Dana student awarded gold medal at Leonard Falcone Festival
August 23, 2024
Dana School of Music student Ryan Lamb has been awarded a gold medal at the 2024 Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Festival, held August 9 – 12 at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan.
The festival, held annually, is renowned for attracting the finest brass musicians from around the globe. Competing in the Tuba Division, Lamb’s outstanding performance in both the preliminary and final rounds captured the attention of the judges, ultimately earning him the top award.
“This award is a testament to Ryan’s exceptional musicianship, hard work, and dedication to his craft,” Dana School of Music director Joe Carucci said. “We are incredibly proud of his accomplishments and the way he has represented our school on an international stage.”
The Leonard Falcone Festival is one of the most prestigious events of its kind, offering young musicians a platform to perform, learn, and grow under the mentorship of world-class performers and educators. In addition to serving as an extraordinary personal achievement for Lamb, the granting of this award reinforces the Dana School of Music’s reputation as a leading center for musical excellence.
“The way I prepared was [by] listening to all the pieces, all the time, [and] really trying to get a feel for them. I was in the practice rooms for more than five hours a day during the spring semester. It was awesome to get the hands-on experience as well as receive feedback from the judges on how I’m doing and how my process is working,” Lamb said.
Lamb is a second-year student pursuing a degree in Music Performance. He also competed in the Tuba Student Division and the Orchestral Experts Division of the Mid West Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference in May, where he placed second in both divisions.
“The biggest guide to me for both competitions was Dr. [Yukitada] Onitsuka, our tuba [and] euphonium professor. He has been my inspiration since my first day [at] YSU. It’s so great to get to work with faculty members that want you to succeed all the time, no matter how good or bad you are,” Lamb said.