March 27, 2002
Contact: Sherry Wallace, 309/556-3181

School of Music
Illinois Wesleyan Names the Winner of Its High School Composers’ Contest 2002

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.—Elaine Angelino of East Amherst, N.Y., is the winner of the second High School Composers’ Contest sponsored by Illinois Wesleyan University’s School of Music.

Franklin Gross of Boca Raton, Fla., took first prize in the contest last year, which was established in celebration of IWU’s 150th anniversary.

Angelino submitted two original compositions entitled Sonata for Bassoon and Piano and Blow Wind Blow, an art song for soprano, violin, piano, harp and percussion. The bassoon piece has two movements: Rubato and Scherzo. According to Angelino, she wrote this piece for her best friend, who according to Angelino, "is the top high school bassoonist in Western New York."

Angelino will receive a $250 honorarium and $500 for travel expenses to come to IWU for the symposium. Her music also will be performed at the 2002 IWU Symposium of Contemporary Music, April 6, at a 7:30 p.m. concert in Westbrook Auditorium of Presser Hall, 303 E. University Ave., Bloomington.

For the past two years, Angelino has studied music composition with Stephen Shewan and has had the opportunity of working with such composers as Leslie Bassett, Mir Ali, John Altieri, and Dan Reitz, Tim Ries and Augusta Read Thomas. She has played the violin for 13 years under the direction of Louis Baroudi and the piano for 12 years under the direction of Marie Baroudi.

"I am absolutely thrilled about having won this contest," said Angelino, "especially since composing is relatively new to me. I am also very excited to have the opportunity to attend masterclasses with Present Music as well as the dress rehearsals of my works."

Angelino is co-concertmistress of the Williamsville District Orchestra, and is a member of both the Williamsville East chorale and the Chromatic Club of Buffalo, N.Y. She has played the violin and piano extensively in pit orchestras, and is often sought as a piano accompanist. In January 2002, Angelino performed the Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, lst movement, with the Williamsville District Orchestra.

Salutatorian of her class, Angelino scored a perfect 1600 on the SAT exam. She is the youngest graduate of the Gifted Math Program at the University at Buffalo and an AP Distinguished Scholar and captain of her school’s Science Olympiad Team.

In college Angelino plans to continue her music studies with a minor in composition and will major in mathematics and engineering.