RPO 2022 Young Artist Audition Winners

Rochester, NY – Immediately following the Rochester Philharmonic League (RPL)’s final round of its 67th annual Young Artist Auditions (YAA) in Eastman School of Music’s Kilbourn Hall, organizers distributed awards to 11 teen winners from the Greater Rochester Area. That included Grand Prize winner, Hilton High School junior and violinist Luke Pisani, who won an opportunity to perform with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, of which the RPL is a part.

All in all, 30 accomplished high school musicians competed, with the first round judged via video submissions. This is the first time in three years that any of the competition has been live. Final round judges were: RPO Music Director Andreas Delfs, Hochstein School of Music President & Executive Director Dr. Margaret Quackenbush, former RPO Associate Concertmaster Wilfredo Deglans, and Eastman Professor of Voice Dr. Jonathan Retzlaff.  All winners have been invited to perform in a free, public recital, Young Artists in Concert: A Celebration of Winners, on Sunday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Kilbourn Hall.

“We’re thrilled to be able to support and recognize the focus and accomplishment of these young musicians, along with the oversight and commitment from their parents and teachers,” says YAA Co-Chair Paul Ness. “Many of this competition’s winners over the years have gone on to highly successful careers as performers, music educators, and professionals in other music-related fields.”

The complete list of 2022 YAA award winners (name, instrument, grade, school, and private teacher):

Grand Prize (an opportunity to perform with the RPO)
Winner:  Luke Pisani, violin, grade 11, Hilton HS, Shannon Nance

Aldridge-Tinker Scholarship for Instrumentalists ($1000 college scholarship)
Winner:  Luke Pisani, violin, grade 11, Hilton HS, Shannon Nance

Jan DeGaetani Scholarship for Vocalists
Winner:  Aidan Eddy, baritone, grade 12, Greece Odyssey Academy, Judith Ranaletta

Helen and George Greer Instrumental Award (Winner: $500, Runner-up $200)
Winner:  Edward Wu, Saxophone, grade 10, Pittsford Sutherland HS, Anne Kunkle
Runner-up:  Michael Ortiz, Clarinet, grade 11, Williamson Senior HS, Andrew Brown

Mildred and Julius Ness Award for Piano (Winner: $500, Runner-up $200)
No contestants in 2022

Nobel Hirsh Award for Male Vocalists (Winner: $500, Runner-up $200)
Winner:  Aidan Eddy, baritone, grade 12, Greece Odyssey Academy, Judith Ranaletta±
Runner-up: Michael Cullinan, Tenor, Grade 12, Avon High School, Susanna Adams

Ruth and Sidney Salzman Award for Strings (Winner: $500, Runner-up $200)
Winner:  Catalina Wooldridge, Cello, grade 12, Homeschooled, Rosemary Elliott
Runner-up: Noor Rouhana, Violin, grade 11, Fairport HS, Renee Jolles
Honorable Mention: Rebecca Lee, Violin, Grade 10, The Harley School, Renee Jolles

Tessa Martin Award for Female Vocalists (Winner: $500, Runner-up $200)
Winner:  Leah Brooks, soprano, grade 12, The Charles Finney School, Teresa Ringholz,
Honorable Mention: Julia Tooker, Soprano, Grade 12, Penfield High School, Diane Abrahamian

Says RPL Chair Catherine Fragenberg: “The League is honored to offer support and to recognize these accomplished young artists, as they pursue their musical interests. This is our way to focus on music education for our youth!”

Hosted by the Rochester Philharmonic League since 1955, the Young Artist Auditions is the region’s most prestigious competition for high school-age musicians, recognizing talent and dedication in Male Vocal, Female Vocal, Strings, Piano, and Instrumental categories.  The YAA is judged by professionals in each field, with First Round winner awards of $500 and runners-up awards of $200 given for each classification. Winners and runners-up then compete for a $1,000 Instrumental Scholarship, a $1000 Vocal Scholarship, and the Grand Prize: an opportunity to perform in concert with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Rochester Philharmonic League(RPL) was founded in 1929 as a volunteer support group for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. For more than 90 years, the two organizations have collaborated to further their common goal of providing great music and music education in the greater Rochester community. The League’s current activities focus on educating young people about music and the RPO, and on fostering the advancement of music talent in the community’s youth. 

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) has been committed to enriching and inspiring our community through the art of music since its origins in 1922. The RPO presents approximately 150 concerts and broadcasts a year, serving up to 170,000 people through ticketed events, education and community engagement activities, and concerts in schools and community centers throughout the region. Music Director Andreas Delfs joins the ranks of former notable RPO music directors, including Erich Leinsdorf, David Zinman, Mark Elder, and Conductor Laureate Christopher Seaman. Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik, now in his 28th season, has earned a national reputation for excellence in pops programming during his tenure with the RPO. The RPO reaches more than 15,000 youth through its specific education programs.

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