Winners of the 2016-2017 Concerto/Aria Competition

Jessica Backes

Jessica is currently a junior at Gustavus Adolphus College, pursuing a double major in music performance and Spanish. In her time at Gustavus, she has studied under Barbara Leibundguth and James Devoll. Inspired by her older sister, she picked up the flute for the first time when she was 11 and hasn’t put it down since. She has now found a home in multiple Gustavus ensembles: the Gustavus Wind Orchestra, Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, Gustavus Chamber Winds, Hand-bell Choir and the Lucia Singers. After attending graduate school, she aspires a career as a music therapist or professional flautist where she also hopes to be able to use her Spanish degree as a volunteer in the community. 

John Baron

John Baron is a senior Communication Studies and Political Science double major from Eden Prairie, MN. He has been playing cello since he was eleven and currently studies privately with Sharon Mautner-Rodgers. A Bjorling Scholarship winner, John is the principal cellist of the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra and has participated in other ensembles such as the Gustavus Baroque Quartet, the Corda Quartet, the Gustavus Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as playing at various capacities with the Mankato Symphony Orchestra, Gustavus Choir, and Gustavus Wind Orchestra. Aside from music, he is also involved with Gustie Greeters, Big Partner Little Partner, is the class of 2017 representative on Student Senate, and serves as the academic assistant for the political science department. After graduation, John plans on working in politics or government before eventually attending law school.

Winners of the 2016-2017 Concerto/Aria Competition for High School Musicians

Rebecca Tank

Rebecca Tank, a Hudson High School (WI) freshman, has been playing the alto saxophone since the 6th grade. She takes classical lessons from Nancy McMillan, jazz lessons from Greg Keel, and composition lessons from Dr. Jack Stamp. Rebecca is already an award-winning musician, receiving several honors including the “Exemplary Musician” award at the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) State Level Solo & Ensemble (on both the saxophone and violin), a three-year participant in the WSMA Middle Level Honors Band, a seat in the Honors Performance Series Concert Band at Carnegie Hall, and the Middle Level Division winner for the WSMA State Composition Contest for her concert band composition “The Quest for the Cookie Jar.” In the Spring of 2017, she performed the Creston Concerto as the winning soloist in the Hudson High School orchestra department’s annual Concerto Competition. In addition to solo and composition opportunities, Rebecca enjoys playing in her school’s Jazz I Ensemble.