2024 Stanger Competition Results

Penney Stergios • February 27, 2024

Sjostrom Wins, Four Musicians Stand Out in Annual Concerto Competition

High school teens excel in this year’s Robert Stanger Young Artist competition hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst and the Elmhurst Symphony Association. First-place winner, violinist Bea Sjostrom, is invited to perform with the Symphony in the 2024/25 season.


The Elmhurst Symphony Association (ESA) is proud to announce the winners of the 55th annual Dr. Robert Stanger Young Artists Competition, held on February 17, 2024 at the Union Church of Hinsdale. Conducted by the ESA and sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst, the competition showcased 15 outstanding high school musicians from several Chicago suburbs. 


Stanger Audition first-place winner, Bea Sullivan Sjostrom, will perform her winning audition piece as a soloist with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra during its 2024-2025 concert season. The four winners receive certificates and monetary awards as well as the opportunity to play at a Kiwanis Club or Elmhurst Symphony Association function in the future.


Thanks go to the dedicated Symphony volunteers who helped make this event possible. The Symphony is especially grateful to the Stanger Audition’s primary sponsor, the Elmhurst Kiwanis Club, for its long-time support. 


Judges and Winners

Special thanks go to this year's judges Michal Drewnowski, Eli Chen, and Jean Hatmaker, who spent many hours listening to and critiquing these spectacular young performers, choosing four winners:


First Place: Bea Sjostrom, Violin

Junior, Oak Park River Forest High School

Teacher:   Kristina Priceman 

Mozart Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major, first movement


Second Place: Sofia Radovic, Violin

Senior, Homeschooled, St. Charles

Teacher: Desiree Ruhstraat

Sibelius Violin Concerto No. 1 in d minor, first movement


Third Place: Kai Werlinsky, Violin

Senior, Lyons Township High School

Teacher:  Drew Lecher

Sibelius Violin Concerto No. 1 in d minor, first movement


Fourth Place: Joseph Gallwas, piano

Sophomore, York Community High School

Teacher: Jeff Panko

Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 in e minor, Op. 11, third movement


The Elmhurst Symphony Association, through its Stanger Competition, encourages serious study and high standards among young musicians. It is the Association’s intention that the Competition be both educational and rewarding to each entrant. 


This is the 55th annual Dr. Robert Stanger Young Artists Competition held by the Elmhurst Symphony Association. Dr. Robert Stanger was President of Elmhurst College from 1957 to 1965, President of the Elmhurst Symphony Society from 1968 to 1972, and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst for 15 years.


For more information visit ElmhurstSymphony.org/stanger.


More About the Stanger Young Artist Competition




May 12, 2025
The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to announce that Tong-Bai Deng , pianist, has been named the winner of the 2025 Stanger Young Artist Competition. The announcement was made live at the conclusion of the Rising Stars of Stanger concert on Saturday, May 10, 2025, held at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church. Deng earned top honors for his electrifying performance of Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Movement IV , captivating both the audience and judges with his technical command and passionate artistry.  The concert featured three finalist performances by exceptional high school musicians: Tong-Bai Deng , piano — Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (Mvt. IV) Sarah Gomez , Sam Deverman , Elyse Schlesinger , and Julian Kolthammer , horns — Robert Schumann’s Konzertstück for Four Horns and Orchestra Neal Eisfeldt , violin — Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto (Mvt. I) The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Assistant Conductor Eli Chen , also performed Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, Movement I , rounding out a dynamic and celebratory afternoon of music. A panel of esteemed judges— Andrea Lafranzo , Michael Lewanski , and Peter Lipari —was embedded in the audience to evaluate each finalist on musicianship, interpretation, and stage presence before announcing the winner live from the stage. “This competition is one of the most inspiring events we host all year,” said Michael Surratt, Coordinator of the Stanger Young Artist Competition. “We are so proud of all the finalists and extend our warmest congratulations to Tong-Bai Deng for his extraordinary performance.” The Stanger Young Artist Competition is an annual tradition that supports and celebrates the next generation of classical musicians by offering high school performers the opportunity to appear as soloists with a professional orchestra. It is in part sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst , whose generous and ongoing support is gratefully acknowledged. For more information on the competition or upcoming performances, please visit ElmhurstSymphony.org or contact the ESO office at 630-941-0202 (Monday-Friday 10AM-3PM).
May 12, 2025
Gallery Photos by Elliot Mandel Photography.
May 5, 2025
Gallery Photos by Ryan Bennett for Elliot Mandel Photography.
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