Take me to: Cello Fellowship  |  Violin Fellowship  |  Frequently Asked Questions

MSO Cello Fellowship 2012-2013 (with possible extension for a second season)
$35,000 Stipend per nine-month season.

Application Postmark Deadline is March 19, 2012

In 1989, the Montgomery Symphony Association's Board of Directors established a program to promote the concert careers of promising young violinists through its Violin Fellowship program. Based on the overwhelming success of the Violin Fellowship, the Symphony expanded the program in 1996 to include a Cello Fellowship.  For a list of former Fellows, click here.

The Cello Fellow is encouraged to perform solo engagements, enter competitions, and accept significant outside performance opportunities that may further his or her career during the Fellowship period. The Association Board requires, however, that the Fellow establish a residence in Montgomery, Alabama, and that any absences from Montgomery Symphony Orchestra (MSO) performances or rehearsals be approved in advance by the Music Director.

Candidates for the 2012 - 2013 Cello Fellowship should have completed their formal musical education and be at the beginning of their professional performing careers.  Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States during the period of the residency.

Fellowship Duties:
As a Guest Artist: Perform a concerto with the MSO on the October 2012 classical subscription concert.

As a Recitalist: Perform three scheduled solo recitals each season in Montgomery. A modest artist fee is provided for pianists.

As an Orchestral Cellist: Serve as the MSO Principal Cello at weekly rehearsals and at the 10 scheduled classical and pops concerts each season of the MSO from September 2012 to May 2013.

Stipend: $35,000 per nine month season.

Engagement:
September, 2012 through May, 2013.  While the Fellowship is intended to be a two year engagement extending from September 2012 - May 2013, the second season continuation will be jointly agreed upon by the MSO and the Fellow.

About the Orchestra:
The MSO is a volunteer community ensemble of 65 players. Its season runs September through May with five subscription concerts, a pair of educational concerts, and two outdoor pops concerts, plus occasional special performances. The group rehearses each Monday night during the season with two additional rehearsals during the week before each subscription concert.

In designing the Fellowship, the Association Board has taken care to limit the amount of time spent in activities not directly related to furthering the Fellow’s concert career. It is the intention that this Fellowship assist a young, talented cellist to realize his or her full potential as a concert artist. In turn, the Fellow’s presence in Montgomery assists the MSO in enriching the cultural life of the city and region.

Audition Procedures:
Candidates should submit a CD of a major concerto and at least two contrasting works suitable for recital, a resume, and the names, addresses (regular and email) and telephone numbers (both studio and home) of three people who will serve as references.

Application Deadline: Postmarked by March 19, 2012
To request a brief extension, contact Helen Steineker at 334-240-4004 or click here.

Finalists will be notified in early April. Final auditions will be held in Montgomery, Alabama on April 30 - May 2, 2012, with travel expenses paid inside the United States.

Final Round
Four finalists will be notified in early April of their selection for the final round to be held April 30 - May 1, 2012. Because travel expenses will be paid within the United States by the Montgomery Symphony, finalists must be completely available all three days of the competition.  Finalists will interview privately with the competition jury and will perform in a final round of competition which will be open to the public.  All finalists will perform a movement of a concerto and a movement of an unaccompanied work.  After the Jury deliberates, the winner will be announced from the stage.

Mail to:
Montgomery Symphony
301 N. Hull Street
Montgomery, AL 36104

Montgomery Symphony Violin and Cello Fellows
Violin	Cello
Robin Scott 2011-2013	Laura Usiskin 2010-2012
Liana Gourdjia 2009-2011	Dan Totan 2008-2010
Sun-Young Gemma Shin 2007-2009	Katerina Juraskova 2006 - 2008
Benjamin Sung 2005-2007	Hrant Parsamian 2004 - 2006
Elena Hirsu 2003-05	Alexei Romanenko 2002 - 2004
Peter Rovit 2001 - 2003	Leonardo Altino 2000 - 2002
Yosuke Kawasaki 1999 - 2001	Bo Li 1998 - 2000
Xiang Gao 1998 - 1999	Dariusz Skoraczewski 1996 - 1998
Denitza Kostova 1997 - 1998
Emi Ohi Resnick 1995 - 1997
Rachel Varga 1993 - 1995
Alexander Simionescu 1991 - 1993
Damien Pegis 1989 - 1991

Commonly Asked Questions

Q Does the concerto recording I have to send need to be a complete work?

A No. Send what you have.  It also does not matter if your concerto is with piano or orchestral accompaniment.


Q Does it matter which other pieces I send?

A The other pieces on your application recording should demonstrate a variety of style, performance practice, and the ability to convey musical meaning.  There is no required number of selections - most applications include 3 or 4 movements.


Q Can international students apply for the Cello Fellowship?

A Yes, if you can be authorized to work in the US during the period of the residency.  We will be happy to confer with you on this issue.


Q What is the schedule for the final round?

A On Monday, April 30th, you will come to Montgomery (travel expenses within the United States paid by the MSO) and hear a performance of the Orchestra that night. Tuesday you will interview with the judges, rehearse with the pianist and compete.  The winner will be announced that evening and you will depart on Wednesday.


Q If I get to the finals, what will I be expected to play?

A All four finalists will play a movement of a concerto and a movement of an unaccompanied work, both of your choice. The two movements together should not go over about 20 minutes. We will provide a pianist.

The final round of competition will be open to the public and the winner will be announced at the end of the night.


Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama, the state’s capital city, has a metropolitan population of over 318,000, with more than a half a million people within a 50-mile radius. Montgomery is two and a half hours from Atlanta, an hour and a half from Birmingham, and less than three hours from the beautiful white sand beaches of the Gulf Coast.

Its vibrant cultural life is highlighted by the Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park, home of the internationally acclaimed Alabama Shakespeare Festival, which offers varied performances year-round, and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, which has outstanding collections and offers diverse exhibits. Numerous local art, folk, and history museums can also be found around the city.  Central Alabama is home to eight universities and colleges. 

As a southern center for the arts, Montgomery has two dance companies, a professional chamber music series, and several vocal ensembles.

In addition to the Orchestra and Fellowship Series, the Montgomery Symphony Association and its support League sponsor a regional youth orchestra, a summer music camp for strings, a national concerto competition for junior and senior high school students and host each year the deep south auditions for the Boston University Tanglewood Institute.

Top >>

MSO Violin Fellowship September 2011 - May 2012 (with possible extension for a second season)
$35,000 Stipend per nine-month season.

In 1989, the Montgomery Symphony Association's Board of Directors established a program to promote the concert careers of promising young violinists through its Violin Fellowship program. Based on the overwhelming success of the Violin Fellowship, the Symphony expanded the program in 1996 to include a Cello Fellowship.  For a list of former Fellows, click here.

The Violin Fellow is encouraged to perform solo engagements, enter competitions, and accept significant outside performance opportunities that may further his or her career during the Fellowship period. The Association Board requires, however, that the Fellow establish a residence in Montgomery, Alabama, and that any absences from Montgomery Symphony Orchestra (MSO) performances or rehearsals be approved in advance by the Music Director. 

Candidates for the 2011-2012 Violin Fellowship should have completed their formal musical education and be at the beginning of their professional performing careers.  Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States during the period of the residency. 

Fellowship Duties:
As a Guest Artist: Perform a concerto with the MSO on the October 2011 classical subscription concert.

As a Recitalist: Perform three scheduled solo recitals each season sponsored by the MSO Association. A modest artist fee is provided for pianists.

As an Orchestral Violinist: Serve as the MSO’s Concertmaster at weekly rehearsals and at the 10 scheduled classical and pops concerts each season from September 2011 to May 2012.

Stipend: $35,000 per nine month season.

Engagement:
September 2011 through May 2012. While the Fellowship is intended to be a two year engagement extending from September 2011 - May 2013, the second season continuation will be jointly agreed upon by the MSO and the Fellow.

About the Orchestra:
The MSO is a volunteer community ensemble of 65 players. Its season runs September through May with five subscription concerts, a pair of educational concerts, and two outdoor pops concerts, plus occasional special performances. The group rehearses each Monday night during the season with two additional rehearsals the week before each subscription concert.

In designing the Fellowship, the Association Board has taken care to limit the amount of time spent in activities not directly related to furthering the Fellow’s concert career. It is the intention that this Fellowship assist a young, talented violinist to realize his or her full potential as a concert artist. In turn, the Fellow’s presence in Montgomery assists the MSO in enriching the cultural life of the city and region.

Audition Procedures:
Candidates should submit a CD of a major concerto and at least two contrasting works suitable for recital, a resume, and the names, addresses (regular and email) and telephone numbers (studio, cell, and home) of three people who will serve as references.

Application Deadline: All applications must be postmarked by March 25, 2011.

Final Round
Four finalists will be notified in early April of their selection for the final round to be held in Montgomery, Alabama on May 2-4, 2011. Finalists will interview privately with the competition jury and will perform in a final round of competition which will be open to the public.  All finalists will perform a movement of a concerto and a movement of an unaccompanied work.  After the Jury deliberates, the winner will be announced from the stage.

Because travel expenses will be paid within the United States by the Montgomery Symphony, finalists must be completely available all three days of the competition.

Mail to:
Montgomery Symphony
301 N. Hull Street
Montgomery, AL 36104

Montgomery Symphony Violin and Cello Fellows
Violin	Cello
Robin Scott 2011-13	Laura Usiskin 2010-2012
Liana Gourdjia 2009-2011	Dan Totan 2008-2010
Sun-Young Gemma Shin 2007-2009	Katerina Juraskova 2006 - 2008
Benjamin Sung 2005-2007	Hrant Parsamian 2004 - 2006
Elena Hirsu 2003-05	Alexei Romanenko 2002 - 2004
Peter Rovit 2001 - 2003	Leonardo Altino 2000 - 2002
Yosuke Kawasaki 1999 - 2001	Bo Li 1998 - 2000
Xiang Gao 1998 - 1999	Dariusz Skoraczewski 1996 - 1998
Denitza Kostova 1997 - 1998
Emi Ohi Resnick 1995 - 1997
Rachel Varga 1993 - 1995
Alexander Simionescu 1991 - 1993
Damien Pegis 1989 - 1991

Commonly Asked Questions

Q Does the concerto recording I have to send need to be a complete work?

A No. Send what you have. It also does not matter if your concerto is with piano or orchestral accompaniment.


Q Does it matter which other pieces I send?

A The other pieces on your application recording should demonstrate a variety of style, performance practice, and the ability to convey musical meaning.  There is no required number of selections - most applications include 3 or 4 movements.


Q Can international students apply for the Violin Fellowship?

A Yes, if you can be authorized to work in the US during the period of the residency.  We will be happy to confer with you on this issue.

Q What is the schedule for the final round?

A On Monday, May 2, 2011, you will come to Montgomery (travel expenses within the United States paid by the MSO) and hear a performance of the Orchestra that night. Tuesday you will interview with the judges, rehearse with the pianist and compete. The winner will be announced that evening and you will depart on Wednesday.


Q If I get to the finals, what will I be expected to play?

A All four finalists will play a movement of a concerto and a movement of an unaccompanied work, both of your choice. The two movements together should not go over about 20 minutes. We will provide a pianist.

The final round of the competition will be open to the public and the winner will be announced at the end of the night.


Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama, the state’s capital city, has a metropolitan population of over 318,000, with more than a half a million people within a 50-mile radius. Montgomery is two and a half hours from Atlanta, an hour and a half from Birmingham, and less than three hours from the beaches of the Gulf Coast.

Its vibrant cultural life is highlighted by the Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park, home of the internationally acclaimed Alabama Shakespeare Festival, which offers varied performances year-round, and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, which has outstanding collections and offers diverse exhibits. Numerous local art, folk, and history museums as well as antique galleries can also be found around the city Central Alabama is home to eight universities and colleges. 

As a southern center for the arts, Montgomery has two dance companies, a chamber music series, and several vocal ensembles.

In addition to the Orchestra and Fellowship Series, the Montgomery Symphony Association and its support League sponsor a regional youth orchestra, a summer music camp for strings, a national concerto competition for junior and senior high school students and host each year the deep south auditions for the Boston University Tanglewood Institute.

Top >>