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CAP Students Perform at Carnegie Hall in 2023 Crescendo International Music Competition

CAP is pleased to announce the CAP String Orchestra Trio was awarded first prize in the ensemble category at the Crescendo International Music Competition (CIC), a youth music nonprofit that aims to inspire individuals to pursue their passion for music. As prize winners, the students were invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City Saturday evening, February 18, 2023.

Students Daija (12th grade, Douglas Anderson), Chloe (10th grade, Douglas Anderson), and Marielly (6th Grade, River City Science Academy) are members of the CAP String Orchestra, funded by Kids Hope Alliance, which is an ensemble of current and former CAP string students who collaborate, perform and further their understanding of classical and contemporary music. The trio performed an excerpt from Frank Bridge’s Miniatures. This is the second consecutive year CAP students have performed at the internationally renowned venue. The trio’s high score also qualified them to apply for participation in CIC’s International Student Exchange Program which will take place in Japan, Sweden and Finland later this year.

Photo courtesy of Crescendo International Music Competition

“I thoroughly enjoyed playing at Carnegie Hall,” said Daija. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience I will never forget! It was also my first time visiting New York City and it was so exciting to see the Statue of Liberty and World Trade Center, among many other sites.”

CIC competitions allow performers to maximize their potential and serve as a professional setting for aspiring musicians to showcase their talents at prestigious concert halls worldwide. Performers are also presented with an invaluable opportunity to interact with other musicians and learn essential life lessons such as having the confidence to get back up after stumbling.

“Experiences like the CIC competition are invaluable to our students by providing a glimpse into the professional world of career artists and the hard work and self-discipline that is required to excel,” said CAP President & CEO Rev. Kimberly L. Hyatt. “As we celebrate 30 years of providing students access to arts education, it is wonderful to see young artists reaching their dreams at the highest levels.”

The Crescendo International Music Competition is a youth music competition held annually since 2007. There are two rounds of competitions – auditions and winners’ recitals. Auditions were held both by video submission and in person throughout the USA, Canada, Europe and Asia in November and December. Based on the audition performance, judges assigned a score that determined a contestant’s placement. Winners of the audition round were invited to perform at Carnegie Hall, which can confirm or change the results received in the audition round. Grand prize winners will be announced by the end of March 2023.


About Crescendo International Music Competition:
The mission of Crescendo International Music Competition (CIC) is to inspire individuals to pursue their passion for music through involvement in competitions, master classes and other educational programs. CIC’s vision of placing performers at the center of the process distinguishes it from other music competitions. CIC’s objective is not simply to select the best musicians, but to reward those who demonstrate a passion for music and show considerable progress, talent and unwavering dedication. CIC is driven by the belief that music is one of the greatest gifts and is proud to be one of the few organizations that supports children with disabilities.

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