)
Instrument: Violin
Age: 15
Teacher: Franco Gulli
Credits: Tai has had solo performances at the Symphony Center Rotunda and Music in the Loft in Chicago. She has also had orchestral performances with the LA Philharmonic, Chicago Youth Symphony and the St. Ambrose Chamber Orchestra. Tai has studied at Indiana University since the age of nine and is honored with the opportunity to practice and perform on an instrument from the Stradivari Society.
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Carl St. Jacques
Instrument: Viola
Age: 18
Teacher: Atar Arad
Credits: Carl has been principal viola of the Florida All-State orchestras for the past four years. He is also a current member of both the Evansville Philharmonic and the Owensboro Symphonies. At age 16, he became a member of the Miami Symphony. Carl has been an American Symphony Orchestra League Scholar and attended the Luzerne Music Center, the IU String Academy and the Eastern Music Festival.
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Melissa White - 3rd Place Laureate
Instrument: Violin
Age: 13
Teachers: Roland & Almita Vamos
Credits: Melissa has won the 1997 Lin Scholarship for Violin Competition and the Interlochen National Arts Camp Concerto Competition. She is a grant recipient of the 1997 American Symphony Orchestra League, placed second in the 1996 & 1997 Chicago Music Festivals and was a finalist in the Music Center of the North Shore 1996 Concerto Competition. She is also Concertmaster of the Lansing Jr. Symphony.
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