2008 Maestro Concerto Competition Winner!

March 28, 2008 | Jr Phil News

David Szymanski, the winner of the 2008 Maestro Concerto Competition, will perform the first movement of Dmitri Kabalevsky’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (1940) at the spring concert on April 27th and during the tour of schools on Tuesday, April 29th. David is concertmaster for the Erie Jr. Philharmonic, where he has played for five years. He is the son of Joseph and Anita Szymanski of Cambridge Springs.

David began studying the violin at the age of four with the late Lynda Tonn of Cambridge Springs and currently studies with Gina Bagnoli of New Castle. After failing his first Jr. Phil audition because of poor sight-reading skills, he began sight-reading lessons with Cherie Lachowski of Erie. He was admitted to Jr. Phil that fall, but continued his studies with her, with a new focus: music composition. He soon realized that writing music was his passion. He currently takes theory lessons from Basil Ronzitti.


David is a senior and has been homeschooled for the past six years. He plans to attend Cedarville University in the fall to major in music composition, where he looks forward to once again playing in an orchestra with former Erie Jr. Phil concertmaster Elizabeth Preston.

Erie Jr. Phil has been a very important part of David’s life. It has been a joy for him to play with other committed young musicians and learn from the adult musicians who give much time and energy to make Jr. Phil happen. Having the chance to perform with the professional musicians of the Erie Philharmonic has also been a highlight. And although all of these have been important, David especially wants to thank string ensemble director Mr. Howard Lyon for mentoring and encouraging him far beyond the call of duty.


The Erie Jr. Phil would like to thank Brenda Dolwick, this year's sponsor of the Maestro Concerto Competition!


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