Category: Alumni News

Tej Panchal Wins in Samuel Fordis Young Artist Concerto Competition!

Georgia Philharmonic announced the 2023-2024 Winners of the Samuel Fordis Young Artist Concerto Competition. CONGRATULATIONS to Tej Panchal (Harp 2022-23, 2023-24), Artisan I — Playing Handel Harp Concerto in B-flat major Op. 4 No. 6 HWV 294,I. Andante Allegro. Winners performed with the Georgia Philharmonic on February 24, 2024 at the Woodruff Arts Center. Read…
Read more

Franklin Pond Alumni in Samuel Fordis Young Artist Concerto Competition

The 2023-2024 Winners of the Georgia Philharmonic Samuel Fordis Young Artist Concerto Competition have been announced. Our very own Tej Panchal (2022-23, 2023-24) is one of the winners, and Didi Stone (2020-21, 2022-23, 2023-24) is a Runner-Up with Honorable Mention! The winners will perform with the Georgia Philharmonic on February 24, 2024 at the Woodruff…
Read more

Lucy Gelber serves as Principal Violist of the Eastman Philharmic

Lucy Gelber (2015, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19) is serving as principal violist of the Eastman Philharmonic at Eastman School of Music and performed the Mozart Sinfonia Concertante with the orchestra. She is a founding member of the Andromeda Quartet, established at Eastman in 2020. Lucy currently studies with Masumi Rostad and hopes to pursue a career…
Read more

Liam McBane becomes San Diego Symphony Artistic Assistant

Liam McBane (viola, Fall Into Spring 2013-2014) is now the Artistic Assistant for San Diego Symphony. Liam graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Music. He is an accomplished pianist, also playing violin and viola, but has been working toward arts management. He wasted no time landing the position of…
Read more

Denielle Wilson wins contract to play with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Denielle Wilson (cello, Summer Intensive 2010) has won a one-year contract with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Denielle is a high school graduate of the ASO Talent Development Program and majored in cello performance at the Northwester University. She has been playing with the Chicago Civic Orchestra and the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago for…
Read more

Stephen Upshaw joins Trinity Laban viola faculty

Stephen Upshaw (2003) will begin his role as professor of viola at Trinity Laban in September. Stephen says, “In recent years I have had the pleasure to work regularly at Trinity Laban with The Solem Quartet, Riot Ensemble and on individually designed projects focused on collaboration and innovation. I am thrilled to be joining the…
Read more

Brandon Leonard wins Second Prize in Sphinx Competition!

Brandon Leonard, Franklin Pond student in the Sycamore Trio (and alum–Cello 2018-19) won Second Prize in the nationally renown Sphinx Competition and the Audience Choice Award for the Junior Division!

Toby Liu is a winner of 12th Annual Samuel Fordis Concerto Competition

As one of five winners of the 12th Annual Samuel Fordis Concerto Competition, Toby Liu (2015, 2016, 2017)—Artisan I Laureate—will perform in the Samuel Fordis Young Artists’ Concerto Competition Showcase Concert on Saturday, February 19th, 2022 at Lassiter High School Concert Hall at 7:00 PM. “Out of hundreds of young musicians in the Atlanta area,…
Read more

Drew Forde Featured in SunChips® Ad

Drew Forde (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) was recently featured in an ad for a SunChips® Giveaway campaign.

Jonathan Fuller (cello FIS 2020-2021) joins NYO Summer 2021

Jonathan Fuller was chosen to join the esteemed National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America in 2021, an extraordinary honor that only 120 students in the whole nation have bestowed on them. The orchestra rehearses for two weeks, then generally goes on a national or international tour. Due to Covid, this year their…
Read more