YSM Alumni and Student News Round-Up | May 2026

Amo Brass — which is composed of trumpeters Connor Holland ’21MM ’22MMA and Josh Bialkin ’22MM ’23MMA, hornist Olivia Martinez ’22MM ’23MMA, trombonist David Seder ’22MM ’24MMA, and tubist Vivian Kung ’22MM — was selected as the winner of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Association’s Ann Divine Educator Award. The award recognizes the educational outreach work of Fischoff Competition alumni who have demonstrated outstanding and imaginative programming for children and youth in the United States. 

Conductor Dante Anzolini’s ’89MM ’90MMA ’97DMA transcription of Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht for piano was realized in February (Universal Edition). It is the first-ever solo piano version of the piece to be published. 

Violinist Laurel Gagnon’s ’25MMA trio, Vinola Trio, won first prize at the NOLA Chamber Festival’s Emerging Artist Competition. They will return to perform at the University of New Orleans in the 2026–27 season. 

String for Peace — an ensemble composed of guitarist Sharon Isbin ’78BA ’79MM and sarod virtuoso Amjad Ali Khan — made its New York City debut at Symphony Space in April. Earlier this year, Isbin’s album Romántico won in the “Producer of the Year, Classical,” category at the 2026 GRAMMY Awards.  

Hornist Scott Leger ’19MM ’25DMA will join the University of Kentucky faculty as Assistant Professor of Music, Horn starting in fall 2026. 

Thomas Lloyd’s ’78MAR ’79MM choral-theater work, Bonhoeffer, was performed by the Harvard Glee Club, conducted by Andrew Clark. The performance was preceded by a panel — with Lloyd, Mac Loftin, Dudley Rose, and Jennifer McBridge — discussion on how Bonhoeffer’s life and writing have been variously engaged for conflicting aims in the midst of current political and religious divisions. 

Violist Matthew McDowell ’24MM ’25MMA was named as the new violist of the Schumann String Quartet. 

In March, pianist Martin Leung ’10MM gave a lecture-recital on video game music at the Music Teachers National Convention. He also ran in the Boston Marathon in April and won first place in the Pacific Southwest Open chess tournament last year. 

Cellist Inbal Megiddo’s ’98BA ’01MM ’02AD recent recording, Bach: The Cello Suites (Atoll Records), was hailed as “a top contender among cellists recording today” (MusicWeb International) and “a modern, lively ambassador for Bach.” (String Magazine). 

Violinist Igor Pikayzen ’11MM ’12AD was appointed Professor of Violin at the Cleveland Institute of Music starting in fall 2026.  

Conductor Ryan Rogers ’23MM accepted a tenure-track appointment as Assistant Professor of Music in Choral Conducting and Music Education at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, beginning fall 2026. He will direct the Concert Choir and the Symphonic Choir, teaching courses in Choral Music Education, and supervising student teachers.

Composer Chris Rogerson ’12MM was named the new Artistic Director of the Bravo! Vail Music Festival.

After a prominent career as a critic, teacher, and consultant, Greg Sandow ’74MM transitioned to composing full-time. A recording of his three string quartets — performed by the Terra String Quartet, YSM’s Fellowship Ensemble-in-Residence — was released by Acis in February.  

In January, conductor Enrico Sartori ’05MM conducted Verdi’s La traviata at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Constanța, Romania. 

Cellist William Suh ’23MM ’24MMA won first prize at both the Hennings-Fischer Young Artist Competition and the Naftzger National Young Artists Competition, Strings Division. 

Mezzo-soprano Eva Vogel ’02MM recently performed in Die Walküre at Teatro alla Scala under Simone Young and Alexander Soddy. Later this year, she will perform and tour in a historically informed production of the Ring Cycle, led by Kent Nagano.

Conductor Kevin Vondrak ’30DMA was appointed Artistic Director of the Monmouth Civic Chorus in New Jersey, succeeding fellow YSM alum Ryan Brandau ’06MM ’07MMA ’11DMA. He is set to begin in the 2026–27 season and will maintain his role as Associate Conductor of The Crossing in Philadelphia.  

Hornist Kate Warren ’23MM was appointed full-time Instructor of Horn at Arkansas State University. She was also named TonalEnergy’s first sponsored Teaching Artist, marking the beginning of an extensive music education-based collaboration that will result in the creation of resources for musicians, educators, and students. Kate also premiered a new setting of Cait Nishimura’s Golden Hour for horn and wind band in February. And in April, she performed as the featured guest artist at the 2026 Florida French Horn Festival. 

Ross Wightman’s ’20MMA robotic instrument, Fiddle Henge, was awarded second prize at the 2026 Guthman Musical Instrument Competition. Fiddle Henge is a robotically controlled array of four violins mounted on a bass drum and bowed by a motorized acrylic disk, producing dense mechanical textures and microtonal sonorities that flicker between noise and spectrally rich drone.  

Conductor Yiran Zhao ’23MM was named one of Boston Symphony Orchestra’s new Assistant Conductors, starting in the 2026–27 season. Zhao will make her BSO conducting debut during the 2027 Tanglewood season. As a Tanglewood Music Center Conducting Fellow, she made her BSO debut in a subscription concert shared with Music Director Andris Nelsons on April 3, 2026.

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These news updates feature current students and alums. Submit your news by July 31, 2026 to be included in the next YSM Alumni & Student News Round-Up.