Concerto Competition: Strings

UW Strings students perform concerto movements for outside judges, competing for a chance to perform with the University of Washington Symphony. Adjudicators: Juan Felipe Molano and Randolph Kelly

PROGRAM

Adjudicator Biographies

Randolph Kelly

Randolph Kelly has enjoyed a distinguished and multifaceted career as principal violist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He was signed by André Previn in 1976, and has since played under the direction of Lorin Maazel and Mariss Jansons. Previn once wrote that Kelly "transformed his section into what I believe is the best viola section of any orchestra in America." 

One highlight of Kelly's tenure with the PSO was performing the world premiere of a viola concerto written for him by Samuel Adler. The PSO commissioned this piece for their 2000-2001 Season.

In addition to his orchestral career, Kelly's virtuosity as a soloist and chamber musician has been celebrated around the world. He has collaborated with such artists as Yo-Yo Ma, André Previn, Pinchas Zukerman and Trauls Mork, among others. He has recorded and toured extensively with the Los Angeles Piano Quartet. In reviewing an LAPQ performance, the German Press Passaver Neve stated, "Randolph Kelly is in a class of his own. He has a richness of tone such as one seldom hears..." Additionally, Kelly has been invited to perform as a guest artist at chamber music festivals in Japan, Australia, Europe, China, Taiwan and Russia.

As a soloist, Kelly has appeared on some of the most prestigious concert stages in the world. He performed the New York premiere of Sir Michael Tippet's Triple Concerto in Carnegie Hall. He made his European solo debut when Lorin Maazel invited him to play the Walton Concerto with the National Orchestra of France. James DePriest conducted the Oregon Symphony when Kelly played the Bartók Viola Concerto. The review in The Oregonian stated, "guest soloist Randolph Kelly provided the evening's highlight... it was a breathtaking performance."

In addition to his rigorous performing schedule, Kelly has recorded a wide range of music for the Albany, Naxos and Music Masters labels. He also appeared on National TV, performing Don Quixote as part of a series entitled Previn and Pittsburgh.

Randolph Kelly is a graduate of The Curtis Institute, where he worked closely with the esteemed violist Joseph DePasquale. He is committed to performing new music, and he generously volunteers his time to educational programs in an effort to bring a wide range of musical experiences to young audiences.

Juan Felipe Molano

Juan Felipe Molano brings twenty years of vibrant teaching and performing experience to the position of SYSO Music Director. His career includes conducting positions with top professional and youth orchestras throughout Europe, the United States, Asia, South, and Central America. Since 2014, he has served as Conductor of Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA), a program of the Los Angeles Philharmonic that puts the transformative power of music-making into the hands of young people who would not otherwise have access to it.

Molano has led the Los Angeles Philharmonic as guest and cover conductor. In 2016, Mr. Molano was also appointed as Conductor of the Claremont Young Musicians Orchestra, and between 2015 and 2018, he served as Resident Conductor of the prestigious American Youth Symphony.

Mr. Molano’s passion for working with youth and music education is evidenced by his positions as the National Director of Orchestras at the Batuta Colombia System of Youth Orchestras. He has been also the conductor of the National Take a Stand Festival Orchestras 2016 (Aspen Festival and Bard College), the Colombian Youth Philharmonic, Wolfgang Sinfonietta in Singapore, Youth Orchestra Salinas and ELM San Rafael Youth Orchestra in California.

In 2017, Mr. Molano received an award by the Colombian Foreign Affairs Ministry and the TV station RCN in Washington D.C. as one of the more prominent and outstanding Colombians in the United States. In recognition of his vast artistic career, the Medellin City Council in Colombia granted him the Juan del Corral Order. In 2016, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District honored him with the Stairway to Stars Recognition for his commitment in music education.

He served five years as Music and Artistic Director of the Yucatan Symphony Orchestra, conducting an eclectic symphonic repertoire from early music to contemporary works and a list of opera productions including Rigoletto, Madame Butterfly, Orpheus and Eurydice, L’Elisir d’Amore, and Bastien und Bastienne. He has collaborated with artists such as Plácido Domingo, Gustavo Dudamel, Ilya Gringolts, Bing Wang, James Conlon, Leon Botstein, Min Lee, Cuarteto Latinoamericano, Chris Martin (Coldplay), Eric Aubier, Joseph De Pasquale, Ryu Goto, Los Tigres del Norte, and others.

A graduate with special honors, Mr. Molano studied orchestral and opera conducting at the Vienna Conservatory in Austria. He also studied clarinet and piano performance at the University of Antioquia in Colombia.