Competition & Education
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Competition & Education

Brass, Woodwind, Percussion Division

String Division

Piano Division

                                                               
First Place:
Arekson Sunwood
Bassoon
Second Place:
Trevor Sparks
Clarinet
  
 
   First Place:
  Joseph Brock
  Double Bass
 
 
 
        Second Place:
           Eric Tsai
        Violin
 
   
 
        First Place:
        Forrest Moody
       Piano
 
 
 
    Second Place:
    Aleksandra Kasman
    Piano
 
                                OUR 2010 LOIS PICKARD SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
 
 
Congratulations to the Lois Pickard Scholarship Winners.  And Thank You to all the talented young musicians who competed in this year's event.  It was a truly outstanding class!
 
At the February 11, 2010 Lois Pickard Scholarship Luncheon at the Vestavia Country Club, the winners in this year's competition were presented their Scholarships by Rosalind Rust, Symphony Volunteer Council Vice President of Education,  All First Place winners received a $1500 Scholarship and Second Place winners received a $800 Scholarship following their performances before the 160 SVC members, patrons and guests attending the event. 
 
The Class of 2010 Lois Pickard Scholarship Winners
following their performances at the Awards Luncheon
on February 11, 2010 at the Vestavia Country Club.
 
Meaghan Heinrich, Education Manager for the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, had the honor of selecting and announcing a Grand Prize Winner in this year's competition, and that honor belongs to pianist, Forrest Moody.  As a Grand Prize winner, Forrest will have the opportunity to perform with the Alabama Symphony and will receive an additional $1000 Scholarship.  Shown below is Forrest Moody with his music instructor, Dr. Ron Shinn, Samford University. 
 
 
 
 
Background
 
Shortly after he was hired as conductor of the newly-resurrected Birmingham Civic Symphony Orchestra, Arthur Bennet Lipkin remarked on the national press the orchestra had received. Birmingham had a wealth of talent and a respect for all the arts. So in 1951, a seed was planted which would grow into the world’s oldest continuing arts festival.

In 1951, Mrs. W. B. (Lois) Pickard, and the Women’s Committee of the orchestra, along with Lipkin, envisioned a Festival of Contemporary Music. Visual arts were added the following year at which the new Birmingham Museum of Art participated along with the symphony. In 1954, the Birmingham Festival of Arts was incorporated.

Lois Pickard’s “untiring efforts have sparked the work of civic-minded Birmingham men and women who are responsible for the revival of the symphony,” a story in The Birmingham News read. Lipkin was so impressed with her efforts that he established the annual Lois Pickard Award and donated the $250 prize. The award was given for the most outstanding composition of the year by an Alabama Composer.

The Symphony Volunteer Council of the ASA, Inc. is proud to recognize the vision and efforts of Mrs. Pickard with the Lois Pickard Music Scholarship Competition each year. Since the “rebirth” of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra in 1997, the Council has awarded $72,400 in scholarships to talented young artists in three competition categories.

The Council, and the former Women’s Committee, Junior Women’s Committee and Men’s Committee, is proud to celebrate their 63rd anniversary of volunteer service to the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. The Symphony Volunteer Council’s support to the ASO, including monetary scholarships to talented youth, that Mrs. Wayland (Lois) Pickard envisioned many years ago, is still strong, vibrant and important to the Council’s mission. This support is a fitting tribute to the one person whose name some 63 years ago, was synonymous with the symphony in Birmingham.

 
 
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News About Recent Pickard Winners:
 
Jenny Maclay (1st Place Brass, Woodwind & Percussion Winner from the Class of 2008) has decided to further her music studies at the University of Florida later this year. 
 
She also provided her resume based on a recent request by the New York Philharmonic to fill a clarinet position opening.  It was an unexpected and prized response when the Philharmonic sent her a packet of their audition music and the forms to confirm her audition with them.  Jenny plans to complete the application and provide a CD of their audition music in hopes of reaching the semi-finals of the competition.  
 
Aleksandra (Sasha) Kasman (1st Place Piano & Grand Prize Winner with the Class of 2008) was awarded the Silver Medal in the 12-15 age group at the Horowitz International Piano Competition in Kiev, Ukraine.  The 13-year old Pizitz Middle School 8th grader was the only American among 10 finalists from seven countries. 
 
Sasha is the daughter of Tatiana and Yakov Kasman.  Sasha began piano studies with her mother at age 6, and for the past 3 years, she has been studying with her father.  Sasha, as part of winning the Grand Prize in the 2008 Lois Pickard Scholarship, performed with the Alabama Symphony.