Recently, four of the five finalists at the Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s 46th Young Artists Competition had ties to the Hartt Community Division. In recent years, students from HCD have consistently received top honors. Last year, three HCD students were named top winners in the annual competition.
The HSO's Young Artists Competition is an elite concerto competition open to all Connecticut residents in grades 9-12. Contestants compete for cash awards and a chance to solo with the HSO at The Bushnell in the 2024–25 season.
The four students who were finalists were: Eli Gould (marimba), Jackson Hill (viola), Matthew Li (horn), and Michael Sigal (violin). The three who were awarded places include: Jackson Hill, performing Concerto for Viola and Orchestra by Walton (third place), Eli Gould, performing Concerto for Marimba by Séjourné (second place), and Michael Sigal, performing Concerto No. 3 by Saint-Saëns, who won first place.
Another fitting connection to Hartt is that second place winer Eli Gold’s band director at Simsbury High School is alumnus Phaelon Koski.
The Hartt School’s Trumpet faculty member John Charles Thomas was elated, sharing the news with the wider HCD community “Bravo Hartt Community Division! I couldn’t be prouder for the winners and all who participated.”