The winner of the 2024 Lorraine C. Lippert Concert Competition is violinist Karin Hoppo. Karin will perform the Violin Concerto in D Minor by Sibelius with the Pittsburgh Philharmonic. The concert will take place Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 4pm at the Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center.
The Young Artist Concerto Competition is open to high school musicians performing on harp, strings, brass, or woodwinds. Applicants must be between the ages of 14 and 19 and must be residents of Allegheny, Butler, Beaver, Washington, or Westmoreland counties. All applicants are required to submit a CD recording of one movement of a standard concerto to the Philharmonic. Finalists selected then appear in person before an Audition Panel and that group selects the winner of the competition.
Karin Hoppo, currently a junior at North Allegheny Senior High School, began her studies at the age of 4. Her violin studies have been shaped by a variety of influential teachers, including Justine Campagna, Charles Stegeman, Hong-Guang Jia, and Satoko Hoppo.
In 2024, Karin had the incredible opportunity to make her solo debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, a significant moment in her musical journey. That same year, she also had the privilege of collaborating with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre with her quartet. She was awarded the Pittsburgh Philharmonic Concerto Competition in 2024, the Pittsburgh International Performance Competition in 2022, and the Pittsburgh Youth Concert Orchestra Competition in 2022. Karin was also honored to be named a finalist in the Osaka International Music Competition in 2024, and she is grateful to have received the Pittsburgh Concert Society Young Artist Award in 2025.
As a member of several orchestras, Karin has served as concertmaster for the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Young Artist Orchestra. She also had the opportunity to lead the Intermediate Symphony Orchestra at the Interlochen Arts Camp in 2022 and was a member of the Three Rivers Young Artist Orchestra.
Karin’s musical journey has been enriched by her participation in festivals, including the Boston University Tanglewood Institute (2024), the Sunflower Music Festival (2024), Interlochen Summer Arts Camp (2022), and the Pittsburgh Youth Concert Orchestra Chamber Summer Program (2021). She is planning to attend the Bowdoin International Music Festival this summer.
Karin continues to grow as a musician through masterclasses with renowned artists, including Nathan Cole in 2024. As she navigates her high school years, she is excited for the opportunities ahead and remains focused on her goal of using music to connect with others and continually improve her craft.