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Winning Personalities
By Marci Janas ’91
Related stories:
- Tony Arnold Wins Gaudeamus Competition
This has been a championship season for Oberlin-trained musicians competing
on the world’s stages. Here is an update on some recent competitions
and the Oberlin graduates who shined in them.
Soprano
Tony Arnold ‘90 (left), who in March became the first vocalist
ever to receive First Prize in the 2001 International Gaudeamus Interpreters
Competition, has added another first prize award to her mantle, winning
the Louise D. McMahon International Music Competition, held June 23 in
Lawton, Oklahoma. Pianist Jacob Greenberg ‘97, Arnold’s
frequent collaborator, received a special prize for outstanding accompanist
of the competition. As part of her McMahon prize, Arnold will return to
perform with the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra during their 2002-03 season.
Two students of Assistant Professor of Harp
Yolanda Kondonassis gave memorable performances at the American Harp
Society’s [AHS] 14th National Competition, held at the University
of Maryland School of Music in late June. Harp performance major Yinuo
Mu ’02 won the AHS’s Anne Adams Competition and a prize
of $2,000. She performed at the University of Maryland in a special winner’s
recital. Harp performance major Nuiko Wadden ’02 tied for
second place in the advanced division at the AHS National Competition
(no first prize was awarded). Wadden also received the Prix Renié
for the best performance of the Bach-Renié "Pièce en
Sol." Back at Oberlin, Wadden was a winner of the Oberlin Concerto
Competition. She will perform with the Oberlin Orchestra on April 14,
2002.
Baritone
Michael Preacely ’01 (right), who in 1999 won first place
in the district-level Leontyne Price Vocal Arts Competition, held in Flint,
Michigan, brought home the whopping big prize this year. In July at the
national competition, held at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, Preacely
competed against six other participants from across the United States
to win first prize and a $2,000 cash scholarship. He performed the aria
"Madamina il catalogo á questo" from Don Giovanni,
an oratorio cantata, a French melody, a German lied and the Negro spiritual
"Go Down Moses."
Preacely, who studied with Professor of Singing Richard
Miller, embarked on the road to glory in March 2001, winning the local
Leontyne Price competition, sponsored by the Oberlin, Elyria and Lorain
Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs [NBPWC]. He went on
to represent the North Central District of the National Association of
the NBPWC at the nationals. "I was pleased with my results in 1999,"
says Preacely, who headed to this year’s finals with moderate expectations.
"I just felt privileged to be there. I couldn’t believe that
I won. It was an awesome experience; the competition was pretty steep."
The Leontyne Price Competition is sponsored by the NANBPWC, offering support
to classical vocal performers of African American heritage.
Artist Diploma Student Kairy Koshoeva, who won third prize at the
D’Angelo Young Artists Competition last April, has won first prize
at the Sigma Alpha Iota International Concerto Competition, held in August
at the Chautauqua School of Music’s summer piano program. Koshoeva,
who studies with Professor of Pianoforte Monique
Duphil, performed Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,
Op. 43. Besides her cash award, she received a scholarship to attend
Chautauqua next season and the opportunity to play a concerto with the
Music School Festival Orchestra [MSFO] next summer. Pianists Luis Sanchez
and Darrell Rosenbluth, organist Jared Jacobsen and MSFO conductor Timothy
Muffitt were jurors for the competition.
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