Audition Winners to Perform at University of Redlands President’s Honors Recital – Redlands Daily Facts

The University of Redlands School of Music will feature seven student performers at the annual President’s Honor Recital at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 20, in the Memorial Chapel on the university’s campus.
The performers are the winners of the 2021-22 School of Music auditions which took place in December and January.
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Since 1983, the President’s Honor Recital has provided a public showcase for outstanding performers from the university’s School of Music. The annual competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students taking private instrumental or vocal lessons with a School of Music faculty member, according to a press release.
This year’s performers are violinists Jace Elliott and Qiwen Lai; José Luis Becerra, clarinet; Connor Edmundson, saxophone; Hannah Gaugush, trumpet; Katherine Hartman, bassoon; and Christian Hillis, flute.
Jace Elliott is a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance with a minor in German. He is co-concertmaster of the University of Redlands Orchestra, a substitute student of the Redlands Symphony Orchestra and has participated in various chamber music groups.
Qiwen Lai, born in Guangdong, China, is pursuing a Master of Music in Violin Performance. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire as a fellow violinist in the Eileen Phillips Cohen String Quartet and recently performed at the Montecito International Music Festival.
Jose Luis Becerra is a sophomore pursuing a degree in clarinet performance. He is Principal Clarinetist of the University of Redlands Orchestra and Wind Ensemble and is a substitute student of the Redlands Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with the Pacific Symphony and its youth programs.
Connor Edmundson is pursuing a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Redlands in 2020 and is a saxophone teacher with the Etiwanda High School band program. He has received awards including the Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence and the John Philip Sousa Award.
Hannah Gaugush is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in Management. She is Principal Cornet for the University of Redlands Wind Ensemble and Principal Trumpet for the University Orchestra. She passed the Redlands Symphony Orchestra student qualifying audition in 2021 and will perform in the orchestra concert on March 26.
Katherine Hartman is a second-year graduate student. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Performance and a Graduate Certificate in Performance from Northern Arizona University where she performed with the Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. She has also performed with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra as second substitute bassoonist and contrabassoonist.
Christian Hillis is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Music in Flute Performance. She is Principal Flute of the University of Redlands Orchestra and Principal Flute of the University of Redlands Wind Ensemble. She recently auditioned and secured a substitute student position with the Redlands Symphony Orchestra.