Congratulations to all of our finalists who have just completed their final-round performances at the 41st Annual Leonard Falcone International Euphonium & Tuba Competition! What an incredible group of musicians and an outstanding conclusion to this year’s competition. We are proud of every competitor who took part and grateful for the dedication, artistry, and musicianship you brought to the stage.

Many thanks to the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Festival Band under the direction of Dr. Trae Blanco, as well all three competition collaborative pianists and Marie Blair, Dr. Hyekyung Sia Lee, and Dr. Ling Lo.

Congratulations to our 2026 Finalists and Award Recipients!

Euphonium Artist Division:

First Prize ($2,800 Leonard Falcone Tribute)
Alexander Aull (Carnegie Mellon University)

Second Prize ($1,400 Seymour & Faye Okun Tribute)
Jack Bird (University of Michigan)

Third Prize ($850 Douglas & Jane Goodrich)
Jose Castillo (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley)

Tuba Artist Division:

First Prize ($2,800 Leonard Falcone Tribute)
Micah Crouse (Illlinois State University)

Second Prize ($1,400 Philip & Carolyn Sinder)
Nick Tesmer (Baylor University)

Third Prize ($850 William & Doris Kooyer)
James Caldwell (Oklahoma State University)

Euphonium Student Division

First Prize ($1,400 Beryl Falcone Tribute underwritten by Emil & Doris Ellis Family Foundation)
Manami Ishii (Bihoro Town Hokkaido, Japan)

Second Prize ($800 Cecilia Falcone)
Mira Shelgikar (Ann Arbor Huron High School)

Third Prize ($600 Cecilia Falcone)
Sullivan Tucker (University of Kentucky)

Tuba Student Division

First Prize ($1,400 Ed Livingston Tribute)
Rufino Medado (Texas Christian University)

Second Prize ($800 Rober & Nadine Weyersberg)
Tate Newman (Texas Christian University)

Third Prize ($600 The Topping Family)
Samuel Lorentz (Illinois State University)