HOUSTON (May 31, 2018) – The Houston Symphony announced today the four finalists for the Houston Symphony’s annual Ima Hogg Competition, one of the world’s greatest multi-instrument competitions founded more than four decades ago to honor the memory of Ima Hogg, a co-founder of the Houston Symphony.

Designed to identify and support outstanding young instrumentalists and their pursuit of musical careers, this prestigious competition has helped catapult the careers of hundreds of musicians over the last four decades, many of whom have become renowned soloists, chamber musicians and have earned prestigious posts in orchestras around the world.

The finalists were selected earlier this afternoon from a pool of ten contestants after each one of them performed a pre-selected concerto in front of a live audience and a judging panel at Rice University’s Stude Concert Hall. Among this year’s finalists are Alexander Hersch (cello), Michael Ferri (violin), Ji Su Jung (marimba) and Hyun Jae Lim (violin); all of whom have either completed or are currently pursuing degrees in music from prestigious institutions such as the New England Conservatory, the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, the Yale School of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music.

These four outstanding soloists will face off on Saturday, June 2, for their chance to win the $25,000 Grace Woodson Memorial Award and earn a solo appearance with the Houston Symphony at the Donor and Subscriber Appreciation Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11, at Jones Hall. The Finals Concert will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 2, at Stude Concert Hall at Rice University.

For more information, visit houstonsymphony.org.

2018 Houston Symphony Ima Hogg Competition Finals Concert

7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Saturday, June 2, 2018

Daniel Hege, conductor

Stude Concert Hall

Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music

6100 Main St., Houston, TX 77005

Tickets from $25

2018 HOUSTON SYMPHONY IMA HOGG COMPETITION FINALISTS

Michael Ferri, 22, violin

Nationality: Italian

Current residence: Houston, Texas

Alexander Hersh, 24, cello

Nationality: American

Current residence: Chicago, Illinois

Ji Su Jung, 25, marimba

Nationality: Korean

Current residence: New Haven, Connecticut

Hyun Jae Lim, 20, violin

Nationality: Korean

Current residence: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2018 HOUSTON SYMPHONY IMA HOGG COMPETITION PRIZES

FIRST PRIZE

The Grace Woodson Memorial Award

$25,000

Solo performance with the Houston Symphony at the Donor and Subscriber Appreciation Concert Wednesday, July 11, 2018.

SECOND PRIZE

The Houston Symphony League Award

Given by the Houston Symphony League in recognition of Jerry Priest, founding chair of the competition and in honor of the Houston Symphony League

$10,000

Solo performance with the Houston Symphony at Miller Outdoor Theatre Saturday, June 30, 2018.

THIRD PRIZE

The Selma Neumann Memorial Award

Presented by the Houston Symphony League Bay Area in memory of Selma Neumann, founding president of the Houston Symphony League Bay Area

$5,000

FOURTH PRIZE

The Jean Whitbread Kucera Award

Given by Lilly and Thurmon Andress in loving memory of Lilly's mother, Jean Whitbread Kucera

$2,500

ARTISTIC ENCOURAGEMENT

The Nancy and Robert Peiser Award for Artistic Encouragement

Given by former Houston Symphony Board President Robert Peiser and his wife Nancy to provide encouragement to one of the finalists – and selected by the musicians of the Houston Symphony

$1,000

AUDIENCE CHOICE

The Herman Shoss Audience Choice Award

Given by Diane and Harry Gendel in loving memory of Diane’s father, Herman Shoss, a former violinist in the Houston Symphony

$1,000