Music Contest

Rotary March 24, 2014 

Rotary hosted the annual Rotary Music contest organized by Rotary member Marty Walters on Monday, March 24 featuring four contestants vying for cash prizes and the opportunity to go on to a regional and district competition where the grand prize will be $1000.  The contest is part of our youth services program.  The contestants were Elita Hutchins on flute playing a Minuet for Flute from L’Arlesienne by Georges Bizet, Jennifer Hoffman playing Claire DeLune by Claude Debussy on piano; Che Rubaclava-Cunan playing Granada Serenata by Isaac Albeniz on classical guitar, and Wyatt Hollister playing a violin arrangement by Fritz Kreisler followed by a French folk piece.  Johnny MacDonald was the accompanist. 

Each contestant was required to play between 3 and 8 minutes of music and was judged on five criteria – musical ability, musical sound, musical selection, musical empathy and stage presence.  We were honored to have as judges Alice King, Angela Elliott and Dave Johns.  While waiting for the votes to be tallied, MC John Sheehan asked each student to comment on what they hoped to do following high school graduation.  Elita said laughingly, that she was going to sit on the side of the road and play flute.  In fact she hopes to attend Sonoma State University.  Jennifer plans to attend a private university and major in chemistry.  Che plans to attend University of California at Santa Barbara. Wyatt hopes to attend film school at University of Southern California, but if that doesn’t work out he says he will consider studying law. 

It was a delight to be entertained by such talented young musicians.  First place was awarded to Wyatt Hollister, second place to Che Rubaclava-Cunan, third place to Jennifer Hoffman and fourth place to Elita Hutchins.