Mathilda Edge, an Illinois College student from Bath, has been selected as the 2009 “The Talent Among Us” grand prize winner during the annual competition held at Illinois College’s Rammelkamp Chapel on Saturday, February 28.

Miss Edge’s vocal performance of “Una donna a quindici anni” from Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” was deemed the best performance of 10 finalists performing vocal and instrumental music. As grand prize winner, Miss Edge will be featured in a performance with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra during their May 2 concert in Rammelkamp Chapel.

In addition to winning the grand prize, Miss Edge also won first place in the adult category. Vocalist Mary Myers of Springfield received second place recognition in the same category.

Senior youth category first through third place winners were flutist Carly Piland of Springfield, vocalist Madison Kauffman, also of Springfield, and pianist Andrew Salyer of Jacksonville. The senior youth category is comprised of young men and women in high school. Honorable mentions in this category included Peyton Tosh of Jacksonville, Rigoberto Ernst of Lincoln and Greg Knox of Springfield.

Jacksonville’s Alexis Schrieber won first place playing the piano in the junior youth category which consists of performers who are in eighth grade and under. Her brother, Paul Schrieber, also of Jacksonville, was awarded second place honors in the same category.

An annual event, this year’s Symphony fundraiser added a new component with the People’s Choice Award. The ticket holders chose Miss Edge as the inaugural winner of this award.

Performers chosen to perform in the competition will be notified on January 25, 2009. Those performers MUST be able to compete in “The Talent Among Us” competition on Saturday, February 28, 2009 at 7 p.m. in Rammelkamp Chapel in the campus of Illinois College.

Prizes will be awarded in three categories:
· Junior Youth (up to grade 8)
· Senior Youth (grades 9-12)
· Adult (college and beyond)

Prizes in all three categories are as follows:
· First Prize: $100
· Second Prize: $75
· Third Prize: $50

The Symphony reserves the right to withhold granting a prize in a category if standards are not met or if not enough contestants enter the competition.

All winners in all categories are eligible for a Grand Prize which is $250 and a featured appearance with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra during the March 28 concert. A new People’s Choice Award will be given this year to one contestant out of the three categories based upon audience opinion. The winner will receive $50 and a trophy.

Additional Rules:
1. Participants in the talent competition must qualify at auditions. Audition times will be assigned in the order audition forms are received. Times may be rescheduled in case of conflicts, but the contestant is responsible for notifying the chair immediately in the case of conflict. In all cases, the contestant will be considered as failing if the audition time is not kept. The registration fee will not be refunded.

2. Contestants are expected to audition in appropriate dress. Photographs will be taken at the time of auditions for publicity purposes.

3. All accompanying music must be live. Recordings will not be accepted. Contestants are responsible for procuring and paying for their own live music accompaniment.

4. Contestants will agree to the use of their names and photographs for publicity purposes.

5. Applications received after the deadline may not be accepted. The Symphony and the event chair will use their discretion.

6. Flash photography is prohibited. Recordings and tapings are allowed unless they interfere with performances, judging or audience   enjoyment.

7. Warm up pianos are NOT available for rehearsals. Practice rooms are available in the basement on a first-come, first-served basis.

8. Previous Grand Prize winners are not eligible to compete again. All other previous contestants may compete again.

9. Contestants are expected to show proper respect for other contestants, dress appropriately, appear on time, attend rehearsals and  exhibit the demeanor that will contribute to the enhancement of the competition and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.

10. Please note that audition pieces MUST be the same as the piece performed during the competition, unless approval is given by the judges to change the selection prior to the competition. Do not include repeats in the your selection, as performers will be deducted points if the five minute performance limit is exceeded.