News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu     www.selu.edu/news Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 5/21/03   Click on image for publication quality photo SLU VIOLINIST WINS CONCERTO COMPETITION       HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University violinist Valentin Nicolaescu, an international student from Chisinau, Moldova, was the winner of the recent Mississippi Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition.       The competition, held May 3, at Milsap's College in Jackson, Miss., attracted 14- to 22-year-old strings, woodwind, brass, piano and voice students from Mississippi, Louisiana and neighboring states.       Nicolaescu received a cash prize and was selected from among six winners to solo with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra during it's 2003-2004 season. A student of Southeastern strings professor Yakov Voldman, he performed Mendelssohn's "Violin Concerto in E Minor" for the competition.       Before coming to Southeastern, Nicoleascu performed with the state symphony in Moldova. He is a member of Southeastern's Chamber Orchestra and recently received the Department of Music and Dramatic Arts' Ralph R. Pottle Award, presented to the department's most outstanding freshman. Return to News Releases