Making Waves
The Curtis Institute of Music produces top prizewinners of international competitions, soloists with major ensembles, and today’s most promising artists. Each year 175 students come to Curtis, drawn by a tuition-free, performance-inspired learning culture. In this intimate environment, they are nurtured by a celebrated faculty and inspired by the school’s distinctive “learn by doing” approach, offering more than 200 concerts each year in Philadelphia as well as performances around the world through Curtis on Tour. They go on to make waves throughout the music world, winning major competitions, appointments, and honors.
Jonathan Biss (Piano ’01), faculty member
Co-Artistic Director, Marlboro Music School and Festival (Photo: Pete Checchia/Marlboro Music)
Yuwon Kim, conducting fellow
Princess Astrid International Music Competition, First Prize
Michael Casimir (Viola ’18)
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Section Viola
Timothy Chooi (Violin ’17)
Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition, First Prize; Verbier Festival Paternot Award (Photo: Den Sweeney)
Aizuri Quartet (String Quartet in Residence, 2014-16)
M-Prize Chamber Music Competition, Grand Prize (Photo: Shervin Lainez)
Joseph Conyers (Double Bass ’04)
Sphinx Medal of Excellence, Musical America 30 Professionals of the Year
Jun-Ching Lin (Violin ’85)
Kalamazoo Symphony, Concertmaster
Hae Sue Lee, viola student
Primrose International Viola Competition, First Prize
Chang-Yong Shin (Piano ’16)
Gina Bachauer International Artists Competition, Gold Medal
Stay up to date on the latest achievements by Curtis students and alumni:
December 2018: Musical America Worldwide, 30 Professionals of the Year
Joseph Conyers (Double Bass ’04)
Musical America Worldwide: The MA 30 Professionals of the Year: Innovators, Independent Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs
November 2018: IsangYun International Cello Competition, First Prize
Christine Jeong Hyoun Lee (Cello ’13) and Sang Eun Lee (Cello ’18)
The Violin Channel: Joint-1st Prize Awarded at Korea’s IsangYun International Cello Competition
October 2018: Avery Fisher Prize
Leila Josefowicz (Violin ’97)
New York Times: Listen to Leila Josefowicz, the Intrepid Violinist Who Just Won $100,000
October 2018: Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition, First Prize
Timothy Chooi (Violin ’17)
The Violin Channel: VC Young Artist Timothy Chooi Awarded 1st Prize at Hannover’s Joseph Joachim Competition
October 2018: Sphinx LEAD, Dean
Stanford Thompson (Trumpet ’09)
Sphinx Blog: Knight Foundation grants $1.5 million to Sphinx Organization for launch of arts leadership program
October 2018: Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Principal Cello
Abraham Feder (Cello ’08)
Detroit Jewish News: Cellist Abraham Feder joins the DSO
October 2018: Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Assistant Conductor
Junping Qian (Viola ’13)
The Violin Channel: Royal Scottish National Orchestra Announces New Assistant Conductor
September 2018: Sphinx Medal of Excellence
Joseph Conyers (Double Bass ’04)
The Strad: Double bassist to receive $50,000 award from Sphinx Organization
September 2018: International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, Gold Medal
Richard Lin (Violin ’13)
Indianapolis Star: Richard Lin wins gold medal at the 2018 Indianapolis violin competition
September 2018: Leeds International Piano Competition, First Prize
Eric Lu, piano student
The Guardian: US pianist Eric Lu wins top prize at Leeds competition
September 2018: Princess Astrid International Music Competition, First Prize
Yuwon Kim, conducting fellow
The Royal House of Norway: Princess Astrid International Music Competition
September 2018: Premio Rodolfo Lipizer International Violin Competition, First Prize
Matthew Hakkarainen, violin student
The Violin Channel: Prizes Awarded at Italy’s 2018 Lipizer International Violin Competition
September 2018: Heifetz Institute, Artistic Director
Nicholas Kitchen (Violin ’90)
Violinist.com: Heifetz Institute Names Nicholas Kitchen as New Artistic Director
September 2018: Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Section Viola
Michael Casimir (Viola ’18)
August 2018: Philadelphia Orchestra, Associate Principal Flute
Patrick Williams (Flute ’14)
Philadelphia Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra Appoints Two New Musicians to Flute Section for 2018-19 Season
August 2018: Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Concertmaster
Celeste Golden Boyer (Violin ’05)
The Violin Channel: Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra Announces New Concertmaster
August 2018: Boston Ballet, Music Director
Mischa Santora (Conducting ’97)
Boston Globe: Boston Ballet names Mischa Santora its new music director
August 2018: Oregon Symphony, Assistant Principal Bass
Braizahn Jones (Double Bass ’18)
Oregon Symphony: Braizahn Jones
August 2018: Co-Artistic Director, Marlboro Music School and Festival
Jonathan Biss (Piano ’01), faculty member
Philadelphia Inquirer: Popular Philadelphian Jonathan Biss is new co-artistic director of prestigious Marlboro Music
Kansas City Symphony, Associate Principal Viola
Matthew Sinno (Viola ‘18)
August 2018: Los Angeles Philharmonic, Principal Viola
Teng Li (Viola ’05)
The Violin Channel: Los Angeles Philharmonic Announce New Principal Violist
August 2018: Verbier Festival Paternot Award
Timothy Chooi (Violin ’17)
The Strad: Timothy Chooi awarded Verbier Festival Academy’s highest honour
July 2018: Kalamazoo Symphony, Concertmaster
Jun-Ching Lin (Violin ’85)
The Violin Channel: Michigan’s Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Announces New Concertmaster
July 2018: Tokyo International Viola Competition, First Prize
Luosha Fang (Violin ’14)
The Violin Channel: Prize Winners Announced at Japan’s Tokyo International Viola Competition
July 2018: Gina Bachauer International Artists Competition, Gold Medal
Chang-Yong Shin (Piano ’16)
Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation: 2018 International Artists Competition
June 2018: Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, Fellowship
David Ludwig (Composition ’01), Chair of Composition Studies, and Diane Monroe (Violin ’80)
The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage: 2018 Grantees
June 2018: Cleveland International Piano Competition, First Prize
Xiaoxuan Li, piano student
ClevelandClassical.com: CIPC Announces 2018 Prizes in Young Artists Competition
June 2018: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Principal Oboe
William Welter (Oboe ’16)
Chicago Tribune: CSO hires new principal oboe, William Welter, one of its youngest first chairs ever
June 2018: Primrose International Viola Competition, First and Second Prizes
Hae Sue Lee, viola student; Zoe Martin-Doike (Violin ’13)
The Violin Channel: 18-Year-Old Hae-Sue Lee Awarded 1st Prize at LA’s Primrose Viola Competition
June 2018: Géza Anda Competition, First Prize
Claire Huangci (Piano ’07)
Swiss Radio and Television: Claire Huangci wins the Concours Géza Anda
June 2018: Astral National Auditions, Winner
Vera Quartet, string quartet in residence, and Eric Huckins (Horn ’16)
Astral Blog: 2018 National Auditions Winners
May 2018: M-Prize Chamber Music Competition, Grand Prize
Aizuri Quartet (String Quartet in Residence, 2014-16)
Strings Magazine: Aizuri Quartet Wins M-Prize Chamber Music Competition
May 2018: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Section Bass
Edward Francis-Smith (Double Bass ’18)
The Violin Channel: New York’s Met Opera Orchestra Announces New Double Bassist
May 2018: Washington National Opera, Debut
Emily Pogorelc, vocal studies student as Cunegonde in Candide
D.C. Metro Theater Arts: Rising Stars: Emily Pogorelc in the Washington National Opera’s ‘Candide’
May 2018: Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Chief Conductor
Karina Canellakis (Violin ’04)
New York Times: After a Last-Minute Conducting Triumph, Her Own Orchestra
May 2018: Empire State Youth Orchestra, Music Director
Carlos Ágreda (Conducting ’18)
Times Union: ESYO appoints new music director
April 2018: Music Critics Association of North America, Best New Opera of 2017
David Hertzberg (Composition ’15) for Wake World
Philadelphia Inquirer: Opera Philadelphia and David Hertzberg win 'best new opera' for 017 commission
March 2018: Avery Fisher Career Grant
Xavier Foley (Double Bass ’16)
Young Concert Artists, Inc.: Xavier Foley Wins 2018 Avery Fisher Career Grant
March 2018: Staatskapelle Berlin, Associate Principal Second Violin
Lifan Zhu (Violin ’14)
The Violin Channel: Staatskapelle Berlin Announces New Associate Principal Second Violin
January 2018: Grammy Awards, Best Contemporary Classical Composition
Jennifer Higdon (Composition ’88) for her Viola Concerto performed by Roberto Díaz (Viola ’84)
New York Times: Grammy 2018 Winners: Full List
Photograph: Andrea Baldeck
