Spanning Nations
2017 FESTIVAL SOLOISTS
César Torruella, baritone
Puerto RicoThis Young Artist is acclaimed for his “charisma” in Bel Canto roles, Baritone César Torruella is a finalist in the 2014 Montserrat Caballé International Singing Competition in Zaragoza, Spain. Mr. Torruella is praised for his “perfect comedic timing and dramatic chops” in Verdi’s Falstaff performed in New York, Houston and Puerto Rico in roles such as Beaupertuis in Nino Rota’s Il cappello di paglia di Firenze, Leporello in Don Giovanni, Don Alfonso in Così fan Tutte, and the title roles in Don Pasquale and Gianni Schicchi.
Jan Mráček, violin
Czech RepublicThe 25-year-old Czech violinist, Jan Mráček is fast emerging as one of the most talented virtuosos of his generation. He won first prize at the Kreisler International Violin Competition and will soon make his debut with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. This season he solos with the Czech Phil, the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow and London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He combines a flourishing solo career with the position of co-concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Emilio Colón
San Juan, Puerto RicoBorn and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, founder and artistic director, Emilio Colón has brought together an ensemble of 38 extraordinary, international artists and young professionals to promote peace, unity and education throughout Puerto Rico
We must all work to make the world worthy of its children. ~Pablo Casals
2017 GUEST ARTISTS
Federico Agostini – Violin
I Musici, Eastman School of Music
Italy
Jamie Amador – Viola
Harlem Quartet
Puerto Rico
Timothée Berte-Renou – Cello
Young Artist – Geneva Conservatoire
France
Aaron Chang – Violin
Young Artist – Boston Conservatory
Taiwan
Jill Cismasko Berte-Renou
Young Artist – ICOPR Intern
United States
Cara Elise Colón – Cello
Chamber Artist
United States
Joseam Cuadrado – Violin
Young Artist – CMPR
Puerto Rico
Matthew Diehl – Trumpet
Young Artist – Carnegie Mellon University
United States
Eli Eban – Clairnet
Former Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, IU
Israeli American
Héctor Omar Falcón – Violin
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
Puerto Rico
Rebecca Hang – Violin
Felici Piano Trio
Germany
Stephen Jones – Bass
Young Artist – Eastman School of Music
United States
Sonja Kraus – Cello
Young Artist – Hochschüle für Musik, Stuttgart
Germany
Collin Lewis – Clarinet
Young Artist – Indiana University
United States
Rong-Huey Liu – Oboe
Recording Artist – Reno Chamber Orchestra
Taiwan
Veronique Mathieu
University of Kansas
Canada
Kathleen McLean – Bassoon
Former Toronto Symphony, Indiana University
Canada
Kelsi Nelson – French Horn
Young Artist – UCLA
United States
Eri Noda – Violin
Chamber Artist
Japan
Joel Pagán – Viola
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Puerto Rico
Jesús Ramos Morales – Oboe
Young Artist – CMPR
Puerto Rico
Rafael Rishik – Violin
New Hollywood String Quartet
United States
Susan Rishik – Violin
LA Chamber Orchestra
United States
Danira Rodriguez – Violin
Young Artist – CMPR
Puerto Rico
Amy Sanchez – Horn
UCLA, Recording Artist
United States
José Fabián Rosa Santos – Percussion
Young Artist – CMPR
Puerto Rico
Brian Schuldt – Cello
Felici Piano Trio
United States
Richard Sherman – Flute
Michigan State University
United States
Cornelia Sommer – Bassoon
Young Artist – Yale University
United States
Saki Uetsuhara – Violin
Young Artist – Tokyo College of Music
Japan
James VanDemark – Bass
Soloist, Eastman School of Music
United States
Yuseon Nam – Viola
Young Artist – Eastman School of Music
South Korea
Mandy Wang- Violin
Young Artist – University of Kansas
China
Chad Winkler – Trumpet
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
United States
Mindy Heinsohn – Flute
Young Artist – Yale University
Maryland & Puerto Rico
José Colón Robles – French Horn
Young Artist – CMPR (week 1)
Puerto Rico
Yunjung Lee – Violin
Young Artist – Eastman School of Music
South Korea
