March 31st: Symphony features Young Artist Competition Winners

Kristy L

Spring is here at the Florence Symphony Orchestra and so is fresh young talent! Come join us on March 31st and see the talented young winners of the FSO’s 3rd Annual Young Artist Concerto Competition: 1st place winner Kristy Liao, 2nd place winner Worth Lewallen, and 3rd place winner Benjamin Liu. They will all be performing under the direction of Music Director Dr. Terry Roberts with our incredibly talented orchestra. It will be a night of music you will remember forever.

Worth Lewallen

This night of memorable music will begin with violinist Benjamin Liu performing his winning piece, Concerto No. 3 in G major for Violin, K. 216 by Mozart. Benjamin is an 18 year old senior at Wilson High School and has studied the violin for 14 years. He is currently studying under Dr. Sherry Woods. He has performed from 2008-2012 in the South Carolina All-State Orchestra and in the South Carolina Region IV Orchestra from 2007-2011.

Benjamin Liu

The evening will move forward with the FSO's own Worth Lewallen performing his winning piece, Concerto for Violin in G major, Hob. VIIa:4 written by Haydn. Worth Lewallen is a 17 year old senior at West Florence High School. He has studied violin for 12 years with Mrs. Starr Ward  and has also studied with Ms. Ronda Lee, his high school orchestra teacher. Worth is Concert Master of the West Florence High School Orchestra, he is also a member of the Florence Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Florence Symphony Orchestra.  Last year he was awarded with the title Spoleto Rising Star Competition Winner and was asked to perform in the festival on multiple occasions.

Rounding out the Young Artist Competition winners will be 1st place winner Kristy Liao performing her winning piece Concerto for violin in E minor, op. 64 by Mendelssohn. Kristy is a 17 year old senior at Wilson High School and has studied violin for 9 years. She is currently studying violin with Prof./Dr. William Terwilliger. She was a Ruth Kern Concerto Competition finalist, she placed 3rd in the SC MTNA Competition, and has performed in the SC All-Region and All-State Orchestras.  She has also done solo performances with the Fleur de Lis Chamber Orchestra and the Florence All-City Orchestra.

The evening will end with the Florence Symphony performing Beethoven's Symphony no. 2 in D major, op. 3.

This will be a spring concert not to be missed! The talent is amazing, the scores are excellent, and you should definitely go see it! Please call and reserve your seats today. Season Adult tickets start as low as $29 with senior and student discounts available. Contact the FMU Performing Arts Box Office for your tickets by visiting or calling 843.661.4444 today!   

This project is made possible through funding from the Florence Regional Arts Alliance's Quarterly Grants Program, which is funded in part by a generous award from Honda of South Carolina, the South Carolina Arts Commission and the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC

For more information regarding concerts and the Florence Symphony please visit our website florencesymphony.com and LIKE us on Facebook!