The Dakota Valley Symphony is pleased to announce that there are two winners of our 2012 Young Artist Competition.  We would like to congratulate sixteen-year-old vocalist, Francesca Dawis of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and fifteen-year-old pianist, Aaron Fagerstrom of Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Francesca and Aaron will perform with the symphony on Sunday, April 29, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center.

Francesca Dawis is honored to be making her debut with the Dakota Valley Symphony.  She has been awarded 1st place honors from the Thursday Musical Young Artist Competition and the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Auditions.  Francesca studies voice with Professor Jean del Santo and is also an avid performer in Twin Cities theater.  She has played the title characters in Madeline and the Gypsies at the Children's Theatre Company and Walleye Kid: The Musical with Mu Performing Arts at the Ordwary McKnight Theatre.  Francesca has also appeared with Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Theater Latte Da, and Bloomington Civic Theatre.  Most recently, she performed as Eponine in Les Misarables at Southwest High School, where she serves as Treasurer of the Student Council's Junior Board.

Aaron Fagerstrom started taking piano lessons at the age of five, and is eternally grateful to his dedicated teachers, Marcia Knuttila and Dr. Paul Wirth, for molding him into the musician he is today.  To maximize Aaron's practice time, his education is split between home-based, online courses and music courses at his local high school.  In 2011, Aaron won his age division in the Scott's Music Piano Competition in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and was also the 1st place winner of the MMTA (Minnesota Music Teacher's Association) Jr. Young Artist Piano Competition.  Aaron made his first guest appearance with the Greater Grand Forks Symphony as a percussionist and pianist in December 2011.  Aaron sings with and accompanies his high school concert choir and jazz singing groups, plays percussion in his high school jazz and concert bands, and plays piano or percussion on his worship team at church.  While music is his passion, Aaron is also active in Knowledge Bowl, Math League, tennis, and builds websites for various local companies and organizations.



         
Tickets for the April 29, 2012 concert are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $5 for students and can be purchased at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center or at www.ticketmaster.com.