Student Recital Competitions

Joan Terr Ronis

Leonard Ronis established the Joan Terr Ronis Recital Prize in 1996 as a memorial to his wife, the well-known Cleveland piano soloist, chamber music artist and teacher. The prize and recital are presented after a competition held each spring among undergraduate music students attending Case Western Reserve University. Mr. Ronis, a lifelong supporter of CWRU and the arts, was nationally known for his role in public transit. With his passing on July 4, 2012, the family requested that the prize be renamed the Leonard and Joan Terr Ronis Memorial Recital Prize. The prize returned to its original name during the summer of 2020. 

2024/25 Performers

Compliments to our wonderful musicians, we take this opportunity to recognize your incredible talents. A special thank you to our staff accompanists, Alicja Basinska and Anne Wilson!

• Zoe Buff, violin (Stephen Sims)
• Harry Ganz, saxophone (Greg Banaszak)
• Shreya Girish, flute (Heidi Ruby-Kushious)
• Oscar Heft, violin (Stephen Sims)
• Kazutada Nakao, saxophone (Greg Banaszak)
• Luisa Parker, cello (Ida Mercer)

• 2023/24: Emma Bentley (clarinet), Grant Car (piano)
• 2022/23: Ruth Cavano (double bass), Caleb Owens (piano)
• 2021/22: Julia Feng-Bahns (piano), Harue Suzuki (flute)
• 2020/21: Dana D’Orlando (oboe), Allison Siekmann (violin)
• 2019/20: Diane Jo (violin), Karen Ji (piano)
• 2018/19: Devin Reddy (horn), Jason Linn (trombone)
• 2017/18: William Spallino (trombone), Madeline Yankell (soprano)
• 2016/17: Rebecca Pfeiffer (trumpet), Vincenzo Volpe (flute)
• 2015/16: Ryan Rose (saxophone), Ruolin Yang (violin)
• 2014/15: Sydney Vereb (flute), Jeff Einhaus (tuba)
• 2013/14: Lok Lei (violin), Nicholas Valentas (percussion)
• 2012/13: Frankie Delgado (bassoon), Nathan Budge (euphonium)
• 2011/12: Francis Blackman (voice), Dora Wu (violin)
• 2010/11: Alyssa Hoffert (saxophone)
• 2009/10: Karl Beheim (clarinet)

Each spring, Case Western Reserve University undergraduate music majors compete in recital format for an opportunity to perform as a soloist with Symphony Orchestra or Symphonic Winds the following academic year. The Department of Music is proud to offer this competition as an opportunity for our talented musicians to gain performance experience and receive public recognition for their work. 

All of our applicants displayed professionalism and musicianship. The 2024/25 Concerto Competition was held in-person with performances evaluated by a panel of faculty members. A special thank you goes out to our accompanists, Alicja Basinska, Anne Wilson, and Elizabeth DeMio. 

Visit the Concerto Competition 2024/25 page for a full list of performers and event program.

• 2023/24: Maxine Chou (cello), Jesse Silverberg (horn), Angela Tsang (piano), Lilyanne Dorilas (violin), Matthew Smutny (saxophone)
• 2022/23: Michael Brough (saxophone), Grant Carr (piano), Jeremy Gray (clarinet), Hitomi Ono (flute), Gina Yang (piano)
• 2021/22: Karen Ji (piano), Allison Siekmann (violin)
• 2020/21: Samuel Chaffee (piano), Alexander Lenhart (trumpet), Nicholas Strawn (percussion), Rachel Beller (percussion)
• 2019/20: Brian Liu (piano), Jon O’Brien (saxophone), Tim Orlando (violin), Nick Pogharian (trombone)
• 2018/19: Julie Kim (violin), Bianca Pierson (saxophone), Devin Reddy (horn)
• 2017/18: Kieran Aulak (marimba), Tyler McMaken (piano), Jason Linn (trombone), Zoe Ruolin Yang (violin), Timothy Nicholas (violin)
• 2016/17: David Hsiao (violin), Christina Liu (violin), Rebecca Pfeiffer (trumpet), Vincenzo Volpe (flute), Ann Wang (piano)
• 2015/16: Ailin Yu (piano), Meigen Yu (piano), Robin Jo (violin)