Talent of the Ages

Season Ticket holders discovered tickets to two additional performances in their packet this year for the first time: Young Peoples Concert (Rescheduled for April 19) and the MSO Young Artist Competition. Those who took advantage of Young Artist Competition had the pleasure of hearing very talented and dedicated young people compete on January 15, 2011.

Young musicians competed in two divisions: junior (middle school students) and senior (high school students).  They came from all over the State of Indiana and performed on piano, cello, violin, flute, marimba, or clarinet. All the students received  a Certificate of Participation.

Junior Division Winner ~ Oliver Shou

Oliver Shou, 14, is in the 8th grade in Carmel Middle School. He was born in Huston, Texas and has three brothers, Arthur (who won the senior division 2010), Edward and Phillip.  Oliver loved listening to classical music as a baby and began studying piano at the age of five with Dr. Keli Xu.  Over the hears, he has worked hard to prepare himself for a future music career.  His passion for music and piano has grown fast in the last two years.  Beginning 2007 he attends Piano Academy, Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University as a student of Dr. Karen Taylor.  He was the winner of the Hoosier Auditions at district and state levels (IMTA Piano Competition, Middle School level) in 2010.  Recently, he won honorable mention in Murray State University/Paducah Symphony Orchestra piano concerto competition.  In the past, Oliver competed in the Early Elementary and Elementary levels in the IMTA Piano Competition, Indiana State Fair Piano Competition, and the Wold Piano competition in Cincinnati, and won various awards.  Throughout the years he has performed various recitals, including at Wabash College, Indiana Historical Society, Indiana State Fair, and Conner Prairie.  In addition to playing piano, Oliver also studies viola with Mrs. Kathy Hershberger and is a principal violist in the Carmel Middle School Symphony Orchestra.  In his free time, Oliver is passionate about Lego blocks.  He enjoys building castles, ships, cars, robots, and helicopters.  He likes to hang out with his brothers and play basketball, football, and swim.  He wishes to become a musician and an engineer.

Oliver Shou will be performing on the program of the Young People's Concert on April 19th, 2011. The concert is in Emens Auditorium at 9:30 a.m.  Please call the MSO office (765-285-5531) to reserve a seat.

Senior Division Winner ~ Louisa Steup

Louisa Steup, 15,  lives in West Lafayette, Indiana.  At the age of three, she began playing piano and currently studies with Luke Norell at Indiana University in Bloomington.  She is won the St. Clout Symphony Concerto Competition (MN) in 2008 and the Young Artist Piano Camp Chamber Music Competition in 2009.  She also was a performer at the YAPC Honors recital in 2009 and 2010.  Also in 2010 Louisa was a finalist in the YAPC Concerto Competition.  She was a finalist at the Schubert Club Competition (MN) in 2008 and 2010.  Louisa was the winner of the Indiana tate MTNA competition in November 2009.  She was runner-up at the Division Competition, held in Wisconsin, in 2010.  Louisa enjoys fencing and drawing in her spare time.   Louisa will perform at a future date. The MSO facebook Events  page will be updated as soon as the performance is scheduled.

The Young Artist Competition is an annual January event. If you are interested in competing, please call the MSO office at 765-285-5531 for more information.