Wahoo's McIlhaney named Lincoln Symphony Orchestra's 2015 'Young Artist'
Warrior flutist receives scolarship and soloist opportunity
Launch the media gallery 1 playerLincoln’s Symphony Orchestra is proud to announce the selection of flutist Lukas McIlhaney as the LSO Young Artist for the 2014-15 season. Lukas, a native of Wahoo, NE, is currently a senior enrolled in Wahoo High School and studies under Leslie Fagen, Assistant Principal Flute with the Omaha Symphony. He performed the first movement of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Flute Concerto in G Major, K. 313 as his competition piece.
“We are thrilled to work with Lukas this season, and to feature him as a soloist at both our Young People’s Concerts and Family Concert in March,” said Edward Polochick, Music Director of Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra. “It was such a pleasure to hear such a fine group of young musicians audition at the Young Artist Competition this year. It is a tribute to the educators in our community that the level of talent was so high.”
McIlhaney has been a flutist in the Omaha Area Youth Orchestras since his freshman year in high school. Recently, he won a concerto competition with Orchestra Omaha and performed Franz Doppler’s Hungarian Fantasy Pastorale alongside the orchestra. McIlhaney has participated in many state-wide and national music festivals such as the Nebraska Music Educators Association’s All-State conference, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Winter Winds festival, Interlochen’s Summer Arts Camp, and Rocky Ridge Music Center’s summer programs. In addition to his flute performance activities, McIlhaney is an aspiring composer and hopes to expand the flute concerto repertoire.
As winner of the LSO Young Artist Competition, Lukas receives the title of LSO Young Artist Winner for the 2014-15 season, publicity exposure, a private rehearsal and coaching from LSO Resident Conductor, Dr. Tyler White, solo performances at the LSO’s Young People’s Concerts and Family Concert in March 2015, and a $500 cash prize.
Thirteen high school and college music students participated in LSO’s Young Artist Competition, which is funded in part by the J. Edmund & Thelma D. Miller Fund at the Lincoln Community Foundation. The competition required that applicants play an instrument and be 20 years old or younger, participate in an audition, and submit an application with a letter of recommendation. Past Young Artist Competition winners include Jennifer Ahn, violinist from Westside High School, Nicholas May, saxophonist from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Yasmeen Bora, violinist from Millard North, Joseph Mumm, trombone from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Meredith Ramsey, violin from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln; Katherine White, oboe, from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln; Jaime Tyser, trumpet, from the University of Missouri-Kansas City; and Erik Higgins, bass, from Lincoln Northeast High School.