The Symphony Volunteer Council of the Alabama Symphonic Association will hold the annual Lois Pickard Music Scholarship Luncheon on Wednesday, February 27, 2025, to celebrate this season's Lois Pickard Concerto Competition winners and continue to raise support for music education and scholarships.

About the Competition

The Lois Pickard Concerto Competition was held Saturday, January 18, 2025 in the Maxine Couch Davis Hall on the University of Montevallo campus. This is the first year for the Symphony Volunteer Council to hold the competition at Montevallo and the facility proved to be an excellent choice. Dr. Laurie Middaugh, Assistant Professor of Music at Montevallo, was our point person and was with us the entire competition day. She also accompanied several competitors on the piano. ASO Music Director Carlos Izcaray participated as the overall judge. He enjoyed the event, making sure to encourage each of the young musicians. The ASO principal viola and flute player also served as judges along with a professor from the University of Alabama.

A total of 21 participants competed - 9 Strings, 4 Piano, and 8 Brass/Woodwinds. Nineteen were from the state of Alabama, one was from Tennessee, and one was from Florida.

2025 Lois Pickard Concerto Competition Winners

Strings

First Place – Leila Warren – Violin
Age 15 – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – Ponte Vedra High School

Second Place – Lauren Kang - Violin
Age 14 – Vestavia Hills, AL – Prince of Peace Catholic School

Piano

First Place – Henry Hewitt
Age 15 – Mobile, AL – Alabama School of Fine Arts

Second Place – Brandon Shin
Age 15 – Birmingham, AL – Oak Mountain High School

Brass/Woodwinds

First Place – Ella Liu – Flute
Age 15 – Collierville, TN – Collierville High School

Second Place – Amiya Grace – Alto Saxophone
Age 17 – Helena, AL – Alabama School of Fine Arts

Judges

Overall Judge – Carlos Izcaray – ASO, Music Director
Strings Judge – Tiantian Lan – ASO, Principal Viola
Piano Judge – Dr. Kevin Chance –University of Alabama, Associate Professor of Piano
Brass/Woodwinds Judge – Lisa Wienhold – ASO, Principal Flute

Lois Pickard Luncheon 2025

By Symphony Volunteer Council

Lois Pickard Luncheon 2025

Reserve your seat or table now, and support music scholarships and education!