We鈥檙e pleased to announce that violinist Rinat Erlichman won first prize in the 2023-2024 Bruce Ekstrand Memorial Graduate Student Performance Competition! Under the mentorship of Associate Professor of Violin Harumi Rhodes, Erlichman prepared a听听featuring works by Ernest Bloch, Paul Ben Haim and George Gershwin. Erlichman was awarded $2,000, plus the audience favorite prize.听鈥淲inning first prize and audience favorite for this year鈥檚 Ekstrand Competition is incredibly meaningful to me,鈥 she shares. 鈥淧reparing for the competition has helped me expand my repertoire and develop my skills. I was honored to play the program in the final round with pianist Max Randal and all the wonderful finalists.听I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the Ekstrand family. Your generosity means I can devote more of my time to develop my career and share my music.鈥听鈥Congratulations to Erlichman and all participants in the premier performance competition for the College of Music鈥檚 most outstanding graduate students.听MORE
We鈥檒l be on fall break next week: Happy Thanksgiving!听