Symphony selects top youth performers

Allmendinger The Southwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra recently selected the winners of the 2007 Concerto Competition. Flutist Katerina Allmendinger was the first place winner and Cellist Courtney Renfroe was runner-up. The competition was open to all members of the Youth Orchestra. The Youth Orchestra is an auditioned group comprised of the best young musicians in a three county area. An important outreach activity of the Symphony, it provides quality symphonic training and performance experience for young musicians.

Allmendinger will perform the first movement of Mozart's Concerto in D Major at the Youth Orchestra's Spring Concert May 12. A senior at Cypress Lake Center for the Arts, she is a member of National Honor Society. In her seventh year of playing flute, she has studied with Beth Larsen, Gary Schocker, Peter Lloyd and Dr. Tadeo Coelho. She was also chosen to perform in a Masterclass with Keith Underwood. As the youngest to win the audition and perform at the Wildacres Flute Retreat, she was able to study with some of the county's top musicians. At Cannon Music Camp she studied with Dr. Nancy Schneeloch-Bingham and played principal flute in the combined Cannon Symphony Orchestra and North Carolina Symphony performance.

Renfroe Renfroe will perform the first movement of Sir Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto March 3 at the Youth Orchestra concert at Cypress Lake Center for the Arts. She began her studies six years ago with Sicheng Lau and currently studies with Dr. Eduard Gulabyan. Renfroe is principal chair of the Youth Orchestra and the Camerata Orchestra at Cypress Lake High School. Recently, she was chosen principal cello at the Stetson University String Institute and last summer, as selected second chair at the FSU Summer Music Camp. A member of National Honor Society and German Honor Roll, she is also active in Messiah Lutheran Church.