SUGAR LAND, TX – Charles Seo, a cello player for less than five years, was named the Grand Prize Winner of the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra’s 10th Annual Young Artist Concerto Competition held January 16. In addition to a $500 cash prize, Seo has the honor of performing with the Orchestra during its February 21 concert at the Stafford Centre.

Honorable mentions were awarded to Erik Lawrence, a 17-year-old pianist, and Erik Wheeler, a 15-year-old cellist, both of Houston.

Seo is an eighth grader at Memorial Middle School in Spring Branch ISD. He began playing cello less than five years ago when he came to the United States. Although he is one of the youngest members of the Houston Youth Symphony, he is its principal cellist. Seo has also been the principal cellist in the UIL Region 23 Orchestra all three years he has been in middle school. He will perform the first movement of Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1 in E Flat Major at the FBSO concert, which begins at 2 p.m.

Lawrence is home-schooled and was a finalist in the 2007 and 2008 World Piano Pedagogy Conference Competitions. Wheeler attends HISD’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and has performed with the Houston Civic Symphony as Junior Division winner of its Young Artist’s Competition. Additional information about all winners is at http://www.fbso.org/Concerto/

The all-day FBSO Concerto Competition, supported by Sherman Clay Piano and the National Endowment for the Arts, attracted dozens of talented musicians, 18 and younger, from across the state. “Our distinguished judges said it was difficult to choose a winner because of the extraordinary musical talent our contestants possess,” said Griff Miller, FBSO member and concerto competition chairperson.

FBSO’s Sunday, Feb. 21 “Saddle Up” concert is under the direction of Héctor Agüero, Jr. In addition to Seo’s performance, the concert features fun tunes from movies and TV that are sure to evoke the Old West and get everybody in the rodeo spirit. Tickets are $5 to $25 each and children 12 and under are free. Tickets may be purchased in advance at www.fbso.org or by calling 281.276.9642, or on the day of the performance at the Stafford Centre box office located at 10505 Cash Rd in Stafford.

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About the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra
The Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra (FBSO), founded in 1992, enriches the lives of Fort Bend residents and surrounding areas with live symphonic music presented by its volunteer members. The full-size orchestra, complete with brass, woodwinds, strings and percussion, represents an abundant cross-section of local talent, most of whom reside in the Fort Bend area. FBSO also fosters local musicians through sponsorship of an annual Concerto Competition and opportunities to perform with the Orchestra.