Music education student earns 3rd prize in international competition
Music education sophomore Ashley Sayre of Mount Washington, KY, earned third prize in the prestigious 2025 Leonard Falcone International Festival's Euphonium Student Competition this summer.
The Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Festival is known as the premier festival and competition of its kind. Born in 1986 as a competition for both student and artist level euphonium performers, the event evolved into a festival in 1991 when its sponsoring committee expanded its offerings to include lessons, ensembles, seminars, and clinics with some of the world's greatest euphonium virtuosi. The committee expanded the festival again in 1996 to include activities for tuba.
The festival is held over four days each summer at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan. In addition to the competition, participants have the opportunity to attend master classes and recitals by internationally renowned euphonium and tuba artists.
"Ashley's placement in this year's Leonard Falcone Competition is a testament to her exceptional work ethic and artistic talents," said Brandon Smith, assistant professor of tuba and euphonium. "This prestigious festival draws participants from the finest musical institutions across the country, making it one of the most rigorous competitions in the field. Ashley dedicated her summer to preparing – practicing the repertoire and taking lessons with me – which is no small feat! Her commitment and perseverance truly paid off."
Each Falcone award comes with a cash prize.
Several other University of Kentucky students and alumni were semifinalists in the 2025 competition:
- Euphonium Artist Semi-Finalists
- Ed Carter, Vine Grove, KY
- Braden Shaw, Rock Hill, SC
- Parker Dye, Louisville, KY (Euphonium Artist Alternate)
- Euphonium Student Semi-Finalist
- Sullivan Tucker (Euphonium Student Alternate)
- Tuba Student Semi-Finalist
- Seth Dossa, Crescent Springs, KY