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