TOWN:Competition crowns musical winners

The Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra presented its sixth annual Hennings-Fischer Young Artist's Competition first-place awards to violinist Kathryn Eberle and soprano Lauren Michelle Criddle on Saturday evening.

The competition, held in the Hall of Liberty of Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, honors artists under 30 who represent the brightest talent in instrumental and opera categories. Pared down from 60 contestants who participated in the competition, Eberle and Criddle were two of the eight finalists selected by a panel of judges during preliminary competition held last week.

Prior to the evening's competition, the orchestra's music director and conductor, Maestro Steven Kerstein, spoke about the competition, made possible through a gift from the Hennings-Fischer Foundation. Established in 2001 to perpetuate musical tradition and excellence, the foundation is the legacy of violinist, conductor and teacher Noumi Fischer and his wife, fellow violinist and teacher, Audrey Hennings Fischer.

"This is another component of our expanding youth outreach program," Kerstein said. "Previous winners of this competition have gone on to international acclaim and tonight's winners will be no different. They will be the stars of the classical music world that we will be hearing from in the future."

The evening's other instrumental finalists included cellist Matthew Park, clarinetist Min Na Lee and David McLemore on tuba. Joining Criddle as the operetta vocal finalists were sopranos Rebecca Sjowall, Laura Parker and Stephanie Elsayed.

Just prior to a pre-competition meeting with the finalists, Kerstein was pressed on if he was willing to make any prognostications for the evening. He wisely deflected the question and said that no matter how they did in preliminary rounds of the competition, the slate was clean for all eight of the finalists.

"Their performances earlier this week got them this far," the maestro said.

"But that will have nothing to do with who will win this evening."

Stepping backstage, Kerstein told the young artists that no matter what the outcome of the evening may be, they were all winners.

"I would be proud to work with any of you," he said as they formed a semi-circle around him and then went out to face their audience and judges.

Fung Ho, Barry Brisk, Bethany Pflueger, Patricia Shanks and Larry Lippold made up the panel of internationally renowned musical authorities that served as the evening's judges.