Associate Principal Clarinet Samuel Caviezel recognized for 25 years of service
Violist Renard Edwards and violinist Davyd Booth recognized for 50 years of service
(Philadelphia, May 13, 2023)—The Philadelphia Orchestra recognized four musicians for their exemplary contributions to the organization in a ceremony during the May 13, 2023, concert in Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Violinist Amy Oshiro-Morales was presented with the 2023 C. Hartman Kuhn Award. Associate Principal Clarinet Samuel Caviezel was recognized for 25 years of service, and violist Renard Edwards and violinist Davyd Booth were recognized for 50 years of service.
Established in 1941 and named for a charter member of the Orchestra’s Board of Directors who served from 1901 to 1933, the C. Hartman Kuhn Award is given annually to “the member of The Philadelphia Orchestra who has shown ability and enterprise of such character as to enhance the standards and the reputation of the ensemble.” Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin selected violinist Amy Oshiro-Morales, praising her outstanding musicianship, boundless enthusiasm and energy, and dedication to teaching, mentoring, and nurturing young musicians. Nézet-Séguin shared that, “Her aptitude for leading master classes is surpassed only by her fervent advocacy of The Philadelphia Orchestra’s work and support for her colleagues.”
About the Kuhn Award recipient:
Amy Oshiro-Morales joined The Philadelphia Orchestra’s second violin section in January 2008. She previously served as assistant concertmaster of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. She made her debut with the Chicago Symphony at the age of 12 and has appeared numerous times as a soloist with the St. Louis Symphony, the Napa Valley Symphony, the Minnesota Sinfonia, and others. She has collaborated with such artists as Vadim Repin, Alban Gerhardt, Jason Vieaux, and Gil Shaham. Oshiro-Morales began violin studies when she was three years old, and studied with Almita and Roland Vamos at Oberlin Conservatory, where she received the Dean’s Talent Award scholarship. She continued her studies at the Juilliard School with Robert Mann, the founder and former first violinist of the Juilliard Quartet. In the summers Oshiro-Morales has been a guest artist at the Sun Valley Summer Symphony (ID), the Cactus Pear Music Festival (TX), the Grand Teton Music Festival (WY), the National Orchestral Institute (MD), and the Innsbrook Institute (MO), among others.
About the anniversary celebrants:
Associate Principal and E-flat Clarinet Samuel Caviezel (Sarah and Frank Coulson Chair) was born in Seattle and grew up in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. He began his clarinet studies with Laurie DeLuca of the Seattle Symphony, progressed through the Tacoma Youth Symphony Association, and spent his senior year of high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, studying with Deborah Chodacki. In 1992 he entered the Curtis Institute of Music, where he trained with then-Philadelphia Orchestra Associate Principal Clarinet Donald Montanaro. Upon graduation, he joined the Grand Rapids Symphony as principal clarinet, returning to Philadelphia two years later under the baton of Wolfgang Sawallisch. In addition to his role with the Orchestra, he is a member of the Philadelphia Chamber Ensemble and serves as an adjunct faculty member at Temple University.
Violinist Davyd Booth joined The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1973. A native of Clarksburg, West Virginia, he made his professional debut at the age of 13. He studied violin and piano at the New School of Music. Booth was co-music director and harpsichordist for the Amerita Chamber Ensemble, retiring from the group in 2022. Booth was also a member of the Philarte String Quartet for 15 years and is currently a member of the Wister String Quartet. He is on the faculty of the Temple University Preparatory Department, where he serves as conductor of the Chamber Players Orchestra. Since 1998 he has been the harpsichordist for The Philadelphia Orchestra. He also serves as the Orchestra’s second keyboard player and has been featured on piano, celesta, harmonium, organ, synthesizer, and accordion.
Violist Renard Edwards is a native of Philadelphia. He attended Overbrook High School while studying with then-Philadelphia Orchestra member Leonard Mogill at the Settlement Music School. He continued his viola studies with Max Aronoff at the New School of Music and was coached in chamber music by Edgar Ortenberg, former violinist in the Budapest String Quartet. Edwards also studied with Karen Tuttle in Philadelphia. Edwards joined The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1970; his 50-year anniversary celebration was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.