The Joan Terr Ronis Recital Prize and Concerto Competition honor the incredible talent and hard work of our undergraduate students. These awards showcase the artistry and dedication that make our music community so special.
Curious to learn more? Explore the stories behind these competitions and discover past winners.
Joan Terr Ronis Recital Prize
Established in 1996 by Leonard Ronis in memory of his wife, Joan Terr Ronis—a renowned Cleveland piano soloist, chamber musician, and teacher—this prize honors excellence in musical performance.
The Joan Terr Ronis Recital Prize is awarded each spring through a competitive audition to an outstanding undergraduate music major who has made an exceptional contribution to the musical life of the University. The recipient is then invited to perform in the Leonard and Joan Ronis Annual Memorial Recital, held in the fall term.
Cleveland Heights native, Joan Terr Ronis began her piano studies at age 4 with her mother, famed Cleveland pianist Fanny Faust Terr. She later studied at Case Western Reserve University, the Yale School of Music, the Longy School of Music, and Cleveland State University, where she completed her academic studies summa cum laude and taught for many years.
She performed as a featured soloist with the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, the Suburban Symphony, and the orchestras of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Case Western Reserve University, and the Cleveland State Orchestra. She also performed Chamber Music with members of the Cleveland Orchestra. Northern Ohio Live named her one of six “Leading Ladies of Classical Music” in Cleveland.
After her untimely passing in the spring of 1993, her husband Leonard established the Joan Terr Ronis Recital and Scholarship fund to recognize world-class music scholars at CWRU, for whom performing careers would become a lifelong avocation rather than a vocation.
- 2024 – Jesse Silverberg (horn), Angela Tsang (piano)
- 2023 – Emma Bentley (clarinet), Grant Car (piano)
- 2022 – Ruth Cavano (double bass), Caleb Owens (piano)
- 2021 – Julia Feng-Bahns (piano), Harue Suzuki (flute)
- 2020 – Dana D’Orlando (oboe), Allison Siekmann (violin)
- 2019 – Diane Jo (violin), Karen Ji (piano)
- 2018 – Devin Reddy (horn), Jason Linn (trombone)
- 2017 – William Spallino (trombone), Madeline Yankell (soprano)
- 2016 – Rebecca Pfeiffer (trumpet), Vincenzo Volpe (flute)
- 2015 – Ryan Rose (saxophone), Ruolin Yang (violin)
- 2014 – Sydney Vereb (flute), Jeff Einhaus (tuba)
- 2013 – Lok Lei (violin), Nicholas Valentas (percussion)
- 2012 – Frankie Delgado (bassoon), Nathan Budge (euphonium)
- 2011 – Francis Blackman (voice), Dora Wu (violin)
- 2010 – Alyssa Hoffert (saxophone)
- 2009 – Karl Beheim (clarinet)
Concerto Competition Recital
Each spring, Case Western Reserve University undergraduate music majors have the chance to compete in a public recital for an opportunity to perform as a soloist with the Case/University Circle Symphony Orchestra or Symphonic Winds during the following academic year. The Concerto Competition, open to full-time CWRU undergraduate music majors at the sophomore or junior level (or seniors planning a fifth year), allows students to gain valuable performance experience and receive public recognition for their talent. Eligible students must be enrolled in applied lessons and a primary department ensemble during both the competition and performance semesters.
- 2024/25 – Emma Bentley (clarinet), Jojo Fujiwara (cello), Sooah Park (flute)
- 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)