The Bay Area is bursting with brilliant young talent. Countless organizations are dedicated to fostering and growing this talent at every stage of development. The Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts is no different in its quest for remarkably talented musicians. Two such artists will take the stage on Jan. 14 and 15, proving why they are Mondavi’s Young Artist Competition Winners.
The battle for the stage began for Hilda Huang and Alexi Kenney in 2010. They claimed the coveted title of Senior Grand Prize Winners and won their right to debut at the illustrious center in Davis. Of course, both of the finalists’ journeys began long before that competition.
At age 14, Huang claims the title of the youngest person, and first American, to win the International J.S. Bach Competition in Wurzburg, Germany. This may be one of the most renowned titles she carries, though it is not the only one. She is also the first-prize winner of the Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition, and is a 2008 Fellow at the Davidson Institute for Talent Development. In addition to her awards, Huang has amassed a performance resume that would be impressive at any age. She was the youngest musician featured in Michael Lawrence’s documentary Bach & Friends, which featured the likes of Joshua Bell and Hillary Hahn. In addition, she was a soloist at the Carmel Bach Festival and performed at the Young Artists Concert of the Steinway Society of the Bay Area. Huang reached national audiences through NPR’s From the Top when she was only 11.
Nor does Alexi Kenney have a shortage of accolades attached to his name. Now a senior at Palo Alto High School, he was the youngest artist accepted into the Ravina Festival’s Steans Institute in 2011. As a freshman at the New England Conservatory, he has performed as concertmaster of the NEC Symphony. Additionally, he won the chamber music Honors Ensemble competition alongside his own string quartet. He earned the title of concertmaster with the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra during the Centennial Season Celebration in the 2010–2011 season. Kenney, too, performed for a national audience on NPR’s From the Top, in 2009.
To say these two young artists are emerging talent is a gross understatement. They have earned enviable prestige, especially for their young age, and deserve every accolade they have been given. While the Bay Area is fortunate to have such new talent ready to explode into professional careers, it’s rare to have two such accomplished artists perform in one spectacular evening.