UW Student Violinist Takes Top Jacoby Competition Prize

Violinist Michael Vitanza, a University of Wyoming student from Pinedale, was named the winner of last week’s annual Jacoby Competition, which featured seven UW student soloists.

Vitanza’s performance of Sarasate’s “Zigeunerweisen” was selected by the judges as the best during the classical music competition.

Runner-up honors went to baritone Jeffrey Cuevas, a UW student from Douglas. He performed Rossini’s “Largo al factotum” from “The Barber of Seville.”

Adrienne Freng, UW College of Arts and Sciences interim dean, announced the judges’ decisions.

“The Jacoby Competition never fails to be one of the UW Symphony Orchestra’s most exciting events,” says Michael Griffith, who is director of orchestral activities at UW.

Several months ago, many UW music students performed their selected solos in the audition round. An entire day was devoted to that competition late in the fall semester. A panel of distinguished musicians served as judges and chose the seven top students to perform in the finals concert.

This year’s competition featured a varied program, featuring woodwind, brass and string instruments, as well as a vocalist. 

Listed are the other five finalists, along with their hometowns and respective repertoires:

-- Emilee Ewing (Grapevine, Texas), flute, Gordeli, concerto.

-- Bryce Hebert (Casper), alto saxophone, Maurice, “Tableau de Provence.”

-- Ryan Larsen (Morristown, N.J.), alto saxophone, Dubois, concerto.

-- Marlon Rissatto (Junqueirópolis, São Paulo, Brazil), trombone, Grøndahl, concerto.

-- Jacob Walker (Cheyenne), alto saxophone, Creston, concerto.

The concert is named after Dorothy Jacoby, a founding member of the UW Symphony Association and a longtime supporter of classical music in Laramie. Her sons, Peter and Michael Jacoby, made a generous contribution in honor of their late mother. That gift, along with contributions from many of Dorothy Jacoby’s friends, created the endowment for the prize that is awarded at the performance.

For more information, email Griffith at symph@uwyo.edu.