Ksenija Komljenović

Dr. Ksenija Komljenović, a Serbian percussionist, educator, and composer, earned acclaim as a prizewinner of the International Percussion Competition Luxembourg. She is the first Serbian woman with a Doctor of Musical Arts in Percussion Degree. Ksenija serves as a faculty member at the renowned University of North Carolina School of the Arts, following four years of teaching at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

Ksenija's dedication to contemporary and chamber music, alongside intercultural collaborations, is evident in her ensembles Vesna Duo and PNEUMA, bringing together exceptional performers from five countries. Her bold arrangements of classical, contemporary, jazz, and folk music enrich the repertoire and bring a unique flair to their performances. Especially noteworthy is Ksenija's marimba and piano arrangement of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, featured on Vesna Duo's debut album, receiving accolades from renowned figures like Pulitzer Prize winner Tim Page (The Wall Street Journal) and Norman Lebrecht (Slipped Disc).

Ksenija initiated cultural-exchange projects between the U.S. and Serbia, including the first drumline camp and contemporary percussion workshop in her home country. Her international presence includes hundreds of performances and over 50 masterclasses in Hong Kong, England, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United States, and Serbia.

As a composer, she draws inspiration from her Slavic and Balkan roots, as seen in her works Slavdom for Wind Band and Epilog [Epilogue]. Ksenija holds degrees from the Frost School of Music, Illinois State University, and the Faculty of Music in Belgrade. She is a Marimba One Artist.

www.ksenijakomljenovic.com

Benjamin Burson

Benjamin Burson is currently a college sophomore studying percussion under the mentorship of Dr. Komljenović at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Discovering his love for percussion in middle school, Benjamin went on to join the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra for two years before moving to North Carolina to attend UNCSA for all four years of high school.  His love for the UNCSA community brought him back to pursue his Bachelor of Music. 

Benjamin has developed a particular interest in orchestral percussion. He enjoys the many challenges found in the details of excerpts and hopes to win a percussion position with one of the many fine orchestras around the globe. His experience at the BU Tanglewood Institute and involvement in the Piedmont Wind Symphony continues to foster his growth and interest in the orchestral world.

When not in class or rehearsal, Benjamin has a wide range of interests. He's delved into photography and audio engineering, recently embracing both endeavors. While he enjoys pursuing both recreationally, he's also discovered practical applications for these skill sets on campus, particularly within the percussion studio. In addition, Benjamin has found great enjoyment in instrument repair and restoration. One of his latest projects included the total restoration of a field drum first constructed in 1917!

Miah Kay Cardoza

Miah Kay Cardoza, a Hispanic percussionist, is currently in her fourth year of studies under the guidance of Dr. Ksenija Komljenović. Her musical journey started at the age of 8 when she joined her elementary school's piano program. Three years later, she ventured into the world of percussion.

Miah Kay's academic path led her to transfer from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi at the end of her third year, following Dr. Komljenović, ultimately enrolling at UNCSA to complete her undergraduate education. Along the way, she has actively participated in regional percussion, jazz, wind band, and orchestral performances. She has also taken on roles involving the production and design of percussion studio concerts, assisted in organizing the Soundwaves Music Festival, and taken part in Steven Schick’s and Aiyun Huang’s "Roots and Rhizomes Mentorship Project" in 2020.

During her leisure time, Miah Kay finds pleasure in weightlifting, enjoying the outdoors, and traveling.

Ricardo Hinojosa

Ricardo "Ricky" Hinojosa is currently in his third year of undergraduate studies under the guidance of Dr. Komljenović, and in his first year at UNCSA. He ventured into percussion at the age of 11 while growing up in the proud border town of Laredo, Texas. Ricky’s musical journey began in the school band program, offering him a creative outlet. His passion for percussion has led to numerous achievements over the years, including marching in multiple DCI seasons, performing with the TMEA All-State band, and winning several solo performance competitions. His most recent accomplishment entails securing the top spot in the Collegiate Snare Drum division at the TIERRAS South Texas Percussion Competition in 2022. Ricky's long-term goal is to become a teacher after gaining professional performance experience in various ensembles.

Outside the world of music, Ricky is enthusiastic about acquiring new skills and embracing fresh experiences. He loves attending local concerts and exploring different venues, as well as diving into various hobbies. Some of his interests include skateboarding, performing magic tricks, drawing, playing the guitar, and staying active through exercise.

Griffin Honrado

Griffin Honrado, originally from Asheville, North Carolina, has been playing percussion for five years. As a high school junior, Griffin decided to come to UNCSA because of its lively atmosphere, great music groups, and an awesome percussion studio. What Griffin loves most about UNCSA is the people and the experience of high school life, spending time with folks who share similar interests.

When thinking about the future, Griffin wants to keep playing music and also explore a career in business. When not drumming or playing the marimba, Griffin enjoys thrift shopping and hunting for cool vintage clothes, as well as hitting the slopes for some snowboarding fun.

Thompson Jones

Thompson Jones, a high school senior from Asheville, North Carolina, has been immersed in the world of percussion for the past six years and is now happily embarking on his seventh. In the summer of 2021, he decided to attend UNCSA to follow his passion for percussion and the arts, which had grown stronger during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since moving to UNCSA, Thompson has had numerous experiences in the music industry and percussion, strengthening his connection to music. He enjoys the diverse music repertoire at UNCSA and cherishes the opportunities to create music with his friends. He also takes pleasure in being part of studio recording projects that not only showcase his love for music but also promote his studio and friends.

Looking forward, Thompson is excited about his next steps in life, whether it's pursuing Business or Aerospace Engineering (he's not quite decided yet). However, one thing is for sure, he plans to keep playing percussion as long as it continues to bring him immense joy.

Willow McDowell

Willow McDowell is a freshman at UNCSA whose deep love for music has been a constant in his life from a young age. When Willow initially expressed an interest in percussion, his dad supported him by getting him some sticks and two 5-gallon buckets to practice on. Since then, Willow has been fully immersed in playing percussion without any breaks.

Beyond percussion, Willow also enjoys cooking and has a keen interest in collecting vintage clothing. Additionally, he explores his musical talents by playing instruments like the guitar and piano. As a musician from Asheville, North Carolina, Willow has had the opportunity to delve into various ethnic percussion styles, including African drums, Brazilian "Maracatus," Afro-Cuban drums, and Indian Tabla.

Willow aspires to become a music teacher at the high school or college level, all the while keeping up with his own musical performances whenever the chance arises. He particularly relishes performing in the Orchestra. Being a part of the UNCSA studio is a long-held dream that he is very excited to pursue in the coming years.

Caroline Rucker

Caroline Rucker, a high school freshman from Winston-Salem, started playing percussion three years ago. She chose to enroll at UNCSA to receive a unique and specialized high school education. Caroline's appreciation for UNCSA centers on its exceptional atmosphere, the wealth of educational and artistic opportunities it offers, and the sense of community among fellow students.

Outside of her dedication to percussion, Caroline enjoys spending quality time with friends and family. Prior to joining UNCSA, she performed in the North Carolina All-State Band. Caroline's ultimate aspiration is to build a successful career as a percussionist.

Dylan Schepker

Dylan Schepker, a high school freshman at UNCSA, has recently become a member of the percussion studio. He is from the Raleigh/Durham area of North Carolina and is eagerly looking forward to discovering Winston Salem during his time here. His motivation for attending UNCSA is to further develop his skills as an artist and lay the groundwork for a future career in music.

With six years of experience playing the drumset and three years as a classical percussionist, Dylan's musical journey began after attending his first concert at the age of 5, where he saw the band Fall Out Boy live. Dylan spent years pleading for drum lessons, and his passion for percussion has grown significantly since then. He aspires to become a professional drum set studio or touring musician in the future.

Beyond music, Dylan's interests are quite diverse, including topics like tattoos/body modification, alternative culture, herpetology, and forest sciences.

Garrett Strauss

Garrett Strauss is a percussionist from Asheville, NC and a graduate of the UNCSA high school program. He is now in his first year of undergraduate studies at UNCSA. Garrett has loved music all his life, starting with the banjo in elementary school. He started percussion in sixth grade and immediately fell in love with it. 

Before coming to UNCSA, Garrett was an aspiring rock star, but now is a fan of a wide variety of genres ranging from classical to jazz. His favorite thing to play is timpani on grand symphonies, but he also loves playing chamber music and jazz outside of the orchestra. Aside from playing music, Garrett loves to record music, and make videos with the rest of the percussion studio. He is eager to study under Dr. Ksenija Komljenović and see where she takes UNCSA's percussion program in the coming years!