Stephen Waarts,
age 13, is a student at the San Francisco Conservatory and studies violin with Li Lin and Alexander Barantschik, Concertmaster of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
He also receives regular instruction from Baroque violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock.
Stephen regularly performs and competes in local and international events, playing solo with orchestras, giving recitals, playing chamber music,
and giving presentations at schools. On January 10, 2010 Stephen won the Young Artist Competition for youths under age 23 of the Fremont Symphony Orchestra,
playing the Brahms Concerto. In April, 2010, he placed second in the Menuhin
International Competition for Young Violinists and won the Ole Bull Performance
Prize playing the Chausson Poeme in Oslo, Norway (Eyjafjallajokull notwithstanding). He recently performed in "From the Top" with pianist Christopher O'Riley.
Since November 2008, he has won many other competitions, including the American Fine Arts Festival (AFAF) competition, where he took first place and
performed in Carnegie Hall. He then represented the AFAF at the Russian maestro Spivakov's competition, and won a performance with the Moscow State University's professional
orchestra in the Grand Closing concert of the festival "Moscow Meets Friends". He won KDFC's Classical Star Search Competition
for ages 10-20, and was invited to play in the Festival del Sole in Napa. The judges, who included maestro Runnicles, commented: "Heartfelt, vulnerable, I stopped
noticing his playing. What soul!" He also won the Concerto Movement Competition of the Palo Alto Philharmonic.
Stephen is an Artist Member of the Rising Stars of California with the Lara Downes program, founded by pianist Lara Downes at U.C. Davis, and he has performed with her multiple times. He has performed in many chamber music ensembles including the Music@Menlo Chamber Music Institute. Between April
2008 and October 2009 Stephen performed six complete concertos and two show pieces with eight orchestras, often multiple times. In California, he performed with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, the Saratoga Symphony, the Silicon Valley Symphony, the Diablo Symphony Orchestra, the Palo Alto Philharmonic, the Youth Orchestras of Southern Alameda County (YOSAC), and the San Jose Youth Symphony. At the Moscow State University, he performed with the professional Kostroma Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he also performed with the Octet of San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, which performs without a conductor.
2007-2008 awards include: the grand prize at the Mondavi Center Young Artists Competition, first place in the Young Artist Competition of the Diablo Symphony Orchestra, winner of Margaret Brady Study Grant in the Stewart Brady Competition, first place of MTAC VOCE of the California State Competition, first place in the Menuhin-Dowling Young Musician's String Competition, first place in the CMTANC Youth Music Competition, Taghioff Prize (first place for ages under 16) of the Fremont Symphony Young Artist Competition, and a performance with the Junior Bach Festival.
Stephen studies piano and music composition and enjoys table tennis, reading, drawing, mathematics, and playing with his siblings.
More information is at www.stephenwaarts.com
Stephen Waarts,
age 13, is a student at the San Francisco Conservatory and studies violin with Li Lin and Alexander Barantschik, Concertmaster of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
He also receives regular instruction from Baroque violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock.
Stephen regularly performs and competes in local and international events, playing solo with orchestras, giving recitals, playing chamber music,
and giving presentations at schools. On January 10, 2010 Stephen won the Young Artist Competition for youths under age 23 of the Fremont Symphony Orchestra,
playing the Brahms Concerto. In April, 2010, he placed second in the Menuhin
International Competition for Young Violinists and won the Ole Bull Performance
Prize playing the Chausson Poeme in Oslo, Norway (Eyjafjallajokull notwithstanding). He recently performed in "From the Top" with pianist Christopher O'Riley.
Since November 2008, he has won many other competitions, including the American Fine Arts Festival (AFAF) competition, where he took first place and
performed in Carnegie Hall. He then represented the AFAF at the Russian maestro Spivakov's competition, and won a performance with the Moscow State University's professional
orchestra in the Grand Closing concert of the festival "Moscow Meets Friends". He won KDFC's Classical Star Search Competition
for ages 10-20, and was invited to play in the Festival del Sole in Napa. The judges, who included maestro Runnicles, commented: "Heartfelt, vulnerable, I stopped
noticing his playing. What soul!" He also won the Concerto Movement Competition of the Palo Alto Philharmonic.
Stephen is an Artist Member of the Rising Stars of California with the Lara Downes program, founded by pianist Lara Downes at U.C. Davis, and he has performed with her multiple times. He has performed in many chamber music ensembles including the Music@Menlo Chamber Music Institute. Between April
2008 and October 2009 Stephen performed six complete concertos and two show pieces with eight orchestras, often multiple times. In California, he performed with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, the Saratoga Symphony, the Silicon Valley Symphony, the Diablo Symphony Orchestra, the Palo Alto Philharmonic, the Youth Orchestras of Southern Alameda County (YOSAC), and the San Jose Youth Symphony. At the Moscow State University, he performed with the professional Kostroma Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he also performed with the Octet of San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, which performs without a conductor.
2007-2008 awards include: the grand prize at the Mondavi Center Young Artists Competition, first place in the Young Artist Competition of the Diablo Symphony Orchestra, winner of Margaret Brady Study Grant in the Stewart Brady Competition, first place of MTAC VOCE of the California State Competition, first place in the Menuhin-Dowling Young Musician's String Competition, first place in the CMTANC Youth Music Competition, Taghioff Prize (first place for ages under 16) of the Fremont Symphony Young Artist Competition, and a performance with the Junior Bach Festival.
Stephen studies piano and music composition and enjoys table tennis, reading, drawing, mathematics, and playing with his siblings.
More information is at www.stephenwaarts.com