Every year the Hornell Area Wind Ensemble offers any High School band student a chance to showcase their talents on any band instrument.
The Luther R Hoffman/Georgine E. Salisbury Young Artist Award features a competition with each student playing a chosen solo with accompaniment. From the first open group of students, first and second place winners are chosen. These students then have the chance to play their solo with the Hornell Area Wind Ensemble or with their own piano accompaniment. A certificate and monetary honorarium is presented to them at the March 28th, 2026 concert after their performances.
Luther R Hoffman
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In 2002, Luther retired from playing and conducting HAWE - much to the regret of the ensemble. In his honor, the Young Artist Award was renamed The Luther R. Hoffman Young Artist Award. It continues to this day, benefiting our local, talented high school band students. Besides a certificate of achievement and a monetary reward for second and first place, the award winning young artists are honored with a solo performance, with full ensemble or piano accompaniment, at our Young Artist Concert.
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Georgine E. Salisbury
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Georgine was well-known in the music circles. She enjoyed listening, singing, and playing music. She was an accomplished pianist and organist. Music became an intricate part of her life early on. Georgine, her sister, and cousin formed the Shepard's Trio in their early teens. They played and sang at area churches around Oneonta, NY. She and her husband, Ken, met in band at Oneonta High School. Georgine played the clarinet and Ken played the sax. They were married in 1955. After that they moved to Campbell, NY.
Georgine joined the Corning Philharmonic Chorus. She also taught piano lessons and played for many weddings and memorial services in the area. She was the organist at the Campbell United Methodist Church for over 50 years.
For the last 20 years, she and Ken shared their love of music by traveling to various music events near and far. Georgine became the ultimate roadie by planning and organizing all their music trips. She thoroughly enjoyed not only the music but the precious fellowship with the musicians, families and friends. When asked how a concert was, she would smile and say "wonderful". After a particularly excellent performance she would make a fist, raise her arm, and let out a resounding "YES"I
Georgine was a member of the Association of Concert Bands and Windjammers Unlimited. Music was a very important part of her life that she joyously shared with family and friends and would be so happy to "play it forward" to future generations.
The Hornell Area Wind Ensemble is grateful for the continued financial support of Georgine's family and friends to our annual Young Artist Award Concert.
Adam Ford is a sophomore at Alfred Almond High School. He plays percussion in the Senior High Band and Jazz Band. Adam studies percussion at Eastman Community Music School, where he has studied with Kyle Peters for 3 semesters. He is enrolled in a diploma program which encompasses individual and ensemble instruction, performance, piano proficiency, and music theory course work. Adam attended Crane Youth Music (CYM) the last two summers, where he attended master classes, rehearsals, concerts, and met Kyle Peters. Adam plays the drum set with "Jokers and Thieves," a garage band, with his older brother and friends. They play in local venues on breaks and holidays. He often plays the drums with the worship band on Sunday mornings at his church. Adam enjoys running cross country and track, camping in the summer with his family, playing ping pong, and participating in Academic All Stars. Adam will most likely be found playing the marimba in Mr. Avnet's music room during study halls and lunch. His favorite piece to play on the marimba is Two Mexican Dances for Marimba by Gordon Stout. He also enjoys playing Bach. Adam plans to study music after graduating from High School.
This years 2026 Young Artist Award Winner
Adam Ford
2026 Runner Up - Evelyn Chapman
Evelyn Chapman is a junior at Fillmore Central School. She has twelve years of experience playing musical instruments, including piano, drum set, alto, tenor and bari saxophones. Evelyn has participated in twenty county and state solo evaluations, consistently earning top scores on every audition. Evelyn was an Alternate for New York State School Music Association Conference All-State 2025 on both Alto Saxophone and Baritone Saxophones. She actively participates in numerous county and regional honor ensemble events. In addition to this award, Evelyn was awarded the Allegany County School Music Association Junior High Scholarship in 2023 and the Senior High Scholarship in 2026. She currently studies both with her high school band director Jessica Chapman and her private teacher Jared Burch. Evelyn is planning to pursue a carer in the medical field after graduation in 2027, but will also remain committed to her musical endeavors and performing throughout college.
2023 Winner - Julian Harris Petrillo
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Julian Harris Petrillo has played trumpet for Alfred-Almond
Central School’s bands since fourth grade. Having worked with his inspiring music director, Christina Rawady, for 4 years, he is currently a senior, principal trumpet for the Senior High Band, and lead trumpet for the Jazz Band. Invited to audition for National All Honors
Ensemble, Julian was selected as alternate in New York
All-State Band, and has played in All County and Area All State bands every year he was
eligible.
Julian was a captain and record-breaking swimmer for
Alfred-Almond’s varsity swim team, which won the
Sectional Championship this year. He serves as president of Alfred-Almond’s math club, and placed first in Alfred University’s Nevin’s Competition in the fall of 2022. He
also currently competes for A-A’s Academic All-Stars, which hopes to secure a championship victory this spring.
An active 3-D print designer and computer coder, Julian will attend Carnegie Mellon School of Engineering this fall, where he will major in mechanical engineering, and
continue to play trumpet at the University. He thanks the Hornell Area Wind Ensemble for the honor of playing with them.
2023 Runner Up - Noah Joslyn
Noah Joslyn is a Junior at
Wellsville Central Schools. Noah performed the Paul Creston Sonata Opus. 19 on Alto Saxophone with accompaniment by Mrs. Judy Belin. Noah has played the
saxophone since 4th grade (8 years) and currently taking alto saxophone lessons with Dr. Suzano whom
resides in Wellsville. In addition to alto saxophone, Noah also takes piano lessons with Mrs. Belin.
Noah’s extra-curricular activities include Cross-County Track, the lead role in the school’s Fall Play, Varsity Track and Field,
International Club, and Marching Band, recently inducted into the National Honor Society- all while maintaining High Honor Roll
2019 Winner - Emily Willgens
Emily Willgens is a Junior at Fillmore Central School. She has studied Euphonium under her Band Director Jessica Chapman for six years, and has also worked with Dr. Ken Crane, Elementary/Middle School Band Director at Portville Central School. Emily was the Principal Euphonium Player for the 2018 New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Conference All-State Symphonic Band this past December. Other accomplishments outside of being this year's HAWE Young Artist Award Winner include winning the Allegany County School Music Association (ACSMA) Senior High Scholarship in 2018 and the ACSMA Junior High Scholarship in 2016. Emily placed third in the Hornell Area Wind Ensemble Young Artist Award Competition in 2018. She aspires to become a Music Therapist, and has been working hard this year to prepare for this scholarship opportunity. Emily is also preparing for auditions for the 2019 National Association for Music Education's National Honors Ensembles, the 2019 NYSSMA Conference All-State Ensembles, and also for quickly approaching college auditions!
2019 Runner Up - Josue Escriban
Josue Escriban is a Sophomore at Fillmore Central School. He and his family came to the United States from Venezuela in 2017. He has studied the Oboe with his Band Director Jessica Chapman for two years, and studied under various teachers for two years in Venezuela. He also takes lessons from Mona Lungerhausen, Middle School Band Director at Salamanca City School District. Josue's recent accomplishments include being the runner up for this year's 2019 HAWE Young Artist Award, and also being the winner for the 2019 ACSMA Senior High Scholarship. Josue aspires to go to music school and be a professional oboist. He is currently working very hard to prepare for his first NYSSMA Conference All-State audition