Spanning Nations
2025 FESTIVAL SOLOISTS

Corey Cerovsek
International Soloist
CANADAThis Canadian violin virtuoso has performed with orchestras the world over, including the symphony orchestras of Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Baltimore, and Toronto; Israel and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestras and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. A Grammy nominated artist, he has performed recitals at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln, Wigmore Hall and the Salle Gaveau.
Rovira Biscuit Corp. Fellow

Steven Vanhauwaert
Steinway Artist | Faculty, University of Utah
CANADA - Aireko FellowA native of Belgium, Steven Vanhauwaert was hailed by the Los Angeles Times for his “impressive clarity, sense of structure and monster technique.” Since then, Mr. Vanhauwaert has appeared in solo recitals at the world’s leading venues, including the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa, the Concertgebouw, the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, among others. He has appeared with orchestras such as the Pacific Symphony, Flemish Symphony, Lviv Philharmonic, USC Symphony, Auburn Symphony, Kyiv Kamerata, and Peninsula Symphony.
He is the recipient of the Maurice Lefranc award, the Galiot Prize, and the Grand Prize at the 2004 Los Angeles International Liszt Competition. Mr. Vanhauwaert is a Steinway Artist.
Fundación Aireko Fellow

Natalia Santaliz
Soprano
PUERTO RICOCBS PUERTO RICO Fellow

Patricia Vázquez
Mezzo Soprano
PUERTO RICOPatricia Vázquez Duarte, mezzo-soprano PUERTO RICO Desde su debut profesional en Carmen, en el año 2009, esta mezzo-soprano puertorriqueña se ha presentado en óperas y producciones como Madama Butterfly, LaTraviata, CosíFan Tutte, Gianni Schicchi, Otello y Ahmal y los Visitantes Nocturnos.Enconcierto con la Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico y en el extranjero: Gala de Zarzuela,Réquiem (Mozart), Stabat Mater (Pergolesi), Gala Verdi, Gala Zafiro y Canciones del Caminante (Mahler). En zarzuela ha triunfado en El Barberillo de Lavapiés y La leyenda delbeso. Además, protagonizó el rol de Doña Isa en La Carreta el Musical bajo la dirección deGil René Rodríguez.
Walmart Puerto Rico Fellow

Christian García-Roque
Tenor
PUERTO RICOChristian García-RoqueTenorNacido en San Juan, Puerto Rico, es un tenor versátil con una destacada trayectoria en laópera, la zarzuela y el repertorio de conciertos. En 2012, debutó como solista con la Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico ensu Concierto de Reyes.Ha trabajado con Opera on the Avalon en Canadá, donde participó en producciones como Sweeney Toddy el estreno mundial de la óperaOursde John Estacio. En 2018, estrenó elrol de Esteban en la ópera puertorriqueña Si me ven llorando, y en 2022 debutó en Nueva York como protagonista en la ópera cubana Manita en el suelode Alejandro García Caturla. También ha trabajado con Teatro Lirico D’Europa en producciones como Toscay La Traviataen Estados Unidos.
Bertita y Guillermo L. Martinez Fellow

Ricardo Sepúlveda
Baritone
PUERTO RICOEl barítono Ricardo Sepúlvedase ha destacado en escenarios de Puerto Rico y los Estados Unidos, actuando con la Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico, Óperade Puerto Rico,New Jersey Opera y Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, entre otras. Sus interpretaciones incluyen roles como Nick Bottom (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Polyphemus (Acis and Galatea), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Marcello (La bohème) y Émilede Becque (South Pacific). Recientemente, se presentó como Battaglia en la zarzuela Elbarbero de Sevilla y como Brander en La damnation de Fausten el Festival Casals. El Dr. Sepúlveda es egresado del Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico y de la Universidad de Illinois, con una certificación en Vocología del Centro Nacional para la Vozy el Habla de la Universidad de Utah.
Cecille Blondet & Irving Faccio Fellow
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Emilio Colón
PUERTO RICOBorn and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, founder and artistic director, Emilio Colón has brought together an ensemble of extraordinary, international artists and young professionals to promote peace, unity and education throughout Puerto Rico
10th Annual Festival
January 25th – February 9th, 2024
ORCHESTRAL ARTISTS
Violin

Evan De Long
Colorado Springs Philharmonic
USA
Anonymous Fellow

Sun Huh
Cercis Quartet
South Korea
José Álvarez Fernández & Caridad Garriga de Álvarez Memorial Fellow

Sofia Kim
Faculty – Colburn School of Music
USA
Sajo Y Chiqui Fellow

Paula Lastra
Indiana University
Puerto Rico
Anita Brennan Fellow

Valeria Martinez
CMPR
Puerto Rico
Lulu y Marcos Vecchini

Gabriela Muñoz Rodriguez
University of South Florida
Puerto Rico
María Teresa Pacheco & José Revuelta Fellow

Christiano Rodrigues
Faculty – Washington State University
Brazil
Anonymous Fellow

Nathan Shapiro
Malmo Symphony
Switzerland
Jeannette Vecchini & Rafael Luís Rovira Fellow

Mitchell Soto Ruiz
CMPR
Puerto Rico
Alfredo López & Bryan Haubein Fellow

John Vaida
Faculty – Mansfield University
USA
CBS Puerto Rico
Viola

Nestor Pou
Principal – Castilla y León Symphony Orchestra
Puerto Rico
Jose Alfonso Román Fellow

Christopher Alley
Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra
USA
Joshua Bagley Fellow

Daniella Angulo
University of Northern Colorado
Colombia
María Cristina y Segundo Cardona Fellow

Amy Iwazumi
Northeastern Pennsylvania Chamber Music Society
USA
CBS PUERTO RICO Fellow
Cello

Cara Elise Colón
Chamber Artist | American Cello Institute
USA

Sonja Kraus
Faculty – University of South Dakota
Germany
Shirley Givens & Harry Wimmer Memorial Fellow

John Yang
Indiana University
USA
Janos Starker Memorial Fellow
Bass

Tiffany Kung
Chicago Civic Orchestra
Taiwan
Houston Ma Fellow

Nico Orrego
Indiana University
Colombia
María Cristina Firpi y Segundo Cardona
Flute

Richard Sherman
Faculty – Michigan State University
USA
Fernando Sumaza & Diana Santos

Alex Figueroa
CMPR
Puerto Rico
Dr. José Raúl Montes & Cristobal Berrios Fellow
Oboe

Jaren Atherholt
Faculty – University of Tennessee
USA
Walmart Puerto Rico

JJ Silvey
Julliard
USA
Jun Dam Fellow
Clarinet

Jonathan Gunn
Faculty – University of Texas – Austin
England
Jeffrey Stenfors Fellow

Destiny Lerma
University of Texas – Austin
USA
Anonymous Fellow
Bassoon

Kathleen McLean – Bassoon
Faculty – Indiana University
Canada
Marimi Stenfors Fellow

Chloe Robbins
Indiana University
USA
Anonymous Fellow
Trumpet

Martin Hodel – Trumpet
Faculty – St. Olaf College
USA
Joshua Bagley Fellow

Wayner Ramón Ortega
Indiana University
Puerto Rico
Familia Colón-Baco Fellow
French Horn

Rachel Childers
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Faculty – New England Conservatory
Puerto Rico
Domingo Pagán Ithier Memorial Fellow

Amy Sanchez
Faculty – UCLA
USA
David Erickson Fellow

Gadiel Ocasio Román
CMPR
Puerto Rico
Anonymous Fellow

Carlos Ortiz
CMPR
Puerto Rico
Jonathan Marvel Fellow

Francisco Betancourt
CMPR
Puerto Rico
Ofelia González y Gustavo Hernández Fellow
Percussion

Javier Cartegena, timpani
CMPR
Puerto Rico
Titín Foundation Fellow

Yomar Ramirez
CMPR
Puerto Rico
Herrans Group Fellow

Itzel Toro Weber
CMPR
Puerto Rico
co.co.haus Fellow

Hector Rodriguez
CMPR
Puerto Rico
José Álvarez Fernández & Caridad Garriga de Álvarez Memorial Fellow
Piano

Karen Nguyen
Rodrigues-Nguyen Duo
USA
Anonymous Fellow
STAFF

Sonja Kraus – Orchestra Manager
Assistant Professor, University of South Dakota
Germany

Karen Nguyen
Assistant Director of Community Engagement & Archivist
Director of Online Engagement

Christiano Rodrigues
Assistant director of Online Engagement

Gabriela Muñoz
Intern, Community Engagement
We must all work to make the world worthy of its children. ~Pablo Casals
38 Artists and Young Artists from 9 Countries
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Colombia
Germany
Puerto Rico
South Korea
Switzerland
USA
