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Our Congratulations To
The Winners of the 2009 Competition
ALICE COLEMAN PRIZE - $7,500
Mana Quartet

Florida State University
Michael Hernandez, Soprano Sax
Michael Mortarotti, Alto Sax
Joshua Meyers, Tenor Sax
Dannel Espinoza, Baritone Sax
Patrick Meighan, Coach
COLEMAN-SAUNDERSON PRIZE FOR WOODWINDS & BRASS - $4,000
Arabesque Winds

Eastman School of Music
Deidre Huckabay, Flute
Liz Spector, Oboe
Isabel Kim, Clarinet
Eryn Bauer, Bassoon
Sophia Goluses, French horn
Robert DiLutis, Coach
COLEMAN-BARSTOW PRIZE FOR STRINGS - $2,000 (shared)
The Linden String Quartet
Cleveland Institute of Music
Sarah McElravy, Violin
Catherine Cosbey, Violin
Eric Wong, Viola
Felix Umansky, Cello
Peter Salaff, Coach
Aeolus Quartet
Cleveland Institute of Music
Nicholas Tavani, Violin
Rachel Shapiro, Violin
Gregory Luce, Viola
Alan Richardson, Cello
Peter Salaff, William Preucil,
Cavani Quartet, Coaches
The 2009 competition took place on Saturday, April 25th in Caltech's Ramo Auditorium. The winners will present a formal concert on Sunday, April 26th.

PDF versions of the program for the Winners Concert and the Finals Round Personnel List are available for download.

The judges for the 2009 competition were:Download the Application

  • Margaret Batjer, Violin
  • Anne Epperson, Piano
  • Marian Liebowitz, Clarinet
  • Antonio Lysy, Cello
  • John Rojak, Trombone

Each year, everyone is welcome to attend both days of this exciting annual event.

Groups interested in participating in the 2010 competition, please watch this page for the 2010 application, which will be posted as soon as it is available.


The Competition began in 1947 as the Coleman Auditions for young, non-professional performers; today's competing ensembles have an average age of less than 26. From a modest beginning, the annual Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition (renamed in 1982) has become a highly respected national and international event with competitors coming from the major music schools across the country.

Many Coleman Competition winners have gone on to become widely acclaimed artists. An abbreviated list of past winners includes Glenn Dicterow; Grant Gershon; Jeffrey Kahane; Anne-Marie McDermott; Paula Robison; Nathaniel Rosen; Morton Subotnick; the Ahn Trio; eigth blackbird; and the Cavani, Colorado, Pacifica, Tokyo, and Vega Quartets.

Held annually in late April, the Competition offers an opportunity for these musicians to perform before an outstanding panel of nationally chosen judges for three prizes totaling $15,500. Previous judges have included Jascha Heifetz; Natalie Limonick; Mehli Mehta; Gregor Piatigorsky; Artur Rubinstein; Eudice Shapiro; Anrold Steinhardt; Henri Temianka; the Beaux Arts Trio; and the Amadeus, Budapest, Opus One, and Smetana Quartets.