A young Coquitlam pianist this month scored the grand prize for her category at the Canadian Music Competition.
Mariya Orlenko, 14, took the top national award in the 11- to 14-year-olds field, which allowed her to perform at the gala concert with the Orchestra Symphonique de Quebec, in Quebec City.
Other grand prize winners were pianist Leonid Nediak of Kingston, Ont. (seven- to 11-year-olds); cellist Mari Coetzee of Calgary, AB, violinist Ladusa Chang-Ou of Brossard, Que., and pianist Samuel Gagnon of Quebec City, Que. (15- to 18-year-olds); and pianist Kerry Waller of Montreal, Que. (19- to 30-year-olds).
In total, 268 young musicians took part in this year's final from June 21 to July 3.
