The Quincy Symphony Orchestra has announced the winners of its 65th Annual Martha McCrory Young Artists Competition: Halle Evans, oboe, and Jordan Evans, violin. The competition, open to area 10th through 12th graders, was held on Dec. 21 at First Union Congregational Church, Quincy. The winning musicians will receive a cash prize and perform as soloists during QSO’s Young Artists Concert on Feb. 9.
Halle Evans is a senior at Macomb High School. The daughter of Sharon Evans, she has studied oboe under Sharon Faust and Emily Hart. She is the Principal Oboe of the Quincy Area Youth Orchestra. Along with playing the oboe, she plays saxophone for the MHS marching band. She is a member of the MHS cross country team, basketball team, and soccer team, and is involved in the National Honor Society, Student Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, math team and many other clubs such as Ecology, Science, and Spanish club. Music has been very important part of Halle’s life since early childhood. She started violin and piano at ages four and five, respectively, and has played a number of instruments over the years including viola and bassoon. Music is a passion that she will continue to enjoy in college. Halle plans on majoring in biomedical engineering at a four-year university, while continuing to play in ensembles and take private lessons.
Jordyn Evans, a homeschooled junior from Center, Mo., is the daughter of Chrissy and Tony Evans, granddaughter of Vic and Joyce Evans and Susan Holeman, and a beloved member of her large extended family. She has studied violin for 10 years, currently with John Ferguson. Jordyn plays in both the Quincy Symphony Orchestra and the Quincy Area Youth Orchestra, where she serves as Assistant Concertmaster. She is also Assistant Concertmaster in the Hannibal-LaGrange University and Hannibal Area Advanced String Orchestras. She is Concertmaster for the Intermediate Hannibal Area String Orchestra and a member of the Hannibal Area String Quartet and her church orchestra. Jordyn received a superior-plus rating in the 2019 District Junior Music Festival in connection with the Missouri Federation of Music Clubs. She received the 2019 Martha McCrory Foundation scholarship to attend the Estherhazy String Quartet Seminar, where she played first violin. Jordyn will pursue Music Education in college, and enjoys teaching violin students.
The purpose of the Young Artists competition is to give outstanding high school musicians the opportunity to perform as a concert soloist, accompanied by a symphony orchestra. Such a performance can be a springboard for a young person to choose a lifelong commitment to the arts. The annual QSO Young Artists Concert, now in its 65th year, rewards excellence in musicianship and enriches not just the performer, but also the audience and orchestra members. Call the symphony office 222-2856 or visit www.qsoa.org for more details on the Feb. 9 performance and the competition.
