Shenandoah Conservatory announces the winners of the 2024/25 Student Soloists Competition (SSC) on behalf of the SSC committee. The final round of the competition was held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, in Armstrong Concert Hall.

Pictured left to right: John O’Conor, Emanuele Andrizzi, Jean Lin, Gabriella Gans, Noah Alden Hardaway, John Tuvera Lim, Elizabeth Schulze, Anna Binneweg, David Neely, Colin Davin

Winners of this year’s competition will be featured in performances with the Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra throughout the 2024/25 season.

Participants performed in preliminary and semifinal rounds judged by the 2024/25 SSC Committee, which featured Shenandoah Conservatory faculty representatives from the Instrumental, Keyboard and Vocal/Choral Divisions, as well as Director of Orchestral Studies and Associate Professor of Conducting Emanuele Andrizzi, D.M.A., who also serves as SCC Committee chair. The final round was adjudicated by an all-external jury.

Student Soloists Competition Committee

Student Soloists Competition Chair

Emanuele Andrizzi, Director of Orchestral Studies; Associate Professor of Conducting

SSC Instrumental Division Representative

Colin Davin, Director of Guitar Studio; Associate Professor of Guitar

SSC Vocal/Choral Division Representative

Fotina Naumenko, Associate Professor of Voice (Soprano)

SSC Keyboard Division Representative

John O’Conor, Distinguished Artist-in-Residence; Chair of Keyboard Division; Professor of Piano

Guest Final Jury

Elizabeth Schulze, music director

Maryland Symphony Orchestra

Anna Binneweg, conductor and music director

Londontowne Symphony Orchestra and AACC Symphony Orchestra

David Neely, conductor and music director

University of Maryland School of Music and DesMoines Metro Opera

About the Winners

Violinist Gabrielle Gans ’25 (Bachelor of Music in Performance) studies with Victor Brown Endowed Chair in Violin and Professor of Violin Akemi Takayama, D.M.A.

Pianist Noah Alden Hardaway ’21, ’24 (Master of Music in Performance, Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance) studies with Distinguished Artist-in-Residence, Chair of Keyboard Division and Professor of Piano John O’Conor, Mus.D.

Pianist Jean Lin ’25 (Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance) studies with Distinguished Artist-in-Residence, Chair of Keyboard Division and Professor of Piano John O’Conor, Mus.D.

Baritone John Tuvera Lim ’25 (Master of Music in Performance) studies with Professor of Voice Byron Jones ’04, D.M.A.

Explore the digital program to learn more.