US Cellists Play Their Way to Competition Wins

Two of the most challenging student instrumental competitions in Northeast Ohio have one thing in common: they were both won by University School cellists.

In January, Alex Cha, a junior, won the Akron Youth Symphony concerto competition. Henry Shapard, also a junior, won the 2014-15 Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra Concerto competition.

The victories provided the opportunity for the two to showcase their talents on even bigger stages. Alex recently performed Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto in E Minor (first movement) at the Akron Civic Theater with the Akron Symphony Orchestra as part of the annual Link Up Concert. Henry will be performing Dmitri Kabalevsky's Cello Concerto in G Minor with the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO) this Sunday, May 3, at 8:00 p.m.

"In addition to weekly rehearsals with the orchestra, I have been doing a lot of individual preparation," said Henry. "The Kabalevsky concerto is not performed very often, and my job as a soloist is to make this rarely heard piece come to life and inspire audience members to go home and give it a second listen."

Alex is in his fifth year as a member of the Akron Youth Symphony and has served as principal cellist and performed in the chamber orchestra. He has been a cello student of Pamela Kelly at the Cleveland Institute of Music's (CIM) Preparatory Department for over ten years. In 2012, Alex won the junior division of the Cleveland Cello Society Competition. He was first stand in the 2013-14 Northeast Ohio Regional Orchestra cello section and a member of the Ohio All-State Orchestra in early 2014.

"Music will always be part of my life, and I am considering minoring in music in college even as I focus on other major academic areas," said Alex.

Henry is also in his fifth season as a member of the COYO and has served as both assistant principal and principal cello. A student of Richard Weiss in the Preparatory Department of CIM, he has played the cello since the age of three. He has won various competitions, including the Chinese Professional Entrepreneurial Organization string competition, and the Elementary, Junior, and Senior divisions of the Cleveland Cello Society Scholarship Competition. Last summer, he was one of six cellists selected from around the USA to participate in the Young Artists Program of the Yellow Barn Music Festival in Putney, Vermont.

This summer, Alex will be continuing his cello studies and performing for various groups in the Cleveland-Akron area. Henry will be playing on two different concert tours in China. In June, he will be performing there as principal cellist with Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. In July, he will be performing at Carnegie Hall and in seven different Chinese cities as a member of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America.

Tickets to the May 3 concert are available directly through the Severance Hall Ticket Office at 216-231-1111, or online by clicking here.
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    • Alex Cha '16 during his performance with the Akron Symphony Orchestra at the Akron Civic Theater.

    • Henry Shapard '16 rehearses for his upcoming performance with the COYO at Severance Hall on Sunday, May 3.

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