Byron Hitchcock wins Competition!
String Academy of Wyoming alumnus Byron Hitchcock ( SAW graduate 2002) was the winner of the Boston Modern Orchestra Project/New England Conservatory Concerto Competition in January. He performed the William Bolcom Violin Concerto in D (1983). Read Byron's biography, and read a review of the concert published in the Boston Globe.

Liana Przygocki at Cornell University.
Liana Przygocki graduated from the String Academy in 2004. May of 2008 she will graduate from Cornell University with a degree in International Agriculture and Rural Development. Her immediate plans are to work for Outward Bound in Minnesota beginning in June.

Cressa Deshler gets married.
Cressa Deshler (SAW graduate 1998) was married in December 2007. She lives in Portland where she is pursuing a career as a physical therapist.

Competitions 2007-2008: Winners and Participants
WY-ASTA 2007 Young Artists Competition- Division I Christopher Leonard 1st Place, Emma Erikson 2nd Place; Division II Kevin Moe 2nd Place; Division III Sean Peel 1st Place, June Sun and Lisa Herbert tied for 3rd Place. Grand Prize Winner Sean Peel!

Rushmore Competition in Rapid City, South Dakota- Junior Division Nyoka Erikson 1st Place


WY-ASTA High School Concerto Competition- Sean Peel 1st Place, Amy Herbert 2nd Place As the first place winner Sean Peel performed the first movement of the Elgar Cello Concerto on a Cheyenne Symphony. YES! Concert in February and on a "Concert Call" Back for the accompanying subscription concert."

Music Teachers National Association Competition- State Competition in November-Garam Kim 1st Place, Amy Herbert alternate Regional Competition in Billings Montana in Janauary- Garam Kim participant.

UW Festival of Strings Concerto Competition- Garam Kim 1st Place. As the winner Garam performed the first movement of the Bach a minor Concerto with the Festival Orchestra.

Wyoming Young Artist Competition- Garam Kim 1st Place. As the winner of this competition Garam will perform the Saint-Saens Violin Concerto #3 with the Northwest Civic Orchestra on May 3, 2008.

Stars of Tomorrow Christopher Leonard won 1st Place in his age group at the "Stars of Tomorrow Competition" April 2008. He was also named "Best of Show" for all age groups. Charles Furgeson also won 1st place for his age group

Honors Recital Christopher Leonard will play a solo in an Honors Rectial at the Suzuki Institute at Beaver Creek, Colorado in June, 2008.

WY-ASTA 2008 Young Artists Competition- Division I Emma Erikson 1st Place, Emma Rovani 2nd Place, Lia Eggleston 3rd Place; Division II Christopher Leonard 1st Place, Caleb Bristol 2nd Place, Joshua Schneider 3rd Place; Division III Lisa Herbert 1st Place, Ryan Smith 2nd Place, June Sun 3rd Place; Grand Prize Winner Lisa Herbert.

Competitions 2008-2009: Winners and Participants
WY-ASTA 2008 High School Concerto Competition- Lisa Herbert received 2nd Prize for her performance of the 1st movement of the Kabalevsky Concerto. Nyoka Erikson performed the 2nd movement of the Kabalevsky Concerto and received an Honorable Mention. June Sun also participated in the competition. Congratulations!