Liam Smith, an 18-year-old senior at the Perpich Center for Arts Education, has been named named winner of Zeitgeist’s 19th annual Eric Stokes Song Contest in the youth category. Liam is originally from Toledo, Ohio and now lives in Minneapolis, where he is a member of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies and the Minnesota Youth Symphonies.
Liam’s winning composition, Eugene Genesis, explores “the spatial relationship of the stars in the Eugene Cluster [and] represents the creation and origin of the vast Andromeda Galaxy,” he said. This is Liam’s fourth year studying composition; during his first two years he was taught by local composer Ann Millikan, and he now studies with Janika Vandervelde at the Perpich Center for Arts Education.
“Our contest judges were impressed and delighted by Liam’s piece and talent, and we greatly look forward to collaborating with him for our upcoming Playing it Close to Home concerts,” said Heather Barringer, artistic co-director and percussionist for Zeitgeist.
The Eric Stokes Song Contest is sponsored by Zeitgeist in memory of late composer Eric Stokes; the contest was designed to encourage and celebrate amateur composers throughout the Twin Cities. The winning composers have the opportunity to participate in Zeitgeist’s annual Playing it Close to Home concerts February 21-23; in addition, they receive a $100 prize and a one-year membership to the American Composers Forum.
Playing it Close to Home
Feb. 21-22, 7:30 p.m.
Studio Z, 275 E. 4th St., Suite 200, St. Paul
Feb. 23, 2 p.m.
Roseville High School, 1240 County Road B-2 West, Roseville
With winning songs from our Eric Stokes Song Contest plus music by local composers Nathan Hanson and Viv Corringham, Zeitgeist’s annual Playing it Close to Home concert celebrates the wealth of musical creativity found right here in our own backyard.
Playing it Close to Home and Zeitgeist's Eric Stokes Song Contest is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
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