Rising chamber music stars from the Michigan State University College of Music take the stage to compete for recognition and prizes in the second annual Barbara Wagner Chamber Music Showcase. On April 15 and 16, at both the Fairchild Theatre and via digital broadcast from the College’s Livestream channel, an event that is part of the 2021-22 MSU Federal Credit Union Showcase Series.  

The six groups competing in the event are among the best chamber musicians in, strings, winds, brass and piano at the College of Music. Each concert will feature a group of finalists who were selected by a panel of first-round judges that included violinist Sibbi Bernhardsson of the Oberlin College and Conservatory, percussionist Feza Zweifel who is Co-founder of Burning River Brass and Principal Timpanist of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and oboist Keve Wilson who is a Broadway musician and member of American Modern Ensemble.  

Finalists will compete for first, second and third place cash awards, performance opportunities, specially commissioned works, and marketing and promotional support. Distinguished final round judges include pianist Kathryn Brown of the Cleveland Institute of Music, trumpeter Louis Hanzlik of the University of Connecticut and The Juilliard School, and GRAMMY-nominated soprano soloist Lindsay Kesselman.  

Audience members, both in-person and online, are encouraged to participate in selecting the People’s Choice Award. Online voting will take place after the final performance of the second day of performances. In-person and virtual audience members watching the digital broadcast will be provided with a link to submit their top choice.   

“We are all so proud of our six finalists who have persevered through challenging times to prepare for the next step in their careers. They are all wonderful, young musicians who are dedicated to sharing their artistry,” said Yvonne Lam, assistant professor of violin and viola and coordinator of chamber music at MSU. “We are particularly grateful to Barbara Wagner whose vision and generosity made this competition possible. We also want to thank our distinguished panel of external jurors who represent the chamber music community so well.” 

The six chamber ensemble finalists are MSU College of music graduate and undergraduate instrumentalists and include a piano quartet, a brass quintet, and multiple saxophone quartets. The first day of the competition on Friday, April 15 will include performances from Clap 7, Sonitus Machina, and PULSE. The second day of the competition on Saturday, April 16 will include performances by Quartet Samod, Metaphorist, and Sound Session. A brief intermission will follow the final performance on Saturday for judge deliberations. The top three awards and People’s Choice Award winners will be announced at the end of the competition. 

The chamber music competition program and concert is generously sponsored by Barbara E. Wagner. The 2021–2022 Showcase Series is sponsored by the MSU Federal Credit Union. For more information on the artists and concerts, visit the Wagner Chamber Music Competition event pages posted online.  

General admission seating per day is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (age 60 and older) and free for students. Information on this and other concerts, recitals and performances can be found on the MSU College of Music web site: www.music.msu.edu. Please note: As of March 6, the university will no longer require patrons to wear masks and show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test to attend events hosted by the College of Music. 

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About the ensembles

Group 1 performances, Friday, April 15

The Clap7 saxophone quartet is an undergraduate ensemble from the MSU saxophone studio. Their four members—Jacob Feldman, Charlotte Jansky, Aaron Plegue, and Natalia Warthen—value not only the relationships made with each other through music, but also the importance of communication in all forms. In the last 3 years of their existence as an ensemble, they have been active performers in the East Lansing community and across the state of Michigan, and have participated in state and national competitions. Most recently, they were selected as finalists in the 2022 North American Saxophone Alliance College Quartet Competition as well as the 2022 Coltman Chamber Music Competition and advanced to the National Finals of the 2021 MTNA Chamber Music Competition.

Sonitus Machina is an East Lansing-based brass quintet comprised of graduate students from the Michigan State University College of Music’s brass studios. The group’s members are Connor Johnson and Shawn Nichols, trumpets; Elliott Mihelic, horn; Jared Jarvis, trombone; and Ian Graves, tuba. As an ensemble, they strive to create compelling and entertaining programs that span a variety of styles and genres. In their 2021-2022 season, Sonitus Machina will be performing a selection of works ranging from brass quintet standards and contemporary repertoire to jazz arrangements and an original composition by one of their own members.

PULSE is an undergraduate ensemble from the MSU saxophone studio. The members of PULSE, Zack, Luke, Owen, and Michael, are all studying music in some form and are each seeking to deliver a diverse range of repertoire that will engage and inspire any given audience. The group has grown quickly in their time together as an ensemble and has moved forward in both the 2021 and 2022 Coltman Chamber Music Competition as well as the 2022 Navy International Saxophone Symposium. They also advanced in the 2022 North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Quartet Competition. Recently, they have also been invited for a residency at the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp. All members of the quartet value the kind of brotherhood and camaraderie that blossoms while playing in a chamber group. 

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Group 2 performances, Saturday, April 16

Quartet Samod is a graduate ensemble from the MSU saxophone studio. Ensemble members are Nathan Salazar (MM), Kaylee Bernard (MM), Evan Harris (DMA), and Emmet Harris (MM). Quartet Samod was recently selected as a finalist for the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Chamber Winds Competition, the North American Saxophone Alliance Saxophone Quartet Competition, and semifinalists for the Coltman Chamber Music Competition. Its members have previously been recognized in a number of national competitions, such as the NASA Collegiate Solo and Saxophone Quartet Competitions, the MTNA Young Artist and Chamber Winds Competition, Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, as well as other local and regional competitions. This ensemble is committed to expanding the capabilities of the saxophone quartet through diverse programming ranging from string quartet transcriptions, saxophone quartet standards, and new saxophone quartet music written within the past decade.

The Metaphorist Piano Quartet was founded in 2021 by four Taiwanese students at the MSU College of Music. Formed by violinist Wen-Yi Lo, violist Yi-Pei Lin, cellist Mira Cheng, and pianist Yi-Hui Chen. The name “Metaphorist” represents their core value, was inspired by Milan Kundera: “A single metaphor can give birth to love.” By realizing that the essence of music is a metaphor, the Metaphorist Piano Quartet believes musicians are the ones who create metaphors for the world by sounds. Through music, they are dedicated to exploring the interpretation of life beyond its appearances, and giving birth to love.

Sound Session is a newly formed graduate saxophone quartet from the MSU saxophone studio. Members include Matt Fox from Albany, NY, Jacob Nance from Lubbock, TX, Jeffrey Allardyce from Grand Rapids, MI, and Tyler Young from Aberdeen, North Carolina. Sound Session’s members have previously been recognized nationally for their chamber music merits, including competition wins such as the North American Saxophone Alliance, Music Teachers National Association, Coltman, Fischoff, NOLA Chamber Fest, and the Barbara Wagner chamber competitions. Sound Session hopes to create a unique atmosphere to the world of chamber music by commissioning new works, competing nationally, and working to raise the standard for saxophone quartet playing.