Current Students

CURRENT STUDENTS

Julie Berry is a second year Master’s student at UMD. She received her Bachelor of Music Degree from the Eastman School of Music and was a teaching assistant at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, before becoming a member of The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" in Washington D.C. Recently retired, she now enjoys performing with the Virginia Grand Military Band, Capital Wind Symphony, Maryland Band Directors Band, Clarinistique Choir, and playing clarinet duets with her father. Julie will now be studying with Robert DiLutis and working towards her Master of Music Degree in Performance.

Lauren Walbert is a second year Master's student at UMD. She filled in as a member of the UMD Fellowship Quintet, Oculus [Five] her first year and is now the current Clarinet Studio Graduate Teaching Assistant studying with Dr. Robert DiLutis. She earned her Bachelors Degree from the University of Kansas with Dr. Stephanie Zelnick. Lauren has performed at venues across the United States including the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the Kennedy Center with the University of Kansas Wind Ensemble. She has attended the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival, Buffet Crampon Clarinet Festival, Sewanee Summer Music Festival, and Rocky Ridge Summer Music Festival. In 2019, her woodwind quintet Longs Peak Five was awarded third place in the Rocky Ridge Chamber Music Competition. She worked as a freelance performer in the Kansas City area performing as a pit orchestra and community orchestra musician.

Kyle Glasgow is back for a master's degree in clarinet performance, having just earned his bachelor's from UMD. He is the clarinetist in the newest iteration of the Fellowship Woodwind Quintet, Ignis. Along with the fellowship, Kyle continues to premiere new music with the aim to amplify the voices of underrepresented composers in the western music world. Through collaborative efforts in community engagement and outreach, recording, and utilizing modern technology in tandem with traditional performance principles, Kyle aims to push both the boundaries of chamber music and classical clarinet beyond the standard classical canon. Kyle has performed in clinics and masterclasses around the world including the Princess of Asturias program in Spain, ClarinetFest in Ostend Belgium, and the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Kyle teaches a private studio of clarinetists of all ages in the DMV area and he serves as the co-conductor of the New Horizons Clarinet Choir and as a clarinetist in the Polka Terps. He is continuing to study with professor DiLutis and several other clarinetists in the region.

Sabrina Sanchez is a first year graduate student from Duncanville, Texas. Sabrina attended Duncanville High School where she studied under Ricky Reeves of the Dallas Winds. Sabrina attended Texas A&M University at Commerce under Dr. Mary Druhan and Dr. Joseph Webb. In her time at Commerce, Sabrina performed at ICA with her studio and had many performances with the “Pride” marching band including BOA Grand Nationals in Indianapolis. Sabrina is excited to start her her MM under Robert DiLutis this fall and is glad to have her best friend and partner, Alex Villa, at her side for this journey.

Emma Selmon is a first-year graduate student at the School of Music at the University of Maryland College Park, where she is pursuing her Master of Music in Clarinet Performance and serving as a graduate assistant in marketing and communications for the School of Music.
Selmon received her Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance from the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music in 2019. During her undergraduate career, Selmon was a member of the university’s Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Ensemble; with the latter, she performed in concerts at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. She also participated in a variety of chamber ensembles, and performed Olivier Messiaen’s Quatuor pour la fin du temps in her senior year. In addition to her musical pursuits, she served as editor of the university’s award-winning student newspaper, The Exponent. Following her graduation from Baldwin Wallace, Selmon worked as a reporter and news editor for the Gratiot County Herald, a local newspaper reaching nearly 11,000 readers per week in the Ithaca, Michigan area. During that time, she was also a member of the Alma Symphony Orchestra in Alma, Michigan and maintained a private clarinet studio as well.
Selmon is currently a student of Professor Robert DiLutis. Her previous instructors include Dr. Wesley Warnhoff, Dr. Dennis Nygren, Daniel McKelway and Dr. George Stoffan.

Terrence Sotillio is a native of Bedford, Ohio, and has earned a bachelor of music education degree with instrumental emphasis from Jackson State University. Alongside his study of music education, Mr. Sotillio minored in business administration. Through his degrees, Mr. Sotillio has the certification to teach in business (7-12) and music education (k-12) in the state of Maryland and Mississippi. Mr. Sotillio has studied clarinet with Kevin Giordano (2013-2015) and Lowell Hollinger (2015-2020).
Mr. Sotillio has performed clarinet and oboe with the Historically Black College/University National Band Director Consortium. Also, he has joined the National Education Association, National Association for Music Education, and Mississippi Association of Educators. Some of the schools Mr. Sotillio has worked with Bedford High School, Jim Hill High School, Northwest Middle School, Blackburn Middle School, Raines Elementary School, Baker Elementary School, and Isable Elementary School. He currently teaches instrumental and vocal music at Legends Charter School in the Prince George County Public Schools district.

Alex Villa is a first year Master’s student in clarinet performance from McKinney, Texas. He attended McKinney Boyd HS where he played clarinet and viola in the Honors Band and Honors Orchestra respectively. Alex attended Texas A&M University-Commerce for his undergraduate degree where he studied under Dr. Mary Alice Druhan and Dr. Jody Webb. He graduated in May 2021 with a Bachelor in Music in Music Education and Performance. While in attendance at Commerce he was involved with the Wind Ensemble, the “Pride” Marching Band, TAMUC Clarinet Choir, and Panimation II ensemble. He also served as president of the Epsilon Beta chapter of Tau Beta Sigma and TAMUC Clarinet Coalition. Alex is excited to begin studying with Robert DiLutis and teaching around the area.

Alexander Dudkin is currently a senior at UMD and is from Silver Spring, Maryland. He is currently studying Clarinet Performance and Music Education under Robert DiLutis. Throughout high school he participated in Montgomery County senior honors band, Maryland All state band, and was the principal clarinetist for The Capitol Symphony Youth Orchestra for 2 years. Throughout his collegiate career, he has been a part of The University of Maryland, Baltimore County symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, jazz band, and pep band. At the University of Maryland, he is currently a part of the University of Maryland Wind Ensemble, and the marching band. In his free time, he loves playing Basketball.

Ashley Hsu is a senior music education and clarinet performance double major studying under Robert DiLutis. Along with her extensive pre-college music experiences, she has recently won 2nd place in the Sidney Forrest Clarinet Competition, participated in the Honors Performance Series’s Virtual Music Summit, and interned at the Jazz Academy of Music’s JAM Camp. Currently, she will be performing in the University of Maryland's Wind Orchestra and one of the University of Maryland jazz combo groups (you'll see her in UMWO and jazz chamber concerts coming up soon!).
In the past, 1st place in the Gaithersburg’s Young Artist Award Competition’s Woodwinds Division and participated in National Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Music Institute. Aside from her performing and educating pursuits, Ashley enjoys photography, biking, and origami.

Brooke Krauss is a senior in the clarinet studio completing her bachelor's degree in Music Performance. She is a Maryland native from Cecil County, Maryland where she first received instruction from a University of Maryland alumni. While at the University of Maryland, she has performed in the Wind Ensemble, Wind Orchestra, Rep Orchestra, Clarinet Choir, and Marching band. She also plays for various ensembles in the local area. In addition to being a full-time student, she is also a member of the National Guard performing with the 287th Army Band in Wilmington, Delaware. Outside of performing she works on her captain's license for boating and aspires to be a performer in a premiere band with the Armed Forces.

Casey Schreck is a senior at the University of Maryland studying clarinet performance under Robert DiLutis. Originally from Rochester, New York, she studied with Andrew Brown at the Eastman Community Music School and played in bands and orchestras across the state before coming to Maryland. She has a passion for chamber music and has been the clarinetist of the Pressez Quartet for the past several years; they can be heard performing regularly around the School of Music and in the community. In the summer of 2021, the quartet participated in the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute. Casey is also pursuing a degree in English literature; she has been a tutor at the University of Maryland Writing Center for two years, and in the spring of 2021 she successfully defended her undergraduate honors thesis on Samuel Beckett. In her free time, she enjoys perusing different recordings of classical music, reading, making art, and hanging out with her cat.

Jerry Sun is a senior from Ellicott City, Maryland who graduated from Centennial High School. He is majoring in Computer Science and minoring Music Performance and has been playing the clarinet for 9 years. Jerry has studied with Bill Welty and Dennis Strawley and is currently studying with Robert Dilutis. He has played in youth orchestra groups such as the Peabody Youth Orchestra, Peabody Wind Orchestra, and Maryland Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Andrew Zhang is a senior clarinetist from Rockville, Maryland currently attending University of Maryland to study clarinet performance with Professor Robert Dilutis as well as pursue a math major. He attended Richard Montgomery High School where he served as principal clarinet of the symphonic band and as a member of the pit orchestra. He also played principal clarinet with the Potomac Valley Youth Orchestra Wind Ensemble, as well as played in the section of Montgomery County's Senior Honors Band. Andrew is a graduate of UMD's High School Music Academy and University of Michigan's mPulse. In his free time, he likes to play alto sax.

Chase Hogan is currently a junior at University of Maryland studying Clarinet Performance under Robert DiLutis. He is from Elkridge, Maryland and has been playing clarinet for ten years. He has performed in the Howard County GT/Honors Bands, Regional Repertory Wind Ensemble, and was a member of the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra. He studied with Dr. Bryan Conger at Interlochen Arts Academy, where he graduated and received the Fine Arts Award. During his time at Interlochen, he performed in many student recitals, the Academy Orchestra and Band, and during his senior year had the opportunity to perform with the Academy Band as they took part in commissioning a piece at Carnegie Hall. He has also played in numerous pit orchestras for school musical productions, including Sweeney Todd and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. As an aspiring professional musician, Chase has participated in masterclasses with renowned clarinetists, such as Stephen Williamson, Anton Rist, and Yehuda Gilad, and studied at the Interlochen Arts Camp Orchestral Program in 2018 and most recently, the 2020 Domaine Forget Clarinet E-Learning program.

Sophie Ross is a junior from San Diego, California currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Clarinet Performance at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a current student of Professor Robert DiLutis. At Maryland, Sophie participates in the Wind Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Repertoire Orchestra, clarinet choir, and chamber ensembles. She has studied at the Clarinet Academy of America, Music for All National Festival, and the San Diego Summer Music Institute. Sophie strongly believes in equal opportunity in classical music and pushes for that in the arts community. Prior to coming to Maryland, she was a leading member of the San Marcos Conservatory for Leadership and the Arts, strengthening the influence and integration of the arts in her community. An aspiring professional musician, Sophie has participated in masterclasses held by world-renowned clarinetists such as D. Ray McClellan and YaoGuang Zhai. In recent years, Sophie won third place at the Sidney Forrest Clarinet Competition and was a finalist in the San Diego Rotary Music Competition. Sophie is a passionate clarinet teacher with a studio in the Washington Metropolitan Area and is the co-conductor of the New Horizons Clarinet Choir.

Alexis Deifallah is a current sophomore at UMD, majoring in Clarinet Performance and minoring in Creative Writing, following her passions through higher education. Dedicated to music she was a member and President of her high schools Tri-M Music Honor Society, while participating in extracurricular ensembles such as The Bowie High School Chamber Orchestra and Bowie High School Pit Orchestra for several years. She has been engrained in the Maryland music world since participating in the Terrapin Summer Youth Music Camp starting at age 13, then coming back as a junior counselor for her last 2 years in high school. Currently at the university she is a part of the University of Maryland Wind Ensemble, her first year. Always immersed in the arts, during her free time she likes to attend poetry slams and concerts, and dancing in various clubs on her campus throughout the semester.

Jenna Dietrich is a sophomore studying music education under Professor Robert DiLutis, while also pursuing a double major in biological sciences. She has been playing the clarinet for eight years, and studied under Jennifer Hughson for four years. Jenna graduated from Hammond High School in Howard County, where she enjoyed participating in a range of musical activities like jazz band, wind ensemble, pit orchestra, and other chamber groups under the direction of Stephen Dunlap.
Jenna served as the drum major of her high school marching band and principal clarinetist in the wind ensemble. In addition, she participated in a variety of outside ensembles, including the Howard County Gifted and Talented Orchestra, Peabody Preparatory, and Howard County Honors Band. Jenna’s dedication to music is evident in her extensive community service, having participated in the Tri-M Music Honor Society for three years, serving as the president in her senior year. Jenna, a thirteen year girl scout, is also a Gold Award recipient for creating a supplemental music program in her local feeder schools. Her project involved conducting a musical instrument drive collecting a total of twenty-six instruments, providing free private lessons for elementary and middle schoolers, and creating a recruitment video to encourage students to continue band in high school. Jenna loved participating in the University of Maryland’s Summer Youth Music Camp, and looks forward to studying clarinet at UMD!

Ava Dutrow is a sophomore from Howard County Maryland and is pursuing a double degree in Music Performance and Communications. The daughter of a band director, she began playing clarinet at the age of eight and has enjoyed every minute of making music. Throughout her time as a clarinetist, she has played in numerous Gifted and Talented ensembles, participated three times in the Towson University Honor Band, was selected for the Howard County GT Orchestra, received consistent superior ratings at the district and state Solo and Ensemble Festival, and had the privilege of serving as section leader of her high school band for two years. Ava looks forward to continuing to refine her craft while studying at UMD!

Matthew Vice, a native of Centreville, Virginia, is a sophomore at the University of Maryland studying Clarinet Performance under Robert DiLutis. At Westfield High School he was principal clarinet in the Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra, as well as the leader and organizer of Westfield’s clarinet choir and Bari Sax player in the Jazz Band. Mr. Vice was also a member of the AYP Clarinet Choir, Northern Virginia Youth Winds, and Virginia Winds Academy. He was the principal clarinetist for the Virginia Ambassadors of Music Tour and was selected as the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Allstar Clarinet in 2019. Matthew also made the Virginia All State Symphonic Band. Matthew has been a member of the Clarinet Academy of America for 2019 and 2020. In his spare time, Matthew enjoys playing multiple instruments, running, and basketball.

Kristina Nie is a freshman from Baltimore County, Maryland. She is pursuing a B.M. in Clarinet Performance with Robert Dilutis. In high school, Kristina was a member of the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra, Peabody Wind Orchestra, and Peabody Youth Orchestra. In addition to being accepted into Maryland Junior and Senior All State Band, she has performed with the BSO Side-by-Side and Baltimore County Honors Band/Orchestra. At Towson High School, she performed in the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Clarinet Choir, and Marching Band. In her free time, she enjoys practicing guitar, playing jazz piano, and producing music.

Nyla Ortiz is a freshman from Ashburn, Virginia. She is double majoring in clarinet performance and music education. Her previous experience includes being in the All-State Band. In her free time Nyla enjoys scrapbooking, baking, and reading.

Katie Urrutia is a freshman from Baltimore, Maryland studying clarinet performance under Professor Robert DiLutis. Katie has played the clarinet for 9 years and has over 5 years of experience on the bass clarinet, studying both instruments under Edna Huang throughout her high school career. Katie has served as principal clarinet and bass clarinet in various regional ensembles including the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra (BSYO), Maryland All-State Orchestra and Band, Peabody Youth Orchestra, Peabody Wind Orchestra, Baltimore Side-by-Side Orchestra, BSYO Wind Quintet, and more. Katie won 2nd place in the 2021 Charleston International Summer Music Competition as well as received an honorable mention in the 2021 U.S. Army Orchestra Young Artist Competition. She has also served as the Drum Major of the Dulaney High School Lion’s Roar Marching Band where she led and conducted the band in the 2020 London New Years’ Day Parade. Moreover, Katie has acted as a musical ambassador performing across London, Wales, The White House, and Maryland Governor’s Mansion throughout her time playing clarinet.