Mia Mandineau, accompanied by I-Fei Chen, and Mario Chai performing with Fr. Sean Duggan.
Two international students in the School of Music have been chosen as the 2024 Concerto Competition winners following performances held in King Concert Hall on April 28.
The students, selected from among eight finalists from the Voice, Piano, Woodwind, String and Brass areas, were:
- Mario Chai, a graduate piano student from Johor, Malaysia, performing Franz Liszt’s “Totentanz.” He studies with Professor Sean Duggan.
- Mia Mandineau, a graduate voice student from Montreuil, France, performing “Desdemona’s Scene” from Act IV of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Otello.” She studies with Assistant Professor Donald Marrazzo.
Both musicians will be featured as soloists with ensembles during the 2024-2025 academic year.
Judges included Fredonia faculty from a variety of areas: Professor Paula Holcomb (wind ensemble), Assistant Professor Emily Schaad (orchestra), Associate Professor David Rose (strings), Professor and Assistant Director Barry Kilpatrick (brass), SUNY Distinguished Professor James Piorkowski (guitar/harp/percussion), Associate Professor Eliran Avni (piano) and SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Julie Newell (voice).
Judges do not rate their own students.
The competition was chaired by Performance Area Coordinator and Associate Professor Andrew Seigel.