Isabella Perron, Colin Mackey, Jerry Hu and Anna Stube Win the 2023-24 Robert W. and G. Ann Corcoran

Students from The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School competed in the final round of the annual Robert W. and G. Ann Corcoran Concerto Competition in Koerner Hall on January 23, 2024. The finalists each received a $2000 cash prize and an invaluable opportunity to perform as a soloist during the 2024-25 Royal Conservatory Orchestra concert season. 

After a preliminary round of performances that included 42 students, and a semi-final round of six students, there were four finalists in this year’s competition:  

• Jerry Hu, BMus ‘27, piano | Studio of John O’Conor 
• Colin Mackey, ADP ‘24, baritone | Studio of Jason Howard
• Isabella Perron, BMus ‘24, violin | Studio of Erika Raum
• Anna Stube, BMus ’27, violin | Studio of Jonathan Crow 

Isabella Perron, a violin student in her 4^th year of a Bachelor of Music, Performance (Honours) degree in The Temerty Orchestral Program, won the prestigious Corcoran Grand Prize of $5000 presented to her last night by Mr. Robert Corcoran. Ms. Perron played Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77 (1878) by Johannes Brahms with GGS faculty member, Benjamin Smith.

“These four finalists are incredibly talented and gave stunning performances in the finals,” said James Anagnoson, Dean of The Glenn Gould School. “The Corcoran Concerto Competition is one of the highlights of the year for our students since it offers the winners a singular opportunity of performing a concerto next season with the Royal Conservatory Orchestra within the superb acoustics of Koerner Hall. We are so thankful to our donors, Robert and his late wife Ann, whose generosity ensures that this competition will continue to offer exceptional learning and performance opportunities for our students.”

A panel of internationally acclaimed musicians adjudicated all rounds of the event. The Finalist judges included acclaimed violinist Ray Chen; soprano and globally recognized authority on French music Rosemarie Landry who also graciously shared her time working with Rebanks Family Fellowship vocalists; Principal Trumpet for the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony for 30 years Larry Larson; accomplished pianist and professor of piano at Boston University and the New England Conservatory Pavel Nersessian.

Watch the finals