Future Stars Shine at Symphony
Wed, 02/19/2025 - 09:52am | By: Dr. Mike Lopinto
Pictured from left to right: Sanchez, Petrocelli, Lorett
Winners of the William T. Gower Concerto Competition will join The University of 51¶șÄÌ Mississippi (USM) Symphony Orchestra for their first concert of the Spring semester, Future Stars, on March 13 at 7:30 p.m. on the Thomas V. Fraschillo stage at the Mannoni Performing Arts Center auditorium. Joined by guest conductor, Tammy Yi of the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, the exciting showcase of the incredible School of Music talent will conclude with the Symphonyâs music director, Gregory Wolynec, conducting Stravinskyâs Petrushka. Tickets are available at southernmisstickets.com or by calling 601.266.5418 or 800.844.8425.
âWe are all so excited to bring this program to life as it truly highlights the immense talent we have here in our School of Music,â said Wolynec. âOur incredible concerto soloists emerged from a very competitive day of contestants.â
The William T. Gower Concerto Competition provides students with the unique opportunity to compete against their peers for the chance to perform with the Symphony Orchestra. An annual tradition of more than 25 years, the competition was named in 2007 in honor of William T. Gower, former professor of music at 51¶șÄÌ Miss and a widely respected musician.
This yearâs three winners, Christian Sanchez and Brian Lorett, cello, and Daniel Petrocelli Ugas, guitar, showcase the diversity of the 51¶șÄÌ Miss School of Music. These distinguished young artists will be performing noted works including the Elgar and Shostakovich Cello Concertos, and the âConcierto de Aranjuez for guitar,â respectively.
Cuban American composer Ivette Herryman Rodriguezâs âA Danzon Done My Wayâ will open the program putting a fresh spin on the traditional Latin dance form. Concluding this exciting evening of talent is perhaps Stravinskyâs most colorful score of his three great ballets for the Ballet RuseâPetrushka entrances with soaring melodies and rhythmic vitality. This story of a mischievous puppet brought to life helped the composer find his mature voice, which would change the world.
âWe are also excited for a creative new take on the popular âDanzonâ with Tammy Yi at the helm â it will be exhilarating,â Wolynec said. âFinally, we will bring a huge and colorful orchestra to Stravinskyâs captivating and difficult work.â
For Christian Sanchez, playing the Elgar cello concerto holds great sentimental significance, as it was the first concerto he heard that inspired him to study music and one day be able to play it. Likewise, this concerto represents memories throughout his career and performing it with USM symphony orchestra is one of the most important of his career goals. Sanchez is originally from Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He began his musical studies at the age of 12 at Escuela Nacional de MĂșsica, taking the cello as his main instrument under the tutelage of Carlos Licona. Sanchez has participated in multiple orchestras and musical groups, including the Honduras Philharmonic Orchestra, the Baton Rouge, Meridian and Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestras. Sanchez has participated in master classes with renowned musicians, including outstanding cellists Gautier Capuçon, Pablo Ferrandez, Santiago Cañon-Valencia, among others. He has performed in numerous music festivals, most notably, The Vienna Summer Music Festival, Youth Symphony Orchestra, Cellisimo and Chelistiko. Sanchez is currently pursuing his bachelorâs degree at USM under the tutelage of Dr. Alexander Russakovsky. He is looking forward to a performance with his chamber group at Carnegie Hall in New York City in June 2024.
Brian Lorett is a versatile cellist, arranger and composer from Pamplona, Colombia. He began his musical training in CĂșcuta, where he studied under violinist Rafael Pineda at the CĂșcuta Youth Symphony Orchestra. Immersed in the pedagogical principles of Antonio Abreu, founder of Venezuelaâs renowned "El Sistema,â in 2016, he pursued a Bachelor of Musical Arts at the Adolfo MejĂa Conservatory in Cartagena, Colombia studying with cellist and arranger Jorge Nordmann. An avid composer, he writes for ensembles, incorporating Latin American and African folk rhythms and explores electronic sampling and live looping. In 2020, Lorett released âAcercamientos Op.11,â a self-produced album of programmatic music inspired by visual artworks from young Colombian artists. That same year, he won the Convocatoria de EstĂmulos Award twice for his compositions âBambuco No.1 Op.2â and âFantasy No.2 Op.17,â both rooted in Colombian folk traditions. In 2021, he moved to the U.S. to study at The University of 51¶șÄÌ Mississippi to pursue his masterâs degree under Dr. Alexander Russakovsky. There, he serves as principal cellist of the Symphony Orchestra and continues to expand his work in live looping composition and performance, blending classical cello with modern technology to push creative boundaries.
Daniel Petrocelli is a leading Venezuelan guitarist of his generation, recognized for his achievements in national and international competitions. He graduated summa cum laude in classical guitar performance from the Universidad Nacional Experimental de las Artes and also received a bachelorâs degree in education from Universidad Nacional Experimental SimĂłn RodrĂguez. He won first prize at the 2014 III Alirio DĂaz National Guitar Competition in Carora, Venezuela and earned third prizes at the 2015 XVIII Alirio DĂaz International Guitar Competition, the 2020 Rust International Guitar Competition in Austria, and the 2024 Florida Guitar Competition and Festival in Tallahassee, Florida. He has performed at festivals in Venezuela, Mexico, the U.S., Russia and Saint Lucia, captivating audiences with his charisma and energy. Petrocelli has premiered âVariaciones LumiĂš°ù±đâ by Luis Ochoa; âCita Concertanteâ by Eduardo MartĂn; and most recently, Juan Erenaâs âHeart of Earth,â featured on the album âThe World We Build.â Additionally, he is part of the Amalgam Guitar Duet with Wolfgang Salazar. Petrocelli also composes for solo guitar and ensembles, with works like âTensiĂłn LñçłÜŸ±»ćČčâ and âWaltz Impromptuâ available on Spotify and Apple Music. With 14 years of teaching experience, Petrocelli has mentored students who achieved national recognition. In 2024, he received a graduate assistantship at The University of 51¶șÄÌ Mississippi, where he pursues a masterâs in guitar performance under the guidance of Dr. Nicholas Ciraldo. He continuously performs at national and international competitions in the United States and in public performances around Hattiesburg bringing some of his Venezuelan heritage within his repertoire.