Welcome to the very first Concerto Competition offered by Scruffy City Orchestra! We have three winners in three categories: Youth (grades 1-8), Youth (grades 9-12) and Young Adult.
Our 2018 winners are:
• Joshua Kováčvá, cello, Youth (Grades 1-8) Category: Tarantelle by David Popper
• Nick Caux, bass, Youth (Grades 9-12) Category: Concerto in B Minor for Double Bass by Giovanni Bottesini
• Natalie Gregg, flute, Adult Category: Peom for Flute and Orchestra by Charles T. Griffes
All three musicians will perform their winning pieces during our Fall Concert at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Friday, October 9, 2018 at 7:30 pm.
Joshua Kováč: Winner, Youth Category (1-8)
Joshua Kováč, 10, from Jonesborough, TN, began his formal cello studies at the age of four as a Suzuki student of Jean Dexter. He currently studies with professor Daniel Veis from Park University in Kansas City.
At the age of 7, Joshua won 1st place and received the Laureate title at the ProBohemia International Competition in Ostrava, Czech Republic and 2nd place at the Heran International Cello Competition in Ústí nad Orlicí, Czech Republic.
During the year of 2016 Joshua won several competitions with performances at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and Merkin Recital Hall in New York City. He received a 1st prize at the American Protégé competition, 1st prize at the International Grande Music Competition and 2nd place at the International Virtuoso Competition.
Joshua performed as a soloist with the Kinnor Philharmonic and ETSU Chamber Orchestra and had masterclasses with Gilbert Kalish, Matt Haimovitz, Keith Robinson, Ivan Chen and members of the Lestrange Viols.
Joshua has participated in several summer music festivals: Music@Menlo Festival, National Cello Institute in Claremont, CA, Heartland Chamber Music Festival in Kansas City and Ottawa Suzuki Institute in Kansas. In 2015, Joshua had the honor of performing for both the Czech and Slovak Ambassadors to the United States in Kansas City at the home of Benny and Edith Lee.
He is currently a member of ETSU pre-college Chamber Music Program and ETSU Chamber Orchestra.
Among other interests, Joshua enjoys science, composing, playing chess, solving rubik’s cube, reading and skiing.
Nick Caux: Winner, Youth Category (9-12)
Nick Caux is a junior at Maryville High School. He began playing the double bass in the 5th grade orchestra program at Maryville City Schools and has continued to play orchestral and symphonic repertoire in the program.
Nick currently studies with Dan Thompson, who has been his private instructor since 5th grade, and has taken lessons from artists such as Kurt Muroki, James VanDemark, and Jon Hamer. Nick is currently the principal bassist in the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra. He has placed in ETSBOA All-East Orchestra as well as TMEA All-State orchestra each of his years in high school. Nick has also attended the Bowdoin International Music Festival and plans to attend the Boston University Tanglewood Institute bass workshop this summer.
Outside of music, Nick participates in the Maryville High School’s Cross Country and Track Teams and has just earned his Eagle Scout rank from Troop 81. He enjoys camping, photography, athletics, and spending time with friends and family.
Natalie Gregg: Winner, Young Adult Category
Natalie Gregg is a junior at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville studying flute under Dr. Shelley Binder. Natalie is double majoring in Flute Performance and Musicology. She is also minoring in Music Business, and Entomology and Plant Pathology. Natalie is a member of the UT Chancellor’s Honors Program and is also a Student Ambassador for the University of Tennessee School of Music.
Natalie has performed in masterclasses for many artists, including Paula Robison, Bonita Boyd, Walfrid Kujala, and Jim Walker. Most recently, Natalie was selected to perform in the Florida Flute Convention Piccolo Masterclass with Nan Raphael in January 2018 as well as the J.L. Smith and Co. Masterclass with Denis Bouriakov in October 2017. Natalie has also been chosen as a finalist in the University of Tennessee Concerto Competition in both 2017 and 2018.
Natalie is currently the Principal Flute in the University of Tennessee Symphony Orchestra, and she also plays piccolo in the University of Tennessee Wind Ensemble. Natalie is a founding member of the student-led UT Woodwind Quintet, coached by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra bassoonist Aaron Apaza.
In the future, Natalie hopes to play flute professionally in an orchestra while also maintaining a private studio of students. By combining her love for music and for teaching young students, Natalie hopes to have a positive impact on many young musicians in the future.