By HANNAH SCHUTTER
Director of Marketing, Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts

New traditions are starting at Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts; Symphony of the Lakes, a program under Wagon Wheel Center’s umbrella, is kicking off their first ever Young Artist Competition this month. Come and watch up-and-coming young musicians from all over Northeastern Indiana as they compete for the top prize.

Symphony of the Lakes, Warsaw’s premier symphony, has been around for over 10 years. Their sole mission is to enrich the quality of life in Northeastern Indiana through live music. Now, in an effort to recognize young talent around the area, the symphony will be hosting the Young Artist Competition. Eleven high school-aged musicians will be performing solos in hopes to win one of three scholarships.

The participants include Abigail Brunk Greaser and Rachel Horning from Goshen High School; Analiese Helms, Ben Meulink, Drew Tomasik, David Zoschnick, and Brendan Sullivan from Warsaw Community High School; Andrew Scott from Elkhart High School, Stephen Tsai from Homestead High School, Hannah Marker from Penn High School, and Thomas Wheeler, a homeschooled student from Goshen. The artist who places first will get the chance to play with the Symphony of the Lakes at their Saturday, April 18 concert, entitled The Master and His Pupil.

The Young Artist Competition will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, with an Awards Ceremony following the conclusion of the performances. Tri Kappa is sponsoring this event that is free to the public. A complete schedule of the Young Artist Competition will be available at www.symphonyofthelakes.com and on the Symphony of the Lakes’ Facebook page.