Four student chamber ensembles from Bowling Green State University’s College of Musical Arts have been announced as the winners of the fifth annual Chamber Music Competition held Feb. 20.

The winner of the undergraduate division was the “Four Corners Quartet,” coached by graduate assistant Noa Even. Playing soprano saxophone was Xiao Han from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. On alto saxophone was Ryan Hurd from Parma, Ohio; on tenor saxophone, Corey Whitt from Pulaski, Wis., and on baritone saxophone Anthony Nicolia from Rochester, N.Y.

Taking second place in the undergraduate division was “Flow Like Water,” a percussion trio consisting of Alvin Dawson from Toledo, Jacob Bori from Swanton, and Elizabeth Hall from Medina.

The graduate division winner was the “Ying Quartet,” coached by Distinguished Artist Professor John Sampen and consisting of John Cummins, on soprano saxophone, from Grinnell, Iowa; Drew Sevel, on alto saxophone, from Columbus; Pin-hua Chen, on tenor saxophone, from Taipei, Taiwan; and Elissa Kana, playing baritone saxophone, from Katy, Texas.

The second-place winners of the graduate division were the “Color Field Ensemble” coached by Dr. Jane Schoonmaker Rodgers. The ensemble consisted of soprano Amanda DeBoer, from Papillion, Neb.; pianist Karl Larson, from McFarland, Wis., and clarinetist Spencer Prewitt, from Braymer, Mo.

Finalists in each division received a certificate of merit. The winners of the competition received the Chamber Music Community Engagement Award and the Pro Musica Award. Pro Musica is a community organization dedicated to supporting students in the College of Musical Arts. First- and second-place winners of each division received a certificate of merit and cash prizes sponsored by Pro Musica.
Richard and Carolyn Lineback established the Chamber Music Community Engagement Award in 2006. It provides travel funds for the winning chamber ensembles to present concerts and clinics in the community and region following the chamber music competition.

(Submitted by Susan Knapp)