Winners of Baylor’s Semper Pro Musica Competition Will Perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City

Media Contact: Terry Goodrich, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-710-3321
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by Jessie Jilovec, student newswriter, Baylor University Media and Public Relations

WACO, Texas (Feb. 22, 2019) – The winners of Baylor University’s fourth annual Semper Pro Musica Music Solo and Chamber Competition in the Baylor School of Music earned a ticket to perform at New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall.

The Semper Pro Musica Competition is presented to inspire students within the School of Music toward musical excellence. This year, a total of 125 students competed, which is a third of overall music major enrollment, and record number of music students who applied participated. The competition included 67 soloists, 31 of whom also competed in the chamber competition. That competition featured 89 chamber music performances. All winners received a $500 merit scholarship.

“Semper Pro Musica is such a gem for the School of Music,” said Matthew Newhouse, winner of the solo competition. “The chance to perform at Carnegie Hall is just plain awesome. Carnegie Hall is like the Mona Lisa of performance venues. It is imbued with such a rich history of musical excellence that it's on a different plane of fame than almost any other hall.”

The winners of the solo competition are Josh Blessing (Dearborn, Michigan, master’s candidate, marimba), John-Micah Braswell (Fort Collins, Colorado, senior, piano), Javier Castro (Dickinson, Texas, junior, flute), Megan Gackle (Waco, Texas, master’s candidate, mezzo-soprano), Nathan Little (Argyle, Texas, senior, trumpet) and Newhouse (Conroe, Texas, senior, tenor).

The winners of the Eight Position (trombone octet) chamber competition are Nick Halbig (Cooper City, Florida, senior), Connor Wooley (Denton, Texas, junior), Dawson Ward (Fate, Texas, sophomore), Adele Fuqua (Jacksonville, Florida, master’s candidate), Nathan Taylor (Midland, Texas, master’s candidate), Derek Moseley (Cypress, Texas, junior), Nathan Stanfield (Spring, Texas, freshman) and Jonathan Passmore (Arlington, Texas, senior).

The winners of the Flute Fleet (flute quartet) chamber competition are Castro, Felicity Fulton (Lorena, Texas, junior), Jessica Peacock (Grand Prairie, Texas, senior) and Caleb Estrada-Valentín (Coppell, Texas, senior).

The opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall is an experience students will remember for a lifetime, said Gary Mortenson, D.M.A., dean of the Baylor School of Music and acting vice provost for administration.

“The opportunity to walk onto one of the most historically significant stages in the world of music and to perform inspiring music for a discerning audience is life-changing,” Mortenson said. “We know that our students will come away from this experience in ways that will help them as their young careers develop after Baylor.”

Charlotte Daniel, D.M.A., assistant professor in the Baylor School of Music, said performing at Carnegie Hall is one of the greatest dreams for every musician.

“The vehicle of chamber music performance is a particularly wonderful opportunity for our students in this competition, as they must demonstrate the skills of performing as soloists while working closely together as a team,” Daniel said. “I find great joy to know that the close friendships and lessons in collaboration, which these students have grown through the process together, will be with them for just as long as the memories of their journey to New York.”

Little, also a solo competition winner, said he witnessed amazing performances during the final round of the competition, and he looks forward to representing Baylor in New York City.

“I hope that my performance in New York does a service to all of the talent brought to the table from my fellow competitors and reflects the outstanding things happening within the Baylor School of Music beyond the scope of the contest,” Little said.

The students will travel to New York City May 22-26 and perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 23, in Weill Recital Hall. Tickets for this concert are available through the Carnegie Hall Box Office or through the Baylor School of Music. If interested in joining the traveling party to New York City, email Jill_Gusukuma@baylor.edu.

For more information, visit the School of Music website or call the concert promotions line at 254-710-3991.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.

ABOUT THE BAYLOR UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC

The Baylor University School of Music provides transformational experiences that prepare students for careers in music. Students thrive in a Christian environment characterized by a nurturing resident faculty, an unwavering pursuit of musical excellence, a global perspective, dedication to service and devotion to faith. They investigate the rich musical and cultural heritage of the past, develop superior musical skills and knowledge in the present, and explore and create new modes of musical expression for the future. While preparing for future leadership roles, students join with School of Music faculty in enhancing the quality of community life, enriching the larger culture and making Baylor a place in which heart, mind and soul coalesce. Baylor’s School of Music is a member of the National Association of Schools of Music and the Texas Association of Music Schools. Degree programs include bachelor’s and master’s degrees in performance, music education and academic majors, as well as doctoral degrees in church music. Degrees leading to the Bachelor of Music Education conform to certification requirements of the Texas Education Agency. Visit www.baylor.edu/music to learn more.