Philharmonia Presents Young Artist Concert March 19

The Buffalo State Philharmonia will present its annual Young Artist Concert on Tuesday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall.

The concert, which is free and open to the public, will feature six Buffalo State student soloists selected following an audition held in December. Auditions for the Young Artist Competition are open to all Buffalo State students, whether enrolled in the music program or another academic discipline.

This year's audition performances were so strong that the judges selected six students rather than the usual two or three, said Philharmonia Director Paul Ferington.

"The judges wanted to give them all the opportunity to perform solos, and I decided to put them all in one concert," Ferington said. "It's an impressive group of musicians, all with very different and interesting backgrounds.”

Featured soloists and work performed

Oboist Brianna Corgel, First Movement of Haydn’s Oboe Concerto
A senior, Corgel has been a member of the Philharmonia, the Wind Ensemble, and various woodwind chamber groups.

Violinist Graham Patten, Chausson’s Poème for Violin and Orchestra
Patten is enrolled in Buffalo State’s art conservation program. A graduate of Brandeis University, Patten has been a member of the Boston Philharmonic, the New England Philharmonic, and the Greater Boston Youth Symphony.

Trumpet player Stephen McLean, Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto
McLean is completing a dual bachelor’s degree in history and music performance. He has been a member of the Philharmonia, Jazz and Wind ensembles, and the Spirit Gospel Choir.  

Pianist Jonathan Rizzo, First Movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 K. 466
A junior piano student, Rizzo is active in the Digital Music Ensemble and is an accompanist for various groups around Western New York.

Guitarist Josh Moore, Villa-Lobos Concerto for Guitar and Small Orchestra
A senior guitar student, Moore was one of the few applicants invited to audition for the prestigious Yale University Graduate Guitar Program.

Saxophonist Ellen Pieroni, Milhaud’s Scaramouche for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra
Pieroni is a freshman saxophone student and member of the Jazz and Wind ensembles and the Saxophone Quartet. She has been a featured soloist with the Cheektowaga Symphony and the Buffalo Niagara Concert Band.