2023 EMERGING ARTISTS

Brandon Berlanga (b. 2000) is a Mexican-American percussionist and musical educator currently based out of Austin, Texas. As both a soloist and chamber musician, he has been invited to perform across the United States, including Indiana, Oklahoma, Hawaii, New York, and California. Growing up in central Texas, Brandon found initial inspiration and success in percussion through the marching arts, before his exposure to both contemporary and traditional repertoire during his time at the Butler School of Music. During his time there, he developed a fascination and devotion to new music for both solo percussion and chamber music, refining his skills and knowledge under the mentorship of renowned soloist Dr. Thomas Burritt, and acclaimed percussionist/composer Ivan Trevino. Under their mentorship and guidance, Brandon has been able to help co-found the newly established, Blacktop Percussion, an Austin based percussion ensemble striving to provide a voice for ambitious composers and exploring the bounds of contemporary percussion literature.

Selected as the Network for Diversity in Concert Percussion’s (NDCP) first Emerging Artist in 2021, Brandon has had the opportunity to work closely with numerous notable percussionists such as Alana Wiesing Jon Bisesi, Dinesh Joseph, Nancy Zeltsman, and Leonardo Soto, receiving their mentorship and support for over a year. Since then, Brandon has been selected as a Fellow in the inaugural Ted Atkatz Percussion Festival in 2021, performed as part of the University of Texas Percussion Ensemble at the Percussion Arts Society International Convention 2021 – Percussion Ensemble Showcase, invited to compete as a semi-finalist in the collegiate solo division of the Great Plains International Marimba Competition in 2022, and selected as a finalist and 2^nd Prize winner in the Coltman Chamber Ensemble Competition with his group, Blacktop Percussion.

Brandon’s admiration and devotion to new and contemporary projects shines through most in his recent endeavors giving world and US premiers of large ensemble, chamber, and solo works by Gordon Stout, Hila Plitman, Jack Frerer, Quinn Mason, and rising composers such as Sebastian Zhang, John Tadlock, and Gabriel Araújo. Brandon has received his Bachelor of Music in Orchestral Percussion Performance from the University of Texas at Austin – Butler School of Music and will be pursuing a Master of Music in Percussion Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music beginning in the Fall of 2023.

David Womack is a young lyric baritone equally at home in a wide range of contexts: from the music of the early modern period to 21st-century opera and choral repertoire. Growing up in Austin, TX, he was inspired through his exposure to groups such as Conspirare and Ensemble VIII, as well as his studies with Laura Mercado-Wright. He decided to pursue an education in Vocal Performance at Lawrence University (LU). Under the tutelage of acclaimed countertenor John Holiday, David quickly found success as both a soloist and ensemble singer.

In 2019, he made his professional debut as a soloist singing The Nine by Randall Standridge with the Appleton North High School Wind Ensemble. Beginning his sophomore year, he was cast in Lawrence University’s main stage opera as a principal each year: Antonio in The Marriage of Figaro (2020), Dr. Ferguson in The Nefarious, Immoral but Highly Profitable Enterprise of Mr. Burke and Mr. Hare by Julian Grant (2021), and Ferryman in Britten’s Curlew River (2022). Meanwhile he was a simultaneous member of multiple vocal ensembles including LU Vocal Spectrum, a small jazz vocal ensemble, and LU Concert Choir, the university’s premier mixed choir.

He recently performed the role of Junius in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia at SMU Meadows School of the Arts. David has also recorded with Inversion Ensemble (Austin, TX) and is an active church musician. Upcoming engagements include performances with the Dallas Bach Society in their 2023-24 season. David currently studies with Barbara Hill Moore at SMU Meadows School of the Arts and is a member of the Meadows Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Pamela Elrod Huffman.

Faith DeBow has served as collaborative pianist and Emerging Artist Coordinator on the leadership team of the Victoria Bach Festival since 2010.  Faith is sought after for both solo and collaborative performances as well as choral accompaniment and teaching. She enjoys a vibrant career based in the Central Texas region. Her playing has been heard in outer space at the International Space Station, performing Christmas music on video for astronauts working there during the holiday season.

Ms. DeBow has performed with opera singer Renée Fleming; conductors Peter Bay, Anton Coppola, Craig Hella Johnson, and Sebastian Lang-Lessing; and has performed the works of composers Jake Heggie, Libby Larsen, Roberto Sierra, and Michael Schelle. She has also premiered works by Donald Grantham, Cary Ratcliff, Jake Runestad, and John Muehleisen. In 2012, Ms. DeBow commissioned and premiered Brilliant Sky, a solo piano work by Colin Sorgi. She has served as rehearsal pianist in premieres composed by Stephen Paulus, Kevin Puts, Nico Muhly, Tarik O’Regan, Dan Welcher, Eric Banks, and Robert Kyr.