Alumni News
Summer 2008
By Robert W. Weinman
Our alumni continue to make names for themselves throughout the world of classical music. Just take a look at these recent achievements:
INSTRUMENTALISTS
Violist Rose Armbrust (2004) and cellist Bronwyn Banerdt (2004) have been named principals of Symphony in C (formerly known as the Haddonfield Symphony); violists Molly Carr (2007) and Andy Lin (2005) performed with Itzhak Perlman at the Met Museum; violinist Melissa Chung (2003) joined the New World Symphony; clarinetist Todd Cope (2006) soloed with the New World Symphony; tuba player Aubrey Foard (2005 & 2007) was named principal of both the West Virginia Symphony and the Albany Symphony; violinist Noah Geller (2004) was named first violin of the Philadelphia Orchestra; violist Jerome Gordon (2004) joined the New World Symphony; trombonist Shachar Israel (2007) is principal of Symphony in C; violinist Kuan Cheng Lu (2003) plays with the New York Philharmonic; clarinetist Ben Lulich (2005) was named principal of the Pacific Symphony; double bassist Nick Recuber (2006) was named principal bass of the Santa Barbara Symphony; trombonist Alex Reicher (2006) joined the Memphis Orchestra; pianist Yukiko Sekino (2005) joined the New World Symphony; bassoonist William Short (2007) is with Symphony in C; violinist Loren Silvertrust (2005) and flutist Katrina Walter (2006) joined the New World Symphony; and oboist Liang Wang (2003) serves as principal oboe of the New York Philharmonic.
PIANISTS
Steven Beus (2005) appeared with the Indianapolis, Salt Lake, Walla Walla, Yakima, Muncie, and Casablanca symphonies, and gave solo recitals in Paris, Naples, New York, Miami, and Phoenix; Julio Elizalde (2003) soloed with the Juilliard Orchestra; Igor Lovchinsky (2003) performed at the El Paso Chopin Festival; and Hong Xu (2004) was the subject of a rave New York Times review after performing Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 under the direction of Vladimir Ashkenazy at Carnegie Hall.
VOCALISTS AND VOCAL PIANISTS
Soprano Elaine Alvarez (2006) was heralded for her turn as Mimi with Lyric Opera of Chicago; tenor Leonardo Capalbo (2004) made European appearances as the Duke, Alfredo, and Nemorino; Deb Domanski (2003) appeared as Cherubino with Tulsa Opera and Opera Southwest; Wendy Bryn Harmer (2003) performed the role of First Lady at the Met; Evan Hughes (2005 and 2006) performed at Carnegie Hall with Tamara Sanikidze (2007); Kathleen Kim (2004) performed as Oscar at the Met; Megan Latham (2003) joined the Canadian Opera Company; Isabel Leonard (2006) appeared as Stephano at the Met; Ani Maldjian (2005) appeared as Anne Frank with Long Beach Opera; Amber Opheim (2007) appeared in The Rape of Lucretia with Portland Opera; baritone Sidney Outlaw (2006) gave recitals with Warren Jones in New York and North Carolina; Susanna Phillips performed leading roles in Santa Fe, Madison, and Utah; Rodell Rosell (2003) performed with Lyric Opera of Chicago, at Wolf Trap, and in Pittsburgh and Houston; Tamara Sanikidze performed for President Bush at the White House; Alek Shrader (2006 and 2008) performed at Juilliard's annual Vocal Honors Recital and in the school's production of Le Comte Ory; soprano Nadine Sierra (2006) performed under the aegis of the Marilyn Horne Foundation in New York; Erica Strauss (2003) performed with Lyric Opera of Chicago; and baritone Alexander Tall (2007) appeared as Silvio with New York City Opera.
Additionally, three vocal performers affiliated with the Academy were among the five declared winners at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions finalist concert, which took place February 24 in New York. The winners included baritone Edward Parks, who attended the Music Academy in 2006 and will return this summer; mezzo-soprano Daveda Karanas, who also attended the Music Academy in 2006; and soprano Simone Osborne, who will attend the Music Academy this summer. The nine finalists also included baritone Stephen A. Ray, who attended the Music Academy last summer.
Robert W. Weinman is a member of the Board of Directors of the Music Academy of the West. He chairs the Board's Student and Alumni Liaison Committee.
