Mary West Solo Competition 2025

Congratulations to all who performed in the 2025 Mary West Solo Competition on Saturday, November 1. The Winners Recital will be held on Sunday, November 9th at 7:00 pm, at Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall, UMN School of Music.

Elementary Division

Jun-Soo Smith, violin, student of Charles Gray;

Charles de Beriot, Concerto No. 9 in A minor, Op. 104

I. Allegro maestoso

Venice Liu, violin, student of Aaron Janse;

V. Monti, Czardas

Claire Givens Violins — Gift Certificate Winner

Intermediate Division

Josie Snaza, violin, student of Aaron Janse;

Henryk Wieniawski, Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22

I. Allegro moderato

Anita Matsuura, cello, student of David Carter;

Édouard Lalo, Cello Concerto in D minor

I. Prelude, lento – Allegro maestoso

Claire Givens Violins — Gift Certificate Winner

Junior Division

Allison Britzius, violin, student of Aaron Janse;

Sergei Prokofiev, Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 19

I. Andantino

Sophia Alexander, cello, student of Mina Fisher;

Sergei Prokofiev, Sinfonia Concertante

II. Allegro giusto

Claire Givens Violins — Gift Certificate Winner

Senior Division

Clara Montes, violin, student of Sally O'Reilly;

J.S. Bach, Partita No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006

Gavotte en Rondeau

Claire Givens Violins — Grand Prize Winner

Samuel Dangerfield, cello, student of Mina Fisher;

Camile Saint-Saëns, Cello Concerto no. 1 in A-minor, Opus 33

I. Allegro non troppo

Honorable Mention

So many students performed at a high level that not all could be put on the Winners Recital because of time. The judges recognize the following students with an Honorable Mention:

Elementary Division

Arthur Scott, violin

Ellie Vigne, violin

Intermediate Division

Eira Lindberg, violin

Brigham Dangerfield, violin

Junior Division

Jason Chang, violin

Blair Bartels Sperry, violin

Senior Division

Lukas Oddsson, violin

The Grand Prize Concerto Performance with the Bloomington Symphony will be held on Sunday, April 12th, 2026 @ 2pm.

Mary West Solo Competition Coordinator needed

Daniel Keeler is planning on coordinating the Mary West Solo Competition in 2025, but not after. MNSOTA is still looking for someone to shadow Daniel for the 2025 competition, and then be the full coordinator starting in 2026. Duties include: Work begins in May with establishing a budget and coordinating schedules with GTCYS, MYS and other organizations that our string students might participate in. Work continues through the summer to finalize the date, secure sites for the competition and Winners Recital and notify past teacher participants. Registration opens in early September. The competition and Winners Recital take place before Thanksgiving. 

If you are interested in helping, please contact Daniel Keeler SoloCompetition@mnsota.org.