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And the winner is ...

Marking the culmination of its Soloist competition, the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra held its final audition and vote Sunday afternoon at the Barnstable Performing Arts Center. The competition drew more than 60 entrants and sparked a flurry of voting both online and by audience and jury members.

The competition drew more than 60 entrants and sparked a flurry of voting both online and by audience and jury members.

The three finalists – pianist Taylin Im, baritone Luke Scott and clarinetist Monika Woods – performed with the orchestra under the direction of Jung-Ho Pak during both Saturday and Sunday concerts. All three contestants performed with sparkle, showing off remarkable musical gifts – none of them would have made the finals of the hotly contested competition otherwise.

Clarinetist Monika Woods, a native Transylvanian who lives in Brewster, had the benefit of performing last, and of playing the only complete work: von Weber’s brief but seminal “Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra.” Woods, who had to wheel herself onstage with a scooter because of a broken ankle, ignored the distraction like a pro, and played with exquisite musicianship. Her soft passages sounded like whispers, and when she played with force, it was with complete confidence.

The audience was buzzing at intermission, as votes were collected. There seemed no consensus in a random survey… Woods had clearly distinguished herself with her tender and insightful playing of the unusual Concertino. And because of that, there wasn’t too much surprise when Woods was announced as the first prize winner.

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