2021 National Young Virtuosi Recital Competition Judges

MICHAEL AVAGLIANO

American conductor Michael Avagliano is obsessed with redefining what’s possible for an orchestra. His focus on ambitious local collaborations and active community involvement helped triple the Central Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s (CJSO) budget and led to significant audience growth in both the Summit Symphony Orchestra and the August Symphony Orchestra, all of which he serves on as music director. Largely inspired to become a conductor after a chance meeting with Leonard Bernstein, Avagliano continues to draw inspiration from the legendary maestro’s twin legacies: exuberant musicianship and a devotion to broadening classical music audiences. He is additionally sought after as a guest conductor, and has led over 15 orchestras across the United States and Europe, including the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic (Czech Republic), Pleven Philharmonic (Bulgaria), Scuola Popolare di Testaccio (Italy), Plainfield Symphony (NJ), and University of Oregon Symphony. In a March 2020 performance, Avagliano was praised for an “effective, powerful” performance (New York Classical Review) in leading the Bachanalia Chamber Orchestra at New York City’s Merkin Hall.

When not leading orchestras, Mr. Avagliano turns his attention to mentoring the next generation of young conductors, imparting skills needed both on the podium and off. To train musicianship, he founded the annual International Conducting Masterclass in Stony Point, NY. Conversely, his workshop "Conducting the Interview" focuses on career-building, teaching conductors significant skills in applying for positions as conductor and music director. One of the most comprehensive workshops of its kind, participants held mock interviews with a panel of industry professionals, led by Henry Fogel, former president of the League of American Orchestras. Hoping to build upon the success of these initiatives and construct further ones, Avagliano founded the Performers Learning Alliance in 2020, a pending 501(c)3 nonprofit.

A doctoral candidate for Orchestral Conducting at Rutgers University (D.M.A.), Mr. Avagliano has worked in masterclasses and workshops with Neil Varon, Kenneth Kiesler, Diane Wittry, and Kirk Trevor. He studied under Markand Thakar, and also served as associate faculty at Thakar’s workshops with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. A trained violinist and violist, Avagliano continues to perform and educate under his adjunct professorship of violin and viola at Drew University, and has performed with the internationally acclaimed Madison String Quartet since 2000. Avagliano holds degrees from Indiana University (B.M.) and Rutgers University (M.M.). He resides in New Jersey with his wife, the violinist Evelyn Estava. Visit Michael Avagliano’s website >> Here

TOMOKO KASHIWAGI

Pianist Tomoko Kashiwagi finds great joy in playing diverse repertoire she encounters as a performer and as an educator. Kashiwagi joined the faculty at the University of Arkansas- Fayetteville in 2012. Currently Kashiwagi is the Assistant Professor of Piano and Collaborative Piano and the Emily J. McAllister Endowed Professor in Piano.

Kashiwagi completed her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees as well as the Performer Diploma in Piano Performance at Indiana University where she studied with Professors Shigeo and Reiko Neriki. It did not take long for Kashiwagi to realize the importance of chamber music and ensemble playing as a musician and that she truly enjoys interacting with other musicians. She is the first recipient of the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Collaborative Piano from the University of Texas at Austin where she studied with Prof. Anne Epperson.

Kashiwagi has performed in such prestigious venues as the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Central Conservatory in Beijing, Guildhall School in London among others. During the summer, Kashiwagi was the staff pianist for renowned Meadowmount School of Music for six years and more recently, the pianist for the Intensive Oboe Institute at Interlochen, MI. She is frequently invited to be an official pianist for conferences, competitions and festivals which included the 2014 Menuhin International Violin Competition in Austin, TX and International Tuba and Euphonium Conference in 2019.

More information on Tomoko Kashiwagi >> Here