20 Leaders Under the Age of 30
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20 under 30 The Class of 2015: 20 leaders under the age of 30 By THE DIAPASON staff Joe Balistreri Joey Brink Joe Balistreri, 28, a proud citizen of Detroit, Michigan, Joey Brink, 26, a carillonneur and engineer, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in organ performance began carillon studies at Yale University in 2007 at the University of Michigan, studying with James Kibbie. His with Ellen Dickinson, receiving a B.S. in mechani- organ performances include an AGO convention, university cal engineering with a thesis on the design of realis- conferences, and orchestral collaborations. tic-touch practice carillon keyboards. He received Since 2011, Balistreri has been the director of music for the a Belgian-American Educational Foundation Archdiocese of Detroit, serving as a resource and community (BAEF) fellowship to study with Eddy Marien, facilitator for parish musicians and clergy. He created an Koen Cosaert, and Geert D’hollander at the Royal annual “Chant Bootcamp,” a down-to-earth crash course week Carillon School in Mechelen, Belgium, where he that enables parish musicians to read, understand, and enjoy graduated with “greatest distinction” in June 2012. photo credit: Ryan Southen plainchant, and developed an annual marathon organ recital, photo credit: Bok Tower Gardens Brink went on to win first prize and audience prize (ryansouthen.com) showcasing parish organists from across Southeast Michigan (www.boktowergardens.org) at the 7th International Queen Fabiola Carillon in a whirlwind series of 25-minute recitals. The marathon also Competition in Mechelen in 2014. includes a fundraising competition, supporting the music ministries of each organist. Brink received a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at the Univer- As Episcopal Music Director at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, Balistreri co-directs the sity of Utah in collaboration with NASA in December 2014. Since January parish adult choir, directs the Archdiocesan Chorus, and leads the Cathedral Cultural Series 2015, he has been studying carillon performance and composition with Geert (CCS), a non-profit concert series of organ and choral music, which features music for two D’hollander at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida, as a Bok Tower organs at least annually, showcasing the cathedral’s 1925 Casavant and 2005 Austin organs. Carillon Fellow. Brink currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife, car- In his spare time, Joe Balistreri enjoys cycling, cooking, surveying architecture, Detroit illonneur Vera Brink. The Brinks spend much of their free time immersed in politics, and composing. He is particularly proud of starting a choral program at Detroit’s the nearby Wasatch Mountains hiking, mountain biking, camping, and skiing. Loyola High School, a school serving at-risk inner-city youth. An active member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America and the Interesting fact: Seven years ago, infamously scandalous Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick World Carillon Federation, Joey Brink will play more than 30 carillon concerts planted a maple tree in front of my house before he went away to prison. in seven countries in 2015; he also composes for carillon. As a mechanical Proudest achievement: I’m most proud of restoring the Archdiocesan Chorus of Detroit engineer, he has presented research on carillons at a 2012 symposium. as a permanent resident ensemble for the archdiocese three years ago. In early March, the Interesting fact: Each fall I coach a FIRST Lego League team of boys that chorus received an invitation to sing for Epiphany Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica with Pope build Lego robots and compete in Lego tournaments. Francis! Most importantly, the chorus has fostered a wonderful network of friendships and Proudest achievement: I am most proud of receiving first prize at the 7th professional connections. International Queen Fabiola Competition for Carillon Performance in Mech- Goals and aspirations: I’m interested in making and promoting passionate, beautiful, elen, Belgium. The competition hosts the highest-level upcoming carillonneurs, spirit-lifting sacred music and have a strong interest in promoting the Gregorian propers as and in June 2014 I became the first North American to ever take the first prize. a transcendent pathway to God. I’d like to explore the relationship between centonization in Goals and aspirations: I aspire to continue performing worldwide on the the Gregorian repertoire (especially in graduals and alleluias) and newer African-American carillon and compose for the instrument. I hope to devote much of my career improvisatory idioms . possibilities exist for creative fusion of the two traditions in Catho- to teaching carillon, as well as apply my engineering background to influence lic music programs. Finally, I’m very interested in developing a small choral ensemble/ the design of future carillons and practice carillons. composer forum that focuses on early sacred music and new sacred writing. Nicholas Capozzoli Thomas Bowers Nicholas Capozzoli, 22, a native of Pittsburgh, Thomas Bowers, 26, received his bachelor’s degree in music Pennsylvania, is a fourth-year student at the Ober- and philosophy from Florida State University. While studying lin Conservatory of Music, studying organ with piano at FSU, he developed an interest in the harpsichord and James David Christie and harpsichord with Webb organ and in instrument construction. In 2008, he took time Wiggins. A first-place winner in several competi- away from school to complete an internship in harpsichord tions, most recently the 2013 Region III American building at Zuckermann Harpsichords, where he focused on Guild of Organists/Quimby Competition, he has voicing and regulation, completing the construction of his first performed in venues including St. Paul Cathedral, instrument, a copy of an Italian harpsichord originally built in Pittsburgh; St. Patrick Catholic Church, Washing- 1665, in 2009. ton, D.C.; Church of the Covenant, Cleveland; Bowers earned a master’s degree in harpsichord performance Old South Church, Boston; and the Musée des photo credit: Alyssa Lund from the Longy School of Music, where he studied with Avi Augustins, Toulouse, France. Capozzoli presented recitals at the 2013 National (alyssalundphotography.com) Stein and participated in masterclasses with Vivian Montgom- Association of Pastoral Musicians Convention in Washington, the 2014 AGO ery, Martin Pearlman, David Schemer, and others. He currently National Convention as a “Rising Star,” and at the 2014 Piccolo Spoleto Festival serves as organist and choir director for St. Chrysostom’s Church in Quincy, Massachusetts. “L’Organo Series” in Charleston, South Carolina. He has served as a sacred With artist Kendyll Hillegas, he organizes the Hive Gallery at St. Chrysostom’s, a seasonal music intern at New York City’s Brick Presbyterian Church and Ss. Peter and art opening and early music concert to promote the work of young artists and musicians in Paul Catholic Church in Naperville, Illinois, working under the direction of the Boston area. Keith Tóth and Matthew Sprinkle, respectively. He currently serves as organist Thomas Bowers performs regularly in Boston as a chamber musician and soloist and works at Bethesda-on-the-Bay Lutheran Church in Bay Village, Ohio. Nicholas Capoz- as a technician for the Harpsichord Clearing House; a founding member of the Baroque zoli is also an active solo harpsichordist and continuo player, and in his fifth year ensemble Incendium Novum, he seeks to bring early music repertoire to new audiences. at Oberlin, he will pursue a master of music degree in historical performance. Interesting fact: I am an avid rock climber. I find this a compelling sport because it chal- Proudest achievement: Presenting a “Rising Star” recital at the 2014 AGO lenges both the physical and problem-solving abilities of the climber. Convention in Boston for a full capacity audience of organists. Proudest achievement: My greatest achievement thus far is convincing my wife, Kellie, Career goals: In addition to working in the field of church music, I hope to to marry me! have an active performance career in both organ and harpsichord—including Goals and aspirations: I have been working to build a career that combines performance, continuo, working with many instrumental early music ensembles. teaching, and instrument work. I plan to pursue a doctorate, and am interested in conduct- An interesting fact: When I was little, I really wanted to be either a priest or ing research on the historical building practices of harpsichord and organ makers. a pirate . but who knows, maybe one of those career paths can still happen! 20 n THE DIAPASON n MAY 2015 WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM he Diapason’s inaugural “20 under 30” selections came from a field that included over 100 Tnominations, a response that surprised and delighted us. The nominees were evaluated based upon information provided in the nominations; we selected only from those who had been nomi- nated. We looked for evidence of such things as career advancement, technical skills, and creativity and innovation; we considered a nominee’s awards and competition prizes, publications and composi- tions, and significant positions in the mix. Our selections were not limited merely to organists but reflect the breadth of our editorial scope, which includes the organ, harpsichord, carillon, and church music. Here we present the winners’ backgrounds and accomplishments, and then have them tell us something interesting about themselves, and about their achievements, goals, and aspirations. Since we had to decline multiple nominees for each one we chose, selecting only 20 from a field of very worthy nominees was quite a challenge. We do urge you to participate in the “20 under 30” awards next year—a person must be nominated in order to be selected. Katelyn Emerson Jillian Gardner Christopher Houlihan Katelyn Emerson, 23, pres- Jillian Gardner, 22, is Christopher ents concerts and masterclasses working towards her bach- Houlihan, 27, throughout the United States on elor of music degree in organ has performed in interpretation, repertoire, and at the Oberlin Conservatory major cities across sacred music.