Classical Tahoe Academy: CT Fellows
Classical Tahoe welcomes seven Black and Latinx musicians as Fellows of this year’s Classical Tahoe Academy. We seek to promote diversity in American orchestras by providing the fellows the opportunity to network and perform in a high-level professional setting. These musicians come from around the world to be in residence in Incline Village as CT Fellows.
While in residence, the CT Fellows perform with the Classical Tahoe Orchestra and participate in a customized experience of mentorship, networking, and audition preparation. CT Fellows are professional-level musicians currently auditioning with top-tier orchestras. The ultimate goal of Classical Tahoe Academy is job placement for musicians of color in top American orchestras.
Fellows from the 2021 and 2022 Academies have been offered positions with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, Knoxville Symphony, Classical Tahoe, Minnesota Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Orchestra of the Americas, and Symphoria.
Classical Tahoe is an Orchestral Partner with the Sphinx Organization. Some of this year’s CT Fellows came to our notice through their outstanding auditions in Sphinx’s orchestral competition. We thank Weston Sprott, recipient of the Sphinx Medal of Excellence, Dean of the Preparatory Division at the Juilliard School, and frequent trombonist with Classical Tahoe, for facilitating this connection between organizations.
The CT Fellows will take the spotlight at the Community Concert on July 27. Come hear them in a delightful program of chamber music gems!
Classical Tahoe Academy is made possible by Dennis and Alexandra Landis, Leslie Wittmann and Michael Blaszyk, and Beth and Scott Minick and family.
2023 CT Fellows
Diego de la Cruz Iwadare
Violin
Education: San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Arts center of San Luis
Mentors: Simon James, Olga Goryachikh
Jennifer Redondas
Violin
Hometown: Havana, Cuba
Ensembles: SFCM Symphony Orchestra, SFCM Baroque Ensemble, Havana Lyceum Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba
Education: San Francisco Conservatory of Music, New World School of the Arts
Mentors: Kay Stern, Ian Swensen, Daniel Andai, Anne Chicheportiche, Carmen Amador
Edwardo Rios
Viola
Hometown: Houston, TX
Current Ensembles/Positions/School: Principal at Abilene Philharmonic and Section at Tulsa Symphony
Ensembles: Sub Grant Park Orchestra
Education: BM University of North Texas
Mentors: Susan Dubois
Lindsey Sharpe
Cello
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Ensembles: Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Chicago Sinfonietta
Education: University of Michigan, Rice University
Mentors: Anthony Elliott, Norman Fischer, Brant Taylor
Sebastian Brea Pérez
Flute
Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela
Current Ensembles/Positions/School: Freelance, Miami
Ensembles: New World Symphony, City Music Cleveland
Education: Cleveland Institute of Music, Interlochen Arts Academy
Mentors: Jessica Sindell, Mary Kay Fink, Hannah Hammel
Federico Montes
Trumpet
Hometown: Manizales, Colombia.
Current Ensemble: Associate Principal Trumpet at Omaha Symphony Orchestra
Ensembles: Former Second Trumpet at Miami City Ballet and Former Assistant Principal at The Florida Orchestra.
Education: University of South Florida – BM, The Juilliard School – MM, University of Miami – DMA.
Mentors: Mark Gould, Ray Maze, Jay Coble, Eric Aubier, Craig Morris.
Alex Mendoza
Percussion
Hometown: Laredo, Texas
Ensembles: Dallas Symphony, Ft. Worth Symphony
Education: University of North Texas, Duquesne University
Mentors: Ed Stephan, Chris Allen, John Soroka, George Nickson
2022 CT Fellows
Julian Maddox
Violin
Hometown: Minnetonka, Minnesota
Current: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Ensembles: ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, New World Symphony, Canton Symphony, Cleveland Pops Orchestra
Education: Cleveland Institute of Music, University of Minnesota
Mentors: Jaime Laredo, Jan Sloman, Kathleen Winkler, William Preucil, Sally O’Reilly
Sofia Schutte
Violin
Hometown: San Jose, Costa Rica / San Francisco, California
Ensembles: Principal Second in Heredia Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica
Education: San Francisco Conservatory of Music, University of Minnesota
Mentors: Simon James, Sally O’Reilly, Ivan Perez
Pedro Mendez
Viola
Hometown: Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela
Ensembles: Illinois Philharmonic, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Chicago Sinfonietta
Education: Roosevelt University, Vicente Emilio Sojo Conservatory
Clarissa Vieira
Cello
Hometown: Belém, Brazil
Ensembles: Amazon Cello Choir, Youth Orchestra Vale Music, Symphony of the Americas, South Florida Symphony, Teatro da Paz, New World Symphony
Education: Lynn University School of Music, Vale Music Institute, Federal School of Music of Pará
Mentors: David Cole
Sebastian Brea Perez
Flute
Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela
Current: Cleveland Institute of Music
Ensembles: New World Symphony
Education: Cleveland Institute of Music, Interlochen Arts Academy
Eduardo Sepulveda
Oboe
Hometown: Antofagasta, Chile
Current: Symphoria (Syracuse, NY)
Education: The Juilliard School, Cleveland Institute of Music, Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
Olivia Hamilton
Clarinet
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Ensembles: The Orchestra Now, Pittsburgh Symphony
Education: Northwestern University, University of North Texas
Mentors: Steve Cohen, Mark Nuccio, John Scott, Kimberly Cole Luevano
Fabiola Hoyo
Bassoon
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Education: Lynn University School of Music, Simon Bolivar Conservatory of Music
Mentors: Whitney Crockett, Eric Van der Veer Varner, Omar Ascanio, Alexander Ricaurte
Nelson Yovera
French Horn
Hometown: San Felipe, Yaracuy, Venezuela
Current: Civic Orchestra of Chicago
Education: Roosevelt University
Kevin Karabell
Trumpet
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Current: Principal Trumpet of Jacksonville Symphony
Ensembles: Palm Beach Symphony, Florida Grand Opera
Education: Cleveland Institute of Music, University of Miami, Lynn Conservatory
Harry Gonzalez
Trombone
Hometown: Southern California
Ensembles: Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, San Francisco Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Austin Symphony, Austin Opera, San Francisco Opera
Education: Rice University, San Francisco Conservatory
Mentors: Nathaniel Brickens, Allen Barnhill, Mark Lawrence, Amy Bowers, Michael Hoffman
Dana Dominguez
Percussion
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Ensembles: Bozeman Symphony Orchestra
Education: Rice University, University of Texas at Austin
2021 CT Fellows
Sabrina Bradford
Violin
Hometown: Takoma Park, MD
Current: Minnesota Orchestra
Ensembles: Nashville Symphony, National Philharmonic
Education: Vanderbilt University, Cleveland Institute of Music
Julian Maddox
Violin
Hometown: Minnetonka, MN
Current: Canton Symphony Orchestra, Akron Symphony, Cleveland Pops, Firelands Symphony, New World Symphony, Columbus Opera, and ProMusica Chamber Orchestras
Education: Cleveland Institute of Music, currently pursuing Master of Music, CIM
Davis Perez
Viola
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Ensembles: Quad City, Madison, Northwest Indiana Symphonies
Education: University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Chicago College of Performing Arts
Mentors: Catherine Carroll, Masao Kawasaki and Roger Chase
Francesca McNeeley
Cello
Hometown: Boston, MA
Current: Collaborator and soloist, Boston (MA) area.
Ensembles: Boston Symphony Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Castle of Our Skins, New Gallery Concert Series
Education: Princeton University, Shepherd School of Music/Rice University, New England Conservatory
Christopher Johnson
Bass
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Current: Freelance, New York City
Ensembles: Philadelphia Orchestra (substitute), Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Sphinx Virtuosi, Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Albany Symphony Orchestra, Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, Wordless Music Orchestra, Verbier Festival Orchestra
Education: Bachelor of Music, New England Conservatory; Master of Music, Manhattan School of Music; 1st place, International Society of Bassist competition, Finalist, Sphinx Orchestral Partners Association’s Orchestral Competition
Devan Jaquez
Flute
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Education: Master of Music Degree, Colburn Conservatory in Los Angeles; BA, Music Performance, UCLA
Ensembles/Chamber: Colburn Chamber Music Society, Music Academy of the West
Festivals: Spoleto Festival USA, American Institute of Music, Graz Orchestra (Austria), National Repertory Orchestra (CO), soloist with the UCLA Philharmonia Orchestra.
Tamara Winston
Oboe
Hometown: New York, NY
Ensembles: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New York City Ballet, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Montclair Orchestra, Carnegie Hall/Ensemble Connect.
Chamber, Festivals: Ensemble Intercontemporain, Philharmonie de Paris, ConnectFive (NYC-based Woodwind quintet)
Juan Esteban Martínez
Clarinet & Bass Clarinet
Hometown: New York, NY
Ensembles: New York String Orchestra Seminar (2 years), Symphony in C (NJ), Princeton Symphony (NJ), Westminster Opera Theater, Yale Philharmonia, National Repertory Orchestra, Orchestra of the Americas
Education: Master of Music, Yale School of Music; BA, Peabody Conservatory of Music
Mentors: David Shifrin, Anthony McGill.
Steven Palacio
Bassoon
Hometown: New York, NY
Current: Freelance musician and agent in New York City
Ensembles: Georgian Bay Symphony (Canada), the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Albany Symphony, the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of the Americas, League of Composers Orchestra
Education: Master of Music, The Juilliard School; Artist Diploma, Glenn Gould School, The Royal Conservatory of Music; Bachelor of Science, International Affairs; Bachelor of Music, The Florida State University (Honors)
Corbin Castro
Horn
Hometown: Miami Beach, FL
Current: Horn Fellow – New World Symphony
Ensembles: Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Richmond Symphony. Festivals: Verbier, Tanglewood, Spoleto.
Education: Shepherd School of Music/Rice University, Manhattan School of Music
Alex Mendoza
Percussion
Hometown: Austin, TX
Ensembles: Victoria Symphony, Johnstown Symphony, Westmoreland Symphony, and Wheeling Symphony, Carnegie Hall/Ensemble Connect
Festivals: Aspen Music Festival: 2018, 2019
Education: M.M., Percussion Performance, Duquesne University (Graduate Assistant). B.M., University of North Texas, Music Education
