The Kalamazoo Concert Band's 2023 Youth Soloist Competition was held on Sunday, February 5th at the Dalton Center on Western Michigan University's campus in Kalamazoo.
Congratulations to this year's winner Blake VandenBrink (tuba) from Three Rivers. Marin Packard from Portage Central was runner-up.
Join us on April 29 to hear this young performer!
A special "THANK YOU" to all of the participants who performed at the Competition. Your preparation, performance, and professionalism were greatly appreciated not only by the judges but by the audience as well!
Thank you judges and volunteers for all your help, and thank you to WMU for use of the Dalton Center!
Past Winners:
- 2022 - William Kletzka, saxophone, Dexter High School
- 2020 - Caleb Piersma, Bassoon, Otsego
- 2019 - Michael Keeler, Portage Central High School
- 2018 - Emily Dudd, Oboe, Three Rivers High School
- 2017 - Lauren Whitaker, Flute, Spring Lake
- 2016 - Allison Haltenhoff, Flute, Holland
- 2015 - Brent Proseus, Trumpet, Wyoming West Michigan Home School High School
- 2014 - Jeffrey Allardyce, Alto Saxophone, Grandville High School
- 2013 - Lydia Roth, Flute, Wyoming West Michigan Home School High School
- 2012 - Lydia Roth, Flute, Wyoming West Michigan Home School High School
- 2011 - Stephanie Hegedus, Flute, Jackson High School
- 2010 - Connor Fetting, Tuba, Forest Hills Eastern High School
- 2009 - Alex Kindel, Flute, Grand Ledge High School
- 2007 - Kari Dion, Clarinet, Rockford High School
- 2006 - Hana Beloglavec, Trombone, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School
- 2005 - James Guitar, Alto Saxophone, Galesburg-Augusta High School
- 2004 - Will Karsten, Tuba, Kalamazoo Christian High School
- 2003 - Michele Sbordon, Flute, Grandville High School
- 2002 - Brandon Ridenour, Trumpet, Portage Northern High School
- 2001 - Nicholas Taylor, Oboe, Interlochen Arts Academy (Green Bay, WI)
- 2000 - Thomas E. Boulton, Trumpet, Big Rapids High School
- 1999 - Andrea Steves, Alto Saxophone, St. Joseph High School