Conway student wins $500 music award at competition

Andreas Oeste, an oboist from Conway who also won the Woodwind Division, recently received the $500 "Phillip Gulic Award" as grand prize at the University of Central Arkansas/Conway Symphony Orchestra High School Concerto Competition.

Winner of the string division was Kerah Williams, a violist from Little Rock, and Garrett Law of Stuttgart, who plays the French horn, won the Brass Division. Division winners received $350 each.

Oeste studies with Lorraine Duso, assistant professor of oboe at UCA and principal oboe with the CSO. Williams studies with Drew Irvin, co-concertmaster of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and Law studies with Darrell Smith.

Eleven high school students from Conway, Van Buren, Stuttgart, Dardanelle, North Little Rock, Little Rock, Brinkley and Fort Smith participated in the competition May 16. Judges scored the competitors without knowing their identities. The "Phillip Gulic Award" was donated by Kim and Phillip Gullic of Conway.