FHSU Student Soloists at Hays Symphony’s February Concert

Join the Hays Symphony for a special night to celebrate the talented music students of FHSU. The symphony will be presenting its annual Arias and Concertos Concert on February 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center. The ensemble is under the direction of Dr. Brian Buckstead, Assistant Professor of Violin and Viola at FHSU.
 
The annual February concert honors the winners of the Department of Music’s Concerto/Aria Competition, an auditioned event held last December. Since the start of the Fall 2024 semester, these students have poured hours of practice into preparing their pieces. Now, the winners’ efforts will be shared for all the Hays community to listen to.
 
The three soloists performing this year are Ashley Vilaysing (clarinet), Shan Wang (soprano), and Adam Ward (euphonium). FHSU students are permitted to audition for the competition every other year. Notably, this is Vilaysing’s second year as a winner of the competition, the first being in 2023 where she performed Weber’s Concertino for Clarinet with the Hays Symphony.
 
Ashley Vilaysing is a senior pursuing a major in music education with a minor in psychology. She is involved in many ensembles, with clarinet being her primary instrument. Passionate about creating a love for music, Vilaysing plans to teach in western Kansas after graduation, where she can inspire future students within the music classroom. Vilaysing will perform Gioachino Rossini’s Introduction, Theme and Variations for Clarinet and Orchestra.
 
Shan Wang graduated from Zhengzhou Sias University in China with a bachelor's degree in Music Performance. Currently, Wang is pursuing a postgraduate degree in Vocal Music at Fort Hays State University while studying under Professor Elisa Ramon. After graduating with the postgraduate degree, Wang will return to Sias University to work and contribute to the educational development of the school and her hometown area. At the concert, Wang will perform “Si. Mi chiamano Mimi” from Giacomo Puccini’s opera La bohème.
 
Adam Ward is pursuing a degree in music education. Ward’s area of specialty is low brass, with his primary instrument being the euphonium. Once Ward graduates, he plans to pursue a master’s in music performance with intentions to teach at the collegiate level. February’s concert will close with Ward performing Barbara York’s Concerto for Euphonium and Orchestra, “Creative States.”
 
Each of the musicians express their honor and excitement to participate in this concert with fellow musicians from the department.
 
Like with all Hays Symphony concerts, attendance is free and open to the public. Following the concert, attendees are invited to the hall’s lobby to meet the musicians at the post-concert reception sponsored by Downtown Hays Development Corporation.
 
Attendees are encouraged to reserve tickets in advance on the symphony’s website at https://www.hayssymphony.org where they can also make donations to sustain free classical music in the Hays community.