PULLMAN, Wash. — A Washington State University junior in flute performance won a gold medal in the young artist section of the flute division and two additional gold medals at the recent Greater Spokane Music and Allied Arts Festival.
As the winner of the young artist section, Sophia Tegart of Spokane gave a solo performance with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra at the awards ceremony held at the Metropolitan Performing Arts Center in Spokane. She received a scholarship of $500.
Tegart also won a gold medal in the orchestral excerpts section of the flute division and a gold medal in the ensemble section of the reed division with the four other members of the WSU Student Woodwind Quintet. The other members are Sarah Wilson, clarinet; Sara Blake, oboe; Adam Zahand, bassoon; and Joe Marquiss, French horn.
The May 13-19 festival at Gonzaga University is the largest event of its kind in the nation. A total of 1,587 entrants competed in 10 divisions at this year’s festival, some competitors coming from as far as New York.
Ann Yasinitsky, instructor at the WSU School of Music and Theatre Arts, is Tegart’s teacher and the coach of the quintet. Yasinitsky said she has been teaching music for 20 years and Sophia is one of the best students she has ever had. “Sophia is very talented, hard-working and dedicated. She has everything it takes to make it in music,” Yasinitsky said.
Tegart, a 1999 graduate of Spokane’s University High School, said she wants to continue with graduate studies after the completion of her bachelor’s degree in music. She then plans to play in a symphony orchestra and to teach music. Her parents are Marilyn and Bill Iverson of Spokane.
The Greater Spokane Music and Allied Arts Festival is an annual competition started in 1946.
shmg195-01
This page has been accessed times.
