Recent Hartford Symphony Orchestra Auditions

In September, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra (HSO) held an exciting series of five auditions, drawing talent from around the globe! With auditions spanning four international categories and one internal for the viola section, HSO is thrilled to announce that nine positions have been filled across piano, trumpet, cello, and viola, including two well-deserved internal promotions within the viola section. Below are the highlights, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of the musicians who earned these coveted spots.

Piano

On Wednesday, September 4, we held our first piano audition since November of 1976, with 11 candidates competing for the position won by Yujin Lee.

 

Yujin Lee, Pianist, a distinguished pianist and winner of the Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford as well as the Paranov Concerto Competition at The Hartt School., has performed at prestigious venues and collaborated with renowned musicians such as Steve Cohen and Midori Goto. Currently, she serves as a Piano Faculty member at The Hartt Community Division and a Staff Pianist at The Hartt School.

 

Trumpet

On Saturday, September 7, and Sunday, September 8, we conducted auditions for both the Principal and Third Trumpet positions. A total of 28 auditioners competed for positions won by Dovas Lietuvninkas and Alison Marseglia.

 

Dovas Lietuvninkas, Principal Trumpet, has an impressive background, including performances with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. A passionate advocate for new music, he co-founded the contemporary trumpet collective “something something trumpet” and frequently commissions and premieres innovative works.

 

 

 

Alison Marseglia, Third Trumpet, a talented trumpeter and member of the United States Coast Guard Band since January 2024, has an impressive background as a first-prize winner in prestigious competitions like the National Trumpet Competition and the International Trumpet Guild. A Baylor University graduate, she’s also an active performer, educator, and passionate arranger for brass quintets.

 

Cello

On Friday, September 13, we held auditions for both Principal Cello and section cello positions, with 20 auditioners participating, the position was won by Amy Ward Butler.

 

Amy Ward Butler, Principal Cello (starting with our Masterworks concert in November), has performed with prestigious ensembles such as the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra and the Baltimore Symphony. A founding member of the Tapestry Cello Ensemble, she tours the East Coast, showcasing her original compositions and multi-layered arrangements on her 19th-century Gagliano cello.

 

Viola

On Monday, September 16, two separate viola auditions took place.Internal Auditions for Acting Assistant Principal Viola were held, resulting in two internal candidates begin elevated to new roles within the viola section. International Auditions were hosted for Section Viola positions, and four section positions were filled from 13 auditioners.

 

Nick Borghoff, Acting Assistant Principal Viola, a violist based in New York City, has been a member of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra since 2019. A graduate of the Hartt School and Manhattan School of Music, Nick has performed under renowned conductors like John Williams and Andris Nelsons, and currently serves as a viola/violin sub for The Lion King on Broadway.

 

 

Gretchen Frazier, Acting Assistant Principal Viola, has been a member of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra since 2016 and also performs with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. As a versatile violist, she has served as Assistant Principal Viola with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony and Charleston Symphony, and plays regularly with Bivolita Klezmer and duo Violin/SANITY.

 

 

Wanxinyi Huang, Section Viola, a violist pursuing her Master of Musical Arts at the Yale School of Music, is the founder of the chamber group Ensemble ClassiCORE, which recently performed at The Kennedy Center and toured China. An internationally accomplished performer, she has appeared at prestigious festivals across Europe and Asia and was a semi-finalist in the Klein International Competition.

 

 

Kyle Davis, Section Viola, serves as principal viola in The Orchestra Now at Bard College since 2022, has performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center. A Texas native, he holds degrees from the University of North Texas and Indiana University, where he studied with renowned teachers and performed in top orchestras across the country.

 

 

Nickolas Kaynor, Section Viola, also serves as principal violist of the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra and performs regularly with ensembles such as the New Haven Symphony and Portland Symphony. He also performs with the NYC-based Starling Quartet and recently completed a doctoral dissertation on Bartók’s Viola Concerto at the Manhattan School of Music.

 

 

Andrew Knebel, Section Viola, is a versatile violist and educator who performs with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony and Norwalk Symphony, while freelancing across Connecticut and New York. A graduate of the Hartt School of Music, he also teaches at Summertrios, The Lake Placid Chamber Seminar, and schools in southwestern Connecticut.

 

Trombone

On Monday, November 18, we hosted auditions for the position of Third Bass Trombone. Out of 56 applicants, the position was awarded to Reid Harman

 

Reid Harman, a bass trombonist from Chicago, earned his B.M. from Northwestern (2023) and is pursuing an M.M. at Juilliard (2025). He has performed with top orchestras and can often be seen performing with his brass quintet, Metropolis Brass., the Metropolis Brass quintet.

 

Percussion

Back in April of 2024, the HSO held section percussion auditions with 67 applicants expressing interest in the position. After a trial period, the position was awarded to Evan Glickman

 

Evan Glickman is an internationally touring percussionist specializing in orchestral, twentieth-century, and new music. He serves as Principal Percussionist of the New Bedford Symphony, performs with orchestras nationwide, and has collaborated with renowned soloists and conductors. He studied percussion at NYU, Rutgers, and UConn with esteemed teachers, including the HSO’s own Rob McEwan.