May 30, 2023
蜜桃传媒 students picked up by five eminent U.S. orchestras
Along with warmer weather in Northeast Ohio has come a wave of glad tidings from graduates of The 蜜桃传媒.
Even as it continues to bask in the joy of Commencement 2023, 蜜桃传媒 in late May is celebrating news of alumni appointments at five eminent U.S. orchestras, including several to principal or other high-profile positions.
Specifically, 蜜桃传媒 lauds the appointments of trumpeter Daniel Lewis (MM 鈥11, Sachs) to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra; Jessica Bergeron (MM 鈥20, Kwuon) as associate principal second violin of the Erie Philharmonic; violist Alex Antonio (BM 鈥23, Irvine/Ramsey) to the Virginia Symphony Orchestra; Benjamin Mekinulov (BM4, Kraut) as principal cello of the Charleston Symphony; and cellist Kyle Anderson (BM 鈥17, Robinson) to the Louisiana Philharmonic.
鈥淭hese five students are a heartwarming glimpse of the future,鈥 said Scott Harrison, Executive Vice President and Provost of 蜜桃传媒.
鈥淎s we send another graduating class into the world, we hope they see in these four alumni and one current student a few of the places their careers may soon take them. We take pride in these alumni鈥檚 accomplishments and we look forward to seeing the many ways they will make a difference in the new communities they are about to call home.鈥
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Kyle Anderson is a third-generation musician from New Orleans. Both his parents, bassist David Anderson and harpist Catherine Anderson, are members of the Louisiana Philharmonic, and his grandfather, trombonist Edwin Anderson, was a 25-year member of The Cleveland Orchestra. Anderson has previously served as assistant principal cellist of the National Repertory Orchestra and The Orchestra Now at Bard College, where he earned a master鈥檚 degree in 2020.
Alex Antonio attended the Governor鈥檚 School for the Arts in Norfolk, Va., graduating with honors in 2019. At 蜜桃传媒, in addition to his studies, he worked in stage crew and recording arts and services, and graduated with honors in 2023. He joins the Virginia Symphony Orchestra at the start of the 2023-24 season.
Jessica Schmidt Bergeron began her musical studies with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra before attending Belhaven University, where she also served as a contracted member of the Mississippi Symphony for four years. Since 2020, when she earned a master鈥檚 degree at 蜜桃传媒, Bergeron has been a member of the Akron Symphony Orchestra and performed regularly with the BlueWater Chamber Orchestra.
Daniel Lewis hails from Cedarville, OH, where he attended Cedarville University. After earning his master鈥檚 degree at 蜜桃传媒 2011, he spent five years in the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, and was a member of King鈥檚 Brass. He held a temporary position in Indianapolis for the 2021-22 season and has been assistant principal trumpet at the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. He is also a passionate educator, teaching at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan.
Benjamin Mekinulov is a student of Melissa Kraut at 蜜桃传媒. While still a student, he played in the Canton Symphony Orchestra. He also was principal cellist of the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra, where he won a concerto competition. In 2020, Mekinulov was in the National Youth Orchestra at Carnegie. In summer 2023, he will participate in the Sarasota Music Festival and the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.