2007-2008 Winner, James Benhardus, 18, is a 2007 graduate of St Anthony Village High School.  James has been very involved in music throughout his high school career.  He has studied oboe under Julie Madura for eight years in addition to participating in his school’s Concert Band and Chamber Choir.  James has also been a member of the Minnesota All-State Band and the University of Minnesota High School Honor Band, and has performed with the Bethlehem Baptist Church Orchestra for the past two years.

James began composing about two years ago.  His compositions were primarily for choir before composing “A Night Voyage to the Moon”, his first work for wind ensemble.  However, he has also written works for solo flute, solo oboe, and soprano voice and cello.

Next year, James will attend Bethel University in St Paul, MN.  He plans to major in physics and applied music with an emphasis in composition.  He hopes that his four years at Bethel will be enough time for him to decide which major to continue studying.  Even so, James intends to continue composing throughout his lifetime either as a career choice or merely for enjoyment.

2006-2007 Winner, Elbert Liu, 17, will be a senior at the Orange County High School of the Arts, where he is in the Instrumental Music Department.  Along with his talent as a composer, he is also an accomplished pianist and cellist. Elbert’s primary teachers include, Dr. Carolyn Bremer (composition), Wilhelmina Smith, Margaret Parkins, and Marlin Owen (cello), and Juliet Aucreman and Ms. I-Ming Chen (piano).  Elbert is also an active performer in local youth orchestras and has given several solo piano recitals in recent years.

In the summer of 2004, Elbert studied composition at the California Summer Music Festival with David Tcimpedis and Lowell Liebermann, where his piece, “A Townstroller’s Song”, for string ensemble was performed.  Performances of Elbert’s other compositions followed in 2005 and 2006 by other various ensembles which include “Of Brazen Gears, Bells, and Pumps” for percussion quartet, “of a stream beneath mystic everglades” for brass quintet, “The Great Wall” for symphony orchestra, and “Fantasia #1” for wind band.

Elbert has continued his passion for composition by participating in the California Summer Music Festival, Eastman Music Horizons Composition Program, and most recently this summer with his acceptance into the Tanglewood Young Composers Program.  He is a member of the National Honors Society, has earned a red belt in Taekwondo, and loves his storytelling lessons.  He plans to major in composition when he goes to college.

Elbert’s winning composition “Revolvz” will be performed by the Encore Wind Ensemble on February 15, 2007 at the Minnesota Music Educators Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

2005-2006 Winner, Kathryn Salfelder, 18, is a freshman at New England Conservatory in Boston, MA. A 2005 graduate of Fair Lawn High School, NJ, she is an Edward J. Bloustein and National Merit Commended Scholar. Kathryn is the recipient of the 2005 New York Art Ensemble "Emerging Composer" Award, and the MEA Eric Steiner Memorial Award in the 2002-2004 MTNA High School Composition Competitions. Her compositions have been performed throughout New Jersey at The College of New Jersey, Westminster Choir College, and the Jersey Shore Arts Center, as well as at Yamaha Junior Original Concerts in Minneapolis, MN and Phoenix, AZ. Kathryn received New England Conservatory's highest merit award as well as numerous scholarships. She intends to pursue a career in composition. Kathryn's composition "To Venture Into the Realm of the Unknown" was performed during Encore's 2005-2006 concert season.

2004-2005 Winner, Artun Hoinic, 17, Encore's 2nd annual Charles B. Olson's Young Composer's Contest Winner comes to us from Ankara, Turkey.  Artun's 12-day stay in the Twin Cities included trips to the American composer's Forum, University of MN School of Music and the Minnesota Youth Symphonies.

With impressive talent and an already growing portfolio, Artun brought additional compositions for review, including his "Concerto for Orchestra" and "Adagio for Winds", intended to complement his winning piece with Encore, "Sonata for Winds" in a symphonic tribute to the art of wind ensembles. We hope to see more of Artun Hoinic in the years to come!

(Not Pictured) 2003-2004 Winner, Stuart Breczinski, 17, This Golden Valley native wins Encore's first Charles B. Olson Young Composer Contest.  This 17-year old Golden Valley native won a very competitive contest and will premeire his composition, Clipper with Encore at our first concert at Burnsville on Thurs. Oct. 23, 2003.  Breczinski, an oboe player at Robbinsdale-Cooper High School, is also an award winning pianist and has participated in the all-state band program for 2 years.  He has been composing music since the 8th grade.  His piece titled "Clipper" illustrates the story of a boat at sea during a storm, as the storm approaches, rages and subsides. 

"Whether the boat has survived, or whether its theme is but a memory, can only be determined by the listener" - Breczinski