2014 Texas Music Festival Orchestra Fellows

Jennifer Hunt

Flutist Jennifer Hunt pursues a versatile musical life as a passionate performer and educator. She is adjunct flute faculty at Pacific Union College and a teaching artist at Salvador Elementary School and Napa Valley Language Academy. She has played flute and piccolo with the Russian National Orchestra, Hartford Opera Theate, Montana Lyric Opera, and Symphony Napa Valley and has been featured on NPR. Ms. Hunt has worked to incorporate performing arts into education at schools in Peru and the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana. She received her BM from the University of Montana-Missoula and her MM from The Hartt School.

Kasumi Nakashima

A native of Japan, Kasumi Nakashima is a freelance flutist in Chicago. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Music at DePaul University under the tutelage of Mary Stolper. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Houston where she studied with Jennifer Keeney. Her other teachers include Aralee Dorough and Peggy Russell.

Evan Pengra Sult

Evan Pengra Sult, 18, attends the Eastman School of Music, studying with Bonita Boyd and Anne Harrow. Previously, Evan studied with Bonnie Blanchard in Seattle, Washington. Evan has twice won the Frank and Lu Horsfall Competition (2013, 2011), has won the WMEA State Solo Competition (2011) and was the alternate winner in the Seattle Young Artists Concerto Competition (2012). Evan has played principal flute in the Academy Chamber Orchestra and the Seattle Youth Symphony, where he was selected by his peers as the winner of the 2013 Inspiration Award. Additionally, Evan is an avid reader, tap dancer, Francophile, and opera-goer.

Victor Wang

Victor Wang is a 20-year old flutist from Rochester, NY. He currently studies with Ransom Wilson at Yale University, where he is enrolled in a double degree program to earn both a Master of Music in flute performance and a Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Victor is principal flute of the Yale Symphony Orchestra and has appeared as a soloist with the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, the Yale Symphony Orchestra, and the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. After the Texas Music Festival, Victor will attend the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival on full fellowship.

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Andrew Dotterer

Andrew Dotterer is a native of the Pittsburgh area, currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Carnegie Mellon University with his teacher, Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida. Some of his most fond musical memories are from playing with the Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic in New York's Carnegie Hall and Bethesda's Strathmore. Andrew has also toured in Italy with the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony and played in Pittsburgh's Heinz Hall with his woodwind quintet. Some conductors who he has worked with include Gerard Schwarz, Joseph Silverstein, Andrés Cárdenes, Ronald Zollman, and Ari Pelto. This summer he is very excited to be part of the Texas Music Festival.

Claire Kostic

Born in Long Island, NY, 21 year-old Claire Kostic, is pursuing her Bachelors in Oboe Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music under the tutelage of Frank Rosenwein. Claire has spent the past two summers at the Chautauqua Institution playing in the MSFO, teaching, and collaborating with the opera department. Besides being a full time member in CIM orchestras, Claire is an avid chamber musician. She had participated in a masterclass with the Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet, performed at Bargemusic in Brooklyn, and additionally enjoys giving back to her community playing in churches, hospitals, and nursing homes. Claire is a former member of the award-winning New York Youth Symphony and a graduate of the Juilliard-Pre College Division where she studied with Richard Dallessio.

Youjin Roh

Youjin started oboe at the age of 16 with Jungjoo Lee and currently studies with Liang Wang in her first year of her Masters at the Manhattan school of Music. She attended college of music in Ewha at the Womens University in Seoul, Korea for a year and later moved to Germany. She studied with Armin Aussem and graduated Hochschule fuer Musik Saar (University of Music Saar). There she earned her Diplom-Orchestermusikerin degree.

Ian Woodworth

Ian Woodworth graduated from the Baldwin Wallace Universtiy Conservatory of Music in May 2014 where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Oboe. At Baldwin Wallace, his primary teacher was Jeffrey Rathbun, Assistant Principal Oboe of the Cleveland Orchestra. During his studies at Baldwin Wallace, Ian held oboe and English horn positions in the BW Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Ensemble, as well as various chamber ensembles. In the summer of 2013, Ian was an apprentice at the National Music Festival in Chestertown, Maryland, and attended the Bay View Music Festival in Northern Michigan, where he won the Adrian Boyer Concerto Competition. Ian will begin his graduate studies in fall of 2014 to pursue his Master of Music degree in Oboe at Carnegie Mellon University as a student of Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida, Principal Oboe of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

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David Cook

David Cook holds Master of Music degrees in Clarinet Performance and Chamber Music from the University of Michigan and Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from Central Michigan University. He has worked with world-renowned conductors including Leonard Slatkin, Rossen Milanov, and Carl St. Clair.

In the fall, David will attend the University of Oklahoma as a student of Dr. Suzanne Tirk, pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Clarinet Performance and the Master of Music degree in Music Theory with a Graduate Teaching Assistantship. David’s principal teachers include Chad Burrow, Theodore Oien, and Dr. Kennen White.

Clarissa Osborn

Born and raised in Damascus, Oregon, clarinetist Clarissa Osborn is pursuing a Master of Music degree in clarinet performance at the University of Michigan, where she studies with Daniel Gilbert. She holds a bachelor of Music Performance degree from the University of Oregon, where she studied with Dr. Wayne Bennett, Jerome Simas, and Louis DeMartino. While attending the University of Oregon, she performed with the Eugene Symphony, the Central Lutheran Church Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra Next, as well as the University’s Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Eastern European Folk Music Ensemble. Clarissa was also the winner of the University of Oregon’s 2012-2013 Concerto & Aria competition, and performed Aaron Copland’s Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra with the University’s Symphony Orchestra in May.

Phillip Sammons

Phillip Sammons is a native of Katy, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Houston in 2013. While there, he completed his clarinet studies with Randall Griffin. Currently, Phillip is pursuing a Master of Music degree in clarinet performance at Louisiana State University, where he holds an assistantship and performs with the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and various chamber groups. His primary teacher is Deborah Chodacki. Phillip is thankful for the opportunities he has been given to perform with orchestras in the past year, including the Baton Rouge and Lake Charles Symphonies, and looks forward to much more. In the future, he aspires to teach music to underprivileged youth, maintain a clarinet studio of his own, and work with children with special needs.

Rajesh Soodeen

Rajesh Soodeen is currently pursuing a Master's degree in clarinet performance at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. He studies primarily with James Campbell and receives additional instruction from Eli Eban and Howard Klug. Prior to this, Rajesh received his bachelor of Music Performance degree from the University of Houston where he studied with Randall Griffin. While there, he performed with the university's Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble which were featured at the Midwest Clinic and Texas Music Educators Association. Rajesh was a member of the Texas Music Festival 2013 and is looking forward to returning this year. After receiving his Master's degree from Indiana University, Rajesh will pursue a doctoral degree.

Rebecca Tobin

Clarinetist Rebecca Tobin is currently in her final year of study at the Eastman School of Music with Jon Manasse and Kenneth Grant. Rebecca has been awarded fellowships at the National Orchestral Institute Orchestra and the 2013 Texas Music Festival, and has also participated in festivals at the Brevard Music Center and the Marrowstone Music Festival. As a chamber musician, she frequently performs with the Midic Winds quintet, which was awarded the Bronze Medal at the 2013 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, and was a finalist in the 2013 J.C. Arriaga Chamber Music Competition. Rebecca is a subsitute clarinetist with the New World Symphony and the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra. In Spring 2014, she was awarded Eastman’s Performer’s Certificate, and in Fall 2013, Rebecca was selected to perform with Eastman’s faculty chamber ensemble Eastman Virtuosi. A Chicago native, Rebecca continues study with Gregory Smith of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Rebecca will spend the remainder of this summer working on a bison ranch in Montana before beginning her Master of Music degree at Rice University with Richie Hawley. 

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Eric Laine

Eric Laine is a senior at the University of Houston Moores School of Music, where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in music education. He studies saxophone with Dan Gelok and voice with Melanie Sonnenberg. At the university, Eric has performed in several instrumental ensembles and currently sings with the award-winning Concert Chorale. He is also the soprano saxophonist of the Seraphim Quartet, a nationally recognized ensemble. Outside of UH, Eric maintains a private studio of saxophone students, and he is a staff singer in the Schola Cantorum at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

Jordan Brokken

Jordan Brokken, originally from Houston Texas, just finished his first year at the Colburn Conservatory in Los Angeles where he majors in Bassoon Performance studying with Richard Beene. While in High School, Jordan participated in the Houston Youth Symphony where he was the concerto competition winner, twice.  He has appeared on Houston Public Radio multiple times and NPRs “From The Top”. Also during high school, he attended Interlochen Arts Camp as an Emerson Scholar and was an inaugural member of the National Youth Orchestra of the USA. Prior to his enrollment at Colburn, Jordan studied with Benjamin Kamins of Rice University. 

Carly Gomez

Carly Gomez, originally from Satellite Beach, Florida, is currently enrolled in the masters program at the Cleveland Institute of Music as a bassoon student of John Clouser. Previous to CIM, Carly studied with Jeffrey Keesecker at the Florida State University. Ms. Gomez has performed with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, and the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra. A semifinalist of the Meg Quigley International Vivaldi Competition, she has performed in masterclasses with Richard Svoboda, Judith LeClair, and Christopher Millard. Previous music festivals include Brevard Music Center, National Orchestral Institute, Banff Music Centre, Kent/Blossom Music Festival, and Sarasota Music Festival.

Joseph Merchant

Joseph Merchant began playing bassoon in the fourth grade. A native of Pittsburgh, Joe participated in the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony along with other local youth orchestras. He has won the Pittsburgh Concert Society’s young artist competition, as well as the Blackwood Theater Organ Society competition and the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra conducting competition. In 2012, Joseph attended the Aspen Music Festival, where he studied with Nancy Goeres. His primary teachers are David Sogg and William Winstead. He also credits James Rodgers and Harold Smoliar as a significant influence. In his spare time, Joe enjoys mushroom hunting and spending time with his pet bird.

Cornelia Sommer

Cornelia Sommer is from Seattle, WA, where she began studying the bassoon with Francine Peterson. A recent graduate of Indiana University, Cornelia received her Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance and studied with William Ludwig. In 2014, Cornelia was a semi-finalist in the Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition, a finalist in the IU Woodwind Concerto Competition, and competed in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and J. C. Arriaga Competition as a founding member of the Videnia Quintet. She has attended Sarasota Music Festival, Kent/Blossom Music Festival, and Brevard Music Festival. In Fall 2014, Cornelia will continue her bassoon studies with Frank Morelli at Yale University.

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Timothy Bedard

Timothy Bedard is currently a Junior at Wheaton College pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance where he currently studies with Melanie Cottle. Timothy went to high school in Florida where he studied horn with William C. Robinson. Timothy also spent the summer before his Junior year in high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy stuying briefly with Alexander Shuhan and Bruce Henniss. After this summer Timothy spent the next two years as Co-Principal horn of the Florida Youth Symphony Orchestra as well being selected for the Florida All State Orchestra his junior and senior year of high school.  Timothy also attended the Masterworks Festival after his freshman at Wheaton.

Aaron Griffin

Aaron Griffin is currently studying horn performance at the University of Houston Moores School of Music with Gavin Reed. At UH, Aaron has played at the top of all of the ensembles and is principal of the Wind Ensemble. He is an active freelancer and has taught at many schools in the Greater Houston Area. Other primary teachers include his best friend, Steven Winter, and Kevin McIntyre. In his spare time, Aaron enjoys playing disc golf and collecting classical albums.

Kayla Howell

Kayla Howell, a native Texan from Ft. Worth, is in her third year of pursing an undergraduate degree in Horn Performance at Northwestern University. She has previously attended the Interlochen Arts Camp and this is her second year to participate in the Texas Music Festival. Her inspiration has stemmed in large part due to her musical family both of whom hold musical degrees and encouraged a musical pursuit from a young age. The biggest influence for Kayla's pursuit of a musical degree is her teacher, Gail Williams, who encourages her every day and has helped her make huge strides towards her goal of becoming a symphonic musician.

Alex Laskey

Alex Laskey is finishing his Bachelor’s Degree in horn performance from DePaul University where he studies with members of the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera.  Alex is a regular member of the Chicago Symphony’s training orchestra, The Civic Orchestra of Chicago, as well as a substitute with Miami’s New World Symphony. He has also performed with the Chicago Symphony in their “Members Of” series. Last summer, Alex attended the National Repertory Orchestra, and this summer after TMF he will play in the AIMS festival orchestra in Graz, Austria. He has performed under conductors, Ricardo Muti and Gustavo Dudamel, among others.

Matthew Otto

A native of the Los Angeles area, Matthew Otto is currently pursuing a doctorate of musical arts at the University of Southern California where he earned his master’s degree in 2013.

Otto has performed as Principal Horn of the UCI Symphony and USC Thornton Symphony and has been an active freelance musician performing with such artists and composers as Brian McKnight, Danny Elfman, David Newman, Jackie Evancho. He has participated in recording for the television industry and has performed with the American Youth Symphony and the Young Musician’s Foundation Debut Orchestra. 

Otto’s principal teachers include Kristy Morrell, Steve Becknell, and Annie Bosler.

Erik Vanderlaan

Born in Honolulu, Eric grew up in Orlando, Florida and started playing horn at the age of twelve. He just received his MM from Mannes College as a student of Erik Ralske and has lately been freelancing in New York, including work on commercial recordings. He has also performed with the Valdosta and LaGrange symphonies (GA). Eric's former teachers are Paul Basler and Jason Eklund.

Stephen Wadenpfuhl

French Horn player Stephen Wadenpfuhl currently lives in his hometown of Houston Texas. He is an active freelance orchestral musician who has played with many groups including City Music Cleveland (OH), New Bedford Symphony Orchestra(MA), Galveston Symphony, and Houston Civic Symphony. Stephen has held the position of Associate Principal Horn with the Houston Civic Symphony since 2012, and is also serving as Utility Horn substitute for City Music Cleveland since 2013. Stephen is entering his senior year at the University of Houston Moores School of Music pursuing his Bachelors in Music Performance. His primary teacher is Robert Johnson, Associate Principal Horn of the Houston Symphony.

Jacob Wiggins

Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jacob Wiggins has lived in Houston since 1997. He is currently the Principal Horn of the Moores School Symphony Orchestra at the University of Houston, where he studies horn under Gavin Reed. At U of H, he is seeking a degree in horn performance. An active freelance musician in the greater Houston area, Jacob also maintains a studio of private students. In addition to his studies with Gavin Reed, his other principal teachers include Julie Thayer, and William VerMeulen.

Michael Woodard

While being a native Texan from San Antonio, Michael Woodard is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy. He also attended the Interlochen Center for the Arts summer music camp where he was awarded an Emerson Scholarship, the foremost merit scholarship awarded to attending musicians. He has just finished his sophomore year at Southern Methodist University where he is currently studying as a Horn Performance and Business double major. In addition to his principal mentor, Greg Hustis, he also maintains studies with Haley Hoops, and his original teacher, Jeff Garza. He performs regularly with the Meadows Wind Ensemble and Meadows Symphony Orchestra.

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Steven Brown

Steven Brown, while completing both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at The Moore's School of Music on The University of Houston's main campus, has established himself as one of the city's top call freelance trumpeters in both the classical and jazz idioms.  Mr. Brown's ability to perform all styles of music have led him to perform with artists such as Wayne Bergeron, Randy Brecker, and Conrad Herwig, while performing with such ensembles as the Houston Grand Opera, the Alley Theater and the Houston Symphony all while developing his status as one of the area's most sought after teachers and clinicians.  Mr. Brown is currently pursuing his DMA at the Moores School of music where he studies with Mark Hughes.

Nick Doutrich

Nick Doutrich is a senior music performance major from Oklahoma State University and is a student of Dr. Ryan Gardner. Nick has many accomplishments in his musical career.  In 2012 Nick won the Oklahoma State University Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. Nick had the opportunity to perform with the OSU Wind Ensemble at the 2013 Japan Band Clinic. In 2013 Nick was a finalist in the National Trumpet Competition solo and ensemble divisions. More recently, in 2014, Nick was a part of Oklahoma State University Trumpet Ensemble Orange and took first place at the National Trumpet Competition in the ensemble division.

Cameron Kubos

Cameron Kade Kubos is a trumpeter born and raised in Houston, Texas. A two time graduate of the Moores School of Music, he returned to the Moores School in 2013 to pursue a doctoral degree in trumpet performance with Mark Hughes and a minor in jazz conducting with Noe Marmolejo.

Cameron is equally at home in the worlds of classical and jazz music, and he has performed with a wide variety of ensembles and artists throughout his short career. As a student, Cameron has recorded and performed around the country with numerous groups at the Moores School of Music, including the Moores School Symphony Orchestra, the Moores School Wind Ensemble, and the Moores School Jazz Orchestra. In recent summers, he has performed with a wide array of ensembles including the Texas Music Festival Orchestra (2010, 2013), the Hot Springs Music Festival Orchestra (2012), and the Summer Brass Institute (2011,2012). As a jazz musician, Cameron has had the chance to share the stage with many artists including Terence Blanchard, Jon Faddis, Brad Leali, Diane Schuur, Bill Evans, and Wayne Bergeron. This summer, he will perform Mahler 2 with the Texas Music Festival Orchestra before travelling to be the Trumpet Teaching Assistant at the Brevard Music Center.

Gerardo Mata

Gerardo Mata began his studies at the University of Texas at Austin studying with Ray Sasaki. While at UT, he performed with the University of Texas Wind Ensemble and the UTSO. He then attended the Yale School of Music and studied with Allan Dean where he performed with the Yale Philharmonia, Yale Symphony Orchestra, and has worked with renowned conductors such as Shinik Hahm, Peter Oundjian, and Jahja Ling. Gerardo Mata is currently a DMA student at the University of Houston where he studies with Jim Vassallo, and is a substitute/extra with the Houston Grand Opera.

Jay Stinson

Born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, Jay Stinson started on the violin at age 7 and then trumpet at age 9. Jay recently received his Bachelors in Music Performance from the University of Alabama School of Music and will be pursuing his Masters in Trumpet Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music in the fall. Jay has been a part of various summer festivals such as the Texas Music Festival, Marrowstone Music Festival, the Menlo Summer Brass Institute and will be returning to the Texas Music Festival in 2014. His primary teachers are Dr. Eric Yates and Dr. Joe Ardovino.

John St. Jullian, II

John was musically trained in the Aldine school district where the primary focus was Jazz and Latin music, but he always enjoyed playing trumpet concertos and sonatas. While at the University of Houston, he has studied under the tutelage of Jim Vassallo, principal trumpet of the Houston Grand Opera and Ballet orchestras, and Mark Hughes, principal trumpet of the Houston Symphony. Currently performing in all of the top ensembles at the University of Houston, recent performances include the Rossini¹s Barber of Seville with the Moores Opera Center and Appalachian Spring with the Wind Ensemble for the Colorado Music Educators Association Convention. John is a Music Education/Performance major, and looks forward to winning a principal trumpet position with a major orchestra.

Ayano Tomioka

Ayano Tomioka is a native of Yokohama, Japan. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Tokyo College of Music in 2011 before traveling to America, where she earned her master’s degree from The New England Conservatory of Music in 2014. She will be pursuing a Graduate Diploma from The Boston Conservatory of Music. This summer, Ayano will perform as a fellow in both the Texas Music Festival and Pacific Music Festival, and she will serve as an associate member of The Civic Orchestra of Chicago for the 2014-2015 season.

Justin Weisenborn

Justin Weisenborn lives in Dallas and performs both classical and jazz music through the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex.  He is currently the 3rd trumpet for the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra located in Bryan, TX.  During the day Justin teaches trumpet and French horn lessons at the Garland and Rockwall school districts as well as in-home lessons after school.  Justin graduated from Southern Methodist University with a bachelor’s degree in Music Performance with a minor in Mathematics.  While at SMU he studied with Tom Booth of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.  Other past teachers include Akira Sato, David Hickman, and Forrest Yenne.

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Jaren Reyes

Jaren Reyes is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Arts for a Euphonium Performance degree at the Moore's School of Music from the University of Houston. He has been a member of the award-winning University of Houston Wind Ensemble, performing as co-principal euphonium, in venues such as the TMEA Convention and the Midwest Convention. Jaren performed with the Texas Music Festival Orchestra as an auxiliary bass trumpet player, as well as the euphonium/tenorhorn soloist for the orchestra's production of Mahler's Symphony No. 7. He was also named a 2013 semi-finalist for the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium Artist Competition.

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Stephen Farrell

Stephen is a Junior trombone performance at Baylor University He performs with the Baylor Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. Stephen was a finalist in the 2012 International Trombone Festival Gilberto Gagliardi solo competition and was named first alternate for the 2013 ITF Lewis Van Haney orchestral excerpt competition.

Stephen has performed internationally with the Christian brass ensemble Eurobrass and on both tenor and bass trombone with the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. In 2012, Stephen was featured as a soloist with the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra performing Gordon ’s Trombone Concerto.

Stephen’s primary teachers are Brent Phillips and Timothy Van Dam.

Chris Grijalva

Chris Grijalva is currently earning his bachelor's degree in trombone performance on scholarship at the University of Southern California with Dr. Terry Cravens. Chris grew up in the Houston area and studied trombone with Dan Black and Michael Warny. Chris regularly performs as a co-principal in USC's Thornton Symphony Orchestra, and has played under such noted conductors as Carl St. Clair, Uriel Segal, John Nelson, and Sharon Lavery. Chris also maintains a connection with jazz music, and has performed with both of USC's big bands, under both Jason Goldman and Bob Mintzer. He also studies classical voice.

Curtis Swike

Curtis Swike is a recent graduate of the Eastman School of Music, where he received his BM in euphonium and MM in trombone performance while studying with Mark Kellogg and John Marcellus. He has performed with the Rochester Philharmonic, Eastman Wind Ensemble, and Dallas Pops Orchestra, and is currently principal trombonist of the Dallas Millennial Orchestra. In addition, he has attended festivals such as CCM Spoleto and Chautauqua, and performed in the 2013 Texas Music Festival Orchestra. A native of Long Island, NY, Curtis recently moved to Denton, TX, where he teaches and freelances in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.

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Ryo Teratini

Ryo Teratani is a native of Osaka, Japan. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Kyoto City Unversity of Arts, where he studied with Go Shin-ichi, Tetsu Okamoto and Motoji Konishi. Ryo has participated in the Saito Kinen Festival in Matsumoto. Currently, he is a freelance musician throughout Japan, performing with the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, and various chamber music groups. Ryo is continues his musical studies in both Japan and Chicago with Randy Hawes, the Bass Trombonists of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

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Aidan Zimmermann

Aidan Zimmermann began his tuba studies with Jason Harvey at the age of 14. Also studying with Dave Kirk, Aidan was a member of the Houston Youth Symphony, Texas All-State Orchestra, and attended American Festival for the Arts. Currently, he is pursuing an undergraduate degree in tuba performance at the University of Miami where he studies privately with Sam Pilafian. At Miami, he is a member of the Stamps Brass Quintet, a prestigious undergraduate ensemble that receives full-tuition scholarship with room and board. He also performs with the Frost Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, under the baton of Gary Green.

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Ethan Ahmad

Ethan Ahmad was born in Houston, TX and now resides in Los Angeles, CA, where he is finishing his BM in percussion performance at the University of Southern California. His primary teachers there are James Babor and Joseph Pereira, both of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. This fall, he will begin pursuit of his MM degree at the Juilliard School. Last summer, he attended the Round Top Festival Institute and won the Kerope Zildjian Scholarship Competition. He was a semi-finalist in the 2012 Atlanta Modern Snare Drum Competition, and he has been a percussionist with the YMF Debut Orchestra since 2012.

Dylan Barber

Dylan Barber is a recent graduate of George Mason University and past fellow of the Texas Music Festival. Dylan received his Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from George Mason where he studied with John Kilkenny and John Spirtas. In the fall, he will begin his graduate studies at Boston University. In addition to his academic pursuits, Dylan has had the opportunity to perform professionally with the Washington Concert Opera, Cathedral Choral Society, Dominion Chorale, and American Festival Pops Orchestra.

William Champion

Will Champion, a Charlotte, NC native is a sophomore at Northwestern University studying Percussion Performance. His primary teachers are She-e Wu and James Ross. His responsibilities at Northwestern include playing in the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Percussion Ensemble. Will is an Associate Member of the percussion section of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago for the 2014-2015 season. He attended North Carolina School of the Arts in high school and studied with John R. Beck.

Andrew Johnson

Originally from Nova Scotia, Canada, Andrew Johnson is currently completing a master's degree in Percussion Performance with Timothy Genis at Boston University. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Acadia University, where he studied with Mark Adam, and past teachers have included Robert Knopper and Christopher Lamb. Ensemble credits include work with Symphony Nova Scotia, the Band of the Ceremonial Guard, and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. An avid solo and chamber musician as well as orchestral player, Andrew has worked with the NYC-based dance ensemble, Terrain Dance, and has appeared as a xylophone soloist on CBC television and CBC Radio 1.

Sean Rode

Sean Rode is a master student at Rutgers University. He is currently studying with Alan Abel, Joe Tompkins, Javier Diaz, and Mike Truesdell. He received his B.M.E. from West Chester University in 2012. He appeared as a finalist at PASIC 2012 Mock Audition. That same year, Sean also performed in an international tour of China with the Camerata Philadelphia Orchestra along with performing at the Endless Mountain Music Festival. In addition to performing, he teaches percussion lessons to all age levels. Sean currently resides in Philadelphia and will be graduating this spring with his M.M.

Tyson Voigt

Deeply ingrained in contemporary chamber music, Tyson Voigt has founded multiple performing ensembles including renew music group in Texas and Unbound Improv Ensemble in Florida. In 2012, Tyson co-founded the Resound Duo with his wife, soprano Jennifer Voigt, fully committed to commissioning and performing new secular and sacred works for voice and percussion. In 2014, the Resound Duo will be featured as a Resident Ensemble of the soundSCAPE Contemporary Music Festival in Maccagno, Italy, and is premiering 8 new works by students and faculty from around the world. Tyson is currently pursuing his doctorate alongside his wife at the University of Miami.

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Carmen Abelson

Yoojin Baek

Huan Ci

Ci Huan, violin, was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music in 2007 to study with professor Wang Hong. Currently, Huan studies at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. He is a first year student of professor Zuo Jun.

Jacob Cortez

A San Antonio native, Jacob Cortez, 19, began his violin studies when he was 10. His principal teacher was Donna Kole. Jacob has performed with orchestras such as the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio Philharmonic, the Texas All-State Philharmonic, and the UNT Concert Orchestra. Other highlights have included participating in the Cactus Pear Music Festival, playing in a master class for Vadim Gluzman, and performing in Carnegie Hall. Jacob will be entering his 2nd year at the University of North Texas where he is pursuing degrees in Violin Performance and Music Education. Jacob currently studies with renowned pedagogue, Julia Bushkova.

Caroline Cox

A native of North Carolina, Caroline Cox began her violin studies at age four. She has been selected to play chamber music in collaboration with such artists as Hagai Shaham, Robert McDonald, Lucie Robert, and Pavlina Dokovska. In 2012, Caroline won first place in the collegiate division of the National Music Teacher’s National Association competition in New York City. She received her Bachelor’s degree in violin performance and piano performance from East Carolina University and her Master’s degree in violin performance from Mannes College of Music. Caroline will continue her studies with Lucie Robert next year as a doctoral candidate at Manhattan School of Music.

Hong Nhung Dao

My full name is Dao Hong Nhung, people call me Nhung. I’m currently a 3rd year student of Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. Before I came to Singapore, I have studied at Vietnam National Academy of Music for 11 years. I started learning the piano from my mom when I was 5 years old, but then I changed to learn the violin from my dad when I was 6 years old. I was listening orchestra when my mom was pregnant, and maybe that why I love to play and enjoy in symphony orchestra.

Gisela Escobar Diaz

Born in Puerto Rico, Gisela Escobar Díaz began her studies in violin at age seven. She attended the Preparatory Program of Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, studying with Dara Morales, current member of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She pursued her double undergraduate degree in Violin Performance and Music Education with a String Concentration at Temple University studying with Helen Kwalwasser. Gisela has attended various summer festivals including: Mexico Youth Symphony Orchestra, Eastern Music Festival, Lake George Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and the Mozarteum Summer Academy. She attended Texas Music Festival for the first time in 2013. Recently, she has performed in masterclasses with Felix Olschofka and Shirley Givens. Currently, Gisela is in her second year of her Master’s degree at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, studying with Frank Huang, concertmaster of the Houston Symphony

Eleanor Dunbar

Eleanor Dunbar, 18, is a sophomore at Southern Methodist University studying with Professor Emanuel Borok. She has soloed with various orchestras such as the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Thomas Wilkins at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. She has worked with renowned performers and teachers such as Ken Aiso, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Martin Chalifour, Nathan Cole, Victor Danchenko, Andres Diaz, Ivry Gitlis, Paul Kantor, Ida Kavafian, Chee-Yun Kim, Gustav Rivinius, Sylvia Rosenburg, Abram Shtern, Michael Tree, and Bing Wang. She also was the third-prize winner at the Lynn Harrell Concerto Competition in April 2013.

Sarah Kenner

Sarah Jane Kenner has been playing violin for seventeen years. In May 2014, Sarah will receive a Bachelor’s degree in violin performance from Temple University's Boyer College of Music, where she studied with Philadelphia Orchestra violinist Hirono Oka. While at Temple, Sarah sat as Associate Concertmaster and Principal Second Violin for the school's Grammy-Nominated Symphony Orchestra, and has played with the orchestra in their concerts at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center and New York's Lincoln Center. Sarah has participated in master classes with artists such as Arnold Steinhardt and members of the New York Philharmonic, and previous summer festivals include the Aspen Music Festival and the Bowdoin International Music Festival. Sarah also studies and actively performs on Baroque violin. She frequently performs in early music recitals and master classes, and performed in 2013 under conductor Jane Glover in a small period orchestra for Monteverdi’s opera “L’Incoronazione di Poppea” at the Aspen Opera Theater Center. This fall, Sarah looks forward to beginning her graduate studies at Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of Lucie Robert.

Saori Kozawa

Saori Kozawa is a graduate of the University of North Florida where she is studying the violin under Dr. Simon Shiao. She was born in Osaka, Japan, where she studied the violin under professor Midori Kugota from Soai University. She earned her Masters of Music degree at Osaka College of Music. Later on, she taught at the Osaka College of Music Affiliated Music School. She is the concert master for the UNF Orchestra and frequently performs as part of a Piano trio. She has played in masterclass with The Tokyo String Quartet,The Dover String Quartet, David Finckl and Wu Han.

JinHa Kwon

JinHa Kwon was born in Seoul and started to study violn at age 6.She recently got her Bachelor’s degree in KonKuk Univercity with professor Sung Won Yun.She went several festivals such as Music Alp Festival in France and as member of Asian Youth Orchetra, she had played in Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, and Japan.She had her recital at Sejong art center for performing arts in 2013.
She is currently member of Seoul Metropolitan Youth Orchestra.

Jiah Kyun

South Korean violinist Jiah Kyun was born in Canberra, Australia in 1987. Her early musical studies took place in Central Music School under Moscow P.I.Tchaikovsky State Conservatory before moving to Seoul Music High school and later carried out her undergraduate studies at the Moscow P.I.Tchaikovsky State Conservatory under class Professor Asya Gedalyevna Kushner. After graduating from Moscow State Conservatory she moved to Dallas, Texas to pursue a postgraduate Performer's Diploma at Southern Methodist University in the class of Emanuel Borok. She is currently carrying out her Masters of Music in Violin Performance at Southern Methodist University.

Shin Lan

Born and raised in Taiwan, Lan Shin picked up the violin at the age of eight under the tutelage of Ni Guo-Liang. In a short span of 10 years, she was already performing Sibelius’ Violin Concerto with the National Feng-Hsin High School Orchestra. Upon completion of her high school education, she triumphed over many of her peers by clinching 2nd place in the National Universities Violin Audition. Lan Shin has also had masterclasses with an impressive number of esteemed musicians such as Anne Sophie Mutter, Penny Thompson Kruse, Plays Guillaume, David Takeno Hu Nai-Yuan and Wang Hong. In 2008, she had the rare opportunity to receive coaching from the Alban Berg Quartet.

Lan Shin is currently a 2nd year violin student at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, a constituent music college of the National University of Singapore. She was awarded full scholarship for her undergrad studies and is studying under the tutelage of Zuo Jun. Her pastimes include playing both the piano and cello, picked up at ages 7 and 17 respectively.

Chaeyeon Lim

Chaeyeon Lim was born in Seoul, South Korea. She began to learn to play violin at the age of 12. She attended College of Music at Yonsei University, Seoul, where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Violin performance. She participated in competitions such as ‘Eumack Chunchu’ and ‘Music Education Newspaper’ and was placed 3rd in both competitions in Korea. In 2012, She moved to New York City to continue her studies. She is currently studying with Ms. Laurie Smukler at Manhattan School of Music.

Ming Lun Liu

Liu Minglun is currently studying in Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore with full scholarship, studying under Prof. Zuo Jun, head of violin in the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music.

Minglun first started learning violin when he was 4 years old. At the age of 6, Minglin won the first prize of He Nan Violin competition Junior Category. He started his study in Shanghai Music Middle School with full scholarship sponsored by Mr. Rin at the age of 9 under Lu Mengda, concertmaster of Shanghai Sinfonietta. Minglun had been very active in playing chamber music since young. At the age of 10, he had performed frequently with string ensemble all around Shanghai.

Minglun also actively participate in international festivals like Beijing Great Wall Music Festival and was the concertmaster of the orchestra in Festival Orchestra in Stuttgart. He also performed as the leader of the second violin in Shanghai Youth Symphony Orchestra. He performed in master classes conducted by David Takeno, Vilmos Szabadi, Ning Feng, Hu Kun and Qian Zhou. With his string quartet, he also had master classes with Miro Quartet and Takas Quartet.

Minglun plays on a 1810 Joannes Maria Valenzano on loan from the Rin Collection.

Tracy Morgan

Tracy Morgan began playing the violin at the age of 7 and is currently working towards a Bachelors of Arts degree in music performance at the University of Houston Moores School of Music. She has played with orchestra and chamber ensembles at the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, the Texas Tech Band and Orchestra Camp, Credo Chamber Music Festival, as well as the Fort Worth Youth Symphony and the Moores School Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Morgan was the first musician in her district to win the Texas All-State Orchestras audition four years in a row and served as concertmistress of her region orchestra for two years. Throughout her training, she has worked with the recently deceased Stephen Clapp, Dean Emeritus of Julliard School of Music, Michael Davis, concertmaster of the Louisville Symphony Orchestra, and Marilyn McDonald, professor of violin at the Oberlin Conservatory.

Yuri Noh

Yuri Noh was born in Seoul, South Korea, where she began her violin study at age ten. She has participated in many competitions in Korea. She won first prize in Korea Nationwide Music Competition hosted by Art Journal, and second prize in Music Education Newspaper Competition in Korea. She, also participated in master classes with Kirsten Yon and Jan Dobrzelewski. Yuri received her bachelor’s degree from Dae-Jin University, where she studied under Bok-Hyun Kim. At Dae-Jin University Orchestra she was a concertmaster as well as soloist. She is currently pursuing her master degree in violin performance under the guidance of professors Felix Olschofka on violin and Cynthia Roberts on Baroque violin at the University of North Texas.

WooJin Park

Woojin Park is a violinist from Korea. She has graduated from St.Petersburg special music school under the Rimsky-Korsakov conservatory and is now continuing her study in Manhattan School of Music with Ms. Robert. Woo Jin’s performance include a performance with Youngsan city orchestra on a concert celebrating twenty years of Korean-Mongolian diplomatic relation.

Marta Pawlowska

Marta was born in 1990 in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Coming from a family of musicians (her mother plays flute, and her father and sister play violin), she has been taking violin lessons from her dad since she was 6 years old. She graduated from Music High School in Bydgoszcz from the studio of Patrycja Piekutowska in 2009, and in the same year, she started her studies at the Academy of Music in Lodz in Izabela Ceglinska's studio. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in 2012. Since the age of 16, she has been a member of many orchestral and chamber projects in Poland, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic and the United States. She collaborates with the music festival Estate Musicale Frentana in Italy. In 2012 Marta performed at Carnegie Hall in New York with the Italian Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Luigi Piovano and outstanding violinist Iuliu Hamza. She came to United States in the fall of 2012, when she started her studies under Charles Stegeman at Azusa Pacific University. She holds the position of co-concertmaster in Azusa Pacific Symphony. In May 2014 she won the Concerto Competition taking place in Azusa Pacific University.

Lisa Peterson

Lisa Peterson is currently a candidate for the Diploma in Violin Performance at the Meadows School of Music of Southern Methodist University.  She studies under the tutelage of Professor Emanuel Borok, former concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Distinguished Artist-in-Residence at SMU.  Previously, Ms. Peterson received her Master of Music degree in Violin Performance from The Shepherd School of Music, where she studied with Professor Cho-Liang Lin.  Prior to moving to Texas, Ms. Peterson resided in Boston, where she graduated from Harvard University and studied violin with the late Roman Totenberg.  She was the first placing violinist of the 2010 USA International Music Competition, and also served as concertmaster for the Castleton Festival Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Lorin Maazel.  Ms. Peterson is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda. 

Tian Qiu

Tian Qiu began to study violin since he was 5. He was admitted in the Music School Attached to The Central Conservatory in China when he was 12, studied with the reputable violin educationist: Pro. Wei Zhao. He was admitted in the "Morningside Music Bridge" two times, went to Canada and Poland for music exchange. 2012 April, he was designated by The Central Conservatory to Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in Japan for art and culture exchange. At the invitation of China People’s Publishing House, he recorded the CD of “China National Violin Level Test Repertoire Demonstrate” and published. He was admitted by Central Conservatory without audition.

Tian Qiu was The First Prize winner of the “Harmonic” Chinese Opus National Competition for Young Violinists, National Art Start Competition for Young Violinists; The Third Prize in the “The Thomas and Evon Cooper (Beijing) 2011 international violin Competition”. The Second Prize of the “The Music School Attached to The Central Conservatory Chamber Competition”; 2011, he got the“Special Outstanding Prize” of the Music School Attached to The Central Conservatory.

Zhongyu Ren

Zhongyu Ren, a junior at the Manhattan School of Music is a student of Lucie Robert. She has played violin since she was 4 years old, and while at Beijing No.22 Middle School, she became the concertmaster in the orchestra. In addition, she has played many concerts as a violin soloist in the Grand National Theater.

Konrad Rudowicz

Konrad Rudowicz was born in Lodz, Poland and started playing violin at the age of 7. In 2011 he graduated from The Academy of Music in Lodz. Since September 2011, Konrad continues his education at Azusa Pacific University under Charles Stegeman. Throughout many years of education, Konrad participated in various classical music events in Europe and the United States, having the opportunity to work with artists such as Krzysztof Penderecki, Jose Maria Florencio Junior, and Yair Kless. Recently Konrad was awarded 1st prize in the 63rd Young Artist’s Competition held by Redlands Bowl Association and an honorable mention in the APU Concerto Competition.

Jinyoung Song

Jinyoung Song was born in 1991, South Korea. She began to play the violin at the age of 8. Recently she finished her Bachelor degree in Kyung Hee University as a scholarship recipient and studied under Chun Soo Chung, with scholarship. She has also won several the top prizes, including the Haneum Philharmonic music competition, while she was in university. Song was selected as a member of a festival orchestra conducted by cellist Han Na Chang. Currently, Jinyoung Song is completing her Master degree at Manhattan School of Music and studies with Lucie Robert. 

Huanhuan Sun

Huanhuan was born in a musical family. She started to play violin when she was age 4 with her father. She studied in Music Middle School Affiliated to Shanghai conservatory of music for 9 years. In 2011, she attended in Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of National University study with Profess Qian Zhou. She was the finalist in concerto competition of Yong Siew Toh conservatory in 2013. She has worked with some prestigious musicians such as Vilmos Szabadi, Tong Wei dong, David Takeno, Huang Bing, and so on. She also took part in InterHarmony International music festival in Italy last summer.

I-Yun Tsai

Born in Taiwan, I-Yun Tsai has started learning violin and piano at the age of 5. She was the concertmaster during the school year at Kaohsiung Senior High School Symphony Orchestra. She got the first prize at Hsing-Hsing Junior High School’s concerto competition and performed the Tchaikovasky Violin Concerto with the Hsing-Hsing Orchestra in the prize winner’s concert. She has received lessons and mater class with Sherry Kloss in 2009. Later she has mater class with David takeno and Vilmos Szabadi.
I-Yun Tsai is currently a first-year student of Zuo-Jun in Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music with the full scholarship.

Xiao Wang

Violinist Xiao Wang, first prize winner of the 2012 Szigeti International Violin Competition. Xiao has performed with the Kodaly Philharmonic Orchestra during its Budapest Spring Festival as well as with the Gewandhaus Academisches Orchester in the Gewandhaus Leipzig, Germany.

As first prize winner of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Young Artists competition, Mr. Wang performed as soloist with the Texas Music Festival Orchestra conducted by Maestro Lavard Skou Larsen. In addition, he was heard in live performances on Houston Public Radio’s “Front Row” series.  He has also performed under the baton of Maestro Andreas Ligeti appearing in Hungary’s Bela Bartok National Concert Hall as well as in New York as part of the Young Music Forum Series.

Mr. Wang is a passionate chamber musician and has collaborated with the American String Quartet, Phillip Entremont, members of the Mendelssohn String Quartet and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

Xiao Wang began playing the violin at age 5.  At age 10, he was accepted to study at the Central Conservatory in Beijing with Professor Wei-dong Tong, later studying at the Curtis Institute of Music with Joseph Silverstein.  He has played in master classes for Claude Frank, Midori, Cho liang Lin, Arnold Steinhardt and Pamela Frank.  Xiao Wang is currently a full scholarship student at Manhattan School of Music where he studies with Lucie Robert.

Xiaowan Wu

Classically-trained since the age of 6, Xiaowan began intensive studies at Wuhan Conservatory in China. At the age of 13, she won 2nd prize in the conservatory string competition and subsequently was again awarded 2nd prize in the conservatory violin competition in 2006. Upon graduation, she received a full scholarship to study with Prof. Zuo Jun at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore. She successfully held recitals in China, Singapore, and United States. Her playing of strong musicality and solid techniques enable her to receive a fellowship at Texas Music Festival in 2010 and 2011, Third Prize at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Young Artist Competition at Texas Music Festival, a scholarship from Bowdoin International Music Festival, and a full scholarship from Carnegie Mellon University. In addition to give recitals, She also has been actively engaged in performances and activities both chamber and orchestral playing. Xiaowan has appeared as a collaborative orchestra musician with renowned artists such as Kiri Te Kanawa, Vienna Boys’ Choir, Jose Carreras, Leon Fleisher, Claus Peter Flor, and Alan Gilbert. Xiaowan is currently pursuing her master degree in Carnegie Mellon University under the tutelage of Prof. Forough. Her goal as a professional musician is to foster the appreciation of classical music in local community and beyond by giving recitals and playing in leading orchestras and music ensembles. She plays on a 1785 Nicolo Bergunzi on generous loan from Mr. and Mrs. Rin Kei Mei.

Jingwen Xu

Elsie Yau

Elsie began studying the violin at age six. She is from New York City and currently a freshman at Yale University studying with Kyung Yu. Her honors include prizes from the Wagner College Young Musicians Competition, the Constance Mensch Concerto Competition, the Children's Foundation for the Arts, and the Long Island Choral Society's Young Artist Competition. Formerly, she was a member of the New York Youth Symphony as well as concertmaster of the InterSchool Orchestra. Elsie has performed at many major concert venues, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Symphony Space.

Jiuri Yu

Jiuri Yu just completed her Junior year at The Boston Conservatory. She began studying violin at the age of four. When she was 12 years old, she was accepted into Central Conservatory of Music Middle school and studied with Professor XiaoShao Huang. Jiuri Yu was accepted into the Boston Conservatory in 2012 and she currently studies with Markus Placci. She has also performed during master classes with Paul Biss, Joseph Silverstein and Peter Zazofsky.

Ke Zhu

Zhu ke studied violin with Mr.Tong weidong in the middle school attached to the Central Conservatory of Music located in Beijing China from 2004 to 2009. He won 4th prize Junior section of the 13th Menuhin competition in Cardiff, 2008 . He also achieved 5th prize of the 6th Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Violinists in 2009. He has attended violin masterclass actively, and has performed in Canada, Germany, Denmark, Korea, England and other international locations. He was the first Chinese violinist to perform with Scotland Philharmonic. He has also performed for  Condoleezza Rice and Hilary Clinton.  Currently, he is attends Manhattan School of Music and studies with Ms. Robert.

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Rebecca Boelzner

Violist Rebecca Boelzner is from Richmond, Virginia.  She started violin at age 11 and switched to viola before her senior year of high school.  Rebecca is a recent graduate of Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN), where she studied with Kathryn Plummer, and is now pursuing a masters in Viola Performance at the University of Michigan with Caroline Coade.  Rebecca has also attended the Eastern Music Festival, Meadowmount School of Music, and Round Top Festival Institute.  Other primary teachers include Daniel Reinker, John Kochanowski, Nancy Buck, and Patricia McCarty.

Grant Bradshaw

Grant Bradshaw hails from Columbia, Missouri, where he studies viola with Leslie Perna and composition with Dr. W. Thomas McKenney at the University of Missouri.  Now in his junior year, he has played viola in the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, the Texas Music Festival Orchestra, and is principal viola of the Columbia Civic Orchestra.  An avid composer, Grant is the recipient of a Sinquefield New Music Scholarship, and he recently led members of the Saint Louis Symphony in the premiere of his first symphony.  When he is not writing or practicing, Grant works with student musicians as the assistant conductor of the Missouri Symphony Conservatory Youth Orchestras.

Anita Rocio Dowden

Anita Rocio Dowden, 21, is pursuing a Bachelor degree in music education and viola performance at the University of North Texas and will graduate in May 2015.  She has performed in Paris, Ile-de-Re, and Pons, France, Kosice, Slovakia, Quebec, Canada, Sevilla, Cadiz, and Huelva, Spain, Monroe, Louisiana, and Sewanee, Tennessee.  She teaches with the UNT String Project, is bilingual in Spanish and English, speaks French, and is an honors President's List student.  Her dream is to attend Yale University to obtain a master’s degree in viola performance and to influence and inspire education of music in countries around the world. 

Felicia Henderson

Felicia Henderson was born, raised, and currently resides in El Paso, Texas.   Felicia began her musical career as a violinist and later decided to seriously pursue viola, however, she continues to play both instruments. Felicia is enrolled as a Music Performance Major, focused on viola, at the University of Texas at El Paso and resides as the Principal Violist of the UTEP Symphony Orchestra.  She was selected as a first violinist for the Opera Bhutan Project 2013-2014 and traveled to Bhutan to perform Handel’s Acis and Galetea Opera.  Felicia continues to teach privately, study, and perform across the United States.

Hui-Ling Hsu

Hui-Ling Hsu, violinist, began her music study in Taipei, Taiwan at the age of nine, at the National Sanshan High School. From the very beginning of her studies, Ms. Hsu showed great promise as an artist. She was the featured  soloist with the Sanshan High School Orchestra in a performance of J. C. Bach’s Viola Concerto, and performed in many chamber music concerts in the National Recital Hall in Taiwan. As a student in Taiwan, Ms. Hsu won top prizes from the Music Competition of Taipei City, the Viola Competition of Taiwan, and the Tien-Kuan Hsign Music Competition. With a deep passion for orchestral music, Ms. Hsu also performed with the Philharmonia Moment Musical, and the Pro Art Orchestra in Taiwan from 2004-2010, with who she toured China.

Ms. Hsu received her B.A. from Soochow University in Taiwan, where she studied with Professor Mei-Li Wu. Ms. Hsu also took master classes with Steve Tenebom, James Buswell, Keng-Yuan Tseng, Bagratuni Suren, Stephanie Baer and Scott Lee. Ms. Hsu toured Japan and China many times with the Soochow University Orchestra.

Ms Hsu has performed in summer music festival including the Idyllwild Summer Music Festival near Palm Springs, Calfornia, the Shuan Yin Summer Music Festival, and the Tien-Kuan Hsign Music Festival, both in Taiwan.  Ms. Hsu is now completing the Master of Music Degree at San Diego State University, where she serves as the principal violist of the San Diego State University Symphony Orchestra. She is currently under the tutelage of Professor Chi-Yuan Chen.

Kathryn Lowman

Twenty one year-old violist Kathryn Lowman, from Wheaton, IL, is enrolled in the bachelors of music program at the Cleveland Institute of Music as a student of Mark Jackobs. Ms. Lowman has performed with The Halo Ensemble, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Music Institute of Chicago Academy Chamber Orchestra. A winner of the Chicago Viola Society competition, she has attended Credo Chamber Music, the North American Viola Institute, the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival and the Kent Blossom Music Festival. Previous teachers include Janis Wittrig, Sarah Montzka and Peter Slowik.

Matthew Norman

From the DC area, Matthew Norman has played the viola since age 7. He currently is in his sophomore year of a Bachelor of Music degree at the Hartt School in Hartford, Connecticut. He studies under Rita Porfiris, a former Violist of the Houston Symphony.

Luis Perez

Hailing from the island of Puerto Rico, violist Luis Perez now resides in Houston, Tx, where he maintains an active and diverse career both as teacher and performer. A graduate of the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, Luis Perez studied under the guidance of Houston Symphony principal violist Wayne Brooks.  Always inspired by music’s ability to transcend physical and cultural boundaries, Luis is committed to the performance of any genre or style of music, searching foremost for a genuine means of communication.  This search has led Luis to work with many great artists in many venues both in the Houston area, and throughout the world, from the subways of Chicago to music halls in Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.  When not exploring musical performance or education, Luis likes to enjoy a nice craft brew, listening to classic salsa music from the Fania All-Stars, and taking naps with his cat, Otto.

Camille Ripple

Camille Ripple, 22, from Nipomo, CA, is an undergraduate at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she studies with Michael Strauss. In 2013, she attended the Music Academy of the West, where she studied with Donald McInnes and Roger Meyers. With the Oberlin Conservatory Contemporary Ensemble, she was invited to play at the Third Practice Electroacoustic Music Festival in 2013. As part of the Oberlin Symphony Orchestra, she played at Carnegie Hall in 2013, and with the American Youth Symphony she played at Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2012. While studying at Pasadena City College, she received the 2011 Pasadena Women's Club Music Achievement Award, and won the 2011 Scholarship Competition and Concerto Competition.

Maria Luisa Santacruz

Originally from Quito-Ecuador, Maria Luisa is a junior at Valdosta State University working on her Bachelors in Viola Performance. She began her music studies in violin at age 12 and after seven years switched to viola. While at Ecuador, she played at the Philarmonic Orquestra of Ecuador and currently she is part of the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra and The Albany Symphony Orchestra. At Valdosta State, she teaches viola and violin at the South Georgia String Project, winner of the 2011 NSPC String Project of the Year. She has attended to Brevard Music Center, Premier Orchestral Institute, and Festival Sinfonico, Pereira-Colombia.

Sarah Shasberger

Sarah Shasberger recently completed her Master’s in viola performance and Suzuki violin pedagogy at the Hartt School of Music under the direction of Rita Porfiris for viola and Teri Einfeldt for Suzuki training. She has served as principal violist of the Hartt Orchestra and maintains an active private violin and viola studio in the Hartford area. Sarah has been a featured soloist with orchestras in the United States, Austria and Hungary and China. She is a graduate of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. Former teachers include Helen Callus, Dr. Richard Rintoul and Dr. Philip Ficsor.

Barbara Wolfe

Barbara Wolfe began playing viola at age 6, but it was not until high school that she realized the viola’s beauty and possibilities and began playing seriously. She is an undergraduate at Cleveland Institute of Music where she studies with Jeffrey Irvine. She has previously attended Manhattan School of Music Pre-college, studying with Karen Ritscher. In the past few years she participated in Bowdoin Festival, Litomysl Masterclass in Czech Republic, Luzerne Music Center, Green Mountain Festival, the North American Viola Institute, and the ASTA National High School Honors Orchestra. In 2012, she performed the a movement of Walton’s Viola Concerto with the Sussex County Youth Orchestra, and Weber’s Andante and Rondo Ungarese with the New Sussex Symphony. A winner of the New York Viola Society Scholarship, Ms. Wolfe has performed in masterclasses with Wing Ho at the International Viola Congress, Michelle LaCourse, Jutta Puchhammer-Sédillot, Kirsten Docter, and William DePasquale.

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Seohee Choi

Cellist Seohee Choi, a native of South Korea, began studying cello at the age of ten. When Seohee was as under graduate at Ewha Womens University in Seoul, she was invited to visit Indiana University, where she studied with Janos Starker. Seohee has attended master classes with distinguished artists such as Aldo Parisot, Jens Peter Maintz, and Maria Kligel. Also, she has participated in summer music festivals in France, the Czech Republic, and South Korea. As the first prize winner at the 2014 American Protégé International Concerto Competition, she will make her Carnegie Hall debut this December. Seohee just completed her M.M at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she will continue her studies under the tutelage of Richard Weiss.

Slava Dobrushkin

Slava was born in Ukraine and at the age of 7 started his study of music and Violoncello in the Music School No.1 in the city of Uzhgorod. In 1997 and 1999 he won First Prize in the Regional Competition of Violoncello. In 1999 moved to Colima, Mexico with his parents. From 1999 to 2004 was a student of infantile level in the music school at the Colima University.  During these years he participated in several music festivals, academic concerts and recitals. In 2001 participated in the First Journey of Violoncello in the city of Queretaro, Mexico. 2001-2004 was selected to participate in the National Infantile Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, traveling and playing concerts all around Mexican Republic.  Also participating in the First International Journey in 2004 with the same orchestra. In summer of 2005 participated in the XXVII Chamber Music Festival in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. In 2007 concluded his studies in music High School at the University of Colima

In August 2007 was accepted as a student of Undergraduate at the Moores School of Music, University of Houston under the tutelage of Dr. Vagram Saradjian. In January 2012 Vyacheslav Dobrushkin was accepted as Master’s student at the Moores School of Music, University of Houston to continue his studies with Professor Saradjian; which he concluded in May of 2014. During his Undergraduate and Master’s studying he participated in several concerts as soloist and chamber musician and played an active role in the symphony orchestra and opera orchestra.

Holly Garrett

Holly Garrett, 21, is a rising fourth-year undergraduate Double Degree candidate at Boston University, pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance, under the studies of Michael Reynolds, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She has made appearances at various festivals across the country, such as the Aspen Music Festival, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Madeline Island Music Festival, Green Lake Chamber Music Festival, and National High School Music Institute at Northwestern University. She has collaborated with and performed in master classes for Matt Haimovitz, Alan Harris, and Alison Wells. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Holly studied with Scott Tisdel and Jane Hollander. In 2011, she was a recipient of the National School Orchestra Association Award and gave her solo debut with the Popper Hungarian Rhapsody.

Mengmeng Huang

Mengmeng Huang holds a bachelor degree from Central Conservatory of Music and a Master of Music degree from Boston Conservatory. She began studying cello at the age of thirteen. When she was 17 years old, she won the third prize of cello and viola group in Vladivostok International Music Competition, Russia. In 2010, she was invited as the only cello major student from Central Conservatory of Music to play in Shanghai Concert Hall in collaboration with Essen Folkwang Hochschule and Shanghai Conservatory of Music, as a part of China-Germany Concert for 2010 Shanghai Expo.

Minna Im

Minna Im is a recent graduate of California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) where she earned her Master of Music degree in cello performance under the guidance of David Garrett. During her years at CSULB, Minna has performed with the Bob Cole Conservatory Symphony Orchestra and was a member of the University String Quartet. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2011 where she studied with Melissa Kraut. Minna has previously attended the Texas Music Festival during the summers of 2009-2011 as well as the Bowdoin International Music Festival in Brunswick, Maine.

Jun Jin

Jun Jin was born in Seoul, South Korea and began studying cello and piano at age of six and seven respectively. At age ten he stopped playing cello and began to focus solely on piano. In 2001, he moved to the United States where he continued studying piano with Adam Wodnicki. Jun resumed studying cello with Jung-Shin Lim Lewis and started performing in school orchestras and won a place in the Texas All-State Symphony Orchestra. He then took a break from piano in order to fully concentrate on cello. He was a participant of Nation Summer Cello Institute, at which he played for master classes of Timothy Eddy and Uri Vardi. He also was a finalist for the Grand Junction Young Artist Competition.

Chi-Hui Kao

Chi-Hui Kao is a cellist currently pursuing her DMA degree in Michigan State University, where she is a member of Professor Suren Bagartuni's cello studio. She received a performance diploma from Boston University, and a Master degree in Music from National Chiao-Tung University, Taiwan. She joined the West Michigan Symphony in 2013. In 2012, she toured US with Tchaikovsky- St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra. During her time in Boston, she was a member and the cello principal of Boston University Symphony and Chamber Orchestra. She served as the cello principal of Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO) in 2007, where she was also a member from 2006-2007. She attended master classes featuring some of the best artists around, such as Yo-Yo Ma, Alexandre Lecarme, Stefan Kartman, Lynn Chang, and Muir String Quartet. Before coming to US from her native country, Taiwan, Ms. Kao was the winner of first prizes of several regional and national musical competitions.

Johnny Mok

Johnny Mok started cello at the age of five in the Hong Kong Performing Arts Academy. He moved to the US in 2001 and continued his studies with Ms. Pamela Washburn Delisse and later with Mr. James Holland. Throughout the sixteen years of his studies, Mok was a prize winner in the Jackie McGehee Piano & Strings Concerto Competition, AYS Concerto Competition, CICA International Concerto Competition, ASTA Concerto Competition, Birmingham Music Club Scholarship Competition, and Alabama Federation of Music Clubs Scholarship Competition. He will begin his fourth year Bachelors of Music in Cello Performance this coming fall, in the University of Alabama under the tutelage of Carlton McCreery.

Oliver Scott

Oliver Scott was born in Hong Kong 1993. His family moved back to Brisbane, Australia when he was four years old. He is currently a full scholarship student of Li Wei Qin at Yong Siew Toh conservatory in Singapore. Before he left Australia, he had worked freelance with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Sinfonia. He was actively involved in Australian Youth Orchestra and Queensland Youth Orchestra programs. In 2012 Oliver toured as soloist and principle cellist with the Queensland Youth Orchestra on their tour to Europe and Asia. Oliver performed Saint-Säens cello in concert halls in Germany and France on four different concerts that tour.

Weiting Sun

Born in 1991 in Taipei, Taiwan, Miss Weiting Sun began playing the cello at the age of 10.  After completing her Bachelor degree at The Boston Conservatory in 2013, she entered Eastman School of Music under the guidance of Alan Harris to pursue her M.M in cello performance.  Miss Sun is a winner of numerous competitions, including the First Prize of National American String Teacher Association (ASTA) Solo Competition (2010), and French Lanne Cello Scholarship from Virtu Foundation (2011).  Other honors and awards including Full Tuition Scholarship from The Boston Conservatory (2009-2013), Italian Gaetano Gadda Cello from Chimei Foundation (2011-2013), and Graduate Award from Eastman School of Music (2013-). Her masterclass experiences span through Europe and North America with teachers such as Alban Gerhardt, Gary Hoffman, Philippe Muller, Arto Noras, Aldo Parisot, Nathaniel Rosen and Raphael Wallfisch.

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Adam Attard

Adam Attard is a student of Scott Dixon at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Originally from the Detroit area, he previously studied with Dr. Robert Stiles, and attended the Interlochen Center for the Arts for two summers, where he studied with Lawrence Hurst and Jack Budrow. Last summer he attended the Domaine Forget Academy in Quebec, where he worked with bassists Francois Rabbath, Renaud Garcia-Fons, Paul Ellison, Etienne Lafrance, and Ali Yazdanfar. He has also performed in masterclasses for bassists Hal Robinson, Sidney King, Alexander Hanna, and Maximilian Dimoff.

William Karns

William began studying double bass in high school with Steve Zesserman (San Antonio Symphony), and is currently studying Double Bass Performance at Baylor University with Dr. Sandor Ostlund . He has performed in master classes for Edgar Meyer, Francesco Petracchi and Jeff Bradetich. William attended the 2012 & 2013 Eastern Music Festival (EMF), winning the 2013 EMF Concerto Competition and performing as soloist. He won the San Antonio Youth Symphony (YOSA) Concerto Competition, performing as soloist in 2013. William is a two-time recipient of a Colburn Pledge Foundation Music Scholarship. He enjoys performing chamber music and transcribing double bass solos.

Christopher Lettie

Chris is currently attending Yale University studying with Don Palma pursuing a Master of Music degree.  He graduated from the University of North Texas in 2012.  Past teachers include Jeff Bradetich, William Clay, Brian Perry, Curtis Burris and Nick Scales. He has performed as a chamber musician, soloist, and as a substitute bassist with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

Mike McClure

Long Island bassist Michael McClure holds degrees from the New England Conservatory (MM), and Purchase College: Conservatory of Music (BA). Michaels Primary teachers are Don Palma and Tim Cobb.

Mike is currently Principle bass with Litha Chamber Orchestra, a musical group who’s goal is to open the doors of classical music to new audiences in New York City. He has also held principle positions at the New York Youth Symphony, New England Conservatory Philharmonie, The Moritzberg Academy Orchestra, Philadelphia Int’l Music Festival, and the Purchase Symphony Orchestra.

Mike is a firm believer that children of the 21st century are in need of a physical craft more then ever before. Young people are growing up surrounded by screens and have a lighting speed access to information. Its the job of us artists to make sure children are challenged to achieve a high quality product.

Martin Pham

Martin Pham made his orchestral debut with the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra in 2006 until their 2009-2010 season, during which he served as principal bassist, and also served as principal bassist for the 2009 SCSBOA All-Southern High School Orchestra. Pham's interest in solo performance has led him to win competitions including the 2011 Grossmont Community Concert Association Scholarship Competition, earning second place in the strings division, as well as first place in the 2011 American String Teachers Association Solo Competition for San Diego County. Pham was a member of the La Jolla Symphony from 2011-2013 and earned his Bachelor of Music degree from San Diego State University.

Russell Thompson

Russell Thompson is a bassist from Chagrin Falls, Ohio. In high school, he was section and principal bassist in the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra for three years. He attended the National Music Festival in 2011 and 2012 as well as the National Repertory Orchestra in 2013. He attended the University of Mary Washington for two years, where he served as principal bass for the UMW Philharmonic Orchestra and the Spotswood Community Orchestra. He is currently a senior at the Cleveland Institute of Music and a student of Maximilian Dimoff, principal bass of the Cleveland Orchestra. He is also pursuing a double major in English Literature at CASE Western Reserve University. His other teachers include Tracy Rowell, Mark Atherton, and former bassist in the USAF Airmen of Note, Chief Master Sgt. Paul Henry (ret.). 

Nash Tomey

Nash Tomey, a Philadelphia native, grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a professional guitarist and bassist for thirty years, and still plays with him, as well as his brother. Mr. Tomey has attended with fellowship both Aspen Music Festival and Pacific Music Festival. He is honored to have the opportunity to attend TMF 2014. He currently plays a modern double bass built by Kai Johann Arvi in 2011, which he has named, "Penelope." Nash Tomey has received his BM studying with Lawrence Wolfe and Donald Palma and will be attending Boston University under the instruction of Edwin Barker in the fall of 2014.

Trevor Young, Texas

Pursuing an Undergraduate degree in Bass Performance at The McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University, Trevor Young is among the most ambitious of young musicians today. His bass playing has taken him to festivals and workshops in Bavaria, British Columbia, Baltimore, and the University of North Texas. His primary teachers are Kurt Muroki and Rachel Calin, and has studied with Orin O'Brien of the New York Philharmonic, David Neubert of of the Austin Symphony, and Jessica-Gilliam Valls of the Austin Lyric Opera. Also a prolific composer, he has received commissions from Jeff Bradetich and Tomastik strings. Mr. Young is always writing and exploring the vast expanse of the musical world in attempts to better understand this transcendent language.

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Hope Cowan

A native of La Crosse, Wisconsin, Hope Cowan is a harpist living and working in Houston, Texas. Ms. Cowan is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University where she studies with Houston Symphony Principal Harpist Paula Page. She received her Bachelor of Music, Summa cum Laude, from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. She has performed with several professional orchestras including the Baton Rouge, Victoria, Chautauqua, Lake Charles, and Brazos Valley Symphonies. She has participated in a number of prestigious music festivals including the Chautauqua Festival Institute, the Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific, Roundtop Festival Institute, and the Texas Music Festival. Ms.Cowan performs as a freelance harpist all over the greater Houston area, and is excited to spend another summer at TMF.

Caitlyn Mehrtens

Caitlin Mehrtens is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Harp Performance at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music under Yolanda Kondonassis. She is rotating principal harpist in the Oberlin Conservatory ensembles, with whom she has recorded and premiered multiple works. Her festival credits include Eastern Music Festival, the Monteux School, and the Hot Springs Music Festival. She is an active harp teacher in the Oberlin area, and a freelance performer in the contemporary, classical, and jazz genres. Ms. Mehrtens has studied the piano since age four, and is a native of Thornton, Pennsylvania.

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Yan Shen

Pianist Yan Shen is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Houston Moores School of Music, where she studies with Timothy Hester. Prior to this, she was a faculty member at the Conservatory of Music in Guang Zhou, China. She has performed at a number of respected venues and festivals, including Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall), Guang Zhou Xing Hai Concert Hall, Wu Han Concert Hall, Bei Jing Concert Hall, French "Polyphony" Music Festival, the Basel Music Festival in Switzerland, Canada's Power River Music Festival, Hong Kong City Hall, and the Hong Kong Quan Wan Concert Hall. She has also received awards at several competitions: Protégé International Competition, New York; Guang Zhou International Piano Competition, Bei Jing First International Piano Competition, and the Bei Jing National Piano Competition, China.

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