Ruth Burr Competition

ORION MILLER, First Prize, was accepted into the Juilliard Pre-College division at age fourteen and studied there with the former principal bassist of the New York Philharmonic, Eugene Levinson and New York Philharmonic bassist Rion Wentworth. Orion made his debut at age of fifteen with the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony under conductor David Bernard. Orion has performed with various orchestras in over seven countries. At sixteen years of age, he served as Co-Principal bass of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States. Orion now attends Rice University, Shepherd School of Music, where he studies with former symphony principal bassist Tim Pitts.

MOLLY WISE, Second Prize, is a master’s student at Rice University, Shepherd School of Music, serving as James Dunham’s teaching assistant. She holds a bachelor’s degree in viola and music theory from the Cleveland Institute of Music and made her solo debut with the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra. Molly is on the roster of the Young Artist Program at Da Camera of Houston and has performed at the Museum of Fine Arts, the Menil Collection and the Wortham Center. She has enjoyed orchestral leadership in the Shepherd School of Music Symphony and Chamber Orchestras at Rice University. Molly looks forward to beginning her doctoral studies in the fall of 2022.

ZANE MALLET, Third Prize, is pursuing a Master of Music degree in Harp Performance at Rice University, Shepherd School of Music under the guidance of Paula Page. He was awarded a Harp Performance Scholarship by the Eastern Music Festival and the Meadows Artist Scholarship at Southern Methodist University. Zane’s immediate goal is to audition for principal harp positions; however, his long-term goal is to premiere and transcribe works by black, indigenous and people of color composers that expand the harp solo and chamber repertoire.