Olivia Banks and Alix Sherry
Tuesday, March 22, 2022, on the Flint Hall stage, inside the Falany Performing Arts Center, the annual Reinhardt Concerto Competition made its comeback after a pandemic-induced two-year hiatus. The competition was instituted in 2009 to showcase the wealth of amazing solo instrumental talent within the ranks of the instrumental department of the Reinhardt School of Performing Arts.
Contestants are required to first apply, presenting their intended repertoire with their applied teacher’s approval. Reinhardt Artist Affiliates, who comprise the highly credentialed professional instrumental faculty – who teach and coach our piano, woodwind, brass, guitar and percussion students every day – upon receiving approval of the application, start a months-long journey in preparing their contestant students for the competition.
A panel of three judges was assembled this year that included Dr. Kerry Bryant, Director of Instrumental Activities and Assistant Professor of Music, Mr. Dennis Naughton, Assistant Director of Bands, Music Education Instructor and Director of Athletic Bands, and Mr. John Warren, Professor of Clarinet at Kennesaw State University, as “outside” expert adjudicator.
This year’s alternate soloist is flutist, a second-year candidate for B.A. in Music Performance. Both are students of Ms. Kelly Bryant, Flute Artist Affiliate.
Sherry will be featured in the 2022 fall semester as a soloist with the Reinhardt Wind Ensemble, conducted by Dr. Bryant, performing Concertino, Op. 107, by Cecile Chaminade.
The piece, composed in 1902, serves as a wonderful example of the rich repertoire the flute and other woodwind instruments gained by having prominent composers write them for “competition pieces” to enter the highly regarded Paris Conservatoire de Musique. It is also notable as one of only a few works by a female composer in the early part of the 20th century.
Congratulations, Olivia and Alix!
