12/30/2010 - JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, D.C. -- Established in 1994, the Colonel George S. Howard Young Artist Competition is named for the second commander and conductor of The U.S. Air Force Band to honor his years of command (1944 -1963) and his many contributions to the world of music.
The competition is open to high school woodwind, brass and percussion instrumentalists in grades 9 through 12 who are citizens or legal permanent residents of the United States. This year's competition focused on woodwind instrumentalists; next year it will be open to brass and percussion players.
Applicants from all over the country submit recordings of specified selections. Select students are then invited to play during a final round in Washington, D.C. This year's finalists are:
| NAME |
INSTRUMENT |
GRADE |
HOMETOWN |
| Andrea Maria Cunningham |
flute |
11 |
Kingsport, Tenn. |
| Jordan Lulloff |
saxophone |
12 |
Okemos, Mich. |
| Katelyn S. McKeirnan |
clarinet |
12 |
DeSoto, Kan. |
| Ana M. Nelson |
clarinet |
11 |
Ripon, Wis. |
| Aaron Pritchett |
saxophone |
12 |
Fort Worth, Texas |
The final round will take place at Gabriel Hall in Hangar 2 on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling on Thurs., Jan. 27 beginning at 1 p.m. The judges will be the Band's deputy commander Maj. Scott Guidry and Chief Master Sgt. Carl Long, the concertmaster for the Concert Band.
The winner of this year's Young Artist Competition will perform with The U.S. Air Force Concert Band on March 6 at DAR Constitution Hall as part of the Band's 2011 Guest Artist Series.
