The Carmel Symphony Orchestra (CSO) proudly announces the winner of its 2016 and 36th Young Artists Competition. 17-year-old rising pianist from Bloomington, Indiana, Gabriel Bruner, took first place honors in this year’s competition. He also was last year’s CSO Young Artists Competition runner-up.
“I am absolutely thrilled to have been chosen as the winner of the Young Artists Competition because I get to perform, once again, a piece I love and a piece many others love in the Palladium, with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, for tons of people,” says Bruner. “I couldn’t be happier for this wonderful experience. I am extremely grateful, and I hope to make concert goers smile through my performance.”
Bruner, who has played piano since age five, made his debut at age 14 with the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra playing the first movement of Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto in G minor. He plans to study piano performance at Indiana University Jacob’s School of Music after graduation. A true lover of music, he also plays bass guitar and drums, and teaches piano in his spare time free of charge to help others nurture a love for music.
Bruner has received numerous awards competing across Indiana and the U.S. He has placed first in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s Michael Ben & Illene Komisarow Maurer Young Musicians Contest, the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra’s Youth Concerto Competition, the New World Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition, the University of Indianapolis’s Young Artist Awards, the Youth Concerto Competition at Rocky Ridge Music Center, and the Interlochen Summer High School Concerto Competition. His previous teachers include Fred Hammond and Diana Portzline.
“Gabriel is a bright and talented pianist. We cannot wait to see where his future performance career takes him, and it will be a joy to hear him perform for all of us at the March 2017 Family Fun! Concert,” says Alan Davis, president and ceo of the Carmel Symphony Orchestra..
As the first place winner, Bruner will perform with the CSO at the Family Fun! Concert on March 26, 2017 at the Palladium. He also receives a scholarship award of $1000, made possible by the generous sponsorship from the Meridian Music. The concert is sponsored by the CSO League.
Family Fun! Concert tickets can be purchased by visiting CarmelSymphony.org or by calling the Center’s Box Office at 317.843.3800. Discounts for students are also available: the $5 YouthPASS for High School and younger, and the $10 CollegePASS for College students. Additionally adult tickets for the Family Fun! Concert are only $20. For more information, visit CarmelSymphony.org.
About Young Artist Competition:
The CSO Young Artist Competition encourages and affords student musicians from Central Indiana the opportunity to compete with their peers at the highest level of artistic excellence. This year’s event marks the competition’s 36th year.
