Art Beat: Meet this year's Young Artist Competition winner

For the past 38 years, local high school musicians have been taking part in the Young Artist Competition.

This year's event took place on January 28th and the winner gets the honor to perform this Saturday evening with the Black Hills Symphony.

In this week's Art Beat we will hear how a young woman's dedication to her art is paying off, and how she earned a seat with the symphony.

Ingrid Anderson first picked up a violin in the 4th grade and started playing with the school orchestra.

Fast forward eight years and this 16 year old is no ordinary violinist, her obvious love for the instrument, along with countless hours of practice have translated into excellence.

She worked on her competition piece for more than a year.

During her Freshman and Sophomore year Ingrid won the junior division of the Young Artist competition and this year, as a high school junior, she was able to compete in the senior division, which she also won.

Now, she is getting ready to perform with the Black Hills Symphony.

There are a few nerves, but she's ready.

Ingrid Anderson, Young Artist Competition Winner says "Very honored, definitely nervous. Just with the rehearsal with the symphony I want to make sure everything goes smoothly. I will play the introduction and Rondo Capricciso by Saint Seans. "

Bill Evans, the Director of the Stevens Orchestra, now in his 39th year, says "The thing about Ingrid is she's a scientific player and she understands the pulse of the music and the intricacies of the music.

A lot of kids play very well but they are just kind of playing. Ingrid actually understands the architecture of the piece, the meter, all of the details that go into it and they keys that they play in and everything.

For that reason, she is extraordinarily easy to follow when she is a soloist."

In addition to winning the Young Artist Competition a total of three times in two divisions, Ingrid was this year's concert master for South Dakota's All State Orchestra, Honors Orchestra and Stevens orchestra.

The concert master is the leader of the first violin section.

They tune the orchestra and set the bowing style and other technical details for the violin players. It a position earned through years of hard work, discipline and hours upon hours of practice.

After Saturday's concert, Ingrid plans continue. She will complete in next year's Young Artist competition, along with the State Symphony Youth Orchestra and prepare college audition pieces.

For now, she is getting ready to share the piece she has put so much work into.

The concert "A Celebration of Youth" takes place at the Performing Arts Center Saturday at 7:30. Tickets are available by calling 394-1786, online at Performing Arts RC dot ORG, or at the door.