2022 Young Performers Competition Award Recipients

The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Music Director and Conductor Daniel Sommerville is pleased to announce the winners of its 2022 Young Performers Competition. Winners in both divisions will be featured soloists with the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, March 13, at 3:00 pm at the LaSalle-Peru Township High School Auditorium. The program titled “A Family Concert / Thrills and Chills! “ will include Die Fledermaous Overture by Strauss, Grieg’s Symphonic Dances, and “The Thrill of the Orchestra” by Peck with Roger Amm, narrator.

Madison Vescogni

Young Performers Senior Division Winner Madison Vescogni will perform the first movement of the Flute Concerto in G Major by Johann Joachim Quantz. A junior at LaSalle-Peru Township High School, she is the daughter of Brian and Michele Vescogni of Peru. Maddie has studied privately with Sue Gillio at Music Suite 408 for the past five years and is a member of the Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble, playing contrabass flute.  At. L-P she plays in the high school band wind ensemble and was one of the 2021 drum majors for the Marching Cavaliers, all under the direction of Jeremy Stevens. Maddie has participated in the District # 2 Junior and Senior ILMEA bands and was selected as a 2021 All-State Musician. She was selected to the I-8 All-Conference Band as a freshman and a junior. Maddie has also participated in the Annual Flute Day and Summer Flute Retreats in Peru.

Junior Division Winner Ava Rosengren, flutist, will play Fauré’s Fantaisie. She is a freshman at Serena High School and the daughter of Tammi and Mike Rosengren of Serena. She has played flute since she was six years old as a student of Cindi Isenhower. Most recently she has studied at Music Studio 408 in Peru with Jennifer Etscheid and is currently a student of Sue Gillio. Ava is a member of the Illinois Flute Ensemble, playing alto flute. She was selected for the Junior and Senior District #2 ILMEA band festivals the past four years, participated in many Honor Band Festivals, flute camps, and teaching days and is a member of the Serena High School Band under the direction of Geoff Pierce.

Ava Rosengren

The Honorable Mention in the Junior Division is Jadyne Leone of Spring Valley, singing Charles Gounod’s “Ave Maria”, an adaption of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Prelude of Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 8466. Jadyn is in the 6th grade at Peru Catholic School and is a student of Jenilyn Roether.

The Runner-Up in the Senior Division is Emily Kmetz of LaSalle, singing Henry Purcell’s “When I am laid in earth,” also known as “Dido’s Lament” from his opera Dido and Aeneas. Emily is a sophomore at LaSalle-Peru Township High School and is a student of Jenilyn Roether.

Honorable Mention in the Senior Division is Gabby Mosley of Peru, playing a movement from Carl Philipp Stamitz’s Concerto for Flute and Orchestra in G Major, Op. 29. Gabby is a sophomore at LaSalle-Peru Township High School and is a student of Sue Gillio.