Supporting the Next
Generation of Musicians
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 concert after their performances.
Applications Open on January 2027
Luther R Hoffman
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.
Georgine E. Salisbury
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.
This years 2026 Young Artist Award Winners
Adam Ford
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.
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.
Past Young Artist Award
Winners
1991 Judy Dutton
1992 Robert C. Wilson
1993 Casey Springstead
1994 Maria Dessena
1995 Chanda Delong
1996 Alicia Botelle
1997 Amy Lange
1998 Marcus DiLauro
1999 Aaron Briggs
2000 Benjamin Green
2001 Chris Boyce
2002 Yancy Chen
2003 Ben Yoder
2004 Tessa Tidd
2005 R. Vincent Embser
2005 Chelsea Koziatek
2006 Erin Whyman
2006 Kari Smith
2007 Nate McDowell
2007 Eliza Minster
2007 Katie Pitts
2008 Benjamin Seiderman
2009 Robert Locker II
2010 Emma Brown Shaklee
2011 Emma Brown Shaklee
2012 Jonathan Hostottle
2013 Michelle Maginn
2014 Michael Schmidlin
2015 Connor Ross
2016 Connor Ross
2017 Attilo Cushing
2018 Tara Willgens
2019 Emily Willgens
2020 Emily Willgens
2021 None due to Covid
2022 Noah Joslyn
2023 Julian Harris Petrillo
2024 Gage Frazier
2025 Carter Brown
Eligibility & Requirements
Applications Open on January 2027
Performance Standards