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
Distinguished Alumni
VIOLIN
- Ida Bieler
University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Faculty - Rebecca Boyer Hall
St. Louis Symphony - Eliot Chapo
Florida State University Faculty - Stefani Collins Matsuo
Cincinati Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster - Erin David
Utah Symphony - Ann Fink
St. Louis Symphony - Ingang Han
Jacksonville Symphony - Yumi Hwang-Williams
Colorado Symphony Concertmaster - Miran Kim
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra - Aniko Kovacs
Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra - Eva Kozma
St. Louis Symphony - Courtney Lebauer*
Converse College Faculty - Brian Lee
San Francisco Ballet Orchestra - Diana Lupo
Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra - Jessica “Lady Jess” McJunkins
Urban Playground Chamber Orchestra Founder and Artistic Director - Scott Mozlin
Cincinatti Symphony Orchestra - Jeffrey Multer*
The Florida Orchestra Concertmaster - Bruce Patti
Dallas Symphony - Emily Rist Glover
North Carolina Symphony - Carol Ruzicka
Cleveland Institute of Music Faculty - Gail Norine Sharp
Columbus Symphony Orchestra - Angie Smart
St. Louis Symphony - Guillauame Sutre
University of California Los Angeles Faculty
VIOLA
- Victoria Chiang
Peabody Institute, Faculty - Elisha Nelson
Cleveland Orchestra - Susan Pardue
Jacksonville Symphony - Chauncey Patterson*
Lynn University, Faculty - Diane Phoenix-Neal*
James Madison University, Faculty - Lauren Spaulding
Thalea String Quartet, Tallā Rouge duo - Antoine Tamestit
Concert Artist - Geraldine Walther
Takas String Quartet
CELLO
- Jennifer Combs
Hartford Sumphony Orchestra - Robert DeMaine
Los Angeles Philarmonic, Pincipal - Bryan Dumm
Cleveland Orchestra - Sterling Elliot
Concert Artist 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient 2019 Sphinx Competition Laureate - Michael Fitzpatrick
Earth’s Call Foundation, Founder - David Hardy
National Symphony Orchestra, Principal - David Kim
St. Louis Symphony, Assistant Principal - Thomas Kraines
Daedalus Quartet - Alvin McCall
St. Louis Symphony - Thalia Moore
San Francisco Opera Orchestra - Marc Moskovitz
ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, Principal - Julian Schwarz*
Shenandoah Conservatory, Faculty - Rachel Young
National Symphony Orchestra
DOUBLE BASS
- Bruce Ridge
North Carolina Symphony - Larry Epstein
San Francisco Symphony, Associate Pricipal - Xavier Foley
2014 Sphinx Competition Winner - Travis Gore
Seattle Symphony - Erik Harris
St. Louis Symphony - Jim Lambert
Cincinatti Symphony Orchestra - Anthony Manzo
New Century Chamber Orchestra, Smithsonian Chamber Players - John Moore
Pittsburg Symphony - Kurt Reicken
Charlotte Symphony - Tristan Sutton
Bergen Philharmonic - Rion Wentworth
New York Philharmonic
FLUTE & PICCOLO
- Rachel Taratoot Ciraldo
Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Principal Flute - David Cramer
The Philadelphia Orchestra - Gabe Fridkis
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Principal Flute - Jake Fridkis*
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Principal Flute - Elizabeth (Ostling) Klein
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Associate Principal Flute
OBOE & ENGLISH HORN
- Cally Banham
St. Louis Symphony - Karen Birch Blundell*
Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, English Horn - Emily Brebach
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra - Jennifer Christen
Indianapolis Symphony - Colin Gatwood
Houston Symphony - Laura Griffiths
San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, Principal Oboe - Kevin Pearl
Milwuakee Symphony, Assistant Principal Oboe - Yvonne Powers Peterson
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Associate Principal Oboe - Elizabeth Koch Tiscione
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Principal Oboe
CLARINET
- Joseph Beverly
The Florida Orchestra - Todd Cope
Orcehstre Symphonique de Montreal, Principal - Richie Hawley
Rice University, Faculty - Brian Hysong
New York City Ballet Orchestra - Tom Legrand
Houston Symphony, Associate Principal - Ricardo Morales
The Philadelphia Orchestra, Principal - Brad Whitfield
Alabama Symphony, Assistant Principal
BASSOON
- Andrew Brady
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Principal - Sue Heineman
National Symphony Orchestra - Patrick Johnson-Whitty
San Francisco Ballet Opera
HORN
- Julie Beckel Yager
Indianapolis Symphony - Beth Beeson
Nashville Symphony - Nicholas Caluori
West Point Band - Nicole (De La Cal) Caluori
West Point Band, Principal - Wei-ping Chou
Peabody Institute, Faculty - Oliver De Clercq
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Principal - Jacob Diedwardo
Axion Brass - Matthew Eckenhoff
Louisana Philharmonic - Melanie Erena
Axion Brass - Kristen Joham
Spokane Symphony - Charles Putnam
American Horn Quintet - Hunter Sholar
Nashville Symphony - Nathaniel Silberschlag
Cleveland Orchestra, Principal - Zachary Smith
Pittsburgh Symphony - Ross Snyder
Omaha Symphony, Associate Principal - Ernesto Tovar Torres
Philadelphia Orchestra
TRUMPET
- Bibi Black
Soloist and Recording Artist - Karin Bliznik
St Louis Symphony - Joseph Burgstaller
Peabody Institute, Faculty Former member of Canadian Brass - Kevin Finamore
Dallas Symphony Orchestra - Billy R. Hunter, Jr.
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Principal - Manny Laureano
Minnesota Orchestra, Principal - Wynton Marsalis
National Medal of the Arts Recipient, Pulitzer Prize Winner, Soloist, Composer and Recording Artist - Mark Niehaus
Milwaukee Symphony, President & Executive Director - Brandon Ridenour
Concert Artist, Former member of Canadian Brass - Alex Wilborn
Charlotte Symphony, Principal
TROMBONE
- Darrin C. Milling
São Paulo State Symphony, Principal Bass Trombone - Steven Osborne
The Sarasota Orchestra - David Ridge
San Francisco Opera Orchestra - Nicholas Schwartz
New York City Ballet Orchestra
TUBA
- Aden Beery
U.S. Naval Academy Band - JáTtik Clark
Oregon Symphony, Principal - TJ Graf
The Florida Orchestra, Principal - Justin Gruber
New Mexico Philharmonic - Kevin Harrison
Axiom Brass - James Jenkins
Jacksonville Symphony - Blake Ryall
Mississippi State University, Faculty
PERCUSSION
- Keith Carrick
Utah Symphony, Principal - Matthew Decker*
Seattle Symphony - David Fishlock
Cincinnati Symphony - Nicholas Sakakeeny
Fort Worth Symphony
HARP
- Bridget Kibbey
Bard Conservatory, Faculty - Anna Kate Mackle*
The Florida Orchestra
PIANO
- Jeremy Denk
Concert Artist McArthur Fellow Avery Fisher Prize Recipient - James Giles
Northwesetern University, Faculty - Christopher Guzman
Penn State University, Faculty - Chu Fang Hong
Concert Artist; 2011 Avery Fisher Career Grant Recipient, 2005 Van Cliburn Finalist - Paul Schuyler Phillips
Director of Orchestras & Chamber Music – Brown Univeristy - Syvia Wang
Northwestern University, Faculty
GUITAR
- Manuel Barrueco
Concert Artist - Frank Koonce
Arizona State University, Faculty (1978-2018)
CONDUCTING
- Yue Bao
Houston Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Conductor - Kellen Lenard Gray
Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Assistant Conductor - Ho Yin Kwok
Mississipi Valley Symphony, Music Director and Conductor - Chelsea Tipton, II
Symphony of Southeast Texas, Music Director - Paul Schuyler Phillips
Brown University, Director of Orchestras & Chamber Music - Ward Stare
Rochester Philharmonic, Music Director (2014-2021), Grammy Winner
LEADERSHIP, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND BUSINESS
- Michael Fitzpatrick
Earth’s Call Foundation, Founder - Angelica Hairston
Challenge the Stats, Executive Director - Mark Niehaus
Milwaukee Symphony, President & Executive Director - Ian Saunders
Project Step, Artistic Director
*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