Marisa Esposito performing in the Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition (photo by Dr. David Wells).
Fredonia alumna and bassoonist Marisa Esposito, who is also an adjunct lecturer in the School of Music, won the prestigious 2019 Meg Quigley Vivaldi Competition, held in January at The Colburn School in Los Angeles.
The annual competition and bassoon symposium is a three-day event dedicated to bassoon master classes, presentations, performances, and the live semifinal and final rounds of a competition for women bassoonists. The competition is for women bassoon players who are citizens of the Americas (North America, Central America, South America), or who are enrolled in school in the Americas during the year prior to the competition.
Ms. Esposito graduated from Fredonia in 2015 with a Mus.B. degree in Music Education, then went on to the Cleveland Institute of Music for a master’s degree in Performance and is currently finishing an Artist Diploma, studying with Barrick Stees. At Fredonia, she is a bassoon instructor teaching private lessons, conducting reed making class and leading the beginning bassoon class. She also leads many music classes for young children and families at local preschools, day care facilities and family centers.
Esposito is also Acting Second Bassoon with the Erie (Pa.) Philharmonic Orchestra, and holds substitute positions with the Canton (Ohio) and Youngstown symphony orchestras, CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra and the New World Symphony. Esposito recently won first place at the National Society of Arts and Letters Competition for Winds, Ohio River Valley Chapter.
School of Music Associate Director Laura Koepke, who is head of the bassoon area and Esposito’s former teacher, noted that the Quigley competition is a highly competitive event, including three rounds of competition with “a spectacular panel of judges.” The final round repertoire required of all participants included Vivaldi’s Concerto in F major, RV 485 and Alexandre Tansman’s “Suite.”
As winner of the competition, Esposito received $9,000. For more information on the competition, go online.
