Soren Krantz, 17, recently took top honors in the 17th Annual James and Katherine Andrews Young Artist Competition, sponsored by the Orchestra of Northern New York. He performed the first movement of Edvard Grieg’s Concerto in A Minor for Piano, Op. 16., winning the first place prize of $500 and the opportunity to solo with ONNY at its April 29th concert in Hosmer Hall, SUNY Potsdam.
Soren earned the first-place prize of $500 and the opportunity to solo with ONNY at its April 29th concert in Hosmer Hall, SUNY Potsdam.
In Soren’s home, he and all his older siblings play piano, taught by their mother. At age 14, he switched to his current teacher, John Spradling. Two years ago, he took third place in the senior division of Central New York AMT’s advanced piano competition.
Homeschooled since kindergarten, Soren will graduate high school this May through taking college courses at the local community college. In addition to his studies and piano playing, he enjoys basketball, chess, solving Rubik’s cubes, and being outdoors in all weather.
Soren is the son of Sabine and Alex Krantz, Syracuse.
Eric Lee, 14, who first studied violin under the Suzuki method when he was in kindergarten,
placed second, winning the $300 cash prize. He performed Max Bruch’s Concerto No. 1 in G Minor for Violin.
A student of Peter Rovit of Dewitt, Eric began playing in the Symphoria Youth Orchestra at age 10. Since then, he has participated in the Symphoria String Orchestra, the Repertory Youth Orchestra and the Young Artist Orchestra. He is an experienced concertmaster, having led three All-County and All-State orchestras as well as the High School Music Camp at Ithaca College.
An avid skier who also holds a black belt in Miori-style Martial Arts, Eric enjoys chess, playing golf, watching sports, and participating in fantasy football and basketball leagues with his friends. He graduated Salutatorian from his 8th grade class at Christian Brothers Academy of Syracuse.
Eric is the son of Kelly and Young Lee, Manlius.
Third place went to flutist Andrea Iqbal, 15, a sophomore at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. She performed Charles Griffes’ Poem for Flute and Orchestra, earning the $150 prize.
Andrea has been in two All-County bands and a member of her high school’s marching band for four years. As the marching band’s flute soloist this past year, she was featured on local radio station, WCNY. She also participates in her school’s Symphonic Band and the Junior and Senior High School pit orchestras.
Outside of school, she performs with the Symphoria Youth Orchestra and plays tennis. In December 2022, Andrea was her school’s Music Student of the Month. Last year, she received an Excellence in Band award.
Andrea is the daughter of Guillermina Ortega and Robert Iqbal, North Syracuse
Violist Kari Maxian, 17, a senior at Manlius Pebble High School was awarded Honorable Mention and a $75 cash prize. A student of Arvilla Wendland for the past eight years, Kari has been principal viola in the Symphoria Youth Orchestra for the last two years. In 2022, she won the Civic Morning Musicals concerto competition, and her quartet won “Best Syracuse Area Ensemble” in the Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music competition.
Kari also enjoys piano, soccer, and science, hoping to study conservation biology in college.
She is the daughter of Jeffrey Winston and Tina Maxian, Cazenovia.