Young Artists Competition Showcase Concert
Featuring the 2020 and 2021 Tom Baker Young Artists Competition Winners 

Sunday, April 24, 2022 at 3 pm
Shore Cultural Centre

Matthew Salvaggio, conductor
​
Glazunov  Concerto for Alto Saxophone and String Orchestra, Op. 109
         Samuel Dishon, saxophone
         Winner of the 2020 Young Artists Competition

Saint-Saëns  Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 22
         Daniel Colaner, piano 
         Winner of the 2021 Young Artists Competition
  
2020 Winner - Samuel Dishon
Hailing from Irvine, California, Samuel Dishon is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Saxophone Performance at the University of Michigan, where he is studying under internationally-acclaimed saxophonist, Dr. Timothy McAllister. Samuel has earned musical recognition both locally and nationally, including being recognized as a national finalist and two time California winner of the Music Teachers National Association Competition senior performance division. During his high school career, Samuel served as co-principal saxophonist of the Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble. ​
​2021 Winner - Daniel Colaner
Daniel Colaner, 16, from Akron, Ohio, captured international media attention at the age of 12 with his performance on piano at Carnegie Hall and on organ at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on the same day. Since then, his talents have been showcased on ABC World News Tonight, Good Morning America, The Harry (Connick Jr.) Show, and the BBC World Service Newsday. As a pianist, Daniel has been the winner of numerous competitions and awards including the American Protégé Piano Competition, the OhioMTA Buckeye Piano Competition, the Steinway Junior Piano Competition, and the Cleveland Institute of Music Preparatory Concerto Competition.
 
As an organist, Daniel has been featured on the NPR radio show From the Top (Show #377), performing “Jupiter” from Gustav Holst’s The Planets, and on PBS, performing Doxology Variations with the American Pops Orchestra in One Voice: The Songs We Share – The Sacred. He was the recipient of the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award in 2020 and named a 2021 National Young Arts Winner in Classical Music. He was also the 1st Prize and Audience Prize Winner in the Sursa American Organ Competition (HS Division) in 2019. Most recently The Diapason magazine named him among their “20 Under 30” Class of 2021, a select group of young adults at the forefront of the organ field.

Diagnosed with stage IV cancer as an infant, exposure to music as cognitive therapy combined with his love of sound, unleashed his passion for the piano at age 5 and organ at age 10. Daniel continues to actively promote the study of classical music on television and radio and has helped raise thousands of dollars for music education and music therapy for a variety of non-profit organizations.

Daniel studies piano with Sean Schulze at the Cleveland Institute of Music and organ with David Higgs of the Eastman School of Music. In addition to being an avid chamber musician, Daniel currently serves as Organ Scholar at Cleveland’s Trinity Episcopal Cathedral under Todd Wilson and as an auxiliary organist at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Canton, OH. Outside of music, Daniel’s passions include computer programming, repairing electronics, jazz improvisation, playing tennis, and spending time with his calico cat, Imogene.