Jasmine Liu, a junior at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, was runner-up nationally in the 2015 Wendell Irish Viola Award competition. Jasmine, whose orchestra teacher is Rebecca Goff, also earned first-place honors in the Southeast Region after advancing as Kentucky’s top performer.
The Wendell Irish Viola Award competition was established by Barbara and Wilmot Irish in memory of their son, a viola student who died at an early age. The annual contest is administered by the National Federation of Music Clubs, and any violist between the ages of 12 and 19 is eligible to enter.
Jasmine picked up the viola in fourth grade through the orchestra program at her elementary school, inspired by instructor Nancy Campbell. In seventh grade, she began lessons with Dale Jones, who also encouraged her to join the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras. Last summer, Jasmine attended the Governor’s School for the Arts. Outside of music, she enjoys science as well as speech and debate.