Congratulations to the 2011 Minnesota Sinfonia
Young Artist Competition Winners!
John Belk, cello. 2011 Senior Division Winner
     John has studied cello with Kirsten Whitson for nine years. Responding to a challenge from Kirsten, he hasn’t missed a day of practice in more than eight of those, which has taken him from Go Tell Aunt Rhody to the Kodaly Cello Sonata.
     John has played in Minnesota Youth Symphonies for five years and was the soloist with them this year for the Dvorak Cello Concerto, and has also has won prizes as a soloist in the Schubert Club Scholarship Competition, the Thursday Musical Scholarship Competition, and the YPSCA Young Artist Competition. John plays in the Malik String Quartet under Ray Shows, with Matt Lammers, Melissa Deal, and Mark Hatlestad, and together with Melissa he performed in the showcase round of the MPR Minnesota Varsity competition.
     When not playing cello, John enjoys reading Calvin and Hobbes, playing with dogs, and spending time with friends.

Brandon Duffy, violin. 2011 Junior Division Winner
     Brandon Duffy is a seventh grader at Chippewa Middle School in North Oaks. He began violin studies at the age of five with his current teacher, Yuko Heberlein. Brandon has studied chamber music with Tom Rosenberg and the Artaria Chamber Music School.
     Brandon is a member of the Symphony Orchestra of Minnesota Youth Symphonies. Brandon has won numerous awards and honors from various organizations, including the Schubert Club, MNSOTA, the MacPhail Center for Music, and the St. Paul Conservatory of Music.
     Brandon will be playing his Minnesota Sinfonia’s Young Artist Competition winning piece with the full Minnesota Sinfonia orchestra in December of 2011.
     Brandon lives in Lino Lakes with his parents and two brothers. In addition to playing the violin, Brandon enjoys baseball, card games, and traveling.