Performing as a soloist with an orchestra is a rare and peak musical experience for any musician, so it is with great enthusiasm that the Herb Alpert School of Music announces the winners of the annual UCLA All-Star Competition. Winners earn the opportunity to perform up to 20 minutes of music with the UCLA Philharmonia at Royce Hall. This year, 60 students auditioned for outside adjudicators – composer Liviu Marinescu, professor and chair of composition and theory at CSUN, and Warren Spaeth, past chair, music theory department, Colburn School of Performing Arts and Colburn Conservatory of Music. Eleven students were selected as winners and six earned honorable mentions. All students received written feedback from the adjudicators.
The 2020 All-Star Concert with UCLA Philharmonia is on Sunday, January 26 at 7PM in Royce Hall.
2019/20 Winners:
Sierra Allen, clarinet (first-year DMA; Artie Shaw Concerto for Clarinet)
Justin Birchell, baritone (first-year MM; Ravel “Don Quichotte à Dulcinée”)
Rachel Boehl, horn (first-year MM; Glière Horn Concerto in Bb Major, Op. 91, Mvt. II)
Khoi Dinh, flute (second-year undergraduate; Ibert Flute Concerto, Mvt. I)
Natalie Dungey, trumpet (third-year undergraduate; Tomasi “Semaine Sainte à Cuzco” for trumpet)
Elvin Hsieh, violin (third-year undergraduate; Chausson Poème for violin and orchestra)
Elizabeth LaCoste, flute (second-year MM; Nielsen Flute Concerto, Mvt. I)
Amanda Lee, piano (fourth-year undergraduate; Kapustin Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 14, Mvt. III)
Maggie Pan, piano (third-year undergraduate; Grieg Piano Concerto, Op. 16, Mvt. I)
Michelle Rice, soprano (second-year DMA; Two songs TBD from Mussorgsky “Songs and Dances of Death”)
Jocelyn Yeh, cello (second-year undergraduate; Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1 in Eb Major, Op. 107, Mvt. I)
Honorable Mention:
Christian Gonzales, violin (second-year undergraduate; Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, Mvt. III)
Alexander Lee, alto saxophone (second-year undergraduate; Tomasi Concerto for Alto Saxophone)
Alexander Papandrea, tenor (second-year MM; R. Strauss Songs, Op. 27)
Angel Riley, soprano (second-year MM; Britten Selections from “Les Illuminations”)
Reese Rose, flute (second-year MM; Chaminade Concertino pour Flute)
Ellen Shinogle, trumpet (3rd-year DMA; Dana Wilson “Leader Lieder”)
Congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated!