Celebrating its 50th anniversary year, the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra has announced the finalists for the 38th annual Secondary Schools Concerto Competition. Open to secondary school musicians around NSW, the six finalists were selected from over 100 entries state-wide. The final competition will be adjudicated by Sydney Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Andrew Haveron and principal oboist Shefali Pryor, and will be conducted by KPO Artistic Director Paul Terracini.

Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra

Finalists Isabella Sun, Gabrielle Zhong, Milo Abrahams, Jade Park, David Lin, and Raymond Wang. Photo Supplied

Split into two categories, the finalists for the junior competition are trumpet player Jade Park from St Andrews Cathedral School (performing Arutiunian’s Trumpet Concerto), clarinettist Raymond Wang from Sydney Grammar (performing Weber’s Clarinet Concerto) and violinist David Lin from Trinity Grammar (performing Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen); and the senior finalists are violinist Isabella Sun from Abbotsleigh (performing Prokofiev’s First Violin Concerto), cellist Gabrielle Zhong from Pymble Ladies College (performing Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo theme) and bassoonist Milo Abrahams from Sydney Grammar (performing Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto).

The overall winner of the competition will receive a...