Ballard High School student wins YoungArts award for guitar

Ballard High School senior Joseph Palasz has won a prestigious award from YoungArts for his guitar playing. Palasz is the first-ever guitar winner from Washington state in the 31 years that YoungArts has recognized young artists around the country. Palasz placed in the top 5 percent of the national applicant pool over over 6,00o artists, and won first place in Washington’s State and Regional Solo & Ensemble competitions this year.

Palasz, who has studied classical guitar for 10 years, has performed at Benaroya Hall and toured Spain with a classical guitar group, the BHS music department tells us. He plays bari sax in the BHS Jazz Band, and will be performing tonight at the high school’s Winter Concert #2 tonight at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.