Alumni News
October 2011
By Robert W. Weinman
Pianist Hong Xu ('04), who gave a memorable performance of the Petrushka Suite while at the Music Academy, teaches at China's Wuhan Conservatory and concertizes around the world. His successes at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall with the Halle Orchestra and at London's Wigmore Hall have led to regular return engagements at those venues. He soon will tour China with the London Philharmonic, with a final performance in London, and will perform the Beethoven Emperor Concerto with the Santa Barbara Symphony on November 19 and 20.
Orion Weiss ('00) turned heads at the Music Academy with an electrifying performance of Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 2 (first movement), and has since given notable chamber music and solo performances and appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, among others. He has returned to Santa Barbara for performances with the Santa Barbara Symphony and Camerata Pacifica. His wife, pianist Anna Polonsky ('97 and '98), recently joined him for a Camerata performance.
Frank Rosenwein ('98), who has served as principal oboe with the Cleveland Orchestra since 2005, heads the Cleveland Institute of Music oboe department and is in demand as a masterclass clinician nationwide. Repeatedly singled out in reviews for his beautiful oboe tone, he recently performed the first movement of the Mozart Oboe Concerto at a Cleveland Orchestra gala.
Frank Huang ('99) is back in his home state of Texas as concertmaster of the Houston Symphony. A Music Academy Concerto Competition winner, he has since performed violin concerti with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra, among others. He has also appeared on Good Morning America and Performance Today, and performed chamber music at Marlboro, Caramoor, and Ravinia. A first-place winner in the 2003 Naumburg Competition, he returned to Santa Barbara this year to perform a recital in Lehmann Hall with Natasha Kislenko ('01).
Though barely 18 when he attended the Music Academy, violist Richard O'Neill ('98 and '99) was clearly destined for a bright future. After continuing his studies at Juilliard, he became a full-time chamber musician, performing with, among others, International Sejong Soloists. The subject of a very popular TV series in South Korea (his mother's homeland), he has attained celebrity status in that nation. Noteworthy recent appearances include concertos with the London Philharmonic, a sold-out Kennedy Center recital debut with Warren Jones, and various solo recitals in Weill, Zankel, Avery Fisher, Wigmore, and Salle Cortot halls. He has recorded five solo discs with Deutsche Gramophon, and is one of only three violists in the history of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Richard serves as principal violist with Camerata Pacifica in Santa Barbara and is a faculty member at UCLA. He was recently named a cultural ambassador for South Korea.
The high point for tenor Leonardo Capalbo ('00, '01, and '04) at the Music Academy was his portrayal of Fadinard in The Italian Straw Hat. Having made his professional debut in 2004 at Opera North, where he sang many roles over several years, he went on to perform as Alfredo with Franco Zeffirelli and the Israeli Opera, Nemorino at New York City Opera, Fenton at Staatsoper Berlin, and Edgardo in Strasbourg. He has also sung Alfredo at Toulon, Florida Grand Opera, and New Orleans Opera. Upcoming engagements include the Duke in Sao Paolo, Alfredo in Dresden, and Candide in Berlin and Rome.
Tenor Lance (Clinker) Ryan ('99), who performed in the Music Academy production of Rodelinda, today is a celebrated and sought-after heldentenor. After triumphantly standing in for an ill Ben Heppner as Siegfried at the Salzburg May Festival in 2009, he went on to enjoy success in the role at Bayreuth, Salzburg, and Valencia. He has also performed Bacchus in Dresden, Vienna, London, Berlin, and at the Met, and is scheduled to sing the Ring in Frankfurt, Lohengrin in Karlsruhe, Siegmund in Paris, and Siegfried in Berlin and La Scala. He will return to Bayreuth in 2013.
Mezzo Isabel Leonard ('05), who shined opposite Elaine Alvarez in a scene from Anna Bolena while at the Music Academy, has genuine star quality "in spades," according to Lawrence Johnson of The Classical Review. Having debuted at the Met in Roméo et Juliet, she followed it with delightful portrayals of Cherubino at Santa Fe, the Met, and Vienna. She has also appeared as Cunegonde (Candide) and the Squirrel in L'Enfant et les Sortilèges. Her performance as Dorabella (Così fan tutte) at the 2009 Salzburg Festival can be seen on DVD. Isabel lives in Manhattan with her husband, New Zealand baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes, and their 1-year-old son.
William Fedkenheuer ('95 and '96) has been named second violinist of the Miró Quartet, succeeding founding member Sandy Yamomoto. William previously served as first violinist of the Fry Street Quartet for five years and was a member of the Borromeo Quartet from 2000 to 2006.
Robert W. Weinman is a member of the Music Academy Board of Directors. He chairs the Board's Student Activities and Alumni Committee.
