Leonard Falone International Euphonium and Tuba Festival Home Page


	Pianists 2007 Festival

	• Dr. Mary Jo Cox (Artist Tuba) Dr. Mary Jo Cox received her bachelor of music from Houghton College, and her master of music and doctor of musical arts in piano performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. A student of Frank Weinstock and C. Nolan Huizenga, she also studied harpsichord with Eiji Hashimoto. She has performed in master classes for Lillian Kallir, Jeffrey Kahane, Arthur Haas, and Menahem Pressler, among others. Dr. Cox maintains an active schedule as soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States. As a member of the Ixopo Duo, she and pianist Franklin Larey were awarded first prize in the Graves Duo-Piano Competition and were finalists in the prestigious Murray Dranoff International Duo-Piano Competition. She currently holds the position of principal keyboardist with the Midland Symphony Orchestra and is a frequent accompanist for festivals and competitions throughout the United States. In addition, Cox is a frequent MTNA adjudicator and has served on the faculties of New England Music Camp and the Cincinnati Conservatory Community Music School.
	• Maina Ionescu (Student Tuba) Marina has worked at staff accompanist for the DeWitt Public Schools, for show choirs at Couzino and Sterling Heights High Schools, for the Intermediate choir program at Interlochen Arts Camp, and was a replacement on piano under Jung Ho Pak in "Dances from West Side Story" with the World Youth Symphony Orchestra, at Interlochen. She was Vocal Director for "Crazy for You" at East Lansing High School, played pit synthesizers for the MSU Dept. of Theatre in "Into the Woods", Williamston High School's "Once Upon a Mattress", and played pit piano for the Arts Academy in the Woods' "Fame." She enjoys performing and teaching, collaborating with others in creating compelling, beautiful performances.
	• Jun Okada (Artist Euphonium) Internationally sought after as a professional pianist, Jun Okada enjoys an active career, being involved in over one hundred performances annually as a soloist, in duo ensembles, and as a chamber music specialist. She has received critical acclaim for her expertise in the performance of low-brass and woodwind string literature. Native of Hiroshima, Japan, she began her musical studies at Yamaha Music School, and received the Bachelors and Masters degrees from Michigan State University under the tutelage of Deborah Moriarty. Ms. Okada is particularly noted for her command of the contemporary saxophone repertoire and has performed with numerous internationally recognized artists throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Thailand, and Belgium. As a member of Lulloff-Okada Duo, Rhythmicity, with saxophonist Joseph Lulloff, she has performed at Carnegie-Weill Recital Hall, in Thailand International Saxophone Conference, as well as many other international and national venues. In July 2006, she participated in the 14th World Saxophone Congress in Ljublijana, Slovenia where she performed with many artists. Also highly recognized in a low-brass community, she has participated in International and national conferences and performs annually at Falcone Festival at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan. Ms. Okada is featured on Volume VI of America’s Millennium Tribute to Adolphe Sax, on Sky Scrapings, Saxophone Music of Don Freund, both available through Arizona University Recordings, and Dance Compulsions, available through Michigan State University. She has also recently recorded 2 compact disks with euphonium/tuba artist Benjamin Pierce. Ms. Okada has previously served as a faculty of Music Department at Hope College in Holland, Michigan and maintains a teaching studio in Lansing, Michigan.
	• Sheryl Iott Richardson (Student Euphonium) Sheryl Iott Richardson is a frequent solo and collaborative performer, speaker, and adjudicator, throughout the state of Michigan, and is currently on the piano faculty at Interlochen Arts Camp and at Grand Rapids Community College. She has also served on the faculties of Hope College, Michigan State University, and Calvin College. She has studied principally with Ralph and Tina Votapek, Ian Hobson, and Joseph Evans, receiving her Doctorate in Musical Arts in Piano Performance from Michigan State University in 2005, and her Masters in Music in Piano Performance from University of Illinois in 1988. Professional activities include serving her local and state music teachers organizations in various office and board positions and publishing and editing in the piano pedagogy and music education fields. Recent performance highlights include the annual St. Cecilia Eight-Piano Concert in Grand Rapids and solo and collaborative recitals at Michigan State and Hope College. She lives in Zeeland, Michigan with her husband and three children, where she also maintains a private piano studio.