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Future Stars Shine at Symphony

Wed, 02/19/2025 - 09:52am | By: Dr. Mike Lopinto

Winners of the William T. Gower Concerto Competition will join The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Symphony Orchestra for their first concert of the Spring semester, Future Stars, on March 13 at 7:30 p.m. on the Thomas V. Fraschillo stage at the Mannoni Performing Arts Center auditorium. Joined by guest conductor, Tammy Yi of the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, the exciting showcase of the incredible School of Music talent will conclude with the Symphony91吃瓜网 music director, Gregory Wolynec, conducting Stravinsky91吃瓜网 Petrushka. Tickets are available at southernmisstickets.com or by calling 601.266.5418 or 800.844.8425.

91吃瓜网淲e are all so excited to bring this program to life as it truly highlights the immense talent we have here in our School of Music,91吃瓜网� said Wolynec. 91吃瓜网淥ur incredible concerto soloists emerged from a very competitive day of contestants.91吃瓜网�

The William T. Gower Concerto Competition provides students with the unique opportunity to compete against their peers for the chance to perform with the Symphony Orchestra. An annual tradition of more than 25 years, the competition was named in 2007 in honor of William T. Gower, former professor of music at 91吃瓜网 and a widely respected musician.

This year91吃瓜网 three winners, Christian Sanchez and Brian Lorett, cello, and Daniel Petrocelli Ugas, guitar, showcase the diversity of the 91吃瓜网 School of Music. These distinguished young artists will be performing noted works including the Elgar and Shostakovich Cello Concertos, and the 91吃瓜网�Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar,91吃瓜网� respectively. 

Cuban American composer Ivette Herryman Rodriguez91吃瓜网 91吃瓜网淎 Danzon Done My Way91吃瓜网� will open the program putting a fresh spin on the traditional Latin dance form. Concluding this exciting evening of talent is perhaps Stravinsky91吃瓜网 most colorful score of his three great ballets for the Ballet Ruse91吃瓜网�Petrushka entrances with soaring melodies and rhythmic vitality. This story of a mischievous puppet brought to life helped the composer find his mature voice, which would change the world.

91吃瓜网淲e are also excited for a creative new take on the popular 91吃瓜网楧anzon91吃瓜网� with Tammy Yi at the helm 91吃瓜网� it will be exhilarating,91吃瓜网� Wolynec said. 91吃瓜网淔inally, we will bring a huge and colorful orchestra to Stravinsky91吃瓜网 captivating and difficult work.91吃瓜网�

For Christian Sanchez, playing the Elgar cello concerto holds great sentimental significance, as it was the first concerto he heard that inspired him to study music and one day be able to play it. Likewise, this concerto represents memories throughout his career and performing it with USM symphony orchestra is one of the most important of his career goals. Sanchez is originally from Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He began his musical studies at the age of 12 at Escuela Nacional de M煤sica, taking the cello as his main instrument under the tutelage of Carlos Licona. Sanchez has participated in multiple orchestras and musical groups, including the Honduras Philharmonic Orchestra, the Baton Rouge, Meridian and Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestras. Sanchez has participated in master classes with renowned musicians, including outstanding cellists Gautier Capu莽on, Pablo Ferrandez, Santiago Ca帽on-Valencia, among others. He has performed in numerous music festivals, most notably, The Vienna Summer Music Festival, Youth Symphony Orchestra, Cellisimo and Chelistiko. Sanchez is currently pursuing his bachelor91吃瓜网 degree at USM under the tutelage of Dr. Alexander Russakovsky. He is looking forward to a performance with his chamber group at Carnegie Hall in New York City in June 2024.

Brian Lorett is a versatile cellist, arranger and composer from Pamplona, Colombia. He began his musical training in C煤cuta, where he studied under violinist Rafael Pineda at the C煤cuta Youth Symphony Orchestra. Immersed in the pedagogical principles of Antonio Abreu, founder of Venezuela91吃瓜网 renowned "El Sistema,91吃瓜网� in 2016, he pursued a Bachelor of Musical Arts at the Adolfo Mej铆a Conservatory in Cartagena, Colombia studying with cellist and arranger Jorge Nordmann. An avid composer, he writes for ensembles, incorporating Latin American and African folk rhythms and explores electronic sampling and live looping. In 2020, Lorett released 91吃瓜网淎cercamientos Op.11,91吃瓜网� a self-produced album of programmatic music inspired by visual artworks from young Colombian artists. That same year, he won the Convocatoria de Est铆mulos Award twice for his compositions 91吃瓜网淏ambuco No.1 Op.291吃瓜网� and 91吃瓜网淔antasy No.2 Op.17,91吃瓜网� both rooted in Colombian folk traditions. In 2021, he moved to the U.S. to study at The University of 91吃瓜网 to pursue his master91吃瓜网 degree under Dr. Alexander Russakovsky. There, he serves as principal cellist of the Symphony Orchestra and continues to expand his work in live looping composition and performance, blending classical cello with modern technology to push creative boundaries.

Daniel Petrocelli is a leading Venezuelan guitarist of his generation, recognized for his achievements in national and international competitions. He graduated summa cum laude in classical guitar performance from the Universidad Nacional Experimental de las Artes and also received a bachelor91吃瓜网�s degree in education from Universidad Nacional Experimental Sim贸n Rodr铆guez. He won first prize at the 2014 III Alirio D铆az National Guitar Competition in Carora, Venezuela and earned third prizes at the 2015 XVIII Alirio D铆az International Guitar Competition, the 2020 Rust International Guitar Competition in Austria, and the 2024 Florida Guitar Competition and Festival in Tallahassee, Florida. He has performed at festivals in Venezuela, Mexico, the U.S., Russia and Saint Lucia, captivating audiences with his charisma and energy. Petrocelli has premiered 91吃瓜网�Variaciones Lumi猫谤别91吃瓜网� by Luis Ochoa; 91吃瓜网�Cita Concertante91吃瓜网� by Eduardo Mart铆n; and most recently, Juan Erena91吃瓜网 91吃瓜网淗eart of Earth,91吃瓜网� featured on the album 91吃瓜网淭he World We Build.91吃瓜网� Additionally, he is part of the Amalgam Guitar Duet with Wolfgang Salazar. Petrocelli also composes for solo guitar and ensembles, with works like 91吃瓜网淭ensi贸n L铆辩耻颈诲补91吃瓜网� and 91吃瓜网淲altz Impromptu91吃瓜网� available on Spotify and Apple Music. With 14 years of teaching experience, Petrocelli has mentored students who achieved national recognition. In 2024, he received a graduate assistantship at 91吃瓜网, where he pursues a master91吃瓜网 in guitar performance under the guidance of Dr. Nicholas Ciraldo. He continuously performs at national and international competitions in the United States and in public performances around Hattiesburg bringing some of his Venezuelan heritage within his repertoire.