After working all year to perfect their pieces, students in the School of Music and Dance entered the Concerto Competition last December. Now, the winners are getting a chance to strut their stuff with the help of the Arizona Symphony Orchestra.
Although everyone is eligible for the competition, there were only male winners last year, and this year, there are all females. They include vocal senior Martina Chylikova (mezzo-soprano), music graduate Melissa Melendez (viola), clarinet senior Kara Yeater and piano freshman Sarah Wu.
The concert will feature a variety of music, including works by Gershwin, Ravel, Rossini, Bartok, and Debussey.
Wu, the only freshman winner, was born in China and raised in Tucson since the age of 2. In addition to studying vigorously with assistant music professor Tannis Gibson, who Wu said has inspired her to enjoy playing more than just Mozart and Beethoven - she also teaches piano in her spare time.
Wu has been playing since the age of 5, and as an eighth-grader, she made her way into the Tucson Philharmonic Youth Organization, which generally consists of high school students.
As a child, Wu got her inspiration to start playing from family friend Shigu Zhang. After watching her perform, Wu stood on stage with a huge bouquet of flowers, but she was so tiny that she went unnoticed. Standing in the middle of the stage alone, she yelled, "Mom, I want to play the piano!" And her career began.
In addition to the piano, Wu enjoys modern dance, clarifying that, "Modern dance is not interpretive dance. I don't do all that weird stuff."
Although Wu has the talent to make a career of piano, she may not choose to. She has considered going to law school later in life.
Wu will be conducted by music graduate student Juan Hernandez.
If you are a music lover, wish to become one or just want to support Wu and the other three winners, do not miss this year's concert. Wu said that for anyone who is looking for inspiration, this is where to find it.
"Not to sound cheesy, but we hope to inspire everyone to work hard for their dreams as we have," Wu said.
The 31st annual UA President's Concert will take place in Crowder Hall Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.