46TH STULBERG INTERNATIONAL STRING COMPETITION MAY 22, 2021 for all that Stulberg International String Competition does for musicians and music in Southwest Michigan. The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo is proud to support them. Photo Credit: John Lacko Become a member today and we can support you too! KalamazooArts.org your community music school Music instruction for all ages and abilitites! Study and learn in a positive and supportive atmosphere with professional, enthusiastic, experienced, university trained teaching artists. Financial aid available for all programs. Private Instruction • Group Classes Chamber Ensembles • Crescendo Fiddlers Music Together®Mixed Ages, Babies, & Rhythm Kids Virtual lessons available; learn in the comfort and safety of your own home! 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Ste 12 downtown Kalamazoo 269/345-6664 www.crescendoacademy.com Your local community bank We will put you FIRST. Right here at home, we are able to serve you - one community member to another. •Commercial Banking •Personal Banking •Private Banking Proud to sponsor the Stulberg International String Competition fnbmichigan.com Downtown Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo West | Portage Welcome to the Competition Photo Credit: Chris McGuire Dear Friends, Perhaps the most challenging job at the Competition is reserved for our On behalf of the Stulberg Board of esteemed judges. We are grateful to Directors, it is my pleasure to welcome Cynthia Phelps, Mitchell Newman, and you to the 2021 Stulberg International Sara Sant’Ambrogio for their thoughtful String Competition. Since 1975, some evaluation and selection. of the most promising young string players have competed here and many Whether you are joining us from of today’s artists, Joshua Bell among Kalamazoo or from the other side of them, credit the Stulberg for launching the globe, today we come together to their careers. applaud twelve remarkable musicians. This year’s twelve semifinalists were We celebrate you Christy, Yireh, chosen from a record number of Grace, Nayoun, Chelsie, Serin, Bobby, applicants. We are mindful of the special Evan, Keila, Lauren, Eena, and Sean. challenges these 226 young musicians Congratulations on making it to the have faced this past year and admire Stulberg. We will be watching you for their perseverance and devotion to years to come and cheering for you their art. along the way! Many people have made this event Sincerely, possible. Our heartfelt thanks to the sponsors, funding partners, patrons, teachers, young artists, their families, and listeners like you. We also wish to express our gratitude to Megan Yankee Alisa J. Carrel for her leadership and creativity and to President of the Board Josh Koets for his technical expertise. 6 Make every day a great performance! NEW AQUATIC Why not enjoy life at your tempo? CENTER! Come for a visit At Friendship Village, you can develop new relationships while retaining the privacy you love. Participate in cultural excursions, enjoy our state-of-the-art Fitness and Aquatic Center, or join timely discussion groups. Experience our 72-acre campus with plenty of green space to walk, or grow your own vegetables and flowers in our Village Garden. With so many choices, you’ll have more time doing the things you love, such as dining with friends and enjoying delicious, farm-to-table fare prepared by our Executive Chef. Now is the perfect time to learn about the security and financial benefits of LifeCare®* and our Wait List options. Come for a visit and see all that Friendship Village has to offer you and your family! VISIT US TODAY! (269) 220-6227 1400 North Drake Road, Kalamazoo, MI Our Life Plan includes Independent Living • Assisted Living Memory Care • Skilled Care • Short Term Rehabilitation Managed by *References to the term LifeCare® are fully explained in the Continuing Care Agreement. Table of Contents President’s Welcome 6 History 10 Board of Directors and Staff 12 2021 Competition Statistics 13 Medalist History 14 Judge History 16 2021 Judge Biographies 17 2021 Semifinalist Biographies 20 Supporters 32 Special Thanks 36 Index of Advertisers 39 8 Looking for a new view? Prime Locations • Flexible Terms • Competitive Rates Will Renovate to Suit • Suites to Accommodate Your Needs Gilmore Real Estate Contact Chris Shook for more information: 269.381.3490 x102 [email protected] Julius & Esther Stulberg In 1920, Julius Stulberg was brought to Montreal when his parents emigrated from Kieselien, Poland. The family eventually settled in Marshall, Michigan. Julius received degrees from and taught at Michigan State University, where he also met his future wife, Esther Leiberman. The Stulberg bond with Kalamazoo was forged in 1941 when he accepted the post of conductor of the newly established Junior Symphony. In 1945, the Stulberg family moved to Kalamazoo when Julius joined the faculty of Western Michigan University. Throughout his life, his wife Esther was his support and helpmate. Following Julius’ death at the age of 61 in 1974, she was the driving force behind the establishment of the Competition, which memorializes his life’s passions. After Esther’s death in 2001, a dedicated Board of Directors, a corps of volunteers and the Stulberg family assumed the mantle of responsibility for the competition. Today, the Stulberg is one of the longest- standing string competitions in the country and is unique among music competitions due to its focus on young string musicians, its strong reputation, and high caliber of judges. Over the years, more than 2,500 musicians have participated in the Stulberg, and more than one hundred have been awarded a medal. Many have gone on to illustrious careers in the fields of music performance and education. Throughout its history, the Stulberg has attracted world- renowned musicians to Kalamazoo to serve as Competition judges and Master Class instructors. Through its Master Classes and Education Outreach, the Stulberg extends its impact by providing free learning opportunities for local musicians and audiences. 10 Stulberg Board of Directors OFFICERS President President-Elect Secretary Treasurer Alisa Carrel Colleen McBride Naomi Siegel Kurt Voissem Morse BOARD MEMBERS Sonya Bernard-Hollins Audrey Lipsey Sophié van der Westhuizen Linda Depta Mary McCormick Sakhi Vyas Pamela Enslen Derl Oberlin Ann Fergemann Camille Riley Executive Director - Kathleen Jones Anna Swank Bothwell Megan Yankee Thomas G. King DIRECTORS EMERITI Jeffrey Block Deb Faling Thomas Kasdorf* Elizabeth Start Josie Boucher Igor Fedotov Josh Koets Alan Stulberg Marilyn Brill Art Feinberg Renata Artman Knific Carolyn Stulberg Barbara Brose Grace Field Annie Leong Daniel Stulberg Ben Brot* Kenneth Fisher Kristine Lepley David Stulberg Robert Brown, Jr. Joyce Flavin* Roger Lepley Esther Stulberg* Herbert Butler* Martin Flavin Joy Light Joseph Stulberg Ellen Cha Zoe Forsleff* Linda Mah Midge Stulberg Joyce Chaplin Allyson Gall Erin Mapes Morris Stulberg* Daniel Christian Edward Gasaway Phil Mason Andrew Tang Charles Cowap Alice Gernant* Monica Nahm* James Thorne* Anders Dahlberg C.J. (Gus) Gianakaris Theresa Coty O’Neil Scott Tribby Celia Davidoff* Nan Harrison* Dolores Philp Elizabeth Upjohn Mason Robert Davis Robert Hegel Phyllis Rappeport* Terry Vantine Harold Decker Jane Hill Robert Ritsema Donna VanWestrienen* David Doan Bruce Hood Jane Rooks Ross William Venema Carl Doubleday Sandy Hunt* Thomas Rowe Sherie Veramay Helen Jo Emerson* David Johnson Karen Santamaria Mary von Schreiner* Gordon Eriksen* Jan Jones Greg Seiler Charles Wattles M.Dolores Estes Jayne Jones* Chris Shook Scott Estey Norman Jung Katherine Shook *Deceased James Falahee, Jr. Gail Kasdorf* Harvey Spivak Cover Photo: John Lacko Photography The mission of the Julius & Esther Stulberg International String Competition is to promote excellence in string instrument performance by gifted young artists under the age of twenty. THE STULBERG INTERNATIONAL STRING COMPETITION The Epic Center | 359 South Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 14 | Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269-343-2776 | [email protected] | www.stulberg.org The Stulberg International String Competition is an equal origin, height, weight, religion, and physical disability as opportunity Corporation and is committed to equal protected by law, gender identity or sexual orientation. rights, equal opportunities, and equal protection under This policy applies to all aspects of the Corporation’s the law. The Corporation’s competition, all programs and business, including its use of contractors and consultants, the employment of personnel are conducted without its relationship with outside vendors and customers, and regard to race, creed, gender, marital status, national in its dealing with the general public. 2021 ApplicantINSTRUMENTS Statistics VIOLIN VIOLA CELLO DOUBLE BASS 125 18 79 4 COUNTRIES AND NATIONALITIES REPRESENTED Canada, United States, Japan, Taiwan, China, South Korea, Guam, Qatar, Australia, Hong Kong SCHOOLS REPRESENTED Abbey Park High School, Academy of the Holy Angel, Adlai E. Stevenson Music Middle School Affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of Music, High School, Affiliated Middle School of Zhejiang Conservatory of Naperville North High School, National Symphony Youth Fellowship Music, Archbishop Mitty High School, Arete Preparatory Academy, Program, New England Conservatory, New England Conservatory Arizona Virtual Academy, Ballard High School, BASIS Chandler, Beijing Preparatory School, Newton South High, Northern Valley Regional Sanyili Primary School, Brandeis High School, Buffalo Grove High High School at Old Tappan,