University of Redlands
The nationally renowned University of Redlands School of Music will present 10 esteemed student musicians and vocalists who have won the coveted opportunity of performing in the U of R President’s Honor Recital at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 17 in the Memorial Chapel on the university’s main campus. This event is free and open to the public.
For almost four decades, the President’s Honor Recital has been a showcase for outstanding performers in the School of Music who earn their spot through an audition process. The 2019 winning students are Jorge Araujo Felix, trumpet; Maria Paula Cevallos Crespo, voice; Kelsie Harris, piano; Jonathan Heruty, trombone; Tim Laguna, percussion; Kristine Llanderal, clarinet; Jacob Miner, flute; Anthony Schnell, cello; Stephanie Shepson, voice; and Marcel Valenzuela, guitar.
Meet the artists
Jorge Araujo Felix, trumpet
Jorge Araujo Felix was first introduced to the trumpet at age 12 and spent his adolescent years performing with numerous ensembles. Now pursuing his Bachelor of Music degree in trumpet performance, studying with Dr. David Scott, Jorge recently became a student substitute with the Redlands Symphony Orchestra and was recently hired by the Disneyland Resort as a trumpet player at the Disneyland Park.
Maria Paula Cevallos Crespo, voice
Soprano Maria Paula Cevallos Crespo, a native of Quito, Ecuador, is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance and music education, studying with Professor Cindy Snyder. In addition to serving as the assistant director of the U of R treble a cappella group, the Redlands Rhapsodies, she is also the student conductor of the U of R Youth Choir. An avid leader and diligent scholar, Maria has been on the dean’s list every semester and is the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships. She will make her operatic debut in two solo roles this spring as Elettra in Mozart’s Idomeneo and Belinda in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas.
Kelsie Harris, piano
Kelsie Harris, a Redlands native, is a junior and scholarship student working towards the Bachelor of Music degree with a major in piano performance. Studying with Louanne Long, artist professor of piano, Kelsie has received the Lehigh Endowed Piano Scholarship, the Rowena Bishop Talent Award, and the Redlands Town and Gown Scholarship. Her name has appeared on the dean’s list for outstanding academic excellence every semester. Kelsie is a past winner of the 2016 President’s Honor Recital auditions and a contestant in the 2018 International Liszt Competition. She has participated in both solo and concerto divisions of the Inland Empire Piano Competition, competed in Bach Festivals, and was a prizewinner in the 2015 Redlands Rotary Competition.
Jonathan Heruty, trombone
Junior Jonathan Heruty was introduced to the trombone at age 11, and his journey through music in the public education system and at home eventually opened an opportunity to pursue music at U of R in 2016. Since then, his experiences in the School of Music have shaped and directed his emphasis on theoretical concepts into something much more tangible and valuable: consistent production of sound. In his first year, he accepted the School of Music Freshman Honor Award, and he has now introduced composition into his primary direction of study.
Tim Laguna, percussion
Tim Laguna, a native of Orange, California, is currently pursuing the Master of Music degree in percussion performance. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Cal Poly Pomona and has performed with the Orange County Wind Symphony, the Laguna Beach Community Band, Redlands Community Orchestra, various groups at Fullerton College, Cal Poly Pomona and the U of R. He studies with Yuri Inoo, the principle percussionist with the Redlands Symphony. Tim is the main percussion instructor at El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera and has just started a percussion ensemble at San Gorgonio High School.
Kristine Llanderal, clarinet
Kristine Llanderal, a native of Poway in San Diego, California, currently studies clarinet performance with Dr. Kathryn Nevin. She earned a seat in the final round of the 2018 University of Redlands Concerto Competition, qualified to become a Redlands Symphony Orchestra student substitute musician, participated in a wind quintet workshop with the Zephyros Wind Quintet and worked with clarinetist Alicia Lee from the NOW Ensemble and Decoda Ensemble. Kristine also is a member of the University of Redlands Chapel Singers and has participated in workshops and performances with prestigious vocal groups including Chanticleer, The Who, The King’s Singers, and The Real Group, as well as with composer Eriks Essenvalds.
Jacob Miner, flute
Junior Jacob Miner, a Bay area native, is currently a student of international soloist and recording artist Sara Andon.
In high school, he was a member of the Young Musicians Choral Orchestra under the baton of conductor and mentor Anthony Parnther. He has also studied with Patricia Farrell, Joshua Romatowski and Victoria Hauk. Jacob recently became a student substitute with the Redlands Symphony Orchestra under the direction of international artist Ransom Wilson. He was also a finalist in the U of R Concerto Competition this past fall.
Anthony Schnell, cello
Anthony Schnell is currently studying with Kyle Champion at U of R; he has also been coached by Kira Blumberg, Louanne Long, Samuel Fischer and Sakura Tsai when playing chamber music. At the end of his freshman year, he was awarded the School of Music Freshman Honor Award for most outstanding freshman music major in scholarship, performance and service for the 2017-2018 academic school year. Anthony has been the principal cellist of the Kadima Conservatory Philharmonic and Kadima Conservatory Senior Philharmonic, and he is the principal cellist of the University of Redlands Orchestra. He has also been a member of the California State University, Northridge Youth Orchestra Philharmonic.
Stephanie Shepson, voice
Stephanie Shepson (mezzo-soprano) is in her final year of graduate study at U of R, completing a Master of Music in Vocal Performance under the instruction of Patricia Gee. This spring Stephanie will perform the roles of Idamante in Mozart’s opera Idomeneo, the Abductress in Lowry’s Polite Abductress and the aria “Non più mesta” from Rossini’s Cenerentola at the Opera Gala with the U of R opera workshop. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the Wheaton Conservatory of Music. She has performed extensively with various choruses including the Boise Philharmonic Master Chorale and now sings with Redlands-based Ensemble XXI.
Marcel Valenzuela, guitar
Marcel Andrei Valenzuela, a Yuma, Arizona native, is a guitarist and composer who began playing bass guitar at the age of 14, performing in the local SKA/punk rock music scene. During his first year at Arizona Western College in Yuma, he switched from studying biology to pursue a degree and career in music. He will graduate from with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Guitar Performance in April after performing in many concerts for the Studio Big Band, Jazz Guitar Ensemble and Jazz Improvisation Ensemble. In 2018, Marcel performed in a junior recital of mostly his own compositions and will perform a senior recital this spring consisting of entirely original material.
