An Invitation to Dance

The winners of the 35th Annual John Leatherwood Concerto Competition will perform at the Stars of Tomorrow ‘An Invitation to Dance’ Concert on Jan. 21, 2023, at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Main Stage in Niceville. They will be accompanied by the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Todd Craven. For tickets visit https://mattiekellyartscenter.org/home-2/northwest-florida-symphony-orchestra/nfso-concerts or the box office 850-729-6000, M-F, 10-4. The Junior Division winner is Leila Warren, 13. She will play Carmen Fantasy, Op. 25, by Pablo de Sarasata. Leila began her violin studies at age three. Leila is the 2022-23 Florida Winner for the MTNA Junior Strings Competition for the third consecutive year. Last season she was named a National Finalist in this competition. In 2020 she was the youngest ever finalist to perform in the final round of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra Youth Concerto Competition and in 2022, won Second Prize in their live broadcast finals. Leila has also been the Grand Prize Winner of the Gulf Coast Steinway Society Music Competition, the Junior Strings FMTA Concerto Competition and the Young Artist Competition for the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra