Cindy McTee’s Finish Line is an out-of-control, jazzy and audacious work. Joining the Wind Ensemble is  Mark Davidson, former principal trombone for the Melbourne (Australia) Symphony and current principal trombone of Utah Symphony, on Sonorous Trombone Concerto by Quinn Mason. This concert also includes Ron Nelson’s Rocky Point Holiday, Julie Giroux’s To the Bells of the Berlin Cathedral  and more.

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As one of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s large orchestral ensembles, the University Philharmonia offers an outlet for musical expression to all string players at the University of Georgia.  Student string players are openly invited to perform in the Philharmonia, while all other instruments are selected via audition each semester.  The ensemble performs three times per academic year. The University Philharmonia is under the supervision of Mark Cedel.  The ensemble is also conducted by graduate students majoring in orchestral conducting. The UGA Philharmonia concerts are free. No tickets are required.

As one of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s large orchestral ensembles, the University Philharmonia offers an outlet for musical expression to all string players at the University of Georgia.  Student string players are openly invited to perform in the Philharmonia, while all other instruments are selected via audition each semester.  The ensemble performs three times per academic year. The University Philharmonia is under the supervision of Mark Cedel.  The ensemble is also conducted by graduate students majoring in orchestral conducting. The UGA Philharmonia concerts are free. No tickets are required.

As one of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s large orchestral ensembles, the University Philharmonia offers an outlet for musical expression to all string players at the University of Georgia.  Student string players are openly invited to perform in the Philharmonia, while all other instruments are selected via audition each semester.  The ensemble performs three times per academic year. The University Philharmonia is under the supervision of Mark Cedel.  The ensemble is also conducted by graduate students majoring in orchestral conducting. The UGA Philharmonia concerts are free. No tickets are required.

The “Classical” period in music directly followed the Baroque. This concert features two composers who were quintessential in creating the sound known today as Classical music. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a short-lived but prolific composer, creating over 800 works. Franz Joseph Haydn is considered instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and piano trio.

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Director Levon Ambartsumian is joined by UGA Wind Ensemble director and director of bands  Nicholas Williams in leading this evening of music spanning a wide variety of musical eras.  Baroque music was a turning point in music performance, and 20th Century music stretched those expectations. Featured performers include: Gabriela McClellan and Thomas LaMon, cello; and Evgeny Rivkin and Anatoly Sheludyakov, piano.

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Don’t miss the biggest concert of the year, featuring over 300 student musicians. The University of Georgia Symphony Orchestra, Hodgson Singers, University Chorus, and Men’s and Women’s Glee Clubs will perform Symphony No. 2 in C minor by Gustav Mahler. UGA Voice Faculty Elizabeth Johnson Knight, mezzo-soprano, and Amy Petrongelli, soprano, will be the featured soloists for the evening.

Known as the Resurrection Symphony, it was written between 1888 and 1894, and first performed in 1895. This symphony was one of Mahler’s most popular and successful works during his lifetime. It was his first major work that established his lifelong view of the beauty of afterlife and resurrection. In this large work, the composer further developed the creativity of “sound of the distance” and creating a “world of its own” aspects already seen in his First Symphony. 

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The soloists performing in this concert are selected after advancing through a rigorous competition process judged by faculty within the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. These winners are selected and announced near the end of the fall semester, so be sure to keep an eye out for our announcement of the winners and their program. Performing Winners are Listed Below.

Thursday Scholarship Performance.

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EMILY ELMORE, flute - F. Borne: Carmen Fantasie

Emily Elmore is in her first year pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Flute Performance, studying under Angela Jones-Reus at the University of Georgia, Hugh Hodgson School of Music. She has served as Principal Flutist of both the UGA Symphony Orchestra and the Hodgson Wind Ensemble, as well as a member of the UGA Graduate Flute Quartet. In addition to being selected as a winner of the UGA Concerto Competition, Emily has been a finalist or prize winner in Young Artist Competitions by the Florida Flute Association, the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus and Orchestra, and the Sarasota Concert Band. Emily is passionate about education, teaching flute privately in the UGA Community Music School and within schools throughout Georgia. She also serves as the Graduate Assistant to the Hugh Hodgson School of Music Outreach programs. Emily holds a Master of Music in Flute Performance from the University of Georgia, and a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from the University of Central Florida.

JT HOLDBROOKS, bassoon - M. Bitsch: Concertino for Bassoon and Orchestra

J.T. Holdbrooks is a second-year Doctoral student at the University of Georgia Athens, pursuing a DMA in Bassoon Performance studying under  Amy Pollard. Currently, he is a graduate teaching assistant, performs with the Southern Wind Quintet, and is the co-principal of UGA’s esteemed Wind Ensemble. Originally from Alabaster, Alabama, J.T. received his Bachelor of Music from The University of Alabama and his Master of Music in Bassoon Performance at the University of Colorado Boulder. J.T. has performed professionally with orchestras including the Atlanta Ballet, the Chattanooga Symphony, the Atlanta Pops, Cheyenne Symphony, and others in the surrounding areas. In 2023, he was the winner of the Jacque Avent Concerto Competition at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival where he performed Villa-Lobo’s “Ciranda Das Setes Notas” with the faculty orchestra. He has performed in many masterclasses for notable bassoonists including Sophie Dervaux, Frank Morelli, Billy Short, and Kristen Wolfe Jensen. 

THOMAS LaMON, cello - E. Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor, mvt. 4

Thomas LaMon is a Doctoral student in cello performance at the University of Georgia under the tutelage of James Kim. Thomas is from Ohio and attended the Ohio State University for his undergraduate degree in music performance and public policy, followed by the University of Georgia for his master’s in performance. During his musical journey, Thomas studied with Linda Katz, Mark Rudoff, and David Starkweather who all helped shape the passionate musician he is today. Thomas first found success in chamber music where he was a finalist of the Coltman competition in Austin, Texas (2019) and received the Brahms award for chamber music excellence while at OSU. During his time at UGA, Thomas has performed on masterclasses for prominent figures such as the Emerson Quartet, Dover Quartet, Trio con Brio, Joseph Lin, and Tamas Varga. Thomas is also a part of the Hodgson String Quartet, the premiere graduate chamber ensemble at UGA. He has held the principal cellist position for UGA Symphony, ARCO Chamber Orchestra, Prague Summer Nights, and OSU Symphony. 

Thomas just recently performed the Vivaldi double concerto for two cellos with ARCO and puts on frequent chamber concerts for the community with his various chamber ensembles. He most enjoys the communal aspect of music making and strives to deliver performances that bring people together.

MENGYUAN LI, piano - G. Gershwin: Concerto in F Major, mvt. 1

Born in Hebei and raised in Tianjin, China, Aimee Mengyuan Li is currently pursuing a DMA degree in piano at the University of Georgia as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. Aimee has been won multiple competitions and performed throughout China and the United States as soloist and collaborative pianist. Before coming to UGA, Aimee earned a Master of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; later she served as adjunct faculty at the Xinghai Conservatory of Music and piano faculty at the Hebei Polytechnic Institute in China. 

DAVID MA, flute - H. Dutilleux: Sonatine for flute

David Ma is a Tampa, Florida native and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance at the University of Georgia, studying with Angela Jones-Reus. At the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, he is an active member of the UGA Wind Ensemble, serving as Principal Flute and Piccolo. As an advocate for new music, he is the flutist of the UGA Contemporary Chamber Ensemble. Some of his freelance work includes performing for local churches in the Athens and Greater Atlanta area, and flute instructor at middle and high schools in Georgia and Florida. He has been selected to perform in masterclasses with Marianne Gedigian, Brandon Patrick George,  Kristen Holritz, Bart Feller, and Mary Stolper. He was awarded 2nd prize winner at the Florida Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition in 2023. 

ELENA MINKO, piano - S. Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 4, mvts 2 and 3

An active soloist, répétiteur and collaborator, Elena Minko enjoys working with other musicians, exploring all musical styles from instrumental and vocal Baroque music to contemporary. Currently, Elena is a coach assistant in opera theater at the University of Georgia and pursuing her doctoral degree in Piano Performance with Evgeny Rivkin. A native of Siberia, Russia, Elena started her professional path as a composer and was awarded several prizes at composer’s competitions in Russia. Prior to coming to the United States, she earned her Bachelor and Master degrees in Piano Performance at the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow.

HAOYING WU, piano - S. Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2, mvt. 1

Haoying Wu is a Chinese pianist who is pursing her doctoral degree in Piano Performance at the University of Georgia, studying with Alan Woo. She is the teaching assistant for group piano classes at UGA. She earned her previous degrees from Northwestern University and Oberlin Conservatory of Music. As an active performer, she won the second prize in the 2024 Atlanta Music Club Scholarship Competition.  

A concert to be thankful for! This year, Thanksgiving falls so late in the academic calendar that our Annual Holiday Concert will be the week before Thanksgiving. Forget the Macy’s Parade, join the Hugh Hodgson School of Music for this favorite annual holiday tradition and start the season off right! Thursday Scholarship Performance.

Underwritten by Bill Barstow in loving memory of Dolly Barstow and Dr. Linda Barstow McCormick.

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Hector Berlioz wrote semi-autobiographical program notes for this piece that allude to the romantic sufferings of a gifted artist who has poisoned himself with opium because of his unrequited love for a beautiful and fascinating woman. The artist’s reveries take him to a ball and to a pastoral scene in a field, which is interrupted by a hallucinatory march to the scaffold, leading to a fantastic dance. This is certain to be an audience favorite.

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ABOUT MICHAEL STERN

Conductor Michael Stern has long been devoted to building and leading highly acclaimed orchestras known not only for their impeccable musicianship and creative programming, but also for collaborative, sustainable cultures that often include a vision of music as service to the community. He also is passionate about working with young musicians not only in music making, but also to incorporate the idea of “service” into their experiences as they become the artists and advocates of the future who will take classical music into the 21st century and beyond.

Stern currently holds three Music Director positions: with the Kansas City Symphony, where he will be concluding his 19-year tenure at the end of the 2023-2024 season; with the National Repertory Orchestra, a summer music festival in Breckenridge, CO which, for over 60 years, has provided an intensive, unique fellowship program for aspiring young musicians, and whose alumni populate every major orchestra across the United States; and with the newly rebranded Orchestra Lumos (formerly the Stamford Symphony). Stern was recently named Artistic Advisor of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, one of Canada’s foremost orchestral ensembles. And, following a 22-year tenure as founding Artistic Director of Iris Orchestra in Germantown, Tennessee, he now serves the newly reimagined Iris Collective as Artistic Advisor.

Stern joins the UGASO as guest conductor for the month of March, 2025.

During Stern’s tenure with the Kansas City Symphony, he and the orchestra have been recognized for their remarkable artistic ascent, original programming, organizational development, stability, and extraordinary audience growth. Under Stern’s leadership, the orchestra explored a wide range of repertoire and commissioned a number of new works. Stern and the KC Symphony also partnered with GRAMMY® Award-winning Reference Recordings for a collection of very well-received CDs that includes commissions by American composer Adam Schoenberg and by Jonathan Leshnoff, whose Symphony No. 3, inspired by World War I soldiers’ letters home, was premiered by the KC Symphony at the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City. The orchestra’s Reference Recordings releases also include Gustav Holst’s “The Planets”; a pairing of music Elgar and Vaughan Williams; “Miraculous Metamorphoses,” with music by Hindemith, Prokofiev and Bartók; and a disc of works by Saint-Saëns.  In 2021, Stern and the orchestra put out another widely praised recording, bringing together three one-movement symphonies by Sibelius, Barber, and Scriabin. The orchestra’s next recording will be released in the fall of 2022, featuring three works by Brahms arranged for orchestra by Bright Sheng, Virgil Thomson and Arnold Schoenberg.