The winners of the first Young Artist Competition were announced by Paul Ferington, conductor of the Buffalo State Philharmonia and a lecturer in the Music Department. Ferington also serves as a staff conductor with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. The three young musicians were selected to perform solos based on auditions, held in December, that were open to Buffalo State students.

The winning student performers are Aaron Masters (at right), who will perform “Piano Concerto No. 4,” by Saint-Saens; marimba soloist Dan Darnley (at left), who will perform a movement from Paul Creston's “Concertino for Marimba;” and soprano Tieisha Thomas (center), who will sing arias by Mozart and Gershwin.

The concert, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall on Tuesday, April 19.