Shenandoah Conservatory announces the winners of the 2025/26 Student Soloists Competition (SSC) on behalf of the SSC committee.
Competition Winners
Christopher Gilley, cello (Category I)
Timur Mustakimov, piano (Category II)
Cadence Weaver, voice (Category II)
Honorable Mentions
Sarah Morris, piano (Category II)
Carlos Fernando Jr. Medina Romero, piano (Category II)
The final round of the competition was held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, in Armstrong Concert Hall (view the digital program to learn more about the final round). Winners of this year’s competition will be featured in performances with the Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra throughout the 2025/26 season.
Participants performed in preliminary and semifinal rounds judged by the 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.
“The judges were extremely proud of our students and said it was amazing to see so much talent and to listen to such great performances all at once, during this memorable evening,” said Dr. Andrizzi.
Pictured left to right: Emanuele Andrizzi, Fotina Naumenko, Alessandra Cuffaro, Sharon Christman, Philip Espe, Timur Mustakimov, Carlos Fernando Jr. Medina Romero, Sarah Morris, Cadence Weaver, Christopher Gilley
Student Soloists Competition Committee
Student Soloists Competition Chair
Emanuele Andrizzi
Director of Orchestral Studies
Associate Professor of Conducting
Shenandoah Conservatory
SSC Instrumental Division Representative
Colin Davin
Director of Guitar Studio
Associate Professor of Guitar
Shenandoah Conservatory
SSC Vocal/Choral Division Representative
Fotina Naumenko
Associate Professor of Voice (Soprano)
Shenandoah Conservatory
SSC Keyboard Division Representative
John O’Conor
Distinguished Artist-in-Residence
Chair of Keyboard Division
Professor of Piano
Shenandoah Conservatory
Guest Final Jury
Alessandra Cuffaro, violin
The Catholic University of America
Philip Espe, clarinet, conductor
“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band
Sharon Christman, soprano
The Catholic University of America
About the Winners
Cellist Christopher Gilley ’26 (Bachelor of Music in Performance) studies with Associate Professor of Cello Julian Schwarz, M.M. Gilley began his musical journey at age four on the piano, studying under his mother, pianist Ariel Gilley. After seven years, he decided to begin learning the cello and quickly fell in love with the instrument. Gilley joined the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO) in 2019, where he played for four years, serving as principal cellist for two. In 2022, he won the RSYO Concerto Competition and had the opportunity to perform Tchaikovsky’s “Rococo Variations” with the orchestra later that year.
Pianist Timur Mustakimov ’26 (Artist Diploma) studies with Distinguished Artist-in-Residence, Chair of Keyboard Division and Professor of Piano John O’Conor, Mus.D. Mustakimov is the winner of many piano competitions, including the gold medal at the Johannes Brahms International Piano Competition in Austria.
Soprano Cadence Weaver ’27 (Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance) studies with Adjunct Associate Professor of Voice Diane Atherton, P.D.V.T. Weaver is a versatile soprano in her first year of doctoral study at Shenandoah Conservatory. A proud Appalachian native from Letart, West Virginia, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music performance and a Master of Arts in music history and literature from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. She will present the role of Meg Page in Verdi’s “Falstaff’ next month.
About the Honorable Mentions
Pianist Sarah Morris ’24, ’25 (Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance, Graduate Certificate in Performing Arts Health & Fitness) studies with Distinguished Artist-in-Residence, Chair of Keyboard Division and Professor of Piano John O’Conor, Mus.D. Morris grew up learning piano from her dad. She earned her bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Evangel University, followed by two master’s degrees from Texas Christian University in piano performance and piano pedagogy. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and has presented at multiple national and international conferences regarding the positive impact of fitness training for musicians. Outside of piano and research, Morris is a nationally competitive weightlifter and has multiple top three finishes at the U.S.A. Weightlifting Nationals.
Pianist Carlos Fernando Jr. Medina Romero ’25 (Master of Music in Performance) studies with Distinguished Artist-in-Residence, Chair of Keyboard Division and Professor of Piano John O’Conor, Mus.D. He has received numerous awards for his artistry in the United States, Mexico, Cuba and Guatemala. These awards include prizes in piano competitions, nominations for CD recordings and scholarships for outstanding academic achievements. Medina completed postgraduate studies at Lynn University Conservatory of Music, Universidad InterNaciones and earned a Bachelor of Arts in piano performance from the National Conservatory of Music in Guatemala. As a soloist, he has performed with the Lynn Philharmonia (U.S.A.), the Orchestra of the National Conservatory of Music, the Municipal Youth Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra (Guatemala). His performances have occurred in various concert halls across the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Cuba and Guatemala. He is the co-founder and artistic director of the Luis Felipe Arias Piano Festival-Competition (Guatemala 2024).
