The Annual Cornell Concerto Competition looked a little bit different this year; the contest was broadened to include opportunities for multiple winners to perform not only with the Cornell Symphony Orchestra, but also with the Chamber Orchestra and the Barbara and Richard T. Silver Wind Symphony. Competition organizer and Director of Orchestras Gabriela Gómez Estévez said the new format was “driven by our desire to increase accessibility and provide more opportunities for our gifted players to perform, and it allows us to explore the wealth of repertoire for solo instruments with chamber orchestra and wind band accompaniment, in addition to symphony orchestra.”
Students entered the first round of the competition by providing a video recording of their performance. Those entries were narrowed down to eight finalists who performed live in Barnes Hall on December 5 before a panel of three judges from Ithaca College: Ho-Yin Kwok (Director of Orchestras and assistant professor of music performance), Diego Vasquez (assistant professor of music performance, clarinet), and Dmitri Novgorodsky (associate professor of music performance, piano).
After a day of thrilling performances, three winners were announced.
Flutist Abigail Black ’26 will perform the first movement of Lowell Liebermann's Piccolo Concerto with the Cornell Wind Symphony conducted by James Spinazzola on Saturday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Bailey Hall. Hailing from Victor, NY, Abigail is majoring in Hotel Administration and minoring in Music and History, holding leadership roles in Hotelie clubs and serving on the Dean's Student Advisory Board. She is principal flute in the Cornell Symphony Orchestra and was co-Tour Manager for their recent Boston Tour. Abigail loves the tiny, fun instrument, but says “the poor piccolo does not always get the same degree of respect as all the other instruments in the orchestra. Most often, the piccolo is incorporated into the orchestra as a means of adding a moment of color, nature sounds, piercing high pitches, or a bit of humor. Liebermann's concerto was commissioned for the National Flute Association, and it is a major work that really gives the piccolo equal solo billing to its more serious instrumental peers.”
Violinist Dean Zhang ’25 of Newton, MA will perform Max Bruch's Scottish Fantasy with the Cornell Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, March 2 at 3 p.m. in Bailey Hall. In the College of Arts and Sciences, Dean has three majors in Biological Sciences, Computer Science, and Music. He serves as the concertmaster of the Cornell Symphony Orchestra and has won the Ellen Gussman Adelson Prize for excellence in musical performance. Beyond music, Dean conducts computational genomics research, volunteers in the local community, and aspires to bridge his passions for music and medicine to positively impact others. Discussing Scottish Fantasy, Dean says “I have always been drawn to Bruch for his ability to blend emotional depth with technical brilliance. Having performed his First Violin Concerto before, I’ve experienced how satisfying his music is to play. The piece has been an extremely fun and rewarding one to learn, pushing me both technically and artistically as a musician.”
Trombonist Ethan Wolff ’25 will perform Lars-Erik Larsson's Concertino for Trombone with the Cornell Chamber Orchestra on Sunday, March 9 at 3 p.m. in Barnes Hall. Ethan, from Los Altos, CA, has been playing trombone for 12 years and is pursuing a dual major in Applied Economics and Management & Environment and Sustainability. He was the Principal Trombonist of Cornell Symphony Orchestra for three years and this year has shifted his focus to chamber music, co-founding the Cornell Brass Quintet and Trombone Ensemble. Outside of music, Ethan serves as the founder and President of the Energy Transition Club at Cornell and enjoys competitive Olympic-style weightlifting. He is looking forward to performing the Larsson, a staple of the trombone repertoire, with the Chamber Orchestra: “Having attended several of their performances, I've always been impressed by the level of musicianship and professionalism displayed by the Chamber Orchestra's players. I'm also looking forward to working with Dr. Gómez again after having spent the 2023-2024 season performing under her baton in the Symphony Orchestra.”
All three winners made similar observations about their Cornell experiences, particularly the ability to take advantage of the philosophy of “any person, any study.” Triple-major Dean says the motto “drew me in with its promise of limitless opportunity and exploration, allowing me to fully embrace all of my interests.” Ethan likewise notes that he was drawn to Cornell's strong business and sustainability programs, which are uniquely interdisciplinary and have given him a strong foundation to tackle the climate crisis through the business of clean energy. Abigail concurs that she chose Cornell because of the renowned Hotel School, but “knowing I could also minor in music and encounter world-class music experiences and professors while obtaining a business degree bolstered my final decision!”
Working with excellent faculty and making great friends along the way is another common theme of the winners’ musical experiences at Cornell. Abigail says “the private flute and piccolo instruction I receive from Liz Shuhan is always the bright spot in my week, and my closest friends have come from peers I've met in the music program at Cornell. We make great music - and great memories - together.” Ethan, who studies with Rich Ford, has had no shortage of opportunities to get involved in music at Cornell: “Between my experiences in both large and small ensembles, I've greatly improved my versatility as a musician and met many of my closest friends along the way.” Dean has studied with Ariana Kim for the last four years and is grateful for her teaching and mentorship. Additionally, he says that “performing with an orchestra is almost every solo violinist’s dream, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share this experience with a group that means so much to me. Getting to perform alongside people who have supported and inspired me throughout my college experience makes this performance even more special.”
All three concerts are free and open to the public, with no tickets required.
