The Florida Orchestra Musicians Association winners of the annual Justine LeBaron Young Artist Competition; The overall grand prize goes to pianist Bo Fei Wang, 15, of Palm Harbor, who will perform the first movement of his winning competition piece, Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor, with The Florida Orchestra on a Coffee concert in January 2017

The grand prize runner-up is Hannah Kim, 14, of Wesley Chapel, playing the first movement of Elgar’s Cello Concerto. Second runner-up is Dylan Houchin, 14, of Tampa, on the first movement of Kabalevsky’s Violin Concerto in C Major.

The competition is named in remembrance of the former principal French horn of The Florida Orchestra, Justine LeBaron. This year 32 young classical music students from Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties competed in the senior and junior divisions in piano and instrumental categories. Winners receive cash prizes totaling $5,200.

The competition was held April 16 at the Music Center on the Gibbs Campus of St. Petersburg College. John Wilson, former news anchor of Fox 13 television, was the master of ceremonies for the awards presentation.

The winners in each category are:

Senior Division
PIANO
First: Bo Fei Wang, 15, Palm Harbor
Second: Minerva Nong, 15, Tampa
Third: Joshua Cessna, 22, Valrico

INSTRUMENTAL
First: Dylan Houchin, violin, 14, Tampa
Second: Ethan Hillman, violin, 15, Tampa
Third: Aliaksandra Panfilovich, violin, 17, Clearwater

Junior Division
PIANO
First: Michael Yao, 12, Tampa
Second: Marco Jimenez, 13, St. Petersburg
Third: Alexandra Westcott, 12, Land O Lakes

INSTRUMENTAL
First: Hannah Kim, cello, 14, Wesley Chapel
Second: Karishma Chapalamadugu, violin, 13, Valrico
Third: Sophia Chen, violin, 12, Tampa
Honorable Mention: William Li, violin, 13, Tampa
Honorable Mention: Myra Sexton, violin, 11, Lithia

The competition winners also performed their audition pieces at the afternoon recital following the awards ceremony.

The Florida Orchestra Musicians Association is passionate about making and sharing music with the community, as well as nurturing the next generation of classical musicians. For more information on the group, go to www.floridaorchestramusicians.biz.

Funding sponsors of the competition include retired TFO musician William Don Owen and TFO board members James R. Gillespie, Peter and Susan Betzer, Maria P. Cantonis, Jeanne Coleman, Kent and Jane Fanning, and Jane Strom, and the North Suncoast Associates Volunteer Guild, Anne Lauder, president.

About The Florida Orchestra

The Florida Orchestra (TFO) is a non-profit, premier cultural and arts organization in the Tampa Bay area, dedicated to bringing music to all people. Under the leadership of Music Director Michael Francis, it performs series of classical, popular, rock and morning coffee concerts in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, as well as free Pops in the Park concerts. Connecting to the community is a priority, with pre-concert talks, family and youth concerts and other educational activities. Kids get in free to classical Masterworks concerts with Classical Kids tickets.

To subscribe or buy individual concert tickets: 727.892.3337 or 1.800.662.7286; floridaorchestra.org.

The Florida Orchestra has announced the 2016/2017 season, Michael Francis’ second as music director, featuring Beethoven, a David Bowie tribute, and acrobats! Concert information is now available for the Tampa Bay Times Masterworks, Raymond James Pops, Coffee Concerts, and Rock Concerts.

For a complete list of subscription packages, including series breakouts and pricing, click here.

Single tickets go on sale in August.