She has performed at various festivals, including fellowships with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, as principal cellist of Brevard Music Festival, the Catskills Chamber Music Festival, as assistant principal cellist of Miami Music Festival, as well as Credo Chamber Music Festival at Oberlin Conservatory. She is a member of the Juliani Ensemble, where she has collaborated with members of both the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Opera Orchestra, among others. The Juliani Ensemble, as well as the Juliani String Quartet-an extension of the ensemble-performs extensively throughout the city of Chicago, including appearances at Preston Bradley Hall and on 98.7 WFMT. She has been a prizewinner at numerous competitions, including First Prize at the Golden Classical Music Awards, finalist status at the Tannenwald and ECSO Competitions, Third Prize at The North International Music Competition, and Silver Prize at the Muse International Competition. Anita performs on a modern Italian cello by Ferdinando Garimberti, dated 1923. anitagraef.com
The American Prize co-winner:
Brian Zator
Royse City TX
Marimba
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| Brian Zator |
Dr. Brian Zator is the Interim Department Head and Percussion Professor at Texas A&M University-Commerce, having joined the faculty in 2001. He holds degrees from Baylor University, the University of Michigan and the University of North Texas, and is also a student of world-renowned marimba artist, Keiko Abe. Dr. Zator has performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), TMEA, TBA, Midwest, conventions and festivals across the United States, at Carnegie Hall, and abroad on five continents. He has two CD’s released on Equilibrium Records: “Zamiki: Music for Solo Marimba” and a chamber-works CD entitled, “Zoomorphs”.
Active within the percussion community, Dr. Zator currently serves as Immediate Past President of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) and wrote a mallet-keyboard method book, “Keyboard Fundamentals with Play-Along Tracks”, published by Innovative Percussion. He is a performing artist and clinician for Innovative Percussion, Sabian, Evans, and Black Swamp Percussion. www.BrianZator.com
2nd Place (there was a tie):
David Cook
Decatur IL
Clarinet
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| David Cook |
David Cook is Principal Clarinet of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra and clarinetist for the Appian Duo and the Greyline Duo. He was previously a member of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra, Fiati Five, and the Lieurance Woodwind Quintet. Past performances include ClarinetFest®, the College Music Society National Conference, the NACWPI Conference, the American Single Reed Summit, and the Clarinet Colloquium at Texas A&M University-Commerce. His research has been published in The Clarinet, the NACWPI Journal, and The Instrumentalist.
David is currently Assistant Professor of Clarinet at Millikin University and a clarinet faculty member at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. David’s principal teachers include Suzanne Tirk, Chad Burrow, Theodore Oien, and Kennen White. David is a Buffet Crampon USA Performing Artist and a member of the Silverstein Works PRO Team, performing exclusively on Buffet Crampon clarinets and Silverstein Works ligatures. For more information, please visit davidcookclarinet.com.
2nd Place (there was a tie):
Chris Gekker
Bethesda MD
Trumpet
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| Chris Gekker |
Chris Gekker is Professor of Trumpet at the University of Maryland School of Music. He appears as soloist on more than thirty recordings and on more than one hundred chamber, orchestral, jazz, and commercial recordings. Formerly a member of the American Brass Quintet, principal trumpet of the Orchestra of St. Luke's, and on the faculties of The Juillard School, Manhattan School of Music, and Columbia University. In 2018 he was named a Distinguished University Professor, the first from Maryland's School of Music to receive this honor.
3rd Place (there was a tie):
Christopher Dickey
Pullman WA
Tuba
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| Christopher Dickey |
Praised for his “smooth tone and melodic flexibility” by Melinda Bargreen from The Seattle Times, tubist Christopher Dickey enjoys a varied and active international career as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. He has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Uruguay, Argentina, Vietnam, and China. Dickey endeavors to defy an audience's expectations of the tuba by showcasing its many technical and lyrical capabilities. To date, Dickey has released three solo albums: Just a Thought (2015), Dulcet Voice (2017), and Periscope (2019). He is involved with the International Tuba Euphonium Association and the National Association for Music Education. He performs regularly with orchestras across the Northwest and travels around the United States performing recital tours and teaching master classes. He is currently on the faculty at Washington State University and is on the international roster of Miraphone Performing Artists.
3rd Place (there was a tie):
Katie Johnson
Knoxville TN
Horn
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| Katie Johnson |
Katie Johnson excels as a flexible, thoughtful, and active performer of solo repertoire, chamber music, and orchestral literature. In past years has performed with the Aspen Summer Music Festival in Aspen, Colorado, the Kent/Blossom Music Festival in Kent, Ohio, and the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado. She has given recitals and masterclasses across the United States and is a founding member of the award-winning Cobalt Quartet. In 2020, Katie released her first solo CD, La Loba, on the Summit Records label.
Katie is the Associate Professor of Horn at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She completed her graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the direction of Professor Emeritus Douglas Hill and Professor Daniel Grabois. In 2018, she was awarded a grant from the American-Scandinavian Foundation to collaborate with Norwegian hornist and pedagogue, Frøydis Ree Wekre in Oslo, Norway.
Finalist Honorable Mention:
Gabriel Beavers
Miami FL
Amplified Bassoon
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| Gabriel Beavers |
GABRIEL BEAVERS is the Associate Professor of Bassoon at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. Beavers is also a member of Miami’s Nu-Deco Ensemble and serves as 2nd bassoon with the Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra in Durango, CO. Prior to joining the faculty at Frost, he served on the faculty of Louisiana State University. Formerly a fellow with the New World Symphony, he has also served as Principal Bassoon with the Virginia Symphony, Acting Principal Bassoon with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Jacksonville Symphony and as Acting Second Bassoon with the Milwaukee Symphony. Mr. Beavers has also previously held the position of Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Music. His solo albums Gordon Jacob: Music for Bassoon and A Quirky Dream can be found on the Mark Masters and Mark Records labels.
Finalist Honorable Mention:
Steven M. Darling
Martin TN
Tuba
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| Stephen Darling |
Dr. Steven Darling serves as Assistant Professor of Tuba & Euphonium at the University of Tennessee-Martin. In demand as a soloist, Darling recently performed Michael Daugherty’s Reflections on the Mississippi with the Mason Wind Symphony at the National Concert Band Festival and at Windfest! 2019, at Cincinnati’s Music Hall. In 2019, Dr. Darling premiered his work At the Mountains of Madness for Tuba and String Orchestra with the Wright State University Chamber Orchestra. An award-winning performer, Darling has garnered recognition in competitions including the ITEC Euphonium Artist and the Leonard Falcone Tuba Artist Competitions. In 2018, Darling made his debut Carnegie appearance at the Weill Recital Hall, and his album Dualities, winner of two Global Music Awards, was released on the Emeritus Label. Darling’s second album, American Landscape, will be available in the fall of 2020. Darling frequently appears as an artist-in-residence at conferences and universities throughout the United States.
Finalist Honorable Mention:
Jeffrey Kautz
Dix Hills NY
Timpani
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| Jeffrey Kautz |
Timpanist Jeffrey Kautz (www.jeffreymkautz.com) is very passionate and moved by the timpani. Jeffrey recently won first place in the 2020 American Protégé International Concerto Competition (based in NYC) and won the Brilliant Award in the 2020 Brilliant Talent Discovery International Music Competition (based in Singapore). Jeffrey attained a Master’s degree in Timpani from NYU Steinhardt in 2019 where he studied under Jonathan Haas. He graduated from Mannes School of Music in 2017 with Honors in Percussion Performance. Jeffrey won the 2017 Mannes Concerto Competition performing Michael Daugherty’s Raise the Roof as solo timpanist with the Mannes Orchestra. Other awards include: 2015 Concerto Competition Winner - Philadelphia International Music Festival performing William Kraft’s Timpani Concerto #1. Winner of the 2018 New York International Percussion Competition on timpani. Jeffrey is currently Principal Timpanist of the Massapequa Philharmonic, New Jersey Sinfonietta, Amore Opera Orchestra and the Apotheosis Opera Orchestra.
Finalist Honorable Mention:
Charlene Kluegel
Wilmette IL
Violin
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| Charlene Kluegel |
Known for her “musical verve” (New York Classical Review), Charlene Kluegel is the violinist of Duo FAE and, previously, Fifth House Ensemble. Ms. Kluegel has concertized throughout North America, Germany, Switzerland, and China and has collaborated with Jason Vieaux, Robert McDuffie, the Cuarteto Casals, and Frank Huang. In 2016, Ms. Kluegel collaborated on Patois’s GRAMMY-nominated album “Canto America”. Ms. Kluegel has given masterclasses nationwide, served as studio assistant at the Peabody Institute, and teaches at the Music Institute of Chicago. She also serves on the Editorial Board of the American String Teacher Journal and is Chair of the ILASTA Concerto Competition. She holds a BA cum laude from Cornell University, a Master of Music from the Peabody Institute, and a Doctor of Music from Indiana University. She studied under Pamela Frank, Susan Waterbury, and Jorja Fleezanis, and is honored to receive sponsorship from Larsen Strings Artist. For more information see: www.charlenekluegel.com
Finalist Honorable Mention:
Madalyn Parnas Möller
Los Angeles CA
Violin
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Madalyn Parnas Möller |
American violinist Madalyn Parnas Möller is an active soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, and educator residing in Los Angeles. Enthusiastically endorsed by the New York Times, Ms. Parnas Möller has concertized worldwide, most recently appearing as guest soloist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Alongside her sister, cellist Cicely Parnas, Duo Parnas was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2015. Ms. Parnas Möller holds a M.M. and Artist Diploma from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, a M.A. from London’s Royal Academy of Music, and a B.S. from The College of Saint Rose where she graduated summa cum laude. A 2012 Marshall Scholar, Ms. Parnas Möller was awarded the Josef Gingold Award and twice the Artistic Excellence Award at Indiana University. Her principal teachers include her grandfather, cellist Leslie Parnas, Mark Kaplan, György Pauk, Jaime Laredo, James Buswell, and Betty-Jean Hagen. Ms. Parnas Möller performs on a 1715 Alessandro Gagliano violin.
Finalist Honorable Mention:
Jennifer Piper
Fort Wayne IN
Flute
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| Jennifer Piper |
Jennifer Piper maintains a versatile performing and teaching career in flute and musicology. She is currently a faculty member at Delta College and Mid Michigan College, and previously taught at Central Michigan University and the University of Hartford.
As an orchestral flutist, Jennifer has performed with numerous ensembles across the United States including the West Michigan, Midland, Kalamazoo, and Canton (OH) Symphony Orchestra, the Ohio Light Opera, Hartford Opera Theater, and the Lone Star Wind Orchestra. She also served as an Associate member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago in 2016.
Her scholarly interests have led to presentations at the Flute New Music Consortium Festival, Puerto Rico Flute Symposium, Florida Flute Convention, Music by Women Festival (MS), and other regional conventions. Her article on dance influences in Baroque instrumental works was published in the National Flute Association’s Flutist Quarterly, Spring 2020 issue. www.jenniferthepiper.com
The American Prize in Instrumental Performance, 2021 (college/university division)
The American Prize winner:
Sophia Oehlers
Collingswood NJ
Oboe
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| Sophia Oehlers |
Sophia Oehlers (b.2000) has made her mark as an oboist at a very young age. Sophia was named a finalist/co-winner of the 2020 International Double Reed Society Norma Hooks Young Artist Competition. As a winner of this competition, Sophia will perform at the 2021 IDRS convention in Boulder, Colorado. In May of 2020, Sophia won First Place and was given the Special Performance Award for the Quebec International Music Competition. Sophia has appeared with the Prometheus Chamber Orchestra and the Dark Horse Chamber Orchestra. She has been named a Fellow with the NSO Summer Music Institute for both the 2019 and 2020 seasons and has played at the Saarburg International Music Festival as well as the NYU Woodwind Institute. She was a teaching intern with the Symphony in C Youth Orchestra, and has worked as a recitalist, soloist, studio and pit musician both in Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. She is currently studying with Peter Cooper at the University of Colorado Boulder.
2nd Place:
Yu-Ting Cheng
Forest Hills NY
Clarinet
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| Yu-Ting Cheng |
Hailed for her “extraordinary virtuosity” (CHIMI Arts Award), as well as for her “sublime playing” and “radiant tone” (Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Corigliano), clarinetist Yu-Ting Cheng has revealed her uncommon musical versatility and earned recognition as a solo artist by winning numerous first prizes in her younger career, including the national music competition Hsing-Tien Kong Young Artist Award, the 2019 Stony Brook Concerto Competition, the 32nd CHIMEI Arts Award and the 5th North International Music Competition.
She is the recipient of the 2015 Valeri Canady Foundation Scholarship, 2017 Outstanding Alumni Award of Taiwan Chapter Society of Peabody Conservatory Alumni. Awarded fellowships by the highly reputable Norfolk New Music Workshop (2019) and LUCERNE Festival Academy (2020). She is also the artist-in-residence of 2020 “Stars of Tiding” O-Bank Education Foundation, and will be giving her solo recital in Taiwan this September.
3rd Place:
Yidi Song
Rochester NY
Flute
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| Yidi Song |
Yidi Song earned a MM and is currently a DMA student at the Eastman School of Music studying with Bonita Boyd. Previously, she studied with Zhaorong Chen at the China Conservatory in Beijing. She has performed as Principal Flute with the Eastman Philharmonic and China Conservatory Philharmonic. In 2018, Song performed the Nielsen Flute Concerto with the Flint Symphony Orchestra. Song has won numerous competitions, including 1st place in the Second China Flute Association Young artist category, German Flute Society of Beijing Festival, Flute Society of Washington, and the William C. Byrd International Young Artist Competition for Winds and Brass. Song was invited to the fellowship program at the TMF festival in 2018, and Sarasota music festival in 2017.
Finalist Honorable Mention:
Juan Carlos Narvaez
Elizabeth NJ
Flute
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| Juan Carlos Narvaez |
Flutist, Juan Carlos Narvaez is currently studying with Professor Nina Assimakopoulos at West Virginia University. During his time at West Virginia University, Juan Carlos has worked in social media marketing, service and outreach as well as been an exhibitor at the Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention. He has studied under distinguished private instructors such as Powell artist Amy I-Yun Tu, Nicole Esposito, Francisco Barbosa and Bart Feller as well as taken masterclasses from Melissa Keeling, Alice K. Dade, Mimi Stillman, and Ava Amsler. Juan Carlos’ recent achievements include placing first in West Virginia’s MTNA Young Artist Division, competing in the finals of COFA’s Collegiate Artist Competition and competing in the quarter finals of the 47th Annual Fischoff Chamber Competition.
The American Prize in Instrumental Performance, 2021 (high school division)
The American Prize winner:
Luke Henderson
Raleigh NC
Violin
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| Luke Henderson |
Luke, 17 years old, from Raleigh, North Carolina, began playing violin at the age of three. He studies with Mr. Paul Biss of the New England Conservatory. Luke attends school at Phillips Academy and is concertmaster of the Phillips Academy Symphony and Chamber Orchestras and an active chamber musician. He plays first violin in the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra conducted by Maestro Benjamin Zander. Luke is a member of the Chamber Music Intensive Performance Seminar at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School led by Ms. Merry Peckham. Luke has won numerous regional and national performance, concerto and chamber music competitions including most recently the National Fischoff Competition and has soloed with the New England Philharmonic, the Winston-Salem Symphony and the Georgia Philharmonic. He has performed in master classes with James Ehnes, Joseph Lin, Donald Weilerstein, Miriam Fried, William Preucil, Robert McDuffie, Ms. Sally Thomas, the Pacifica, Verona, and Parker quartets.
2nd Place:
Eiline Tai
Irvine CA
Cello
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| Eiline Tai |
Eiline was born in 2008 and began her musical studies on cello, violin, and piano at the age of five. Eiline has given numerous public performances; she made her first debut recital at the age of seven at Carnegie Hall in New York, and had her first appearance as a soloist with orchestra at the age of ten with Southern California Philharmonic. In October 2018, Eiline held her first solo cello concert at Winifred Smith Hall. Eiline was granted a full scholarship to study with Professor Laurence Lesser at Orford Music Academy and performed at the Rising Stars Concert in Orford, Canada. Eiline was also chosen to participate in the Mass Cello Ensemble at Walt Disney Concert Hall and in the Young Cellists Workshop for 2020 Piatigorsky International Cello Festival. She was a finalist for From The Top, the NPR radio show at age eleven. Eiline has been a winner and earned recognition and scholarship in numerous competitions and festivals and, currently, is studying at the Colburn School.
3rd Place:
Veronica Li
Princeton NJ
Clarinet
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| Veronica Li |
Veronica Li is currently an eleventh grader at Princeton Day School in New Jersey. She is part of the school’s orchestra as a clarinetist. She is also a third-year student at Juilliard Pre-College studying under Alan Kay with a clarinet concentration. She attended the High School Orchestra Program 2019 at Interlochen Arts Camp, Michigan, and the Young Artists Summer Program 2020 at Curtis Summerfest, Pennsylvania.
Her other musical experiences include playing in the New Jersey Youth Symphony’s Philharmonia Orchestra (2016-2017) and in the middle school region band in Central Jersey as second chair with the CJMEA Intermediate Wind Ensemble in 2017. In addition to earning scholarships at Westminster Conservatory, Veronica has consistently won/placed in numerous local and international competitions.
Finalist Honorable Mention:
Fiona Faye Tsang
San Jose CA
Cello
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| Fiona Faye Tsang |
Fiona Faye Tsang, age 14, began her cello studies at age 6. Fiona made her orchestra debut at age 12 with the ECYS Senior Symphony. Fiona was the winner of the 2019 Pacific Musical Society Competition, 2018 American Protégé Concerto Competition, and USIMC (2016-2019). She was selected to perform at the Junior Bach Festival (2017-2019). Fiona has received numerous awards from other competitions since 2014. In the summer of 2019, Fiona was selected to participate in the HeifetzPEG program.
An avid chamber musician, Fiona’s chamber groups received awards from CMEA, Junior Bach Festival, GCC, ENKOR, Santa Cruz Baroque Festival, and the American Prize. Fiona is the cello principal of the BAYMS Orchestra and has served as the cello principal of the CODA Honor String Orchestra and ECYS Sinfonietta Orchestra. Performing biweekly at senior centers, she has received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award six years in a row.
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