Six finalists will compete in the 2017-2018 Fresno State Concerto Competition Friday, February 2, at 8 p.m. in the Concert Hall for the opportunity to perform as soloist with the Fresno State Wind Orchestra and the Fresno State Symphony Orchestra later this semester.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Two external judges have been hired for the competition. For this year’s event, Mr. Meryl J. Wamhoff, the director of Bands at the Santa Rosa Junior College, and Dr. Ambroise Aubrun, violin professor at UCLA and UC Santa Barbara, have agreed to adjudicate.

Participants are instrumental or vocal soloists who are undergraduate or graduate music students at Fresno State. They will perform a concerto or work for soloist and large ensemble. At the competition, all the works will be performed with piano accompaniment.

For the 2017-2018 Concerto Competition, internationally-renowned collaborative pianist, Mr. Hatem Nadim, will come to Fresno State and rehearse with the candidates during the week prior to the competition and perform with them at the competition.

Last year’s winners were marimba player Micah Davison, who won the Wind Orchestra division, and cellist Kelvin Diaz-Inoa, who won the Symphony Orchestra division.