13 May 2021 — OTAGO DAILY TIMES
Cheers, foot-stamping and thunderous applause greeted the performances of three superb young Dunedin musicians, who gave their all in the Dunedin Concerto Competition Finalists Concert on Friday night.
Every accolade was richly deserved by all three brave, impressive young players — violinist Rose Stevenson, pianist Abhinath Berry and cellist Boyudewijn Keenan — who each gave a committed, virtuosic performance, supported and accompanied by the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, with players from Dunedin Youth Orchestra.
Conductor Peter Adams, who stepped in for original conductor Anthony Ritchie just two weeks before the concert, did a superb job of keeping orchestras and soloists together throughout the night, drawing sympathetic performances from everyone.
The orchestra was superb in support of the three concerto finalists, adding its own light and shade, energy and emotion to their performances.
Stevenson (violin), who tackled two movements of Samuel Barber’s lyrical and emotionally charged Violin Concerto, with nuance, sensitivity and mastery, was named the winner, receiving first prize of $5000.
Continue reading ODT article here.
Image courtesy of Dunedin Concerto Competition
10 May 2021 — RADIO NEW ZEALAND CONCERT
Link to Upbeat Interview: here
The inaugural Dunedin Concerto Competition 'Finals Concert' took place on Friday evening, with three young soloists performing with the combined Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and Dunedin Youth Orchestra. The competition was open to young musicians in Otago and Southland, and was made possible by the generous support of The Hodgson Towers Family Trust.
The judges had no easy task with three exceptionally strong competitors.
In third place was cellist Boudewijn Keenan, playing Saint-Saens' Cello Concerto No 1; pianist Abhinath Berry came second for his performance of Franz Liszt’s Totentanz; and first place went to violinist Rose Stevenson, who played the first two movements of Samuel Barber’s 'Violin Concerto.’