2/1/2010  |  Blount-Slawson Winners Announced Violist Matthew Lipman took top honors at the 2010 Blount-Slawson Young Artists Competition. The 17 year old from University Park, Illinois will appear as the guest artist with the MSO on it April 26th concert. Matthew will also receive a $10,000 first prize and an appearance on From The Top. Other prize winners were pianist Kimberly Hou (second prize of $4,000), violinist Vincent Meklis (third prize of $1,000), and cellist Coleman Itzkoff (fourth prize of $500). Also performing in the final round of competition were pianists Frederick Dong, Katherine Benson, and Kevin Jang; violinist Mia Laity, clarinetist Sara Aratake, and cellist Michael Zyzak, all of who will receive a prize of $250.