NOLA Chamber Fest 2022
Since 2014 NOLA Chamber Fest has encouraged, inspired, and motivated musicians through the experience of tight-knit collaboration and artistic independence that only chamber music can offer. We provide learning and performance opportunities for elementary, middle and high school-aged musicians, college and graduate ensembles, community musicians and today’s top emerging professional talent. Collaboratively presented by Lyrica Baroque, the New Orleans Friends of Music, and the University of New Orleans, NOLA Chamber Fest continues to thrive as a meaningful educational and artistic opportunity.
COVID-19 brought significant challenges and hardships. We presented NCF virtually for two years and were inspired by the ways participants, students, and educators thought creatively and collaboratively to continue playing chamber music through such immense challenges. It was an unforgettable year and we were excited to look towards the future.
Our 2022 hybrid festival was all about genre fluidity. We had new, exciting events, fantastic guest artists, and were are so excited to welcome our 2022 Community Partners for our newest venture – Creativity Day! Creativity Day was a day dedicated to exploring chamber music, improvisation and collaboration. NCF Director Ben Atherholt coached five student ensembles throughout the year to prepare them for the festival. To honor the contributions of musicians of color, ensembles were required to prepare two musical works, with one being written by an underrepresented composer. Creativity Day began with masterclasses led by Trenton Thomas and Tadeu Coelho on improvisation and culminated in a chamber music showcase performance featuring the student ensembles representing our community partner institutions.
Crescent City String Academy
Palacios House of Arts
The Roots of Music
Competition Results
Junior Division
Tritone Strings. 1st PRIZE, Gold Medal
Lorena King, violin
Audrey Freeland, violin
Gerrit King, cello
Grant Bedillion, coach
Plessy Honor Quartet, 2nd Prize, Silver Medal
Diego Torres-Copeland, violin
Terrell Hill, violin
Lukas Carter-Kiel, cello
Max Merz, bass
Kate Withrow, coach
Barbara Philleo High School Division
Grace and Sebastien, 1st Prize
Grace Fortune, violin
Sebastien Barrau, piano
Dr. Hristo Birbochukov & Dr. Zorica Dimova, coaches
Iris Quartet, 2nd Prize
Chloe Caldwell, violin
Lexi Jones, violin
Nia Morgan, viola
Param Mehta, cello
Lee Taylor, coach
Jonathan McCall College Division
Roadmap Quartet, 1st Prize
Zachary Tucker, soprano saxophone
Connor Cyrus, alto saxophone
Sheridan Mackey, tenor saxophone
Jackson Fussell, baritone saxophone
Johnny Salinas, coach
Bad Luck Brass, 2nd Prize
Anthony Daggett, trumpet
Ethan Chilton. trumpet
Alexander Bonner, horn
Peyton Johnson, trombone
Parrish Gienger, tuba
Seth Orgel, coach
Highland Brass Trio, 3rd Prize
Brandon Wood, trumpet
Colin Mills, horn
Elijah Boudreaux, trombone
Seth Orgel, coach
Drs. Ranney & Emel Songu Mize Graduate Division
Sound Session, 1st Prize
Matthew Fox, soprano saxophone
Jacob Nance, alto saxophone
Jeffrey Allardyce, tenor saxophone
Tyler Young, baritone saxophone
Joseph Lulloff, coach
Aurochs Quartet, 2nd Prize
Chance Stine, soprano saxophone
Olivia Phaneuf, alto saxophone
Marina Sakellakis, tenor saxophone
Joel Ferst, baritone saxophone
Dr. Stephen Page, coach
Kodan Quintet, 3rd Prize
Hunter O’Brien, flute
Ian Daugherty, oboe
Keeheon Nam, clarinet
Liana Hoffman, horn
Corbin Krebs, bassoon
Robert Atherholt, coach
New Orleans Friends of Music Emerging Ensemble
Tallā Rouge, 1st Prize
Aria Cheregosha, viola
Lauren Spaulding, viola
Trio BR-46, 2nd Prize
Bingqing Xia, violin
Madeline Dykhouse, cello
Ericka Kudry, piano
NOLA Winds, Honorable Mention
Carey McGovern, flute
Susan Lacey, oboe
Nathan Hedberg, clarinet
Lauren Bravo, horn
Bryan Ingrassia, bassoon
Community Partner Ensembles
The Roots of Music
Morgan Stewart, coach
Brass Quintet and One
Jacoby Davis, trumpet
Sean Johnson, trumpet
Imand Peterson, mellophone
Kellin White, trombone
Kendahl Smith, trombone
Mackyrin Holmes, tuba
The Wood Chucker’s Trio
Kelci McGinnis, clarinet
Tonae Hilliard, clarinet
Anae McGinnis, clarinet
Crescent City String Academy
Moises & Elizabeth Cunha, ensemble coaches
Encanto con los Tres Instrumentos
Giuliana Paz, violin
Ava Catherine Jackson, cello
Palacios House of Arts
Raudol Palacios, coach
Golden Magnolias
Evelyn Durham, violin
Fabiana Montenegro, cello
Quinn Heidelberg, piano
The Crew
Jory Stampley, violin
Evelyn Durham, violin
Jeffery Stampley, cello
Aaron Segura, cello
Beck Heidelberg, piano
NOLA Chamber Fest 2021
Lyrica Baroque is so proud of NOLA Chamber Fest 2021. We want to extend a huge thank you to our co-presenters, the New Orleans Friends of Music and the University of New Orleans, and our sponsors Threadhead Cultural Foundation and Associated Chamber Music Players.
After much discussion with our collaborators, team members, and guest artists, we decided to present NCF 2021 100% virtually. Advanced preparation went into the festival so that we could pivot quickly and efficiently to an online platform.
The biggest change was that all ensembles needed to submit a video recording. We created wonderful resources to help every step of the way. Learning to use technology is part of our continually evolving industry and we were excited to help our participants embark down this path! Check out our Recording Resources video and read through our Resources PDF Guide available on our resources page.
Our virtual festival opened with the Catalyst Quartet, presented by the University of New Orleans, performing via livestream “Uncovered: the string quartets of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Florence B. Price and Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson.” Over the course of time, there have been many overlooked composers in classical music, especially due to their race or gender. It is important to realize that we have not yet heard the entire story due to the sidelining of these musical voices. Catalyst also gave a masterclass for students in the Orquestra Jovem Recanto Maestro program from Brazil. The weekend continued with a Panel Discussion and instrument specific masterclasses via Zoom with our guest artists judges Dr. Robert Young, Kathleen Winkler, and Marina Lomazov, our Interface Masterclass for winning ensembles with the Aizuri Quartet and a very special Junior Division masterclass. The festival culminated with the Aizuri Quartet performing “What’s Past is Prologue” via live stream and presented by the New Orleans Friends of Music. With works spanning from very old to very new, participants and audience members were immersed into the music of interesting and often overlooked composers such as Hildegard von Bingen, Barbara Strozzi, Nina C. Young, Gabriella Smith, Rhiannon Giddens, and Eleanor Alberga.
Competition Results
Junior Division Medals
1st prize (gold medal): Cadenza Strings
Eden Martin, violin
Peyton Larmeu, violin
Remy Brundrett, viola
Mia Rose Adams, cello
Annie Young-Bridges, coach
2nd prize (silver medal): Eli and Paul
Eli Campos, violin
Paul Williams, violin
Moises Bonella Cunha, coach
Barbara Philleo High School Division Awards
1st prize: TYO Spring Quartet
Chloe Caldwell, violin
Blake Richardson, violin
Nia Morgan, viola
Param Mehta, cello
Pedro Oseias Maia, coach
2nd prize: Stranger Strings
Grace Fortune, violin
Ayi Ekhaese, violin
Annette Pelle, viola
Kavia Mallik, cello
Kurt Munstedt, coach
Jonathan McCall College Division Awards
1st prize: Eros Quartet
Philip Kleutgens, soprano saxophone
Jordan Savage, alto saxophone
Roberto Campa, tenor saxophone
Jason Frazier, baritone saxophone
Timothy McAllister, coach
2nd prize: The Maschera Quartet
Filippo Aldrovandi Reina, violin
Maxwell VanHoeij, violin
Julia Hernandez, viola
Evan Nicholson, cello
Pedro Oseias Maia, coach
3rd prize: Baltimore Bassoons
Brody Sanner, bassoon
Brittney Delpey, bassoon
Phillip Kolker, coach
Drs. Ranney and Emel Songu Mize Graduate Division Awards
1st prize: Aero Quartet
Salvador Flores, soprano saxophone
Walt Puyear, alto saxophone
Matthew Koester, tenor saxophone
Brian Kachur, baritone saxophone
Timothy McAllister, coach
2nd prize: Cyan Quartet
Scott Augustine, soprano saxophone
Jack Thorpe, alto saxophone
Jonathan Dufresne, tenor saxophone
Jamal Brown, baritone saxophone
Debra Richtmeyer, coach
3rd prize: The And Duo
Adalus Low-Manzini, cello
Deborah Robertson, piano
Ana Maria Otamendi, coach
Honorable Mention: LuArt Trio
Espen Lilleslåtten, coach
Hayoung Cho, violin
Alonso Restrepo, cello
Laura Benavides, piano
New Orleans Friends of Music Emerging Ensemble Award
1st prize: Soma Quartet
Otis Murphy, coach
David Bayard, soprano saxophone
Paul Lorenz, alto saxophone
Sean Bradley, tenor saxophone
Ting Hua Liang, baritone saxophone
2nd prize: Volante Winds
Suyeon Ko, flute
Rebecca McGuire, oboe
Wai ki Wun, clarinet
Sara Fruehe, bassoon
Oliver Huebscher, horn
Honorable Mention
Akōtu Quartet
Brianna Buck, soprano saxophone
AJ Nguyen, alto saxophone
Abraham Nunez, tenor saxophone
Matthew Floeter, baritone saxophone
Johnny Salinas, coach
Pure Winds
Colton Wansitler, flute
Andrea Silverio, oboe
Nick Schumacher, clarinet
Natalie Law, bassoon
Dominic Hayes, horn
Michael Kroth, coach
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
Barbara Philleo High School Division Awards
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
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.

