Local violinist wins concerto competition

MANSFIELD — A Willard girls was the winner at the annual Mansfield Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition at Mansfield 1st Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Performing in the competition were local musicians Samuel Prinz, Viola; Joseph Litao, Violin; and Ella Schag, Violin. Josh Bowman, strings teacher from Avon Lake, and Mike Sieberg, a violinist of Ashland Symphony, served as adjudicators. Ella Schag was chosen as the winner. The daughter of Joseph and Keely Schag, Ella is a senior at Willard High School where she is concertmaster of the orchestra, member of the Symphonic Choir and Chamber Choir. She is also the captain of the Academic Challenge team, and varsity singles player for the Lady Flashes tennis program. Schag studied violin privately with Elva Newdome from fifth to eighth grade and has studied with Stephen Domka since her freshman year. This is her fifth year playing violin with the Mansfield Symphony Youth Orchestra. During her sophomore and junior year, Ella was concertmaster of the District 4 Honors Orchestra and a member of the Northwest Regional Orchestra. When she's not practicing violin, Schag enjoys reading, listening to podcasts and playing piano. She will be continuing her academic and musical journey at Denison University as a member of the class of 2025. She will be performing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto Mvt. 1, along with last year's MSYO Concerto winners (Daniel Domka, Cello and Gregory Tan, Piano) in May. Concert date and time are to be announced pending COVID restrictions. Visit the Renaissance Theatre's website rentickets.org for the most up-to-date concert information. The Renaissance Theatre is a performing arts theater located at 138 Park Ave. West, Mansfield.