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Double Bass Audition Winners

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  • 2024
    • San Francisco Symphony, 2 positions:
      • 4th Chair: Bowen Ha (Juilliard)
      • Section: Orion Miller (Rice)
    • New Jersey Symphony, Section:
      • LonFon Law (Royal Academy of Music, Juilliard)
    • North Carolina Symphony, Associate Principal:
      • Joshua DePoint (Eastman, Yale, TŌN)
    • Grand Rapids Symphony, Section:
      • Ryan Bassett (Penn State, Carnegie Mellon, West Virginia Symphony section)
    • Grant Park Festival Orchestra, 4 postions:
      • Assistant Principal: Peter Hatch (Rice, Juilliard, Milwaukee Symph section, Detroit Symph section, Grant Park section)
      • Section: Chunyang Wang (Juilliard, Arizona State University)
      • Section (1-year): Christian Luevano (Curtis)
      • Section (1-year): Isaac Polinsky (Eastman, DePaul)
    • Louisville Orchestra, 3 positions:
      • Principal: Nick Caux (BU)
      • Assistant Principal: Jake Platt (Northwestern, Illinois Phil principal)
      • Section: Kaleb Collins (U of Memphis, CCM, Chattanooga Symphony)
    • Baltimore Symphony, Principal:
      • no hire
    • Pacific Symphony, Principal:
      • Richard Cassarino (UCSB, Azusa Pacific, IU, Alabama Symph Assistant Principal)
    • St. Louis Symphony, Assistant Principal:
      • Brendan Fitzgerald (Northwestern, St. Louis section)
    • Houston Symphony, Section:
      • Avery Weeks (Northwestern, USC)
    • Philadelphia Orchestra, Assistant Principal:
      • Toby Vigneau (Curtis)
    • Colorado Symphony, 2 section positions:
      • Mary Reed (Peabody, USC, NWS)
      • Jesse Fischer (UC Boulder, Rice, Oregon Symphony Principal)
    • Alabama Symphony, Principal:
      • Sam Rocklin (CCM, IU, Alabama Symph Section)
    • Louisiana Philharmonic, Section:
      • Russell Thompson (CIM, BU, Yale, UNT)
    • Naples Philharmonic, 2 positions:
      • Associate Principal: Davis Pierson (Baylor)
      • Section: Casey Karr (Oberlin, Northwestern, San Antonio Symph Assistant Principal (one year), Rice, Tucson Symph section)
    • New York Philharmonic, Section:
      • no hire
    • Baltimore Symphony, 2 section postions:
      • Casey Karr (Oberlin, Northwestern, San Antonio Symph Assistant Principal (one year), Rice, Tucson Symph section)
      • Ryan Avila (Rice)
    • San Francisco Ballet, 2 postions:
      • Principal: Ethan Moffitt (USC)
      • Associate Principal: So Jung Kim (Colburn)
    • San Francisco Opera, 2 positions:
      • Assistant Principal: no hire
      • Section: Bill Wasson (IU, Colburn, San Antonio Symphony Principal, USC)
    • Sarasota Orchestra, Assistant Principal:
      • Sam Dugo (Peabody, IU, McDuffie)
    • Atlanta Symphony, Section (1-year non tenure track)
      • Jungsu Lee (Seoul National University College of Music, Colburn)
    • Los Angeles Opera, 2 positions:
      • Associate Principal: Evan Hillis (DePaul, USC)
      • Fourth Chair: Zach Hislop (University of Colorado, USC, Auckland Phil Sub-Principal)
    • Calgary Philharmonic, Assistant Principal:
      • no hire
    • Alabama Symphony, Assistant Principal and Section (1-year, possibly tenure track):
      • Section: Gene Waldron (BGSU, FSU, CIM)
      • Section: Eion Lyons (Peabody, IU, McDuffie)
      • Section (1-year contract): Xingyuan Weng (Juilliard, Rutgers)
      • Assistant Principal: Pending on trials between Gene and Eion
    • Virginia Symphony, Section:
      • Caleb Edwards (CCM, Northwestern, CCM)
    • Boston Symphony, Principal:
      • Caleb Quillen (NEC, Rice, Kansas City section, Dallas section)


    2023
    • Philadelphia Orchestra, Principal:
      • Joe Conyers (Curtis, Grand Rapids Principal, Atlanta Symph section, Philadelphia Orch Assistant Principal)
    • Florida Orchestra, 2 positions:
      • Principal: Ryan Sujdak (MSM, Yale, Colburn)
      • Associate Principal: Paul Nemeth (Juilliard, Yale, Northwestern)
    • Cleveland Orchestra, 1st Assistant Principal Bass:
      • Charles Paul (Rice, Baltimore Symph section, Cleveland Orch section)
    • Fort Worth Symphony, Section:
      • Sean Patrick O'Hara (UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, Rice)
    • Virginia Symphony, Section
      • Brandon Smith (Peabody)
      • Sam Zagnit (MSM, Yale)
    • Detroit Symphony, 2 section positions:
      • Vinny Luciano (Temple, Juilliard, Louisville Orchestra Principal)
      • Peter Hatch (Rice, Juilliard, Milwaukee Symph section)
    • Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Assistant Principal Bass:
      • Andrew Gantzer (Juilliard)
    • Grant Park Festival Orchestra, 3 positions:
      • Section: Peter Hatch (Rice, Juilliard, Milwaukee Symph section)
      • Section (1-year): Sam Rocklin (CCM, IU, Alabama Symph Section)
      • Section (1-year): Sam Dugo (Peabody, IU, McDuffie)
    • Omaha Symphony, Associate Principal:
      • Bobby Scharmann (Kansas State, IU, Omaha Symphony section)
    • National Arts Centre Orchestra, Principal (National only):
      • Sam Loeck (University of Nebraska, IU, Calgary Phil Principal)
    • Winnipeg Symphony, 2 positions (National only):
      • Assistant Principal: Daniel Perry (IU, Winnipeg Symphony section)
      • Section: Emily Krajewski (UNCSA, IU, Winnipeg Symphony section 1-year contract)
    • Phoenix Symphony, Principal: no hire
    • Malmö Symphony, Co-Principal:
      • Drew Banzhaf (IU, Rice, NWS, Baltimore Symphony 1-year)
    • Pacific Symphony, 2 positions:
      • Principal: no hire
      • Section: Andrew Chilcote (NEC, IU, NWS, Phoenix Symphony 1-year)
    • Seattle Symphony, 2 positions:
      • Assistant Principal: Will Langlie-Miletich (Curtis, Seattle Symphony section)
      • Section: Sam Casseday (Curtis)
    • Edmonton Symphony, Assistant Principal:
      • Chris Jones (MSM, Regina Symphony Principal)
    • Chicago Symphony, 3 positions:
      • Assistant Principal: Alex Horton (FSU, IU, Alabama Principal, Grant Park section)
      • Section: Ian Hallas (Rice, USC, Chicago Lyric Opera Principal, Santa Fe Opera Principal)
      • Section: Andrew Sommer (Juilliard, Richmond Symphony Principal)
    • Santa Fe Opera, Principal:
      • Alex Bickard (Juilliard, New Jersey Symphony Associate Principal, Santa Fe Opera Principal 1-year)
    • Alabama Symphony, 2 positions:
      • Assistant Principal (1-year): Sam Rocklin (CCM, IU, Alabama Symph Section)
      • Section (1-year): Blake Hilley (Juilliard)
    • Cincinnati Symphony, Associate Principal:
      • Luis Celis (Berklee, CCM, Cincinnati Symph Section)
    • Richmond Symphony, Acting Principal Bass:
      • Riley Zimmermann (Duquesne, Carnegie Mellon)
    • Montreal Symphony, Associate Principal:
      • Toby Vigneau (Curtis)
    • Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Associate Principal:
      • no hire
    2022
    • Milwaukee Symphony, 4 positions:
      • Assistant Principal: Nash Tomey (NEC, BU, Kansas City Symphony section)
      • Section: Peter Hatch (Rice, Juilliard)
      • Section: Paris Myers (Juilliard)
      • Section: Brittany Conrad (Colburn, Juilliard, Atlanta Symphony 1-year)
    • National Arts Centre Orchestra (Ottawa, Canada), Assistant Principal:
      • Max Cardilli (McGill, NAC Institute for Orchestral Studies, Edmonton Symphony Assistant Principal)
    • San Diego Symphony, 2 section positions:
      • Kaelan Decman (IU, USC, San Diego Symph 1 year contract)
      • Kevin Gobetz (Ithaca, USC, NWS, Phoenix Symphony Principal)
    • Atlanta Symphony, Section:
      • Nick Scholefield (IU, Alabama section)
    • Grant Park Festival Orchestra, 2 positions
      • Section: Alex Horton (FSU, IU, Alabama Principal)
      • Section: 1-year contract: Peter Hatch (Rice, Juilliard, Milwaukee Symph)
    • Cincinnati Symphony, 3 positions:
      • Assistant Principal: Stephen Jones (Eastman, Bard, CCM)
      • Section: Luis Celis (Berklee, CCM)
      • Section: Gerald Torres (Oberlin, CIM, Carnegie Mellon, Grand Rapids Symphony)
    • Israel Philharmonic, Principal:
      • Brendan Kane (NEC, Juilliard, NWS, Vancouver, MET)
    • Gothenburg Symphony, Principal:
      • Markus Lang (Juilliard, Curtis)
    • Pittsburgh Symphony, Principal:
      • Nick Myers (NEC, Juilliard, Detroit section)
    • San Francisco Symphony, 2 positions:
      • 4th chair: no hire
      • Section: no hire
    • Los Angeles Philharmonic, Associate Principal:
      • Kaelan Decman (IU, USC, San Diego Symphony)
    • Louisville Orchestra, 2 positions:
      • Principal: Vinny Luciano (Temple, Juilliard)
      • Assistant Principal: no hire
    • Winnipeg Symphony, Section:
      • Zach McMillan (IU)
    • Chicago Symphony, Section:
      • Dan Carson (IU, Alabama Principal, USC, NWS)
    • Montreal Symphony, Associate Principal: no hire
    • Charleston Symphony, Principal: no hire
    • Oregon Symphony, 3 positions:
      • Principal: Jesse Fischer (Rice)
      • Section: Colin Corner (IU, Louisiana Phil, Minnesota Orch, Rochester Phil Principal, Atlanta Principal, Oregon Principal)
      • Section: Mariya-Andoniya Andonova-Henderson (Colburn, Yale, TÖN, Oregon Symp 1-year contract)
    • Kansas City Symphony, 2 positions:
      • Section: Nils Aardahl (Rice)
      • Section: Joseph Nunez (UNT, Colburn, Rice, Kansas City 1-year)
    • Baltimore Symphony, Principal:
      • no hire (Decision made in Jan 2023 after two trials)
    • Edmonton Symphony, Principal:
      • Hilda Cowie (University of Toronto, National Arts Centre Orchestra)
    • Montreal Symphony, 2 section positons:
      • Andrew Goodlett (Northwestern, Winnipeg Symp Assistant Principal)
      • Elan Simon (IU)
    • Charleston Symphony, Principal:
      • Christian Hales (BYU, SFCM)
    • Sydney Symphony, Section:
      • Dylan Michael Holly (NAU, MSM)
    • Indianapolis Symphony, Section:
      • Sharif Ibrahim (IU, Atlanta Symphony 1 year)
      • Mitchell Ballester (IU) (Hired Jan 2023)
    • Santa Fe Opera, Principal:
      • Ian Hallas (Rice, USC, Chicago Lyric Opera Principal, Santa Fe Opera Principal 1-year)
    • Phoenix Symphony, Principal:
      • no hire
    • Iceland Symphony, Co-principal:
      • T.C. Fitzgerald (Glenn Gould, IU, Estonian Opera)
    • Alabama Symphony, Section (1-year contract with possible tenure track):
      • Sam Rocklin (CCM, IU)
    • Canadian Opera Company, 2 section positions:
      • Ben Heard (Glenn Gould School, McGill)
      • Samuel-San Vachon (University of Montreal, McGill, Ottawa Symphony)
    • Dallas Symphony, 2 section positions:
      • Alex Horton (FSU, IU, Alabama Principal, Grant Park section)
      • Caleb Quillen (NEC, Rice, Kansas City section)
    • Rochester Philharmonic, Section (3rd chair):
      • Daniel Morehead (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, IU)
    • Toronto Symphony, 3 section positions:
      • Mark Lillie (Colburn, Juilliard, MSM)
      • Chris Laven (Rice, NEC)
      • Jesse Dale (UNT, NEC)
    2021
    • Cleveland Orchestra, 2 positions:
      • Assistant Principal: Derek Zadinsky (Curtis, Symphony in C, Cleveland Section)
      • Section: Charles Paul (Rice, Baltimore Symphony)
    • Montreal Symphony: no hire
    • Grand Rapids Symphony, Principal (internal audition)
      • Jonathan Reed (Michigan State, Rice, NWS, Grand Rapids Section)
    • Philadelphia Orchestra, 4 positions
      • Principal: no hire
      • Associate Principal: Gabe Polinsky (Curtis)
      • Section: Christian Gray (BU, Rice, Washington National Opera)
      • Section: Michael Franz (Eastman, TÖN, NWS, Pacific Symphony Principal)
    • Estonian National Opera: TC Fitzgerald (Glenn Gould School, IU)
    • China NCPA Orchestra, Associate Principal: Chenguang Sun (Yong Siew Toh Conservatory, TCU, CCM)
    • Shenzhen Symphony: Shenglei Lai (Xinghai Conservatory, CCM)

    2020
    • Buffalo Philharmonic: Gary Paul Matz (Duquesne, Carnegie Mellon, Rice)
    • Los Angeles Philharmonic, Associate Principal: no hire
    • Rochester Philharmonic: Reed Tucker (McDuffie, Juilliard, Sarasota Orch)
    • Nashville Symphony: Evan Bish (Vanderbilt, Rice)
    • Charlotte Symphony, Assistant Principal: Judson Baines (University of North Texas, Rice)
    • Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony (Canada), Associate Principal: Talia Hatcher (University of Ottawa, Montreal Conservatory)

    2019
    • Edmonton Symphony (Canada): Doug Ohashi (Peabody, Glenn Gould School, U of Toronto)
    • Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony (Canada), Associate Principal: Jeanne Corpataux-Blache (McGill)
    • Seattle Symphony: Will Langlie-Miletich (Curtis)
    • New Jersey Symphony, 2 positions:
      • Principal: Ha Young Jung (Royal College of Music, Juilliard, Yale, BU)
      • Assistant Principal: Alex Bickard (Juilliard)
    • Dallas Symphony: no hire
    • Vancouver Symphony: Malcolm Armstrong (Hawaii Symph, Glenn Gould School)
    • Atlanta Symphony: no hire
    • Boston Symphony: Carl Anderson (DePaul, Rice)
    • St. Louis Symphony - 2 section positions and Associate Principal:
      • Associate Principal: Aleck Belcher (IU)
      • Section: Brendan Fitzgerald (Northwestern, Seattle section 2 year contract)
    • Charlotte Symphony, Assistant Principal: no hire
    • Louisiana Philharmonic: Timmy Chen (Juilliard, CU Boulder)
    • Grand Rapids Symphony, Principal (x2): no hire
    • Winnipeg Symphony: Eric Timperman (IU, Yale)
    • Alabama Symphony: Nick Scholefield (IU)
    • Richmond (VA) Symphony, Principal: Andrew Sommer (Juilliard)
    • Phoenix Symphony, Principal: Kevin Gobetz (Ithaca, USC, NWS)
    • Minnesota Orchestra, Associate Principal: (Decision made in 2021)
      • Kathryn Nettleman (Juilliard, Yale, NWS, Minnesota Section)
      • Resulting Vacancy (Section): Kyle Sanborn (University of Oregon, IU, NWS, Calgary Phil Assistant Principal)
    • Omaha Symphony, Principal: Nate Olson (IU, Colburn, 1-year in same position)
    • Baltimore Symphony - 3 positions
      • Principal - no hire
      • Section - Charles Paul (Rice)
      • Section - Nina DeCesare (Rice, Oregon Symp)
    • LA Opera, Associate Principal: Sam Shuhan (Ithaca, USC)
    • Pacific Symphony, Principal: Michael Franz (Eastman, TON, NWS)
    • Utah Symphony (2x): Andrew Keller (IU, Rice)
    • Quebec Symphony Orchestra - 2 Positions
      • Associate Principal: Graham Kolle (McGill, IU)
      • Jeanne Corpataux-Blache (McGill, Kitchener-Waterloo Associate Principal)
    • National Symphony - Michael Marks (Colburn, Rice)
    • Lyric Opera of Chicago, Principal
      • Principal: Ian Hallas (Rice, USC, Lyric Assistant Principal)
      • Resulting Vacancy (Assist Principal): Sam Shuhan (Ithaca, USC, LA Opera Associate Principal)
    • Chicago Symphony, Assistant Principal: no hire
    • Detroit Symphony: Brandon Mason (BU, Rice, Kansas City Symphony)
    • Colorado Symphony: Jesse Fischer (Rice) not retained
    • Israel Philharmonic, Principal: Nina Bernat (Juilliard) not retained
    • Chautauqua Symphony, 2 positions:
      • Assistant Principal: PJ Cinque (Juilliard, CCM, San Diego Symphony)
      • Section: Kieran Hanlon (UMich, Eastman, Professor at SUNY Fredonia)

    2018
    • Canadian Opera Company (Toronto), Principal: Tony Flynt (Rice, Colburn, NEC)
    • Utah Symphony: no hire
    • Grand Rapids Symphony, Principal: no hire
    • Lyric Opera of Chicago - 2 positions
      • Assistant Principal, Ian Hallas (Rice, USC)
      • Section: Dan Carson (IU, Alabama Principal, USC)
    • National Tawain Symphony Orchestra - 2 section positions
      • Der-Shiuan Chen (UNT)
      • Sheng-Yao Wu (Juilliard)
    • Virginia Symphony (core): Will McPeters (Juilliard, TON)
    • Metropolitan Opera Orchestra: Edward Francis-Smith (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Curtis)
    • Oregon Symphony, Assistant Principal: Braizahn Jones (Curtis)
    • San Antonio Symphony, Assistant Principal (one year): no hire
    • Toledo Symphony, Principal: Jack Henning (IU, CCM)
    • Grand Rapids Symphony, Section (local audition):
      • Jonathan Reed (Michigan State, Rice, NWS)
    • Houston Ballet Orchestra, Assistant Principal
      • David Connor (CMU, Rice, NWS)
    • Trondheim Symphony, Principal: Aaron Olguin (UNT)
    • San Antonio Symphony, Assistant Principal (one year) x2: Casey Karr (Oberlin, Northwestern)
    • Montreal Symphony, Associate Principal: no hire
    • Phoenix Symphony, (one year): Andrew Chilcote (NEC, IU, NWS)
    • Indianapolis Symphony: Bert Witzel (Curtis, Louisville Orch Principal)
    • Houston Symphony, Associate Principal: Tim Dilenschneider (Curtis, NWS, Baltimore Symph)
    • Aalborg Symphony Denmark, Tutti: Ian Berg (IU)

    2017
    • Toronto Symphony (Canada), Associate Principal: Michael Chiarello (Julliard)
    • Philadelphia Orchestra: Nate West (Curtis, Washington National Opera)
    • Los Angles Philharmonic - 2 positions
      • Jory Herman (Rice, NWS, San Diego Symph)
      • Ted Botsford (Rice, Oregon Symph, Seattle Symph)
    • Colorado Symphony - 2 positions
      • Principal: Steve Metcalf (IU, Colburn)
      • Section: Owen Levine (San Francisco Conservatory, USC, NWS)
    • Buffalo Philharmonic: Nicholas Jones (Peabody, Yale)
    • Oregon Symphony - 2 positions
      • Principal: Colin Corner (IU, Minnesota Orch, Rochester Phil Principal, Atlanta Principal)
      • Assistant Principal: no hire
    • Los Angles Chamber Orchestra, Principal: David Grossman (NY Phil)
    • San Fransisco Associate Principal (3x): Daniel Smith (Rice, Santa Barbara Symph Principal, San Diego Symph)
    • Houston Symphony: Andrew Pedersen (DePaul, Rice)
    • Dallas Symphony: Alex Jenkins (Juilliard) not retained
    • Charlotte Symphony: Jason McNeel (CCM, Carnegie Mellon)
    • Alabama Symphony, Principal: Alex Horton (FSU, IU)
    • Detroit Symphony, 2 section positions
      • Chris Hamlen (Peabody, NWS, Syracuse, Grand Rapids Principal)
      • no hire
    • Rochester Philharmonic, Principal: Cory Palmer (MSU, Peabody, MSM, Carnegie Mellon)
    • Kansas City Symphony: Nash Tomey (NEC, BU)
    • Atlanta Symphony - 2 postions
      • Principal: Joe McFadden (IU, Alabama, Atlanta section)
      • Section (one-year): Sharif Ibrahim (IU)
    • Houston Ballet Assistant Principal: Tian Yang Liu (UNT, San Francisco Conservatory, Rice)
    • Nashville Symphony: Matt Abramo (Eastman, SUNY Purchase, NWS, Louisiana Phil)
    • Detroit Symphony: Nick Myers (NEC, Juilliard)
    • Oregon Symphony, Assistant Principal: no hire
    • Calgary Philharmonic, Assistant Principal: Kyle Sanborn (University of Oregon, IU, NWS)
    • Edmonton Symphony: Max Cardilli (McGill)


    2016
    • Lyric Opera of Chicago: Ian Hallas (Rice, USC)
    • San Fransisco Associate Principal (2x): no winner
    • Kansas City Symphony - 2 positions
      • Assistant Principal: Evan Halloin (NEC, Rice, NWS, Kansas City section)
      • Section: Caleb Quillen (NEC, Rice)
    • Columbus Symphony Principal: Rudy Albach (Peabody, Rice)
    • Phoenix Symphony Principal: no winner
    • Toronto Symphony Assistant Principal (canadian resident audition): no winner
    • Montreal Symphony (canadian resident audition): no winner
    • Calgary Philharmonic Principal (canadian resident audition): no winner
    • Calgary Philharmonic Principal (international audition): Sam Loeck (University of Nebraska, IU)
    • New York Philharmonic- 2 positions
      • Associate Principal: Max Zeugner (Juilliard, BU, BBC, NYP section)
      • Assistant Principal position newly created for Blake Hinson (Curtis, NWS, Grand Rapids Principal, NYP section)
      • Section: Rion Wentworth (Juilliard)
      • Section: Isaac Trapkus (Michigan, Juilliard, Detroit Symphony)
    • Pittsburgh Symphony - 2 positions
      • Associate Principal: Brandon McLean (UNT, Boston Conservatory, CMU, NWS, Colorado Principal)
      • Section: Joseph Campagna (Curtis, New Jersey)
    • Grant Park Orchestra - 2 positions
      • Principal: Colin Corner (IU, Atlanta Principal)
      • Assistant Principal: Jon McCullough-Benner (CCM, IU, Oregon Principal)
    • Alabama Symphony (One Year Assistant Principal): Justin Kujawski (Juilliard, IU)
    • Baltimore Symphony: Tim Dilenschneider (Curtis, NWS)
    • Milwaukee Symphony, Principal: Jon McCullough-Benner (CCM, IU, Oregon Principal)
    • Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, Principal: Nathan Farrington (Curtis)
    • Nashville Symphony: no winner
    • Rochester Philharmonic, Principal: no winner
    • Montreal Symphony: Graham Kolle (McGill)


    2015
    • Kansas City Symphony: Brandon Mason (BU, Rice)
    • Seattle Symphony: Ted Botsford (Rice, Oregon Symphony)
    • San Diego Symphony: PJ Cinque (Juilliard, CCM)
    • Detroit Symphony: Isaac Trapkus (Michigan, Juilliard)
    • Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (Canada) - 2 positions
      • Associate Principal: Evan Hulbert (Rice)
      • Assistant Principal: Noah Reitman (Michigan, IU, MSM, NWS)
    • Metropolitan Opera Principal: Rex Surany (Curtis, Met section)
    • Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Principal: Colin Corner (IU, Rochester Philharmonic) not retained
    • Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Section - 2 positions
      • Karl Fenner (Colorado Symphony, CIM, Rice)
      • Daniel Tosky (IU, MSM, NWS)
    • San Francisco Symphony Associate Principal: no winner
    • Magdeburg Philharmonic Orchestra Tutti: Jacy Cobalis (UNT, ASU)
    • Grand Rapids Symphony Section: Gerald Torres (Oberlin, CIM, CMU)
    2014
    • San Antonio Symphony: Nicholas Browne (Duquesne, Rice)
    • Nashville Symphony: Katherine Munagian (Rice, Colburn)
    • Kansas City Symphony: no winner
    • Metropolitan Opera: - 2 positions
      • Rex Surany (Curtis)
      • Brendan Kane (NEC, Juilliard, NWS, Vancouver)
    • Detroit Symphony Principal: Kevin Brown (Rice, USC)
    • Houston Symphony Principal: Robin Kesselman (USC, Curtis)
    • Houston Ballet Principal: Curry Duffey (University of Houston)
    • Colorado Symphony Principal: Brandon McLean (Vancouver Symphony, UNT, Boston Conservatory, CMU, NWS)
    • Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Principal: Zachary Cohen (Juilliard, Milwaukee Symphony)
    • Charlotte Symphony Principal: Kurt Riecken (University of Central Florida, IU)
    • Minnesota Principal: Kristen Bruya (NWS, Rice, CCM, Michigan, Toronto Symphony)
    • Oregon Symphony - 2 positions
      • Principal: Jon McCullough-Benner (CCM, IU)
      • Section: Nina DeCesare (Rice)
    2013
    • Philharmonia Orchestra (UK) - 2 positions
      • Adam Wynter (Royal Academy of Music)
      • Joe Melvin (Royal Academy of Music)
    • Kansas City Symphony: Evan Halloin (NEC, Rice, NWS)
    • Kansas City Symphony: Keith Wymer (UNT, IU)
    • Calgary Philharmonic (Canada): Patrick Staples (Colburn, Rice)
    • Winnipeg Symphony (Canada) - 2 positions
      • Section: Travis Harrison (McGill, U of Ottawa)
      • Assistant Principal: Andrew Goodlett (Northwestern, MSU)
    • Buffalo Philharmonic: Jonathan Borden (Juilliard)
    • National Symphony Orchestra - 2 positions
      • Section: Alexander Jacobsen (Curtis)
      • Section: Charlie Nilles (Rice)
    • Dallas Symphony Orchestra: Brian Perry (UNT, BU, Fort Worth SO)
    • Alabama Symphony, Principal: Daniel Carson (IU)
    • Detroit Symphony Principal: no winner
    • Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (Canada) - 2 positions
      • Associate Principal: Brandon McLean (UNT, Boston Conservatory, NWS)
      • Assistant Principal: Brendan Kane (NEC, Juilliard, NWS)
    • Utah Symphony: Ted Merritt (Rice, Colburn, Chicago Civic)
    • Los Angeles Philharmonic: Brian Johnson (IU, Rice, Oregon Symphony)
    • Rochester Philharmonic: Edward Castilano (Syracuse Symphony)
    • Atlanta Symphony Principal: 3 people offered trials, no winner
    2012
    • Alabama Symphony, Assistant Principal: Richard Cassarino (IU, Azusa Pacific, UCSB)
    • Norwegian Opera and Ballet, Oslo (Norway): Nicholas Chalk (McGill)
    • Welsh National Opera (UK), Principal: Tyler Shepherd (Boston Conservatory, BU, Chattanooga Principal)
    • Cleveland Orchestra x2: Derek Zadinsky, (Curtis, Sub. Seattle Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra)
    • Chicago Symphony, Principal: Alex Hanna (Curtis, Detroit Principal, Minnesota Principal winner)
    • New York Philharmonic - 4 positions + 1 year contract
      • Principal: Fora Baltacigil (Curtis, Minnesota assistant principal, Berlin Philharmonic) not retained
      • Associate: David Grossman (Juilliard, NYP section) not retained
      • Section: Blake Hinson (Curtis, NWS, Grand Rapids Principal)
      • Section: Max Zeugner (BU, Juilliard, BBC)
      • 1 Year contract: Rex Surany (Curtis)
    • L'Ensemble Intercontemporain (France): Nicolas Crosse (CNSMDP)
    • Chattanooga Symphony, Principal: Taylor Brown (Peabody)
    • Colorado Symphony
      • Principal: Karl Fenner (CIM, Rice, NWS)
      • 1 Year contract: Mary Reed (Peabody, USC)
    • Boston Symphony: Thomas Van Dyck (Rice, BU, Sub. Boston, San Diego, San Francisco, Detroit)
    • Concertgebouw (Netherlands): Nicky Schwartz (BU, Berliner Akademie)
    • Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester (Norway), Assistant Principal: Tristan Sutton (NKU, BU, NWS)
    • Toronto Symphony (Canada): Theodore Chan ( U of Ottawa, USC, Winnipeg)
    • Grand Rapids Symphony, Principal: Chris Hamlen (Peabody, NWS, Syracuse, GRS section)
    • Air Force Strings: Daniel Benoit (IU, UNT, Chicago Civic)
    • Aalborg Symphony Denmark, Associate Principal: Jeff White (IU, Calgary Phil)
    2011
    • Alabama Symphony, Principal: Ted Merritt (Rice, Colburn, Chicago Civic)
    • Atlanta Symphony: Joseph McFadden (IU, Alabama Sym)
    • Grand Rapids Symphony: Chris Hamlen (Peabody, NWS, Syracuse Sym)
    • Chicago Symphony, Principal: no winner
    • Cleveland Orchestra: no winner
    • Florida Orchestra asst.: Brandon McLean (NWS, CMU, Boston Conservatory, UNT)
    • Kansas City Symphony - 2 positions:
      • Todd Lockwood (IU, UC Boulder, Chattanooga)
      • Richard Ryan (IU/ Louisville Orchestra)
    • Winnipeg Symphony (Canada): Patrick Staples (Colburn, Rice)
    • Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (Australia): Ben Hanlon (Colburn)
    • Auckland Philharmonia (NZ), Assistant: Bella Leslie (Rice)
    • New Jersey Symphony: Joe Campagna (Curtis)
    • Minnesota Orchestra, Principal: Alex Hanna (Curtis, Detroit Sym)
    • Rochester Philharmonic: Gaelen McCormick (Eastman, Carnegie Mellon, Sub Rochester)
    • Louisiana Philharmonic: Paul Macres (Rice, Colburn)
    • Chautauqua Symphony, Principal: Owen Lee (USC, NWS, Houston Symphony, Cincinnati principal)
    2010
    • Oregon Symphony - 2 positions:
      • Assistant: Ted Botsford (Rice)
      • Section: Brian Johnson (IU, Rice)
    • BBC Philharmonic: Max Zeugner (Juilliard, BU)
    • Grand Rapids, Principal: Blake Hinson (Curtis, NWS)
    • Utah Symphony: Jens Tenbroek (IU, Colburn)
    • Louisiana Philharmonic: Matt Abramo (NWS, SUNY Purchase, Eastman)
    • Toronto Symphony (Canada): Kristen Bruya (Nashville Sym, NWS, Rice, CCM, Michigan)
    • Philadelphia Orchestra: Joe Conyers (Curtis, Principal Grand Rapids, Atlanta Symphony)
    • Winnipeg Symphony (Canada), Assistant Principal: Theodore Chan (U of Ottawa, USC)
    • Colorado Symphony: Nick Recuber (USC, Juilliard, NWS)
    • Kansas City Symphony: Brian Johnson (IU, Rice)
    • Nashville Symphony: Kevin Jablonski (Rice)
    • The Royal Danish Orchestra (Denmark), 2nd Solo: Nick Franco (Palau de les Arts, USC)
    • Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra (Norway), assistant: Glenn Gordon (Curtis)
    • Chattanooga Principal - Tyler Shepherd (Boston Conservatory, BU)
    2009
    • Philharmonia Orchestra (UK) - 2 positions
      • Michael Fuller (MSM)
      • Gareth Sheppard (University of Birmingham)
    • Vancouver Symphony (Canada): Dylan Palmer (NWS, UNT)
    • San Diego Symphony: Jory Herman (Rice, NWS)
    • Jacksonville Symphony: Todd Lockwood (IU, UC Boulder)
    • Alabama Symphony: Joe McFadden (IU, CalState Northridge)
    • Chatanooga Symphony: Todd Lockwood (IU, UC Boulder)
    • Grand Rapids, Principal: Ted Merritt (Rice, Colburn, Chicago Civic)
    • The Royal Danish Orchestra (Denmark): Ramsey Harvard (BU, Peabody)
    • Quebec Symphony: Jon Rouse (MSM, Juilliard)
    • Sjællands Symfoniorkester/ Copenhagen Phil (Denmark): Andrew Stalker (Rice, BU)
    • Syracuse Symphony: Chris Hamlen (Peabody, NWS)
    2008
    • Kitchner-Waterloo Principal: Ian Whitman (McGill, Yale, NEC)
    • Seattle Symphony - 2 positions:
      • Assistant: Joe Kauffman (section member, UNT)
      • Section: Travis Gore (CCM, Rice, NWS)
    • Louisiana Philharmonic:
      • Tony Parry (UNT, BU)
      • 1 year contract: Ben Wheeler (Peabody)
    • Montreal, Principal: Ali Yazdanfar (Peabody, Houston Symphony, National Symphony)
    • New York Phil: no winner
    • Detroit Principal x5: Alex Hanna (Curtis)
    • Rochester Phil, Principal: Colin Corner (IU)
    • Indianapolis: Brian Smith (Peabody)
    • Kansas City, Principal: Jeff Kail (section member), resulting vacancy goes to Ed Paulsen (MSM, CMU)
    • Atlanta: Joe Conyers (Curtis, Principal Grand Rapids)
    • Minnesota: Kate Nettleman (Juilliard, Yale, principal WI Chamber Orch; days earlier won Hong Kong Princ.)
    • Pittsburgh: Aaron White (SMU, Duquesne, FL Orchestra)
    • Boston: no winner
    • San Antonio Symphony: Dave Milburn (USC, IU)
    2007
    • New York: No winner
    • Cleveland: Scott Dixon (Oberlin, NWS, Rice)
    • Montreal: Peter Rosenfeld (Juilliard, Yale, Williams College)
    • Detroit Symphony Principal x4: No winner
    • Calgary Philharmonic: Matt Heller (NEC, Northwestern, Chicago Civic)
    • Buffalo Philharmonic - 2 positions:
      • Principal: Daniel Pendley (CCM)
      • Assistant Principal: Brett Shurtliffe (Eastman, Duquesne)
    2006
    • Minnesota Orchestra:
      • Asst. Principal: Fora Baltacigil (Curtis)
      • Section: Colin Corner (IU, New Orleans, Vancouver)
    • Kansas City Symphony: Jeff Kail (IU)
    • Milwaukee Symphony:
      • Principal: Zachary Cohen (Juilliard)
      • Assistant Principal: Andrew Raciti (UW-Madison, Rice)
    • Buffalo Principal: no winner
    • National Symphony: Paul DeNola (IU, USC, Oregon Symphony)
    • Nashville Symphony: Kristen Bruya (CCM, Rice, Michigan)
    • Montreal (Canada): no winner
    • Toronto (Canada), Principal: Jeff Beecher (Silk Road Ensemble, Curtis)
    • San Diego - 2 positions:
      • Travis Gore (CCM, Rice, NWS)
      • Samuel Hager (IU, USC, Oregon Symphony)
    2005
    • Ottawa National Arts Center (Canada), Principal: no winner
    • Detroit Symphony, Principal: no winner
    • St Louis, 2 positions:
      • Sarah Hogan (IU, Rice, SLSO sub)
      • David DeRiso (Rice)
    • Grand Rapids, Principal: Joe Conyers (Curtis)
    • Alabama: no winner
    • Metropolitan Opera Association: Dan Krekeler (IU, Yale, Minn.U., MSM)
    • Seattle: Joe Kauffman (UNT)
    • National Symphony, 2 positions: Ira Gold (BU, Rice); other position remains Open
    • Calgary Philharmonic (Canada): Tom McGary (IU)
    • Florida Orchestra: Aaron White (SMU, Duquesne)
    • Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Principal: Tom McGary (IU)
    • Ottawa N.A.C (Canada): Joel Quarrington appointed principal.
    • Detroit Principal x3: no winner
    2004
    • San Francisco, Principal, x4: Scott Pingel (UW - Eau Claire, MSM, NWS, Charleston)
    • Chicago Lyric Opera: Andy Anderson (Michigan, IU, UNT, Grant Park)
    • Vancouver Symphony (Canada), Associate: Colin Corner (IU, Louisiana Phil)
    • Detroit Symphony, Principal: no winner, again
    • San Antonio Symphony, Asst. Principal: Doug Balliet (Harvard)
    • Louisville Orchestra, Principal: Bert Witzel (Curtis)
    • St Louis Symphony: (2 positions) audition delayed until May 2005
    • Winnipeg (Canada), Principal: Meredith "Bob" Johnson (Vanderbilt, BU, NWS)
    • Ft. Worth Symphony: Brian Perry (UNT, BU)
    • Louisiana Philharmonic, Assistant Principal: William Schettler (UNT, MSM)
    2003
    • Indianapolis, Principal: Ju-Fang Liu (IU)
    • Boston Symphony: Ben Levy (Rice, NEC)
    • Calgary Philharmonic (Canada): Jeff White (IU)
    • Grant Park Orchestra: Andy Anderson (Michigan, IU, UNT)
    • Nashville Symphony
      • Principal: Joel Reist (member of section)
      • Section: Ryan Kamm (IU, BU)
    • Louisiana Philharmonic: Colin Corner (IU)
    • Naples Philharmonic: Matt Medlock (BU, Rice)
    • New York Philharmonic: Satoshi Okamoto (San Antonio, Juilliard)
    • Louisville Orchestra, Principal: postponed
    • San Francisco principal: no winner again
    • San Diego - 2 positions
      • Principal: Jeremy Kurtz, (Curtis, Rice, NWS)
      • Asst. Principal: Susan Wulff, (member of section, CSU Sacremento, USC)
    2002
    • Charleston Symphony, Principal: Scott Pingel (Manhattan)
    • National Symphony: cancelled; they welcome Ali Yazdanfar back
    • Baltimore Symphony: Mark Huang (Curtis, Peabody, Nashville Symphony)
    • Oregon Symphony: Paul DeNola (IU, USC)
    • San Francisco, Principal: Erik Harris (Juilliard, NWS, Chicago Symphony, St. Louis principal) not retained
    2001
    • Metropolitan Opera Orchestra: Kingsley Wood (Peabody, Louisville Orchestra)
    • Alabama Symphony: Long Luo (Juilliard)
    • Oregon Symphony: no winner (2 positions)
    • Florida Philharmonic, Principal: Shigeru Ishikawa (member of section, Juilliard). Resulting vacancy went to George Speed (Vanderbilt, BU)
    • Louisville Orchestra: Karl Olsen (IU, U.Wisconsin)
    • Cleveland Orchestra: Charles Barr (Curtis)....Erik Harris (principal St Louis, Juilliard) won, then left for San Francisco
    • Montreal Sym (Canada), Principal: Ali Yazdanfar (Peabody, NSO)
    • Sydney Symphony (Australia): Steve Larson (Curtis)
    2000
    • Kansas City Symphony 1-year contract: Ju-Fang Liu (IU)
    • President's Own Marine Band: Eric Sabo (Arizona State)
    • Seattle Symphony - 2 positions
      • Principal: Jordan Anderson (Curtis)
      • Section: Jonathan Burnstein (Rice, Colorado Sym)
    • Buffalo Philharmonic: Edmond Gnekow (IU)
    • Tulsa Phil, principal: Dan Johnson (Iowa?)
    • Dallas Symphony, Principal: no winner
    • Columbus Symphony: Jena Huebner (Peabody)
    • Houston Symphony: Burke Shaw (Juilliard, Curtis)
    • Cleveland Orchestra: Charles Carleton (Juilliard, NEC)
    • San Francisco Sym., Principal: Ali Yazdanfar (Peabody) not retained
    1999
    • Los Angeles Philharmonic: David Moore (Houston Sym, USC)
    • Louisville Orchestra: Kingsley Wood (Peabody Conservatory)
    • Houston Symphony: Ali Yazdanfar (Johns Hopkins/Peabody)
    • Seattle Symphony: Jennifer Godfrey (Curtis, Rice)
    • New York Philharmonic: David Grossman (Juilliard)
    • Colorado Symphony: Jonathan Burnstein (Rice)
    • Charleston Symphony, Principal: Charles Barr (Curtis)
    • National Symphony: Ali Yazdanfar (Peabody, Houston Sym.)
    • New Mexico Symphony: Kathy Olszowka (IU)
    • San Antonio Symphony: Zlatan Redzic (IU)
    • Utah Symphony Assistant Principal: Corbin Johnston (no school, student of Larry Wolfe)
    • Utah Symphony Section: Tom Zera (Hartt, Juilliard)
    • Pittsburgh Symphony: Peter Guild (UMich, Toledo Symphony, Columbus Symphony)
    1998
    • Cincinnati Symphony: Boris Astafiev (Columbus Sym, Buffalo Phil, Juilliard)
    • Oregon Symphony: Jason Schooler (CCM)
    • Houston Symphony: Donald Howie (BU, Rice)
    • Minnesota Orchestra: Matthew Frischman (Curtis)



    Winners since 1998

    (last updated Oct 29th, 2024)


    This list shows the total number of listed auditions won by alumni of each school, including artist diplomas, undergraduate and graduate degrees. Winners of multiple auditions are counted for each of their wins. These numbers only note declared winners of an Open audition, and may not reflect whether those winners were retained by their tenure committees. This list does NOT include substitute auditions.

    Schools:

    • IU - 95
    • Rice - 90
    • Juilliard - 61
    • Curtis - 48
    • USC - 34
    • BU - 27
    • Peabody - 25
    • CCM - 25
    • UNT - 22
    • NEC - 20
    • Colburn - 20
    • MSM - 13
    • Yale - 13
    • Northwestern - 12
    • McGill - 11
    • Eastman - 10
    • Michigan - 10
    • Boston Conservatory - 6
    • CMU - 6
    • Duquesne - 6
    • Oberlin - 6
    • CIM - 6
    • Glenn Gould School- 4
    • FSU - 4
    • Colorado Boulder - 3
    • Temple - 2
    • University of Toronto- 2
    • San Francisco Conservatory - 2
    • Royal Academy (UK) - 2
    • SMU - 2
    • UW Madison - 2
    • Arizona State - 2
    • Vanderbilt - 2
    • UW Eau Claire - 1
    • Cal State Northridge - 1
    • University of Ottawa - 1
    • Iowa - 1
    • MSU - 1
    • SUNY Purchase - 1
    • University of Birmingham (UK) - 1
    • Williams College - 1
    • University of Central Florida - 1
    • CSU Sacramento - 1
    • Hart School of Music - 1
    • University of Nebraska - 2
    • University of Houston - 1
    • BGSU - 1
    • University of Memphis - 1
    Others:

    • Berlin Philharmonic Academy - 1
    • New World Symphony - 28
    • National Youth Orchestra of Canada - 6
    • Chicago Civic - 4

    Top Ten US Orchestra Wins Since 1998*

    (*This list not accurate as of 2024, has not been updated in many years)

    This list denotes represented schools by winners of "top ten" jobs. There have been 23 such auditions which resulted in a declared winner since 1998.

    The top ten highest-paid orchestras in the United States are currently the Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Metropolitan Opera, National Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Pittsburgh Symphony. source

    • Curtis - 11
    • Juilliard - 10
    • Rice - 6
    • BU - 4
    • New World Symphony - 4
    • IU - 3
    • Peabody - 3
    • NEC - 3
    • MSM - 2
    • USC - 2
    • Boston Conservatory - 1
    • CMU - 1
    • Duquesne - 1
    • U. of Michigan - 1
    • U. of Minnesota - 1
    • SMU - 1
    • UNT - 1
    • UW - Eau Claire - 1
    • Yale - 1
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