CURRENT STUDENTS
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Emma Selmon is a doctoral candidate at the University of Maryland, College Park School of Music. She earned her master of music degree in clarinet performance from the University of Maryland in May 2023, and served as the clarinet studio graduate assistant from 2022 to 2026.
An active freelancer, Selmon has performed as a substitute in several orchestras, including the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Allentown Symphony Orchestra and the York Symphony Orchestra. She was the 2026 clarinet fellow at the Eastern Festival of Music, performing second, E-flat and bass clarinet with the Eastern Festival Orchestra. Other recent engagements include several shows with the Color of Noize Orchestra on Jeezy’s TM:101 Live tour in summer 2025, as well as performances at the Olney Theatre Center, the Baltimore Basilica and the Arts Club of Washington. In summer 2022, she was a contemporary performance fellow on clarinet and bass clarinet at Atlantic Music Festival. She has performed several tours with the Kombos Collective of their program “Uproot: Greek Refugee Songs from Asia Minor,” and features on their June 2024 album of the same name. At the University of Maryland, Selmon served as the instructor of record for undergraduate minor clarinet students, taught a technique studio class to undergraduate clarinet majors, and coordinated a mixed clarinet choir comprising local professional, amateur and university student clarinetists. As a student performer, she was active with the Wind Orchestra (UMWO), the Symphony Orchestra (UMSO) and the Maryland Opera Studio as well as with a number of student-led chamber ensembles. With UMWO, she played principal and E-flat for the world premiere of Clarice Assad's Multiverse: Another Rite of Spring at the 2023 College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) convention in Athens, Georgia. Selmon’s dissertation explores “light music,” a broad category of music that constitutes a middle ground bridging “classical” and “popular.” Her three-recital project uses the lens of the clarinet repertoire to trace this concept through the first half of the 20th century, placing it alongside developments in sound recording and broadcast technology. Each recital explores a snapshot of this era: circa 1915, when recording technology was both widespread and reasonably sophisticated, but was limited in its capabilities; circa 1935, when network radio and “talkies” were powerful forces in driving commercial music distribution; and circa 1955, when television and long-playing records had joined radio and film. Selmon is a student of Robert DiLutis. Her previous clarinet instructors include Wesley Warnhoff, Dennis Nygren and George Stoffan. |
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Matt Vice is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Clarinet Performance at the University of Maryland, College Park. Matt holds a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Information Science from the University of Maryland, as well as a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from the University of Delaware.
During his time at the University of Delaware, Matt held a Graduate Assistantship position that allowed him to teach Music Education majors the fundamentals of woodwind instruments and help showcase pedagogical strategies for students to develop and strengthen their own teaching abilities in the classroom setting. Matt has experience performing abroad in Austria, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and England. In the United States, Matt has been part of the Guilford Symphony Orchestra at the Eastern Festival of Music in Greensboro, North Carolina, the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Institute Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C, as well as the Manassas Symphony Orchestra located in Manassas, Virginia. In March of 2026, Matt performed Jenni Brandon’s “Fin de la Tierra” Clarinet Concerto with the University of Delaware Symphony Orchestra. Matt has previously studied under Robert DiLutis at the University of Maryland and Dr. Christopher Nichols at the University of Delaware. In recent masterclasses, Matt has performed for Boris Allakhverdyan, Ricardo Morales, Julian Schwartz, Larry Dutton, and Cristoph Moser. At the University of Maryland, Matt is one of the Graduate Assistants for the Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band under the direction of Dr. Andrea Brown. |
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Renzo DeCarlo is a Peruvian-American clarinetist based in Maryland. He is a passionate collaborator, working with a range of musicians, composers, and artists on projects ranging from salon-style concerts featuring classical masterworks to multimedia performances consisting entirely of world premieres. New music engagements include collaborations with the Blossom Duo in Kansas City, the Connecting Dots project in Boston and Baltimore, and performances on the Silenced Voices series in Tallahassee, a set of concerts featuring music by composers oppressed by violent political regimes. As an orchestral musician, he performed with the Tallahassee Symphony and Space Coast Symphony, and previously held a position with the Ocala Symphony before relocating to Maryland. Other notable orchestral experiences include serving as principal clarinet with the Peabody Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop and joining the Florida State University Symphony Orchestra on their 2023 tour to the Dominican Republic.Currently an instructor at the Terrapin Community Music School, Renzo serves on the faculty of the Peabody Preparatory as a clarinet instructor, where he also coaches chamber music, as well as woodwind sectionals for the Peabody Youth and Wind Orchestras. Students of his have been accepted to summer programs such as the Interlochen Arts Academy, as well as the Baltimore School for the Arts. He was also a woodwind teaching artist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s OrchKids program. Renzo is also a passionate arts administrator, having previously served as the Coordinator of Large Ensembles at the Peabody Preparatory and the Orchestra Management Fellow for the 2026 National Orchestral Institute + Festival.
Currently pursuing studies at the University of Maryland with Robert DiLutis, Renzo holds degrees from the Peabody Conservatory and Florida State University. Previous teachers include Alexander Fiterstein, Jonathan Holden, Deborah Bish, and Nikolay Blagov. |
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Tess Coltvet is currently a second-year master's student at the University of Maryland, College Park where she studies under Robert DiLutis. She serves as a graduate assistant for the the clarinet studio and the School of Music.
At UMD, Tess is an active performer throughout the school, playing principal and bass clarinet in the Wind Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra. In Spring 2026, she was principal clarinet of a student group performing Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians at the International Conference of Music and Minimalism, which was hosted at UMD. She teaches several students getting a minor in clarinet at the University, and is also a clarinet instructor of middle to high school aged students at the Terrapin Community Music School. Tess is originally from Kansas and received her bachelor of music in clarinet performance from the University of Kansas, studying under Stephanie Zelnick. At KU, she played in the Symphony Orchestra and was principal clarinet of the Wind Ensemble. In her time in the Wind Ensemble, she was in the select group of players who were invited to travel to Osaka, Japan in 2025, performing multiple shows at the World Expo 2025 alongside students from the Osaka University of the Arts. She was also selected to travel with the Wind Ensemble to Milan, Italy in 2022, where they played with students from the Milan Conservatory, performing multiple shows around the country. She participated in three NAXOS recording projects with the Wind Ensemble. Tess played in many chamber ensembles at KU, such as a woodwind quintet, woodwind trio and reed quintet. In these groups, Tess and her peers would plan and perform educational outreach concerts for local Pre-K students. Tess also participated in the Music Mentors program at KU, where she volunteered to teach local elementary and middle school-aged students who would otherwise not be able to take private lessons. Outside of school, Tess has a private lesson studio where she provides lessons for students in elementary, middle and high school. She has attended renowned summer festivals: the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival, the Sewanee Summer Music Festival, and the Buffet Crampon Summer Clarinet Academy. Outside of clarinet, Tess enjoys running, cooking, working at a flower shop, and taking professional photos. |
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Emily is currently a first-year master’s student, pursuing a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance at the University of Maryland School of Music. Emily serves as a member of UMD’s Fellowship Wind Quintet. Emily is a clarinetist originally from Georgia and received her Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance from the University of Georgia's Hugh Hodgson School of Music in 2025 studying under D. Ray McClellan.
An active performer, Emily has appeared with a wide range of ensembles, including the Lawrenceville Symphony Orchestra, United States Air Force Band, Georgia Wind Ensemble, UGA Symphony Orchestra, UGA Opera Theatre, and the Athens Choral Society Orchestra. As a soloist, she has been featured with the band “Sound Fever” aboard Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Solstice. Furthermore, in 2023, she performed as a bass clarinet soloist with the ARCO Chamber Orchestra. Committed to both performance and education, Emily maintains a private clarinet studio and serves as a clinician for middle and high school band programs throughout North Georgia. Beyond the stage and classroom, Emily is the creator and host of The Clarinet Channel, a podcast dedicated to connecting and educating the global clarinet community through interviews, conversations, and educational content. Furthermore, Emily's achievements have been recognized with the William Dull Clarinet Scholarship, the Undergraduate Director's Award of Excellence, and the John Philip Sousa Award. Whether performing on stage, mentoring the next generation of musicians, or creating educational content, Emily is dedicated to strengthening the clarinet community through artistry, education, and service. |
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Steven Toth is a third-year master’s student pursuing a master of music degree at the University of Maryland, College Park. Toth completed his bachelor of music degree in clarinet performance at Towson University (TU). Most notably during his time at TU, he served as the first Hispanic concertmaster of the wind ensemble, as well as the principal clarinetist of the symphony
orchestra and the opera orchestra. He also performed as a substitute musician with the Columbia Orchestra during his time at TU. After completing his studies at TU, Toth became a substitute clarinetist for the Naptown Philharmonic Orchestra (formerly the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra), performed with the Bay Winds Band, and returned to the Towson Wind Symphony as an alumnus. Outside of playing in ensembles, Toth won first place in the 2023–24 COSMIC symphony young artist competition season. Moreover, he continues to expand upon his pedagogical skills as a private clarinet teacher for students ranging from elementary to high school, primarily teaching in the PGCPS system and in Baltimore County. Toth is a native of Mount Rainier, Maryland, and is currently a student of Professor Robert DiLutis. He has previously studied under the instruction of Robert Durie, Dr. Jay Niepoetter, Dr. Erik Franklin and Dr. Lynda Dembowski. |
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Marli Banner is a senior music education student studying clarinet under Robert DiLutis. Throughout her high school career, she served as the principal clarinetist of the Symphonic Band, first trumpet of the Jazz Band, and Captain of the Trojan Marching Band at Gaithersburg High School. Outside of her school, she played with the Browningsville Community Band and various gigs around the D.C.-Baltimore area. Currently, she plays with the University of Maryland Wind Ensemble and is a squad leader with The Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band.
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Jennifer Dennison is a current senior at the University of Maryland, College Park majoring in clarinet performance under Professor Robert DiLutis. She has played clarinet for ten years and has studied clarinet performance for the past three years under Lynda Dembowski, principal clarinetist of the U.S. Naval Academy Band. She has performed on clarinet and saxophone in the Anne Arundel County All-County Band, Orchestra, and Jazz bands throughout her middle and high school career, performing as prinicipal clarinetist and lead saxophonist each year. She was also selected to perform with the Maryland All-State Senior Band in 2021 and 2022. In addition, she has played with the Severna Park and Broadneck High Schools marching bands and concert bands serving as section leader and solo clarinetist in the band. Recently, Jennifer has performed with the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra, Bay Winds Band of Annapolis, and the 2024 Maryland All-State Community Band. She has been a member of the Anne Arundel Community College Concert Band and Clarinet Choir for three years, where she performed several lead solo parts and was a featured soloist. She is currently performing with the University of Maryland Wind Ensemble, Maryland Clarinet Society Choir, Pep Band and the Mighty Sound of Maryland. During her free time, Jennifer enjoys performing musical gigs around the Annapolis area and playing tennis, running and skateboarding.
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Leeza Frank is a senior studying clarinet performance under Professor Robert DiLutis. Before attending the University of Maryland, Leeza played in Montgomery County Honor Bands, Maryland All-State Orchestra, and Potomac Valley Youth Orchestra's Wind Ensemble and Philharmonia. In her senior year of high school, Leeza was honored to be a part of the Young Artists of America Orchestra, where she doubled on clarinet and tenor saxophone for the Maryland Public Television premiere of Hal Prince's Broadway. At the University of Maryland, Leeza performs with the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, and chamber ensembles. She also serves the DMV area as a freelance musician. Her previous teachers include Ashley Booher, Dr. Natalie Groom, and Kristi Licare.
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Annie Gruman is a fourth-year clarinet performance student studying with Robert DiLutis. In high school, Annie was a participant in the Tampa Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, the Patel Conservatory Tampa repertory and pit orchestra, and the Bay Area Winds symphonic band. Throughout her high school career, she was selected to play at the annual Festival of Winds hosted at the University of South Florida, as well as the World Youth Wind Symphony at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Annie has previously played in the Pierrot Chamber Music Festival where she played as a fellowship participant. This past summer, she played in the Credo Festival Orchestra under David Chan, hosted at the Chicago Symphony Center. Alongside the clarinet, Annie enjoys playing the piano, and has performed many additional chamber works and recitals on the instrument.
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Cerys Freer is currently a junior of the clarinet studio of Professor Robert DiLutis at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is pursuing a bachelor of music degree in clarinet performance. Cerys hails from Austin, TX. During high school, she was a member of several music ensembles, playing multiple instruments including clarinet, flute, percussion and bass clarinet. She achieved a gold medal for her clarinet solo at UIL Solo and Ensemble state competition in 2023. Cerys was honored to be one of six students in the Austin area selected as a Draylen Mason Fellow for 2023-24; this intense, collaborative fellowship afforded her many unique music performance and conducting opportunities. Summer 2024 found Cerys in Los Angeles performing as a member of the LA Philharmonic’s YOLA National Festival Symphony Orchestra under Gustavo Dudamel and José Angel Salazar. This past summer 2026, she played a lot of very exciting repertoire at the Eastern Festival of Music in Greensboro, North Carolina. Cerys is also a singer, and was a member of the Austin Children’s Choir for 8 years. Her favorite performance with ACC was the centennial performance of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass with the Austin Symphony Orchestra and Peter Bay.
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Jordan Hershaft is a junior majoring in music composition and aerospace engineering. He studies clarinet with Robert DiLutis. He has performed with the University of Maryland’s Wind Ensemble, Wind Orchestra, and Symphony Orchestra. As a composer, he writes for a variety of ensembles, notably having his work for clarinet choir, Cherry Blossom, performed by the Maryland Clarinet Society in various notable venues, including internationally. He has had multiple works performed and recorded by notable ensembles, including the University of Maryland Wind Orchestra and the DC-based Balance Campaign. He additionally likes building rockets, singing in his a cappella group Kol Sasson, and playing with his dog Roxie.
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Alden Newsome is a junior at the University of Maryland College Park pursuing a bachelor’s degree in clarinet performance under the instruction of Professor Robert DiLutis. His performance experience includes playing with the Montgomery County Youth Orchestra, Potomac Valley Youth Orchestra and the Young Artists of America Orchestra. Additionally, he attended the Interlochen Center for the Arts summer program for two years, and was principal of the Montgomery Blair High School Wind Ensemble. Currently, Alden is a member of the University of Maryland Wind Ensemble.
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Lino Romero is a junior at the University of Maryland, currently pursuing his bachelor of music degree in clarinet performance under Professor Robert DiLutis.
Lino is an alumnus of Northwestern High School's Visual and Performing Arts magnet program, where he served as concertmaster of the wind ensemble and principal clarinetist of the orchestra, and played tenor saxophone in the Jazz Ensemble. He also represented Northwestern High School as principal clarinetist of the All-County Honor Band, received four consecutive superior ratings at the county level, and a superior rating at state his last year. Outside of school, he was a part of the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras (MCYO at Strathmore), where he served as principal clarinetist of the chamber music program and soloist of the clarinet choir. He also received an honorable mention at a Cosmic state-wide competition. Currently, Lino is a member of the University of Maryland Wind Ensemble. |
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Donovan Holt-Harrington is a sophomore pursuing dual degrees in chemical engineering and music performance at the University of Maryland, College Park where he is a member of the clarinet studio studying with Professor Robert DiLutis. Donovan has performed as the principal clarinetist in various ensembles including the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra, Maryland All State Orchestra, and the NAfME All Eastern Band. He was also selected as a National Symphony Orchestra Youth Fellow for the 2024-25 season, receiving world class mentoring from NSO musicians. Donovan is also an active chamber musician, winning a bronze medal in the 2025 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and a silver medal in the Misbin Family Memorial Chamber Music Competition. He is also a 2024 National YoungArts winner for classical music and a multiple-time National and Local NAACP ACT-SO gold medalist in both classical and contemporary music, as well as music composition. Donovan has also won the United States Army Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition and performed Weber’s Second Concerto with the Army Orchestra as a featured soloist. Beyond performance, Donovan has demonstrated leadership as the drum major of his high school marching band and as the president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. He also serves his community as a Boy Scout through service projects. Donovan has previously studied under Mr. Lin Ma (Principal Clarinetist of the NSO) and Mrs. Emily Coile along with additional guidance from Mr. Adam Stephens and Mrs. Hillary Szczublewski.
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Nigel Smith is a sophomore attending the University of Maryland, College Park pursuing a bachelor of music degree in music composition. Nigel performed with Centennial High School's jazz band on saxophone, which won first place in the high school division of National Jazz Festival in 2025. Additionally, Nigel served as a student leader in Centennial High School's wind ensemble, leading sectionals and standing in as conductor on occasion. He also served as conductor when the band recorded one of his compositions. The year Nigel served as a student leader, Centennial's Wind ensemble was selected to perform at the Midwest Clinic. Nigel attended the Brevard Music Festival in 2024, where he studied composition under Greg Simon. Nigel studied clarinet privately with Donna Noyes for 8 years, and is now a student of Robert DiLutis. Since beginning at UMD, Nigel has had his own compositions played and been in multiple new music concerts.
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