NOLA Chamber Fest 2020
NOLA Chamber Fest during COVID-19
On March 12th, it became evident that NOLA Chamber Fest was going to have to be canceled, or at least altered, in order to fit the demands of quarantine life and move forward safely. What has since transpired is a beautiful example of the collaborative and communal nature of chamber music in New Orleans.
Chamber music is not easy to teach online. It is one of the most intimate forms of music making, and is all about the ways we interact in a room with our fellow musicians – through vibrations, eye contact, breathing, and body language. It is difficult to convey these things online and therefore hard to teach and learn without being in person.
Nevertheless, educators did not falter. We saw coaches continuing to teach online and invest time and energy into finding ways to keep the spirit of chamber music alive and well in their students. Student ensembles began researching this year’s guest artist judges for the season and discovering various recordings of pieces they were working on or admired. Chamber music coaches expressed how distraught their students were, knowing they would no longer be able to compete and perform in person for NOLA Chamber Fest. There were phone calls, emails, and texts back and forth about how to keep students engaged, and even more importantly, how to continue keeping the chamber music experience a source of hope and joy during all the confusion and uncertainty.
So we moved forward and set up the festival online with our collaborators. Ensembles submitted recordings made before social distancing took effect, including old performances, rehearsal videos, or old coaching sessions. Our UNO sponsored guest artist judges, Leone Busye, Randy Gardner, and Peter Stumpf, crafted in depth feedback for all participating ensembles. We are honored to have had these judges with us. Their expertise and knowledge is sought after and cherished all over the globe.
The Escher String Quartet was our guest artist ensemble this year, sponsored by the New Orleans Friends of Music. Together with Escher and ensemble coaches, we were able to craft intimate and personalized group classes that took place through Zoom. Performing in masterclasses in front of an audience with your chamber ensembles is one thing. Performing alone online for over 70 people is another! Congratulations to all of this year’s participants. Your courage is inspiring, as is your perseverance and desire to keep learning and growing no matter the circumstances.
Competition Results
Junior Division Medals
1st prize (gold medal): Cello Seriosi
Sif Boldissar, cello
Ryotarto Ekhaese, cello
Henry Vu, cello
Maya Verhaal, cello
Barbara Philleo High School Division Awards
1st prize: Sunrise Quartet
Filippo Aldrovandi-Reina, violin
Jovey Osagie, violin
Julia Hernandez, viola
Caleb Singletary, cello
2nd prize: The HoBows
Gabriel LeBlanc, cello
Nile Headrick, cello
3rd prize: Lusher Brass Quartet
Ambroisine Daniel-Pougault, trumpet
Jacob Abboud-Joffe, trumpet
Elijah Tabb, horn
Joseph Rosegrant, euphonium
Honorable Mention: Stranger Strings
Ayi Ekhaese, violin
Grace Fortune, violin
Annette Pelle, viola
Kavia Mallik, cello
Jonathan McCall College Division Awards
1st prize: Phoenix Duo
Madeline Moore, Violin
Jayne Edwards, Piano
2nd prize: Azalea Brass
Jacobe Ramsey, Trumpet
Brett Fabacher, Trumpet
Bethany Driggers, Horn
Destiny Miskel, Trombone
Timothy Taldon, Jr., Tuba
Drs. Ranney and Emel Songu Mize Graduate Division Awards
1st prize: Group 2
Evan Harris, soprano saxophone
Eric Zheng, alto saxophone
Adam Epler, tenor saxophone
Tyler Young, baritone saxophone
2nd prize: Planchette Quintette
Janghyun Thomas Kim, clarinet
Keenan Smith, oboe
Chia-Shan Hsu, violin
Abby Buchanan, viola
John St. Cyr, double bass
3rd prize: Lontano Quartet
Kara Capell, soprano saxophone
Wade Dillingham, alto saxophone
Robert Fahey, tenor saxophone
Thomas Odenheimer, baritone saxophone
Honorable Mention: Trio Nobile
Pedro Maia, violin
Cheuk Yan Vincent Leung, cello
Christina Lai, piano
New Orleans Friends of Music Emerging Ensemble Award
1st prize: Crescent City Duo
Matt Slaughter, Flute
David Sigler, Guitar
NOLA Chamber Fest 2019
The Competition
Junior Division Medals
Jonathan McCall College Division Awards
Drs. Ranney and Emel Songu Mize Graduate Division Awards
Community Division Awards
New Orleans Friends of Music Young Artist Award
WindSync Masterclass
Junior Division Masterclass
Winners Showcase Performance
Photo Credit: Aaron Sarles
NOLA Chamber Fest 2018
The Competition
NCF 2018 was our biggest year yet with the addition of our Junior Division (4th-8th grade) and ensembles from all over the Gulf South region competing including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Hattiesburg, MS and Mobile, AL. Participants received videos of their competition performance produced by David Pittman and Always Video Production, along with detailed comments from our judges. Judges for 2018 were John Reeks, Robert Nunez and Ila Rondeau from the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Winning groups received a cash award and first place winners performed in master class for the world renowned Miró Quartet and guest artist Steve Cohen.
Junior Division Medals
Crescent City String Quartet – 1st prize (gold medal)
Amelia Brencick, violin
Ayi Ekhause, violin
Annette Pelle, viola
Miles Lemmler, cello
Lusher Chamber Kids Quintet – 2nd prize (silver medal)
Matthew Scarmuzza, alto sax
Solon Love, trumpet
Jacob Abboud-Joffe, trumpet
Andre Escamilla, trumpet
Ryan Dufour, flute
Lusher Middle School String Ensemble – 3rd prize (bronze medal)
Eleanore Guichet, violin
Stella Bourke, violin
Keiffer Ary, violin
Julia Monconduit, violin
Grace Fortune, violin
Grace Gorman, violin
Elasade Bingham, viola
Rylie Breaux-Collins, viola
Sophie Ettinger, cello
Kara Daveron, cello
Barbara Philleo High School Division Awards
Armonia Duo – 1st Prize
Grace Collins, violin
Jonathan Cole, piano
Duo de Guacamole – 2nd Prize
Nile Hedrick, cello
Kaleb Conger, bassoon
Jazzical Brass Quintet – 3rd Prize
Trevon Sullen, trumpet
Maxwell Arceneaux, french horn
Kerry Lewis, trombone
Eli Boudreaux, trombone
Michael Solomon, euphonium
Jonathan McCall College Division Awards
Deux Amis – 1st Prize
Tyler Bourque, clarinet
John Robken, bassoon
Bayou Brass Quintet – 2nd Prize
Ross Boudreaux, trumpet
Hannah Weber, trumpet
Francisco Mondrago, french horn
Colton Johnson, bass trombone
Chris Bradley, tenor trombone
University of South Alabama Woodwind Quintet– 3rd Prize
Rebecca Reinhardt, flute
Sam Sangster, oboe
Alexys Bush, clarinet
Dustin Miller, horn
Christopher Law, bassoon
Drs. Ranney & Emel Songu Mize Graduate Division Awards
Magnolia Quartet – 1st Prize
Taylor Assa, soprano saxophone
Kara Capell, alto saxophone
Alexia Perez, tenor saxophone
Michael Wilson, baritone saxophone
LSU Graduate Quintet – 2nd Prize
Yuh-Jiun Wan, flute
Kristen Bundy, oboe
Wilbert Gilley, clarinet
Marcus Westbrook, bassoon
Joseph Meinweiser, horn
Ina Duo – 3rd Prize
Sofia Potdevin, clarinet
Rodrigo Lara Alonso, guitar
Community Division Awards
New Orleans Trombone Choir – 1st Prize
Ken Williamson, Eli Boudreaux, Dylan Watson, Bo Dingus, Dave Schneider, Donna Thompson, Chris Munch, John Risey- trombone
Inter Pares – 2nd Prize
John O’Donnel, violin
Pierre Vigué, violin
Kelly Moncheski, viola
Nick Passabet, cello
Minkema-Caplan Duo – 3rd Prize
Megan Minkema, cello
Jonathan Caplan, piano
The Winners Masterclass
The judges selected these four groups to perform in the Masterclass for the Miró Quartet on Sunday, April 8th at 10:00 am in Nunemaker Hall at Loyola:
Armonia Duo
Deux Amis
Magnolia Quartet
New Orleans Trombone Choir
The Winners Showcase
The judges selected these groups to perform for the Winners Showcase on Monday April 9th at 6:00 pm in Roussel Hall at Loyola University (just before the Miró Quartet’s performance):
Crescent City String Quartet
Armonia Duo
Deux Amis
Magnolia Quartet
New Orleans Trombone Choir
NOLA Chamber Fest 2017
Congratulations to all who participated in NOLA Chamber Fest 2017! It was an incredibly inspiring festival featuring talent from across the region and the amazing Harlem Quartet as the guest artists!
The Competition
Participants from New Orleans, Destrehan, Hammond, and Baton Rouge competed for prizes in High School, College, Graduate, and Community Divisions on April 1, 2017 at Loyola University’s Nunemaker Auditorium. This year’s judges Bruce Owen, Mollie Pate, and Michael Matushek from the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra chose the following prizewinners:
High School Division
Fiero Quartet, 1st prize (gold medal)
Erina Buchholz, violin
Lena Cates, violin
Jaime Pellicero-Calvo, viola
Sean Parker, cello
Bridge Winds, 2nd prize (silver medal)
Ethan Lanier, euphonium
David Lea, alto saxophone
Brandon Wood, trumpet
Hannah Freitas, flute/piccolo
Ayden Dejean, tuba
Jordan Price, horn
NOLA Woodwind Quintet, 3rd prize (bronze medal)
Scott Ng, flute
Samantha Siliezar, oboe
Patherson Rodas, clarinet
Kirpal Rodas, bassoon
Maxwell Sarceneaux, horn
College Division
Walker-Thomas Duo, 1st prize (gold medal)
Chadwick Thomas, clarinet
Daniel Walker, saxophone
Terpsichore Trio, 2nd prize (silver medal)
Katie Woodward, flute
Alyssa Cruse, oboe
Rebecca Whitney, piano
Graduate Division
Lin-Diniz-Thomas Trio, 1st prize (gold medal, Jonathan McCall Award)
Chadwick Thomas, clarinet
Caio Diniz, cello
Zih-Yun Lin, piano
Chimes Street Quartet, 2nd prize (silver medal)
Jonathan Dufresne, soprano saxophone
Joshua Poché, alto saxophone
Taylor Barbay Assad, tenor saxophone
Thomas Odenheimer, baritone saxophone
Helicon Quintet, 3rd prize (bronze medal)
Jang Hyun Thomas Kim, clarinet
Marta Turianska, violin
SungKyung Woo, violin
Serhiy Matviychuk, viola
Vasyl Kuvayskov, cello
Community Division
New Orleans Trombone Choir, 1st prize (gold medal, Adler Award)
John Risey, Ken Williamson, Chris Munch, Donna Thompson, David Schneider, Russ Ramsey, Wyatt Newman, Eugenie Salvant, Jacob St Pierre, trombones
For the full competition schedule, click here.
The Winners Showcase + Harlem Quartet’s Performance
The Grammy Award winning Harlem Quartet performed on the New Orleans Friends of Music Concert Series on Friday, April 7th at Loyola University’s Roussel Hall for the participants and an enthusiastic audience of chamber music lovers.
These groups performed on the Winners Showcase in Roussel Hall just before the Harlem Quartet’s performance:
New Orleans Trombone Choir
Bridge Winds
Chimes Street Quartet
Walker-Thomas Duo
Lin-Diniz-Thomas Trio
Fiero Quartet
Photo credit: SunKim Photography
The Winners Masterclass
These groups performed in the Winners Masterclass with the Harlem Quartet on Saturday, April 8th in Nunemaker Hall at Loyola:
Fiero Quartet
Walker-Thomas Duo
Lin-Diniz-Thomas Trio
New Orleans Trombone Choir
For the Winners Masterclass program, click here.
Photo credit: On-Location Photography
NOLA Chamber Fest 2016
Imani Winds were the guest artists for the Fest, leading an insightful and entertaining Winners Masterclass and performing an inspiring concert on the New Orleans Friends of Music concert series.
The Competition
2016 was the first year the competition was open to musicians from all over the Gulf South region. Participants from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Hammond, and Hattiesburg, MS competed for prizes in High School and University Divisions. A panel of judges from the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra chose the following prizewinners:
High School Division
Eclectic Trio, 1st prize/Adler Award (gold medal)
Amanda Lucas, flute
Logan Lambert, clarinet
Nicolette Cash, saxophone
Fiero Quartet, 2nd prize (silver medal)
Erina Buchholz, violin
Lena Cates, violin
Jaime Pellicero-Calvo, viola
Sean Parker, cello
NOCCA Duo, 3rd prize (bronze medal)
Grace Collins, violin
Victoria Seaward, piano
University Division
West Chimes Winds, 1st prize/Drs. Ranney and Emel Mize Award (gold medal)
Maria Castillo, flute
Grace Woodworth, oboe
Nathaniel Adcock, clarinet
Centria Brown, horn
Molly Murphy, bassoon
Highland Trio, 2nd prize (silver medal)
Jada Alexander, flute
Chadwick Thomas, clarinet
Miguel Posadas, bassoon
Red Stick Trio, 3rd prize (bronze medal)
Samuel Schreiber, clarinet
Hannah Phyllis Urdea Marcus, violin
Keilor Kastella, piano
For the complete competition schedule, click here.
The competition was held in the recital hall at Tulane University on April 9, 2016. Congratulations to all the groups who performed! Photos by Margaret Shields.
The Masterclass
Three groups were selected to perform in the Masterclass held in Nunemaker Auditorium at Loyola University. The Eclectic Trio, Highland Trio, and West Chimes Winds impressed both the audience and Imani Winds with their fantastic performances! Afterwards, all the prizewinners were awarded medals. Photo credit: SunKim Photography.
For the complete masterclass program, click here.
The Winners Showcase Performance
Four groups performed in the Winners Showcase just outside of Dixon Hall at Tulane University before Imani Winds’ performance. Photo Credit: SunKim Photography.
NOLA Chamber Fest 2015
In 2015, we hosted our first competition. There were two categories: High School and College, and participants from all over the Greater New Orleans area turned out for the fest. A panel of judges from the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra chose the following prizewinners:
Loyola Brass Quintet, 1st Place, College Division, Grand Prize Winner
Tyler Lindsay, trumpet
Karl Robinson, trumpet
Kieron Oliver, horn
Matt Sutton, trombone
Andrew Markel, tuba
Reinecke Trio, 2nd Place, College Division
Fanny Friadt, viola
Jordan Peota, clarinet
Yifei Wang, piano
The Liam Oliver Quintet, 1st Place, High School Division
Liam Oliver, oboe
Taylor Sparacello, clarinet
Alea Zone, violin
Lili Cerise, viola
Jud Mitchell, bass
Flute/Harp Duo, 2nd Place, High School Division
Hannah McDuffie, flute
April Simmons, harp
Congratulations to the 2015 prizewinners!
This was also our first year collaboratively organizing the festival with New Orleans Friends of Music. World renown piano-wind trio, the Poulenc Trio led the Winners Masterclass and performed on the Friends of Music Concert Series. The 2015 fest was generously supported by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation.
NOLA CHAMBER FEST 2014
NOLA Chamber Fest hosted its first event in 2014, a chamber music masterclass featuring Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Principal Clarinetist Christopher Pell. High school and college students from all over the Greater New Orleans area participated in the event, held at the beautiful Rogers Memorial Chapel on the Tulane University campus. Participants heard Christopher Pell give a rousing performance of Leonard Bernstein’s Sonata for Clarinet and Piano. Each student ensemble then performed a movement of chamber music for Mr. Pell and their colleagues, and received coaching from Mr. Pell. Students representing the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra, New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, University of New Orleans, Tulane University and Loyola University all participated in the event. The enthusiasm was so great, we knew we had to expand NOLA Chamber Fest for future years.
Kathleen Winkler
Robert Young
Marina Lomazov
Tucker Fuller
Cara McCool Woolf
Randy C. Gardner is Professor Emeritus from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where he was Professor of Horn and Chair of the Winds, Brass, and Percussion Department. During his tenure, he was honored to receive the University of Cincinnati Award for Faculty Excellence and CCM’s Ernest N. Glover Outstanding Teacher Award. Recently retired from CCM, Gardner is an adjunct Artist-In-Residence at Temple University. A successful and dedicated teacher, his students occupy performing and teaching positions throughout the US and abroad.
Peter Stumpf is professor of cello at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Prior to his appointment, he was the principal cellist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for 9 years following a 12 year tenure as Associate Principal Cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. At the age of 16, he began his professional career, winning a position in the cello section of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. He received a bachelor’s degree from the Curtis Institute of Music and an artist’s diploma from the New England Conservatory of Music.
Dr. Charles Taylor is Professor of Music and Director of the School of the Arts. Dr. Taylor holds the degrees Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Music Education and Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He studied conducting with Rodney Winther and Terence Milligan and clarinet with Carmine Campione and Emil Schmactenberg. Prior to his appointment at the University of New Orleans, Dr. Taylor taught middle school and high school instrumental music in Ohio. Dr. Taylor also serves as the conductor of the New Orleans Concert Band and the New Orleans Civic Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Taylor has been a guest conductor throughout the United States and Canada and a guest clinician at the MidWest Clinic, the International Conference of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, the Southern Division Conference of the College Band Directors National Association, and the Louisiana Music Educators Association. Under his direction, the New Orleans Concert Band performed at the National Convention of the Association of Concert Bands in Houston, Texas and the University of New Orleans Wind Ensemble performed at the Louisiana Music Educators Association State Conference. As an advocate for new music, Dr. Taylor has premiered over 50 works in various media and has worked collaboratively with many composers and performers, including Michael Torke, Steven Bryant, John Mackey, James Syler, Lisa Kaplan, Brad Garner, Mark Babbitt, and Helen Kim. At UNO, Dr. Taylor teaches graduate and undergraduate theory and conducting; he additionally serves as the conductor of the New Orleans Civic Symphony Orchestra, the New Orleans Concert Band, and several new ensembles. He has presented sessions at the Mid-West Clinic, Southern Division Conference of the College Band Directors National Association, and the Louisiana Music Education Association. Under his direction, the New Orleans Concert Band performed at the National Convention of the Association of Concert bands in Houston, Texas. He has served as guest conductor for ensembles in Louisiana, Ohio, Michigan, and New York. During the 2010-11 year, Dr. Taylor also served as Visiting Associate Professor at Louisiana State University, where he conducted the Wind Ensemble.
Cathy Richardson, violinist, violist, and Baroque violinist, is an experienced performer and teacher, holding degrees in Music Education and Music Performance from the University of North Texas. Currently serving her twenty first year as Instructor of Violin and Viola and String Methods at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, she also serves as Instructor of Upper Strings and Music Appreciation at Mountain View College and Cedar Valley College in the Dallas Community College District, Instructor of Violin and Viola at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and Instructor of Violin and Viola at Grayson College. Ms. Richardson’s chamber music experience includes performances with the Galliard String Quartet, the Grand Avenue Trio, the New Millenium Quartet, and the Knoxville Symphony String Quartet. A past member of the Dallas Opera Orchestra, the Fort Worth Opera Orchestra and the Knoxville Symphony, Ms. Richardson has also served as Concertmaster of the Sherman Symphony Orchestra and the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra in Texas and the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra in Tennessee. A frequent adjudicator in the North Texas area, Ms. Richardson most recently served on the panels for the Plano Symphony Young Artist Competition and the New Texas Symphony Orchestra Fourth Annual Concerto and Aria Competition.
LEONE BUYSE
Jack Peña, bassoon, is currently the Principal Bassoon of the Louisiana Philharmonic in New Orleans. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Jack began his playing the bassoon at age fourteen. Since then, he has appeared as guest Associate Principal with the Toronto Symphony and performed with the Milwaukee Symphony and Los Angeles Opera. In 2013, The New York Times hailed him for his “deft solo work” in performances at Carnegie Hall with the New York String Orchestra Seminar.
Jeanne Jaubert moved to New Orleans in 1998 to join the Louisiana Philharmonic, and she is an active solo and chamber music performer. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Rice University and both Masters and Doctoral degrees from Rutgers University, where she studied with the renowned soloist Zara Nelsova. Jeanne is a sought after teacher and has maintained a thriving private studio everywhere she has lived. Her other lifelong passion has been dance and she was (she is mostly retired now) lucky to pursue that seriously for many years alongside her musical work. She garnered many accolades in this area including the Louisiana Division of the Arts Artist Fellowship in choreography.
Robert Lyall is widely known as a conductor of opera, symphony, ballet, and musical theater and as a creative Artistic Director and producer. Named General and Artistic Director of New Orleans Opera in 1998, he has also served as General Director and as Artistic Director of Opera Grand Rapids in Michigan from 1989 to 2015. Mr. Lyall has been frequently recognized for artistic excellence in these and other positions he has held: Music Director of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra and the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, General Director of the Knoxville Opera, and Artistic Director of the Mississippi Opera. In addition, Mr. Lyall served as one of the International Guest Conductors of the Istanbul State Opera in Turkey from 1998-2001.
New Orleans trombonist Matthew Wright is a performer, composer, and pedagogue. Matthew has played all over the world in orchestras, big bands, and chamber ensembles. He has recorded with Bela Fleck and was in the first horn section to play with the band Cake. He was a soloist with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, but he was dressed as Santa Claus at the time. He has played in orchestras backing James Moody, Andy Williams, Yo Yo Ma, Randy Newman, and Placido Domingo. As a composer, Matthew has written and arranged many pieces for his own solo recitals as well as for his group, Versipel New Music. Currently, he holds positions with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and teaches at Loyola University, the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, and the University of New Orleans. His primary teachers include Jeannie Little, Matthew Vaughn, Per Brevig, Steve Norrell, and Scott Hartman.
Amelia Clingman graduated from UMass Amherst with a BM in violin performance, and in 2008 she completed her Master’s degree in viola performance at the New England Conservatory. She has attended the Killington, Musicorda, Heifetz, and Kneisel Hall music festivals, and served as a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center from 2007-2009. During her time in Boston, she performed with various groups including the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, and as a substitute with the New World Symphony. In 2014, she was named a Quarterfinalist in the 14th Primrose International Viola Competition. During the summer, Amelia is Principal Viola at the Britt Festival in Jacksonville, Oregon.
Stephen Orejudos has been a member of the Louisiana Philharmonic since 2012. Previous to joining the LPO, Mr. Orejudos had been Principal Trumpet of the Southwest Michigan Symphony and 2nd /Acting Principal Trumpet of the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra. Mr. Orejudos has performed as guest trumpet with the Northwest Indiana Symphony, Illinois Symphony, Green Bay Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, Wichita Symphony and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestras, and currently serves as Principal Trumpet with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra. He has appeared as a soloist with the Southwest Michigan Symphony, South Bend Symphony, Michigan City Music Festival, New Philharmonic and Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestras.