The Fort Dodge Area Symphony has had a very successful Young Artists program since 1966. The main contributing factor to the great response of students to the program is that all who win the auditions perform with the orchestra. For most other symphonies, the only student who actually performs with the orchestra is the one who finishes first. As of 2008, there have been 163 Young Artists soloists with the Fort Dodge Area Symphony. Students who are interested in auditioning for the Young Artists' concert can get more information by clicking on the buttons at the bottom of this page. Three young artists were selected by auditions held on Saturday, January 31. Rolando Hernandez Gaitan, Flute Rolando, age 20, a student of Nicole Esposito, is a sophomore student at the University of Iowa. He is the son of Maria Elena Gaitan and Manuel Hermandez. He will play the third movement of the Jean Rivier Flute Concerto. Leah McIntire, Cello Leah, age 19, a student of Ashley Sandor Sidon, is a sophomore at Drake University. She is the daughter of Dennis and Kathleen McIntire, Lamoni, Iowa. She will play a movement from Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor. Emily Mullaney, Violin Emily, age 17, a student of Julie Fox-Henson, Des Moines, is the daughter of Karen and Tim Mullaney, Gilbert, Iowa. She will play the first movement from Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. The young artist winners will receive music scholarships established by a program set up by the Eva Paterson Estate.