Georgia Symphony announces winners of nationwide Beethoven 9th vocal competition
(Marietta, Ga., March 4, 2024) – The Georgia Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Timothy Verville announce the results of a nationwide Beethoven 9th Vocal Competition. Winners in each of four voice categories will perform as a featured soloist in the GSO’s May 18 and 19, 2024, performances of ‘Beethoven’s Universe,’ at the Dr. Bobbie Bailey and Family Performing Arts Center in Kennesaw, Ga.
Awards for each voice division were (listed in order of first place, second place, third place) Soprano: Emma Robertson, Sarah Heilman, Yun Xie (Melody); Alto: Tetyana Vakhnovska, Maria McDaniel, MunTzung Wong; Tenor: William Green, Levi Adkins, Matthew Perez; and Bass/Baritone: Jacob Lay, Wil Kellerman, Alexander Adams-Leytes.
“All of our finalists’ performances were nothing short of impressive. Every vocalist made a lasting impression on the audience and judges. In each division, the separation between competitors was incredibly thin.” said Verville.
The Beethoven 9th Vocal Competition was created by the GSO to provide an equal and open opportunity for vocalists across the U.S. to compete regardless of background. The final, live round of competition, which was held on March 3, 2024, at St. James Epsicopal Church in Marietta, was made possible by The City of Marietta Tourism Grant.
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- Emma Robertson
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- Tetyana Vakhnovska
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- William Green
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- Jacob Lay
In addition to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, the program for the spectacular, season-ending ‘Beethoven’s Universe’ performances, will help audience members discover the vastness of space and the bonds of humankind through an innovative, multimedia experience.
“Deep Field,” a work for orchestra and chorus by Eric Whitacre, who is known for his multimedia virtual choruses, will be performed live to the film “Deep Field: The Impossible Magnitude of our Universe.” Combining stunning imagery from the Hubble Space Telescope and never-seen-before galaxy fly-bys, and bespoke animations, the film creates an immersive, unforgettable journey from planet Earth to the furthest edges of our universe. Audience members will be encouraged to take a more active role in the performance via a free app on their mobile devices.
Tickets for “Beethoven’s Universe” are currently available online at https://www.georgiasymphony.org/all-events/.
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