2024 Primrose International Viola Competition & American Viola Society Festival Program Book

2024 American Viola Society Festival Competition Finalists

Orchestral Audition Competition Finalists

Devin Burgess Phelps, NY Student of Ann Marie Brink, Arnaud Ghillebaert, Lembi Veskimets, & Wilfredo Deglans

Devin received her bachelor’s in music performance from Baldwin Wallace University studying viola with Lembi Veskimets. During her master’s degree in Viola Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Oregon Devin held a graduate assistantship playing with the Eugene Symphony Orchestra and teaching through the University's Community Music Institute. A student of Arnaud Ghillebaert, she was awarded Outstanding Graduate Performer in Strings upon graduation. She

received her post master’s Graduate Performance Certificate from DePaul University, where she studied with Ann Marie Brink. During her time at DePaul University Devin also served as an associate member for the Chicago Civic Orchestra.

Sumin Cheong South Korea Student of Stephen Wyrczynski Sumin Cheong recently earned her master’s degree from Indiana University, where she studied with Stephen Wyrczynski.

Gina Gravagne Gina Marie Gravagne is a twenty-year-old violist from Waco, Texas, known for her dynamic orchestral section leadership. Born with a limb difference known as symbrachydactyly, her playing continues to defy expectations. Currently, Gravagne studies viola performance at Baylor University under Kathryn Steely and DJ Cheek. She serves as principal in the Baylor Symphony Orchestra and recently won contract positions in the Waco Symphony Orchestra and the Abilene Philharmonic. She performed as a soloist with multiple symphony orchestras within the past year and made her debut performance in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in May with collaborative pianist Byunghee Yoo. This summer, she will attend the

Aspen Music Festival on a fellowship.

Eleanor Hammersly Santa Monica, CA Student of Roger Myers and Josephine Liu Moerschel

Hailing from Los Angeles, 22-year-old violist Eleanor Hammersly has performed as a versatile orchestral, chamber, and solo musician across three continents. Since earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas last spring, she has enjoyed performing with several ensembles, including the American Youth Symphony, California Young Artists Symphony, and the Civic Orchestra of Los Angeles. Eleanor has participated in festivals including the Trentino, Green Mountain, and Tanglewood Institute, and most recently the Round Top Institute. Her

former teachers include Josephine Moerschel and the late Roger Myers. She currently resides in Los Angeles, her hometown, where she regularly teaches at Youth Orchestra Los Angeles and teaches privately. This Fall, she will begin her master’s degree program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, studying with Jonathan Vinocour.

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