Although it is no longer unusual for the musically talented young people of WW-P to perform at Carnegie Hall, it is still a big deal and the words practice, practice, practice come to mind. Two Plainsboro residents have performed on the Carnegie Hall stage recently.
Kevin Kong, a sophomore at High School North, won first prize in the Crescendo International Competition, a music competition that spans across the North American continent along with countries in Europe. He won first prize through playing Robert Schumann’s piano Sonata in G minor. He performed the Schumann piece on January 20 at Carnegie Hall.
Along with his recent achievement, he was the grand prize winner for the National League of Performing Arts (NLPA) and was the 2011-2012 Music Teacher’s National Association (MTNA) NJ state winner and represented the state in the MTNA eastern division competition in 2012. He has also won many other competitions on the state and tri-state area.
He currently studies with Chiu-Ling Lin. He has studied with Michael Jacobson and Chiu-Tze-Lin.
Kong, who also uses his musical talent actively in the community, is in the Philharmonic Orchestra a North. He is a violinist in his church’s orchestra and has played in several senior citizen homes. Furthermore, Kevin serves his community as a member of the Plainsboro Rescue Squad.
Jenna Venturi, 12, of Plainsboro is headed to the Carnegie Hall stage for the second time since November. She competed in American Fine Arts Festival’s Golden Voices of America 2012, and took first place in musical theater with “Beauty and the Beast” and first place in classical with “Danny Boy.” She earned another opportunity to since at the winner’s recital at Carnegie Hall on Saturday, February 16.
Venturi first performed at Carnegie Hall with Schubert’s “An Die Musik” at a winner’s recital at Carnegie Hall in November and then took first place in her age group at the AFAF Romantic Era vocal competition.
A student at Stuart Country Day School, she has been singing with Princeton Girlchoir since third grade and studies voice with Kristine Biller Mattson, in Cherry Hill. She was a member of NYC Opera Children’s chorus during the 2010-’11 season, and performed in Lincoln Center with them.
Venturi has been honored with opportunities to sing the National Anthem at several of Princeton University’s basketball games this season, as well as Trenton Thunder games in 2012. She will be singing the anthem on July 4 at the Trenton Thunder game.
Venturi enjoys both musical theater and opera and hopes to pursue a career in opera in the future. Visit www.jennaventuri.com for more information.
