Ilana Blumberg, violin Winner Khuner Young Artist Concerto Competition 1989-1990
Ilana Blumberg (violin) was the winner of the Khuner Young Artist Concerto Competition’s inaugural competition held in the fall of 1989. She was granted first prize, chosen to perform with the Prometheus Symphony Orchestra in a live concert in 1990.
Ilana also began the pattern of our young winners going on to remarkable music careers. She first played violin at age two, then attended The Crowden School – the music-based elementary and middle school in Berkeley – before entering the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s Pre-College program. She then obtained a music degree at Oberlin Conservatory.
As Ilana Blumberg Thomas, she has been associate concertmaster with the Albany Symphony Orchestra (NY) and a member of the Springfield Symphony (MA) from 1996-2005. She also played regularly in Broadway stage productions, including the original productions of Aida, The Producers and the revival of The Bells are Ringing. Since returning to the Bay Area, she has been associate concertmaster with the Modesto Symphony and principal second violin for the Napa Valley and Merced Symphonies. Bay Area chamber music groups include Golden Gate String Quartet, eco ensemble and Left Coast Chamber Ensemble. (Resume updated by Concerto Committee in 2016)
