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Masterclass

Every season YOCJ is pleased to feature a high caliber soloist at our January concert, who comes back in the spring as a guest clinician at our annual masterclasses. Additionally, we round out the masterclasses with other established clinicians from the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and major universities, to represent all of our instrumental families. This notable opportunity provides all of our varied students with intensive and specialized experiences.

2025 Soloist and Clinician: Patrick Williams, Associate Principal Flute of The Philadelphia Orchestra & Clinician: Valentin Kovalev, Saxophone

YOCJ is thrilled to announce that our guest artist for the 2024-25 season is the flutist, Patrick Williams! Mr. Williams was appointed associate principal flutist of The Philadelphia Orchestra in 2018 by Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Mr. Williams is also currently adjunct instructor of flute at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance. YOCJ is pleased to present Mr. Williams performing the Reineke Flute Concerto with our Symphonic Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Kenneth T. Bean, on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at TCNJ’s Kendall Hall. Additionally, Patrick Williams will be our woodwind clinician on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at our Woodwind Masterclass. Musicians from the Princeton Symphony Orchestra will also run masterclasses for the Strings, Brass and Percussion students that night. In addition, Selmer artist, Mr. Valentin Kovalev, a highly sought educator and performer, will run a saxophone masterclass on Tuesday February 18th. Most notably, Mr. Kovalev was the first prize winner of the Naumburg Foundation’s International Saxophone Competition in 2022.

2024 Clinicians: Ranaan Meyer, Time for Three & Dr. Paul Cohen, Rutgers University

2023 Clinicians: Billy Hunter, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Principal Trumpet, Dr. Noa Even, Rutgers University & Princeton Symphony Orchestra musicians

YOCJ Guest Soloists and Masterclass Clinicians:

  • 2025

    Patrick Williams, Associate Principal Flute of The Philadelphia Orchestra; Mr. Valentin Kovalev, Selmer Saxophone Artist

  • 2024

    Ranaan Meyer, Double Bass, Founding member of Time For Three as soloist and clinician; Dr. Paul Cohen, Rutgers University Saxophone professor as clinician

  • 2023

    Billy Hunter, Principal Trumpet, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; PSO Musicians: Violinist William Harvey, Clarinetist Paschal Archer, Percussionist Greg Giannascoli; Rowan University Saxophone Professor Noa Even.

  • 2022

    David Kim, violin, Concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra, PSO Musicians: Bassoonist Brad Balliett, Trumpeter Tom Cook, Percussionist Jeremy Levine, & Manhattan School of Music’s Dr. Wonki Lee, Saxophone Professor

  • 2021

    Midori, Violin Virtuoso Soloist; Clinicians – PSO Musicians: Violinist Basia Danilow, Violist Michael Davis, Bassist Joanne Bates, Flutist Yevgeny Faniuk, Bassoonist Brad Balliett, Trumpeter Jerry Bryant, Percussionist Greg Giannascoli & Boston University’s Dr. Jennifer Bill, Saxophone Professor

  • 2020

    Angela Zator Nelson, percussion, Associate Principal Timpanist of The Philadelphia Orchestra

  • 2019

    David Kim, violin, Concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra

  • 2018

    Stanley Drucker, former Principal Clarinet of The New York Philharmonic

  • 2017

    Jennifer Montone, French horn, Principal French Horn of The Philadelphia Orchestra

  • 2016

    David Kim, violin, Concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra

  • 2015

    Yumi Kendall, cello, Associate Principal Cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra

  • 2014

    Bart Feller, flute, Principal Flautist of The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra

  • 2013

    Matt Vaughan, trombone, Principal Trombonist of The Philadelphia Orchestra

  • 2012

    Hal Robinson, bass, Principal Bassist of The Philadelphia Orchestra

  • 2011

    David Kim, violin, Concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra