To call the accomplishments of the New World Symphony Fellows “amazing” would be selling them short. This is a group of 84 recent college grads from all over the world chosen to perform and learn at NWS.
One of the highlights of being a Fellow is being selected to perform in the annual Concerto Showcase. The Fellows compete head-to-head, armed with determination and their favorite solo piece. The winning musicians will perform center stage with the orchestra on Jan. 26 and 27 (Here’s how to snag your tickets).
We wanted to get to know the four Fellows who will be performing — Thomas Steigerwald, piano; Roy Femenella, horn; Steven Franklin, trumpet; and Nicholas Mariscal, cello — so we sent them questions about Miami and their musical selections:
What’s the most Miami thing you’ve done since arriving to the city?
Steven: “Riding my bike to South Pointe Pier and watching all the massive cruise ships go by. Also, hanging out on Lincoln Road on a Friday or Saturday night.”
Thomas: “Visiting Wynwood Walls and Zak the Baker, then walking back across the Venetian Causeway.”
What’s your favorite Miami restaurant and go-to order:
Roy: “Spaghetti alla Ruota at Pane e Vino.”
Nicholas: “The Coffee Paolo pizza at Mister 01. I had never tried (or even thought of!) pizza with coffee on it, but I loved it, and it became an instant favorite of mine.”
How would you describe the piece you are performing?
Roy: “Strauss’ Second Horn Concerto represents the pinnacle of solo music for the French horn and is among the most beautiful and virtuosic works for the instrument, with many lush operatic themes. It is one of the final outpourings from possibly the greatest composer for the horn, Richard Strauss.”
Steven: “Jolivet’s Concertino has got a lot of attitude. It’s the type of piece which gives me, as the soloist, the opportunity to take the spotlight and say, ‘Hey everyone, check this out!’ It’s full of confidence, daring, humor, and a healthy amount of swagger.”
Thomas: “The Rondo espagnol is a piece of many flavors, with tastes of New York ragtime, the cheesy romance of music from the Hollywood ‘40s, recognizable pianistic tropes from greats like Greig, Liszt, and Rachmaninoff, and Spanish-sounding melodies from McMoon’s childhood in Mexico.”
Nicholas: “In Khachaturian’s 1963 Concerto-Rhapsody for Cello, he breaks the rules of normal concerto form and starts with a giant cadenza right from the cello’s entrance. The rest of the 25-minute work is a bold, virtuosic, and proudly Armenian showpiece.”
Celebrate these young musicians and their accomplishments at next week’s Concerto Showcase.
PRODUCED BY THE NEW TROPIC CREATIVE STUDIO WITH NEW WORLD SYMPHONY