Yale Scholar Blows Away the Competition in Houston’s Biggest Music Showdown: A Symphony Winner Shines Bright

What: Houston Symphony Ima Hogg Competition

Where: Stude Concert Hall at Rice University

PC Moment: Highlight of the competition is always performances of a concerto by the finalists along with the Houston Symphony, which on this evening was conducted by Daniel Hege, guest conductor and music director of the Wichita Symphony.

Ji Su Jung, playing the marimba, was named winner of the 43rd annual competition. She was presented the Grace Woodson Memorial Award by the event’s honorary chair John Neighbors and she won the Hermann Shoss Audience Choice Award.  A graduate student at Yale School of Music Jung also received a $25,000 cash prize and a performance with the Houston Symphony in Jones Hall on July 11.

Before the competition finals, members of the IMA105 patrons group (donors giving $1,000 or more in support of the competition) gathered at the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies for a private reception.

Who: Chair Barbara McCelvey, Lilly and Thurman Andress, Roz and Byron Cooley, Joyce and David Fox, Tracy and John Dennis, Robin Angly and Miles Smith, Terry Brown, Jackie and Malcom Mazow, Shirley and Michael Pearson, Beth Wolff, Susan and Ed Osterberg, Nancy Willerson, Diane and Harry Gendel and Marian and Gary Beauchamp.