KCB Youth Soloists - Where are they now?
2006 – Hana Beloglavec, Trombone, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School
2006 KCB Spring
Concert Program Notes
On Sunday, February 26, 2006, auditions were held for the Youth Soloist Competition with the Kalamazoo Concert Band. This year’s winner is Hana Beloglavec, daughter of Metka & Emil Beloglavec and a student at Loy Norrix High School. Hana, who is in her junior year, plays trombone and will be performing Concerto for Trombone by Gordon Jacob with the KCB.
Hana has been playing trombone for six years and has been taking lessons for the last four of those six years. She first began taking lessons with Mr. Chris Shook and later with Dr. Steve Wolfinbarger. Hana performs as lead trombonist with the Loy Norrix Jazz Band, has been a member of the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra for three years, including two as principal trombone, and also with the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Brass Quintet. Hana has also been the principal trombone in many summer camp groups, including the local Chamber Music Programs’ Orchestra, Blue Lake Fine Arts Symphonic Orchestra, the University of Michigan All-State Band at Interlochen, Western Michigan University’s Seminar Band, and the MSBOA All-State Orchestra.
Hana has also been the recipient of numerous awards including a soloist competition held by Bravo!, which was a part of the In Concert series on WMUK radio. Her most recent competition was the Gilbreto Gagliardi Trombone competition, which is a competition for trombone players under the age of 18. Hana was named a finalist among two other trombone players in the U.S., and she plans to compete in the next round of the competition in July 2006 in Birmingham, England. Hana plans to pursue music in college and eventually pursue a career in the music field. She hasn’t decided yet as to which field specifically, but she is sure that it will include the trombone.
Where Is She Now
Hana is attending Western Michigan University majoring in trombone performance, and is studying with Dr. Steven Wolfinbarger. Hana placed second in the 2006 International Trombone Association’s Gilberto Gagliardi 18 and Under Solo Competition in Birmingham, England, was the winner of the 2007 Grand Rapids Symphonic Band’s Youth Soloist Competition (winning a $1,000 scholarship and the opportunity to perform a solo with the Grand Rapids Symphonic Band), and won the 2007 International Trombone Association’s Gagliardi 18 and Under Solo Competition in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Hana placed second in the United States Army 18 and Under National Solo Competition, won the 2007 Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, and was named an Honorable Mention in the 2008 International Trombone Association’s Larry Wiehe 23 and Under Solo Competition.
In April of 2008, Yamaha Corporation named Hana one of nine nationwide finalists in the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition. The all-expense-paid week-long competition at Illinois State University featured a performance for thousands of students with national press coverage, a recording with photos of the live performance, and also featured workshops and clinic designed to help young performers launch a musical career.
In March of 2009 Hana won the United States Army Band Division II (ages 19-22) National Trombone Solo Competition in Fort Myer, VA. The semi-final and final rounds also featured students from the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, California and Texas.