2024 Festival Competitors

Semi-Finalists and Alternates for 2024 Falcone Festival

NOTES:
For all who applied for the 2024 competition: If you do not receive notification via email by the end of May 4, please contact the Applications Team with your name and division included. Please check your spam folder first.
For Semi-Finalists and Alternates: please send any corrections to the Applications Team

Euphonium Artist | Tuba Artist | Euphonium Student | Tuba Student    

# Unable to compete             ✓ Will compete             * may be semifinalist in one division only

Euphonium Artist Semi-Finalists (in alphabetical order)

Name Hometown School/University Teacher(s)
Chris Mendo Carrigg Gresham, OR, USA Northwestern University Matt Gaunt, Gene Pokorny, JáTtik Clark
Ed Carter Vine Grove, KY, USA University of Kentucky Dr. Brandon Smith, Dr. Matthew Hightower, Dr. Alex Lapins, Dr. Skip Gray
Chris Finch Richardson, TX, USA University of North Texas Dr. David Childs, Richard Murrow, Tom Mahovsky,  Corey Rom
Jose Gutierrez Houston, TX, USA University of Houston Kevin Fenske, Danny Vinson, Phillip Freeman
Andrew Herrick Mechanicville, NY, USA Ithaca College Dr. David Earll, Gina Mancini
Stefan Kamelger Niederdorf, Italy Hochschule der Künste Bern Thomas Rüedi
Yurika Kotani Tokushima City, Japan Aichi University of the Arts Kaoru Tsuyuki, Takanori Miyake
Nathanael Kumar Houston, TX, USA Eastman School of Music Dr. Justin Benavidez, Mark Kellogg, Dr. Matthew Murchison, Steven Needham
Kelley Ozier Carrollton, GA, USA University of Cincinnati: College-Conservatory of Music Timothy Northcut, Michael DeSousa, Dr. JD Handshoe
Justin Weis Franklin, WI, USA University of North Texas Dr. David Childs, Dr. Brian Bowman, Dr. John Tuinstra

 

Euphonium Artist Alternates (in this order)

Name Hometown School/University Teacher(s)
✓ Kaho Mills Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan University of North Texas Dr. David Childs, Dr. Mitsuru Saito
Clayton Moses West Monroe, LA, USA University of Central Arkansas Dr. Gail Roberston, Dr. Adam Johnson
Jose Castillo  Mission, TX, USA University of Texas Rio Grande Valley  Dr. Scott Roeder, Sam Hjort 
Kathryn Carley Springfield, IL, USA Eastman School of Music Dr. Justin Benavidez, Mark Kellogg, Dr. Matthew Murchison, Dr. Sharon Huff

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Tuba Artist Semi-Finalists (in alphabetical order)

Name Hometown School/University Teacher(s)
Jake Alford Lexington, KY, USA University of Kentucky Dr. Brandon Smith, Dr. Matt Hightower
Hunter Bellows Austin, TX, USA Baylor University Dr. Kent Eshelman, Brett Blackstone
Micah Crouse Murray, KY, USA Illinois State University Dr. Andy Rummel, Dr. Todd French
Victor E. Cruz Edinburg, TX, USA University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Dr. Scott Roeder
# Eddie Gonzalez El Paso, TX, USA Oklahoma State University Dr. Ryan Robinson, Don Little, Matt Good, Jeff Baker
Ryan Lofland Woodstock, GA, USA University of Michigan David Zerkel, Bernard Flythe
Christopher Messinger Hanover, PA, USA University of Cincinnati: College-Conservatory of Music Timothy Northcut, John Cradler
Arturo Ortega Brownsville, TX, USA University of North Texas Blake Like, Donald C. Little
Chris Seay Belmont, NC, USA Oklahoma State University Dr. Ryan Robinson, Dr. Nick Beltchev, Michael Schallock
Benjamin Vargas Highland, NY, USA Glenn Gould School Sasha Johnson, Victor Izzo

 

Tuba Artist Alternates (in this order)

Name Hometown School/University Teacher(s)
✓ Logan Wadley Rochester, NY, USA Eastman School of Music Dr. Justin Benavidez
# Azdruball Montemayor Edinburg, TX, USA University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley Dr. Scott Roeder
# Ethyn Evans DeQuincy, LA, USA Oklahoma State University Dr. Ryan Robinson, Dr. Nick Beltchev, Dr. Charles Goodman, Dr. Joe Skillen
✓ Mark Sayler Fairhope, AL, USA University of South Alabama Dr. Clayton Maddox

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Euphonium Student Semi-Finalists (in alphabetical order)

Name Hometown School/University Teacher(s)
David Burns Springfield, KY, USA Campbellsville University Andrew Doub
Will Claudius Rushville, IL, USA Interlochen Arts Academy Thomas Riccobono, Dr. James Land, Dr. Terry Solomonson, John Mindeman
Will Cordell  Oklahoma City, OK, USA Oklahoma City University Dr. Genevieve Clarkson
Page Judge Severna Park, MD, USA University of Michigan David Zerkel, Alison Miserendino
Carter Mitchell Federal Way, WA, USA Washington State University Dr. Chris Dickey, Ryan Wagner, Willow Goodine, Ron Hazenberg
Karla Torres Dallas, TX, USA University of North Texas Justin Weis

 

Euphonium Student Alternates (in this order)

Name Hometown School/University Teacher(s)
Caleb Langley Garner, NC, USA Cleveland High School Dr. William Beach, Jason Herd
Jesse Lawson League City, TX, USA Clear Springs High School Jason Schloesser, Michael Gonzales, Lester Williams, Rick Brockway
Seth Lambert Bloomington, IL, USA Michigan State University Philip Sinder, Ed Risinger, Lindsay Ring, Bryce Bowlin
Eric Maxey Louisville, KY, USA Youth Performing Arts School Chris Schmidt

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Tuba Student Semi-Finalists (in alphabetical order)

Name Hometown School/University Teacher(s)
Barrett Hoover Wann, OK, USA Oklahoma Union High School Keith Elder
Ryan Lamb Youngstown, OH, USA Youngstown State University Dr. Yukitada Onitsuka
James Jihao Liu Scarsdale , NY, USA Juilliard Pre-College Andrew Bove, Kyle Turner
Zhaowei Qu San Jose, CA, USA University of Michigan David Zerkel, Tony Clements, Jonathan Hsu
Michael Vangeli Cedar Park, TX, USA Vista Ridge High School David Hummel, Robert Herrings, Zach Santos, Trey Hanis
Raphael Zhu Princeton, NJ, USA Choate Rosemary Hall Andrew Bove, Kyle Turner

 

Tuba Student Alternates (in this order)

Name Hometown School/University Teacher(s)
✓ Henry Foster Akron, OH, USA Copley High School Michael Foster, Dr Kenneth Heinlein, Christina Wade
Wei-Zhen Tung (Rita) Taichung, Taiwan Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music  Brett Stemple, Chaio-Xaing Yang , Wen-Chung Li
Angelica Hernandez Cedar Park, TX, USA Rouse High School Ryan Johnstone, David Hummel
Alan Zhang Cypress, TX, USA Cypress Woods High School Brandon Quam, Steven Needham, Dave Kirk

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2025 FESTIVAL DATES
March 31...Application Deadline
Early May...Semi-Finalists Notified
August 8-11...Festival Competition

Hosted by Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp

Statement regarding Diversity, Inclusion & Social Justice #BlackLivesMatter

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