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Congratulations to Peyton Hall Magalhaes, cello, who won first prize in the 2022-23 Bruce Ekstrand Memorial Graduate Student Performance Competition on Nov. 8! Performing works by Miklós Rózsa and Reinhold Glière, he was awarded the grand prize of $2,000. Magalhaes studies with Associate Professor of Cello David Requiro.

“It’s such an incredible honor to win the Bruce Ekstrand Memorial Graduate Student Performance Competition and to compete among so many incredible performers,” shares Magalhaes. “I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to perform and take part in such a big event at the College of Music, and I’m excited to use the prize money to further my artistic career!”

Soprano Anna McMahon was awarded second prize ($1,000); McMahon studies with Associate Professor of Voice Jennifer Bird. Other finalists included Logan Banister, alto saxophone (student of Lecturer Lucas Hopkins); Lauren Flaten, flute (student of Professor of Flute Christina Jennings); and Rebecca Ortiz, trumpet (student of Professor of Trumpet Ryan Gardner)—each of whom was awarded $500.

Congratulations to all who performed and their teachers ... and special thanks to collaborative pianists Ya-Ting Yang, Suyeon Kim, Barbara Noyes, Bobby Pace, Yukino Miyake and all other pianists involved in the previous rounds! 

Many thanks also to adjudicators Pamela Pantos, President + CEO, Central City Opera; Jason Shafer, Principal Clarinet, Colorado Symphony; and Keith Ward, Professor + Director, University of Denver Lamont School of Music. And our tremendous gratitude to Associate Professor of Collaborative Piano Margaret McDonald for her superb organization and leadership of our college competitions! 

Launched by then-Dean Robert Fink at Bruce Ekstrand’s suggestion and later renamed to honor the late vice chancellor for academic affairs and psychology professor, the Bruce Ekstrand Memorial Graduate Student Performance Competition awards cash prizes for professional development to outstanding graduate student performers. After preliminaries among individual departments and a semifinal round, up to five finalists are chosen to compete in the final competition before a panel of judges. Faculty judges for this year’s semi-final round were Matthew Dockendorf, associate director of bands; Mutsumi Moteki, professor of vocal coaching; and Keith Waters, jazz pianist and professor of music theory.

Partially funded by the Ekstrand Competition Endowment Fund, the annual event serves as the premier performance competition for the College of Music’s most outstanding graduate students. Donate to the fund .

Photo (right): Norma Ekstrand and Dean John Davis, just prior to this year’s final round of the Bruce Ekstrand Memorial Graduate Student Performance Competition.