Gower Concerto Competition Winners to Perform with Southern Miss Symphony
Mon, 02/02/2026 - 09:15am | By: Mike Lopinto
Winners of the William T. Gower Concerto Competition will join The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra for its first concert of the spring semester, Star-Spangled, on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in a return to the renovated Bennett Auditorium. Under the direction of student conductors and Dr. Gregory Wolynec, the program also includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.
“We are thrilled to bring this program to life, as it truly showcases the extraordinary depth of talent within our School of Music,” said Wolynec. “Our concerto soloists rose to the top of an exceptionally competitive day of performances.”
The William T. Gower Concerto Competition provides students with the opportunity to compete against their peers for the chance to perform with the Symphony Orchestra. An annual tradition of more than 25 years, the competition was named in 2007 in honor of William T. Gower, a former professor of music at Southern Miss and a widely respected musician. This year’s competition was open to woodwind, brass and percussion students. Judging is conducted by an outside panel of nationally recognized musical authorities, including professional symphony members, conductors and educators.
The 2026 winners—Matthew Barron and Brad Pilcher, clarinets; Preston Davis, alto saxophone; and Juan Carlos Piedra Carvajal, oboe—will showcase the exceptional talent and training of Southern Miss’ School of Music while performing works by Mendelssohn, Yoshimatsu and Navarro.
Matthew Barron is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in clarinet, flute and saxophone, performing as a soloist, chamber musician and musical theater pit orchestra musician. His musical interests span classical, jazz and contemporary styles. Based in the Birmingham, Ala., metro area, Barron has performed in more than 50 musical theater productions and contributed to studio recording projects, including serving as conductor for the 2023 recording of the opera Longing by Craig Alan Brandwein.
As both a performer and educator, Barron is passionate about music education and community engagement. His commitment to service and outreach was shaped in part by his involvement in the Boy Scouts of America, where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He earned a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is currently pursuing a Master of Music in clarinet performance at Southern Miss, where he studies with Dr. Jackie McIlwain and serves as a graduate assistant. He aspires to a career teaching music at the university level.
Brad Pilcher is a clarinetist originally from Atlanta, Ga. He has performed throughout the southern United States and internationally at the 2024 ICA ClarinetFest Conference in Dublin, Ireland. He currently holds positions in the University of Southern Mississippi Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and Graduate Wind Quintet. Previously, he earned appointments with the Florida State University Wind Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Columbus State University Wind Ensemble, Philharmonic and Contemporary Ensemble, and in chamber orchestras across the southeast. He also performed with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra while at Columbus State University in 2023.
Pilcher holds a Bachelor of Music in clarinet performance from Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music, where he studied with Dr. Lisa Oberlander. He also earned a Master of Music in woodwind performance from Florida State University, studying with Dr. Deborah Bish and Dr. Jonatha Holden. At Southern Miss, he studies with Dr. Jackie McIlwain and serves as a clarinet studio graduate assistant, assisting with studio operations, co-directing the clarinet choir, performing in the graduate woodwind quintet and holding appointments in university bands and orchestra.
Preston Davis is a saxophonist in his third year pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education at Southern Miss, where he studies with Dr. Dannel Espinoza. An active and versatile performer in both classical and jazz settings, Davis has appeared in a wide range of large ensemble, chamber and solo contexts. His performance experience includes Symphonic Winds, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Saxophone Chamber Orchestra, the Aquila Saxophone Quartet and the Sonoré Duet. He is also a member of The Pride of Mississippi Marching Band, where he serves as a saxophone section leader.
Davis has appeared in numerous solo, chamber and large ensemble performances throughout his collegiate career. He participated in the U.S. Navy Band Saxophone Symposium, engaging in performances, masterclasses and professional development with leading saxophonists from across the country. He also performed at the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference in Oklahoma and attended masterclasses with internationally respected artists.
Davis has been selected to perform at the 2026 North American Saxophone Alliance Conference as a member of the Sonoré Duet, an emerging chamber ensemble focused on expressive and contemporary repertoire for saxophone duo. His musicianship is rooted in expressive storytelling, stylistic versatility and technical excellence.
Juan Carlos Piedra Carvajal is a Costa Rican oboist whose work spans orchestral and chamber performance, solo playing and a strong commitment to music education. He has performed internationally in Mexico, Hungary, Canada and the United States, and has participated in masterclasses with renowned oboists including Alex Klein, Vincent Boilard, Pedro Díaz and Nathan Hughes.
Piedra Carvajal has appeared with several professional ensembles in Costa Rica, including the University of Costa Rica Symphony Orchestra, the Costa Rican Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Concert Band of Cartago Province. He has been featured as a soloist with the University of Costa Rica Symphony Orchestra and was the winner of both major performance competitions at the University of Costa Rica in 2018. He has also been selected for prestigious summer programs, including the Advanced Program at Domaine Forget in Canada.
His previous teachers include José Ángel Ábrego and Dr. Euridice Álvarez. He holds degrees from the University of Costa Rica, the University of Northern Colorado and Baylor University, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at Southern Miss, where he studies with Dr. Pablo Hernandez.
Tickets are available online or by calling 601.266.5418 or 800.844.8425. Visit the Southern Miss Symphony Orchestra for more information or find them on social media.