Tag: Musicians

Pittsburgh Symphony Promotes Assistant Concertmaster and Associate Conductors, Hires Musicians, Names New Board Members

Posted on July 26, 2023 by - Who's In

In Thursday’s (7/20) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jeremy Reynolds writes, “There’s some new blood and a few promotions at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. On Thursday, the symphony announced that first violinist Justine Campagna, who joined the symphony in 2018, has been appointed assistant concertmaster. Assistant conductors Moon Doh and Jacob Joyce were promoted to the rank of associate conductor. The orchestra also hired two new musicians: Douglas Rosenthal as associate principal trombonist and Michelle Hembree as second horn. The symphony is continuing to replenish its ranks in the wake of the pandemic, when it was unable to hold live auditions to fill retirement vacancies. In addition to Rosenthal and Hembree, the symphony has hired five other musicians over the course of the previous season: second violinists Boxianzi (Vivian) Ling, Regi Papa and Carolyn Semes, and oboist Samuel Nemec. Additionally, Joshua Samuel Carr, trumpet, and Drew Collins, bass, are the new Paul J. Ross Fellows. The fellowship is a two-year pre-professional program intended to promote diversity in the orchestra. Such programs are becoming increasingly common around the country. Carr and Collins will begin playing with the orchestra in the fall. Finally, the symphony also announced 11 new members on its board of directors.”

New Principal Horn at Dallas Symphony

Posted on July 24, 2023 by - Who's In

Daniel Hawkins has been named principal horn at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, beginning on September 1, 2023. Hawkins has held the position of utility horn with the San Francisco Symphony since 2017, serving as associate principal horn for the 2019-20 season. Hawkins previously played with the San Antonio Symphony, Houston Symphony, Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra, Meadows Symphony Orchestra. and Southern Arkansas Symphony. Hawkins won first place in the International Horn Competition of America in 2022; was the award winner of the Music Teacher’s National Association Young Artist Competition in 2014; and won the Meadows School of the Arts Undergraduate and General Concerto Competition in 2012 and 2015. A native of Chandler, Texas, Hawkins began playing the horn at age 11, and studied at Stephen F. Austin State University at age 15. Hawkins studied at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University from 2012-2015, receiving a Bachelor of Music, and continued at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where he received a Master of Music degree. Hawkins’s teachers include DSO Second Horn Haley Hoops, former DSO Principal Horn Greg Hustis, and William VerMeulen at Rice University.