The Fox Valley Symphony announces the three top winners of the Youth Soloist Competition that took place Saturday, January 15, 2011 at Lawrence University.

The competition was available to Northeastern Wisconsin strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, voice, harp or piano student performers grades 10-12.

The top winner, who was awarded a cash prize of $500, is pianist Katie Christensen from Plymouth, WI. Katie is a homeschooled 11th grader. She will perform the first movement of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, with the Fox Valley Symphony Youth Symphony at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center on March 7, 2011 as part of the Partners in Education concert.

Second place, winning a $300 cash prize, went to oboist Trista Taylor of New London, WI who performed the first and second movements of Albinoni’s Concerto in D Minor, op. 9, no. 2. Trista is a junior at New London High School. She also plays principal oboe in the FVS Youth Symphony.

Finally, third place, winning a $200 cash prize, went to Joanne Zhou of Appleton who performed the first movement of Schumann’s Concerto in A minor. Joanne is a senior at Appleton North High School and also a violinist with the FVS Youth Symphony.