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2022 Summer Festival Competition Winners Announced

16 Music Academy fellows win career-advancing opportunities + over $45,000 in prizes at the 75th Anniversary Summer School & Festival

Winners announced for 2022 Music Academy / London Symphony Orchestra Keston MAX program, Solo Piano, Duo, and Song Competitions, and the Fast Pitch Awards

The Academy sends 10 2022 winners to London this November alongside previous awardees to perform with the London Symphony Orchestra in Keston MAX (Music Academy Exchange)

Performance Competition winners return for a recital series at the Music Academy's 2023 Summer Festival

Scott ReedMusic Academy President & CEO
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The Music Academy is committed to offering career-advancing pathways to our fellows. In this milestone 75th anniversary season, we celebrate the success of our awardees and are honored to help propel a new generation of performers and innovators forward.

About the 2022 Competitions

The Music Academy’s Solo Piano, Duo, Marilyn Horne Song, and Fast Pitch Awards offered fellows opportunities to showcase their performance and entrepreneurial talents.

Each of the six winners received a cash award of $5,000. The winners of the Solo Piano, Duo, and Marilyn Horne Song Competitions will also have a work from a composer commissioned on their behalf. For 2022, those commissioned artists are Stewart Goodyear, Christopher Cerrone, and Tom Cipullo, respectively. The winners will premiere the commissions in recital in the Music Academy’s Hahn Hall at the opening of the 2023 Summer Festival as a series.

For each recital, the winners may utilize a $1,000 stipend to produce and present their performances in new ways. Additionally, they are encouraged to use Hahn Hall’s recently enhanced audio, lighting, and projection capabilities to craft innovative performances.

The Duo Competition is generously endowed by Leslie and Philip Bernstein.

Patrick SpenceMusic Academy Board Member, Fast Pitch Awards adjudicator
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Each fellows' commitment to addressing challenges, both in the music industry and beyond, was impressive. These entrepreneurs and their innovative ideas – ranging from musical projects addressing climate change and social justice to new technologies and approaches to presenting performances – all have the potential for significant impact in our industry.

Ten finalists shared ideas for new ventures in the Fast Pitch Awards, and one fellow – Angie Zhang – was named the winner to encourage her innovation and creativity. Angie’s pitch was MusicBesties: an app to “turn strangers into besties” by providing a direct line of communication between musicians and audience members. With the scan of a QR code on a musician’s program or website, one is linked to their favorite artist’s profile on the app with options to listen, watch, attend upcoming performances, book them for concerts or lessons, or even host them when they’re in town.

Learn about all the finalists and their innovative concepts here.

2022 Competition Winners

Joyce KwonFast Pitch Awards adjudicator
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While each pitch focused on unique ways to propel classical music forward, I was struck by the common thread of innovation to foster connection to the music. I am excited to see what these fellows will do with their talent and creativity, especially as they develop their dynamic projects and bring them to market.

Solo Piano Competition: Adria Ye solo piano

Duo Competition (pictured): Joshua Williams tuba, Yu-Ting Peng collaborative piano

Marilyn Horne Song Competition: Joanne Evans mezzo-soprano, Tzu-Kuang Tan vocal piano

Fast Pitch Awards: Angie Zhang MusicBesties, solo piano

2022 Competition Adjudicators

Ana María MartínezMarilyn Horne Song Competition adjudicator
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While each pitch focused on unique ways to propel classical music forward, I was struck by the common thread of innovation to foster connection to the music. I am excited to see what these fellows will do with their talent and creativity, especially as they develop their dynamic projects and bring them to market.

Solo Piano Competition: Michelle CannStewart GoodyearNatasha Kislenko

Duo Competition: Mariam AdamSarah GibsonJennifer Koh

Marilyn Horne Song Competition: Sasha CookeMartin KatzAna María Martínez

Fast Pitch Awards: Joyce KwonFrancisco J. NúñezPatrick Spence

About Keston MAX

Instrumental fellows were welcome to audition for the 2022 Keston MAX (Music Academy Exchange) with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO). Five LSO guest musicians Sarah Quinn, Rebecca Gilliver, Daniel Jemison, Angela Barnes, and Neil Percy worked with the fellows in person this summer and adjudicated the audition, selecting ten winners.

The Music Academy will send the 2022 winners to London this November to train and perform alongside previous winners from 2019, 2020, and 2021 under LSO Principal Guest Conductor Gianandrea Noseda.

2022 Keston MAX Fellows

Kenneth Chauby trumpet
Nicholas Gallitano viola
Jordan Farber bassoon
Gene Hotta viola
Orion Miller double bass
Katelyn Poetker clarinet
Gracie Potter trombone
Matthew A. West percussion
Melody Yuan violin
Hanna Zhdan violin

These winners each receive a $1,500 award, plus travel, housing, and meals, and will spend 10 days participating in the following incredible opportunities:

  • Nov 17: Fellows will perform Symphonic Jazz with Jess Gillam at Barbican Hall, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda

     

  • Nov 20: Fellows will join the LSO for a performance of Beethoven and Berlioz at LSO St Luke’s led by Gianandrea Noseda

     

  • Nov 24: Fellows will perform Shostakovich: The Year 1905 in Barbican Hall, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda

     

  • Other activities include lessons, coachings, rehearsals, and additional performance opportunities with LSO musicians

 The lead sponsors of the London Symphony Orchestra partnership are Linda and Michael Keston and Mary Lynn and Warren Staley. Additional support has been provided in remembrance of Léni Fé Bland.

About the 2022 Music Academy Awardees

About the 2022 LSO Keston MAX Winners

2022 LSO Keston MAX Winners
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Kenneth Chauby
trumpet
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Jordan Farber
bassoon
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Nicholas Gallitano
viola
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Gene Hotta
viola
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Orion Miller
double bass
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Katelyn Poetker
clarinet
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Gracie Potter
trombone
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Matthew A. West
percussion / timpani
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Melody Yuan
violin
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Hanna Zhdan
violin

About the 2022 Competition Winners

2022 Competition Winners
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Joanne Evans
mezzo-soprano
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Yu-Ting Peng
collaborative piano
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Tzu Kuang Tan
vocal piano
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Joshua Williams
tuba
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Adria Ye
solo piano
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Angie Zhang
solo piano

ABOUT THE MUSIC ACADEMY

Music Academy is a performance-based training center and incubator that empowers musicians to impact society positively. The Academy welcomes everyone from across all generations, cultures and backgrounds to experience the transformative power of music. Based in Santa Barbara, California, the Academy presents the preeminent full-scholarship Summer School and Festival for classically trained fellows ages 18 to 34. The fellows study and perform with more than 50 exceptional faculty and teaching artists, while forging close connections with the local community. The Academy’s commitment to long-term collaborations and exchanges with leading orchestras and opera companies results in unparalleled mentorship and career-advancing prospects. The Innovation Institute spearheads entrepreneurial training and ventures through seminars, residencies and the Alumni Enterprise Awards, substantial grants given annually for a wide range of creative projects. Launched in 2018, Sing! – a free, after-school choral program for local elementary students – inspires personal growth and expression.

photos: Zach Mendez
(Angie Zhang photo courtesy of the artist)

Kate Oberjat (she/her/hers)
Director of Marketing and Communications
Music Academy
805-695-7908
koberjat@musicacademy.org

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