By DEVIN HEILMAN

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — Performing with a live symphony orchestra is a pretty big deal for aspiring musicians and vocalists.

"Every young musician wants a chance to play with an orchestra, and it's not often that a chance comes up," said Mika Hood, manager of the Coeur d'Alene Symphony. "Getting a pianist to accompy you is not so hard, but getting an entire orchetra behind you is quite a feat."

Six young musicians will have that privilege and share their talents with the community at the Kroc Center Friday and Saturday during the Young Artist Winner's Concert. They were invited to perform after earning first place in their respective categories at the Young Artists competition finals at Whitworth University in January.

"They're just really special contests because they bring kids from all over, sometimes internationally," said Coeur d'Alene Symphony board member Julienne Dance. "They pursue these young artist festivals as an opportunity to play with an orchestra and we'll get as many as 300 applicants."

This year's Young Artist contest winners are tuba player Brandon Cazden, 19; violinist Beatrice Hsieh, 20; pianist Elizabeth Yao, 25; pianist Aveek Ganguly, 17; soprano Elizabeth Moran, 31; and cellist Joan Herget, 15. The winners hail from places such as New York City and Calgary, Alberta, and already have impressive resumes of experience and awards.

"The fact that we're getting these applications from all over the U.S. and farther than that shows that it's a really valuable thing that we need to put on," Hood said. "Everyone is looking for competitions. The fact that our small-town orchestra gets this phenomenal talent is indicative of a need orchestras should be providing and we'll continue to provide it. It's an exciting thing for us."

If you go

The Young Artist winners will perform as soloists with the Coeur d’Alene Symphony at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $27 for adults, $21 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for students with ID and family rates of $10 per adult accompanied by children, $5 per child.

A donation-based open dress rehearsal is taking place Thursday from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Kroc Center.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 765-3833 or at www.cdasymphony.org.

The Kroc Center is located at 1765 W. Golf Course Road in Coeur d’Alene.