Concerto Competition: Brass, Woodwind, Percussion

UW instrumental performance students compete for a chance to perform with the UW Symphony.

Eric Ewazen (b. 1954): Down a River of Time for Oboe and String Orchestra
I. ...past hopes and dreams 
Sam Rockwood, oboe; Jieun Kim, piano

Pierre Max Dubois (1930-1995): Concerto for Alto Saxophone (1959)
II. Sarabande
III. Rondo
Adam Harris, alto saxophone; Megan McElroy, piano

Carl Nielsen (1865-1931): Concerto (1926)
I. Allegro moderato
Rachel Reyes, flute; Jieun Kim, piano

Richard Strauss (1864-1949): Concerto in D Major for Oboe and Small Orchestra, TrV 292
II. Andante
III. Vivace - Allegro
Jamie Sanidad, oboe; Li-Cheng Hung, piano

Pablo de Sarasate (1844-1908) adapted by Dave Lin: Zigeunerweisen (1878)
Dave Lin, alto saxophone; Megan McElroy, piano

Winners from tonight’s performance will be announced following a brief pause at the conclusion of the program.

Adjudicator Biographies

Eva Pengra Sult, Pacific Northwest Ballet

Recently appointed principal flutist of the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra, Evan Pengra Sult has been praised for his “standout” performances and “elegant solos” (The Gazette, Colorado Springs). He holds degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (M.M. ’19) and the Eastman School of Music (B.M./P.C. ’17); his principal teachers are Tim Day, Bonita Boyd, Anne Harrow, Zart Dombourian-Eby, and Bonnie Blanchard. A regular presence at summer festivals, he has been a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center, Colorado College Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, and Texas Music Festival, among others. 

Evan was a prizewinner at the Seattle Flute Society’s 2016 Young Artist Competition, has performed with the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, Auburn Symphony Orchestra, and Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, and was an associate member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. He has also been a featured guest on 98.1 Classical KING FM’s popular program “Northwest Focus Live!” and has performed live on television in Houston, TX. In 2017 he was elected to the Beta Pi chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda, the only national music honor society. He serves on the board of the Seattle Flute Society.

Also a writer, Evan contributes to the “Passing Tones” column of The Flutist Quarterly and was a fellow at the 2018 Rubin Institute for Music Criticism. In his spare time, he is an avid reader, crossword puzzler, politics junkie, and Anglophile.

Danny Helseth, Seattle Pacific University

When asked to describe Danny Helseth as a musician, composers Joseph T. Spaniola and Brett Miller use the words such as “high energy...intensity...emotion-filled.” Danny has never been known to go into anything half-way, but rather puts everything he has into what he does. This is very evident as he pursues his musical career on the euphonium and trombone.

Danny began his education with a Bachelor of Music Education from Central Washington University (1999); continued with a Masters in Music Performance (Euphonium) from The University of North Texas (2002); and a Post-graduate Diploma in Performance (euphonium) from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England where he studied on Fulbright Scholarship. He completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Brass Performance from the University of Washington in 2017. 

As a former member of the United States Air Force Band in Washington D.C., Danny was quickly recognized as an energetic and engaging soloist, featured numerous times with the band including on national tour, spring 2004. Helseth has performed as a chamber musician and clinician at universities throughout the United States as a member of the USAF Tower Brass Quintet, and the cutting edge euphonium-tuba quartet Eufonix. 

A dynamic performer, and inspiring clinician, Danny has been a featured artist throughout the United States, Europe and Japan. Helseth maintains a busy performance schedule as a soloist, chamber musician, and band director. 

 Helseth is in constant demand as a euphonium soloist, chamber musician, and band director. He has been a featured clinician throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, and China. He seeks to inspire others to greatness, infecting them with a passion for life and a love of music. Helseth has just completed his fourth year as the band director at Seattle Pacific University where he also serves as the Head of Instrumental Studies.

Throughout his life, Danny has been in contact with extraordinary musicians, many of whom have been his private instructors including: Larry Gookin, Tom Gause, Dr. Russ Schultz, Dr. Brian Bowman, Vern Kagarice, Steven Mead, James Gorlay, Patrick Sheridan, Sam Pilafian, Ko-ichiro Yamamoto and Timothy Salzman. Countless other musicians, colleagues and students have taught and inspired Danny’s musical direction.

Danny Helseth is a Besson performing artist and clinician for Buffet Crampon USA, and performs exclusively on the Besson Prestige 2052 Euphonium and the DH signature mouthpiece from Giddings Mouthpieces