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Celebrating 64 Years of Inspired Music Making!

June 28 – August 2, 2025

Alumni

A History of Success
Eastern Music Festival’s alumni numbers are nearly 10,000. Many alumni have gone on to acclaimed solo, chamber music, and orchestral careers. Many have careers in arts management, health care, business, education, and law. We’re proud and honored to be associated with each EMF alumni.
Where Are You Now?
We love to keep in touch with our EMF alumni and want to hear about your passions and your festival memories. Tell us about where you are now, your family, your community, your favorite EMF moments. Send us photos from “back in the day” to share!

Distinguished Alumni

students walking to a building outside on sidewalk carrying cellos

Distinguished Alumni

VIOLIN

VIOLA

CELLO

DOUBLE BASS

FLUTE & PICCOLO

OBOE & ENGLISH HORN

CLARINET

BASSOON

HORN

TRUMPET

TROMBONE

TUBA

PERCUSSION

HARP

PIANO

GUITAR

CONDUCTING

LEADERSHIP, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND BUSINESS

*Current EMF faculty

Updated as of Sep 09, 2022

The Distinguished Alumni section of our webpage is currently under construction. Please check back later!

Instrument or Position Name Current Organization Current Position EMF Year(s) URL
Violin Brian Lee San Francisco Ballet Orchestra First Violin 1970, 1971, 1972 Link
Violin Gail Norine Sharp Columbus Symphony Orchestra Violin 1976 Link
Violin Carol Ruzicka Faculty-Cleveland Institute of Music Violin Faculty Link
Violin Yumi Hwang-Williams Colorado Symphony Concertmaster Link
Violin Ida Bieler Robert Schuman Hochschule Dusseldorf, UNCSA String Faculty/ UNCSA School of Music Link
Violin Stefani Collins Matsuo Concertmaster of Cincinati Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster, Violin Link
Violin Eliot Chapo Florida State University Professor of Violin Link
Violin Anne Donaldson The Kennedy Center Second Violin Link
Violin Ann Frink St. Louis Symphony First Violin Link
Violin Rebecca Boyer Hall St. Louis Symphony Second Violin Link
Violin Emily Rist Glover North Carolina Symphony Violin Artist Link
Violin Miran Kim Metropolitan Opera Orchestra First Violin Section Link
Violin Aniko Kovacs Qatar Philharmonic Orchstra Second Violin Link
Violin Ingang Han Jacksonville Symphony Violin Artist Link
Violin Eva Kozma St. Louis Symphony Second Violin Link
Violin Courtney Lebauer Converse College Assitant Professor of Music Link
Violin Jessica McJunkins Independent Artist N/A Link
Violin Diana Lupo Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra First Violin Section Link
Violin Scott Mozlin Cincinatti Symphony Orchestra Violin Link
Violin Jeffrey Multer Florida Orchestra Violin (Berkman Chair) Link
Violin Bruce Patti Dallas Symphony First & Second Violin Link
Violin Angie Smart St. Louis Symphony First Violin Link
Violin Guillauame Sutre University of California Los Angeles Violin Faculty & Professor Link
Viola Susan Pardue Jacksonville Symphony Viola Link
Viola Antoine Tamestit Concert Artist 2001 Viola Link
Viola Victoria Chang Peabody Conservatory of Music Viola Professor and Coordinator Link
Viola Elisha Nelson Cleveland Orchestra Viola Link
Viola Chauncey Patterson Conversatory of Music, Lynn University Associate Professor of Chamber Music Link
Viola Geraldine Walther Takas String Quartet, University of Colorado-Boulder Viola Link
Viola Diane Phoenix-Neal James Madison University Assistant Professor, Viola Link
Cello Michael Fitzpatrick Earth’s Call Foundation Cello, Founder Link
Cello Thalia Moore San Francisco Opera Orchestra Associate Principal Cello Link
Cello Sterling Elliot Sphinx Competition Laureate (2019) Cello Link
Cello Jennifer Combs Hartford Sumphony Orchestra Cello Link
Cello Robert Demaine Los Angeles Philarmonic Principal Cello Link
Cello Bryan Dumm Cleveland Orchestra Cello Link
Cello David Hardy Principal of the National Symphony Principal Cello Link
Cello David Kim St. Louis Symphony Assistant Principal Cello Link
Cello Thomas Kraines Daedalus Quartet Cello Link
Cello Alvin McCall St. Louis Symphony Cello Link
Cello Marc Moskovitz ProMusica Chamber Orchestra Principal Cello Link
Cello Rachel Young National Symphony Orchestra Cello Link
Double Bass Bruce Ridge North Carolina Symphony The John C. and Margaret P. Parker Chair (Double Bass) Link
Double Bass Larry Epstein San Francisco Symphony Associate Principal Bass Link
Double Bass Xavier Foley 2014 Sphinx Competition Winner Double Bass Link
Double Bass Travis Gore Seattle Symphony Double Bass Link
Double Bass Erik Harris St. Louis Symphony Double Bass Link
Double Bass Jim Lambert Cincinatti Symphony Orchestra Double Bass Link
Double Bass Anthony Manzo New Century Chamber Orchestra, Smithsonian Chamber Players Bass Link
Double Bass John Moore Pittsburg Symphony Bass Link
Double Bass Kurt Reicken Charlotte Symphony Principal Bass Link
Double Bass Tristan Sutton Bergen Philharmonic Alternating Section Leader Link
Double Bass Rion Wentworth New York Philharmonic Bass Link
Flute Rachel Taratoot Ciraldo Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra Principal Flute Link
Flue David Cramer The Philadelphia Orchestra, Temple University Adjunct Faculty, Flute Link
Flute Jake Fridkis Worth Symphony Orchestra Principal Flute Link
Flute Elizabeth Ostling Boston Symphony Orchestra Associate Principal Flute Link
Flute Gabe Fridkis Fort Worth Symphony Associate Principal Flute Link
Oboe Karen Birch Blundell Freelance Musician in NYC English Horn, Oboe Link
Oboe Emily Brebach Atlanta Symphony Orchestra English Horn, Oboe Link
Oboe Jennifer Christen Indianapolis Symphony Principal Oboe Link
Oboe Colin Gatwood Houston Symphony Oboe Link
Oboe Laura Griffiths San Francisco Ballet Orchestra Principal Oboe Link
Oboe Kevin Pearl Milwuakee Symphony Assistant Principal Oboe Link
Oboe Yvonne Powers Peterson Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Associate Principal Oboe Link
Oboe Elizabeth Koch Tiscione Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Principal Oboe Link
English Horn Cally Banham St. Louis Symphony English horn, Oboe Link
Clarinet Joseph Beverly The Florida Orchestra 3rd/Bass Clarinet Link
Clarinet Todd Cope Orcehstre Symphonique de Montreal Principal Clarinet Link
Clarinet Richie Hawley Cincinatti Symphony Orchestra, Rice University Professor of Clarinet & Chair of Woodwinds Link
Clarinet Brian Hysong NYC Ballet Orchestra Bass Clarinet Link
Clarinet Tom Legrand Houston Symphony, Rice University Link
Clarinet Ricardo Morales The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY Clarinet Faculty Link
Clarinet Chelsea Tipton Symphony of Southeast Texas, Principal Pops, New Haven Symphony Music Director Link
Clarinet Brad Whitfield Alabama Symphony Assistant Principal Clarinet Link
Basson Andrew Brady Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Principal Basson Link
Bassoon Sue Heineman National Symphony Orchestra, University of Maryland, Bassoonist Link
Bassoon Patrick Johnson-Whitty San Francisco Ballet Opera 2nd Bassoon & Contrabasson Link
Horn Beth Beeson Nashville Symphony Horn Link
Horn Ross Snyder Omaha Symphony Associate Principle French Horn Link
Horn Nathaniel Silberschlag Cleveland Orchestra Principal Horn Link
Horn Nicholas Caluori West Point Band Third Horn Link
Horn Nicole (De La Cal) Caluori West Point Band Principal Horn Link
Horn Oliver De Clercq Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Principal French Horn Link
Horn Jacob Diedwardo Axion Brass Horn Link
Horn Matthew Eckenhoff Louisana Philharmonic Horn Link
Horn Melanie Erena Axion Brass, Civic Orchestra of Chicago Horn Link
Horn Kristen Joham Spokane Symphony, Eastern Washington University Fourth Horn
Horn Charles Putnam American Horn Quintet Horn
Horn Hunter Sholar Nashville Symphony Horn Link
Horn Zachary Smith Pittsburgh Symphony, Duquesne University Adjunct Professor, French Horn Link
Horn Ernie Tovar Philadelphia Orchestra Fourth Horn
Horn Julie Beckel Yager Indianapolis Symphony Horn Link
Trumpet Bibi Black Soloist and Recording Artist ? Link
Trumpet Karin Bliznik St Louis Symphony Trumpet Link
Trumpet Joseph Burgstaller Peabody Institute, Former member of the Canadian Brass Trumpet Link
Trumpet Kevin Finamore Dallas Symphony Orchestra Trumpet Link
Trumpet Billy R. Hunter, Jr. Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Principal Trumpet Link
Trumpet Manny Laureano Minnesota Orchestra Principal Trumpet Link
Trumpet Wynton Marsalis Soloist and Recording Artist Link
Trumpet Mark Niehaus President & Executive Director, Milwaukee Symphony
Trumpet Brandon Ridenour Soloist and former member of the Canadian Brass Link
Trumpet Alex Wilborn Principal Trumpet, Charlotte Symphony Link
Trombone David Ridge San Francisco Opera Orchestra Principal Bass Trombone Link
Trombone Nicholas Schwartz New York City Ballet Orchestra Bass Trombone Link
Tuba JáTtik Clark Oregon Symphony, Portland State University Principal Tuba Link
Tuba TJ Graf The Florida Orchestra Principal Tuba Link
Tuba Aden Beery U.S. Naval Academy Band Tuba Link
Tuba Kevin Harrison Axiom Brass, Wheaton College Tuba Link
Percussion Keith Carrick Utah Symphony Principal Percussionist Link
Percussion Matthew Decker Seattle Symphony Percussion and Assistant Principal Timpani Link
Percussion David Fishlock Cincinnati Symphony Percussion Link
Harp Bridget Kibbey Bard Conservatory, New York University, Juilliard Pre-College Harp Link
Harp Anna Kate Mackle The Florida Orchestra Harp Link
Piano Paul Schuyler Phillips Director of Orchestras & Chamber Music – Brown Univeristy Conducting Link
Piano James Giles Northwesetern University Piano Professor Link
Piano Christopher Guzman Penn State University Piano Professor Link

Arts Administrators

Michael Fitzpatrick

Founder
Earth’s Call Foundation

Year(s) at EMF: 1981, 1982

Field of Study: Cello

Angelica Hairston

Founder
Challenge the Stats
Concert Artist

Year(s) at EMF: 2010, 2014

Field of Study: Harp; Seasonal Staff

Mark Niehaus

President & Executive Director
Milwaukee Symphony

Year(s) at EMF: 1985, 1986

Field of Study: Horn

Ian Saunders

Asst. Dean of Artistic and Social Change, Longy School of Music of Bard College

Year(s) at EMF: 2013, 2015, 2017

Field of Study: Seasonal Staff; Asst. Dean of Students

Concert Artists

Bibi Black

Trumpet
 

Year(s) at EMF: 1984

Field of Study: Trumpet

Josef Burgstaller

Trumpet
Former member Canadian Brass

Year(s) at EMF: 1985, 1986

Field of Study: Trumpet

Jeremy Denk

Piano
Avery Fisher Prize (2014), Musical America’s Instrumentalist of the Year (2014), MacArthur Fellow (2013)

Year(s) at EMF: 1983

Field of Study: Piano

Sterling Elliot

Cello
Sphinx Competition Laureate (2019), Avery Fisher Career Grant (2021)

Year(s) at EMF: 2012

Field of Study: Cello

Chu-Fang Huang

Piano
Avery Fisher Career Grant Recipient (2011); Van Cliburn Finalist (2005)

Year(s) at EMF: 1998, 1999

Field of Study: Piano

Rixang Huang

Piano
EMF Concerto Competition Winner (2015)

Year(s) at EMF: 2015

Field of Study: Piano

Delfayo Marsalis

Trombone, Composer
 

Year(s) at EMF: 1981

Field of Study: Trombone

Jason Marsalis

Drummer, Composer
21st Century Trad Band

Year(s) at EMF: 1993, 1994

Field of Study: Percussion

Wynton Marsalis

Trumpet, Composer
GRAMMY® Award-winner

Year(s) at EMF: 1977, 1978

Field of Study: Trumpet

Jessica McJunkins

Violin, Artistic Director
Beyoncé Homecoming Tour, Sphinx Virtuosi

Year(s) at EMF: 2003-2006

Field of Study: Violin

Brandon Ridenhour

Trumpet
Former member Canadian Brass

Year(s) at EMF: 2002

Field of Study: Trombone

Gustavo Romero

Piano
Professor of Piano, Univ. North Texas

Year(s) at EMF: 1977-1979

Field of Study: Piano

Antoine Tamestit

Viola
 

Year(s) at EMF: 1997

Field of Study: Trumpet

Andrew Tyson

Piano
 

Year(s) at EMF: 2002, 2003

Field of Study: Piano

Concertmaster

Yumi Hwang-Williams

Concertmaster
Colorado Symphony

Year(s) at EMF: 1984, 1985

Field of Study: Violin 

Stefani Collins Matsuo

Concertmaster
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Year(s) at EMF: 2003

Field of Study: Violin

Jeff Multer

Concertmaster
The Florida Orchestra
Eastern Music Festival

Year(s) at EMF: 1980, 1091

Field of Study: Violin

Conductor

Kevin Fitzgerald

Assistant Conductor
Alabama Symphony Orchestra

Year(s) at EMF: 2015

Field of Study: Conducting

Kellen Gray

Assistant Conductor
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Charleston Symphony

Year(s) at EMF: 2016

Field of Study: Conducting

Rolando Morales-Mato

Assistant Conductor, Percussion Faculty
The Lion King (Broadway)
Curtis Institute of Music

Year(s) at EMF: 1981

Field of Study: Percussion

Ward Stare

Conductor
Mercer University Orchestra (former music director, Rochester Phil.)

Year(s) at EMF: 1997, 1998 

Field of Study: Trombone 

Chelsea Tipton

Music Director
Symphony of Southeast Texas, Principal Pops, New Haven Symphony

Year(s) at EMF: 1985

Field of Study: Clarinet