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Santa Barbara’s Music Academy of the West announces recipient of the Alumni Performance Award, sponsored by the Luria/Budgor Family Foundation

by Community Contributor • March 12, 2025 • Comments Off

Music Academy of the West Announces Recipient of the Alumni Performance Award, sponsored by the Luria/Budgor Family Foundation

Open to all Music Academy alumni, the award supports an emerging Music Academy alum in their professional pursuits as a performing artist.

The recipient of the 2025 APA is clarinet alum Gerbrich Meijer (‘20, ‘21, ‘22), who is slated to perform at the Academy’s Mariposa Concert Series on November 19, 2025 with Academy teaching artist Conor Hanick.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SANTA BARBARA — Now in its 78th season, the Music Academy of the West continues its commitment to supporting its alumni as they advance their careers. The Academy proudly announces the winner of the 2025 Alumni Performance Award, sponsored by the Luria/Budgor Family Foundation. This prestigious award offers a distinctive performance opportunity that honors the artist’s artistic journey while aligning with the Music Academy’s mission to foster meaningful alumni engagement.

The Music Academy of the West is proud to announce clarinetist Gerbrich Meijer as the recipient of the 2025 Alumni Performance Award. A three-time Music Academy fellow (’20, ’21, ’22), Meijer is rapidly gaining international recognition as a chamber musician, soloist, and orchestral performer.

“The Music Academy is proud to champion our alumni by creating performance opportunities that are vital to their artistic growth and career development,” said Shauna Quill, President & CEO of the Music Academy of the West. “We remain dedicated to supporting our exceptional alumni, and this award serves as another meaningful step in their success. We are deeply grateful to the Luria/Budgor Family Foundation for making this opportunity possible.”

Meijer’s award performance will take place in Santa Barbara on November 19, 2025, as part of the Academy’s Mariposa Concert Series, where she will perform in recital with Music Academy teaching artist pianist Conor Hanick. The program will include a Music Academy commissioned world premiere of a new work for clarinet and piano by Derek Bermel, with additional repertoire to be announced. Meijer credits her three summers at the Music Academy of the West as a pivotal period in her artistic growth, fueling her creativity and shaping her career. The Academy is thrilled to celebrate her achievements and welcome her back to Santa Barbara for this special performance.

“I am incredibly honored to receive the Music Academy’s Alumni Performance Award and to return to Santa Barbara, a place that has been so influential in my artistic journey. My summers at the Academy were transformative, providing me with invaluable mentorship, inspiration, and opportunities that continue to shape my career. I’m especially excited to share this performance with Conor Hanick and to premiere a new work by Derek Bermel—it’s a true privilege to bring new music to life. I’m deeply grateful to the Music Academy and the Luria/Budgor Family Foundation for this extraordinary opportunity.”

—Gerbrich Meijer

Originally from the Netherlands, Meijer is currently pursuing a Soloist Class Degree at the Royal Danish Academy of Music. She recently earned her Master of Music degree from the esteemed Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, where she studied with Yehuda Gilad. Her accolades include the Music Academy Exchange (MAX) fellowship with the London Symphony Orchestra in 2020, the Audience Award from Dutch Classical Talent 2024, a nomination for the Grachtenfestival Award 2022, and the Special Prize at the Carl Nielsen International Competition 2022. Her debut album was recently released by AVROTROS.

“Gerbrich Meijer is an extraordinary talent whose dedication, artistry, and musical depth set her apart,” said Richie Hawley, a celebrated clarinetist and Music Academy teaching artist. “Watching her grow during her summers at the Music Academy was truly inspiring. She possesses a rare ability to captivate audiences with both technical brilliance and profound musical expression. I am thrilled to see her receive this well-deserved honor and to witness her continued success on the world stage.”

A sought-after orchestral musician, Meijer has performed with renowned ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra, The Concertgebouw Orchestra, Danish Radio, Rotterdam Philharmonic, and Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. She previously served as principal clarinet of the European Union Youth Orchestra and she made her solo debut with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam in February 2025.

About the Music Academy of the West

Located in Santa Barbara, the Music Academy of the West provides classically trained musicians and diverse audiences with transformative educational and performance experiences. The Music Academy’s programs include an annual eight-week Summer Music Festival & School which trains up to 150 fellows ages 18-34 and presents more than 130 performances and events, competitions, and a fully staged opera; Sing!, a children’s choir that performs with local, national, and international partners; and the year-round Mariposa Concert Series featuring performances by Academy-affiliated artists. The 2025 Summer Festival & School takes place June 15 through August 9, 2025. Learn more at musicacademy.org.

Press Contacts

Kerry Allen
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Music Academy of the West
kallen@musicacademy.org
805?895-9491

Kate Oberjat
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
Music Academy of the West
koberjat@musicacademy.org
805?895-7908

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Music Academy of the West Announces Recipient of the Alumni Performance Award, sponsored by the Luria/Budgor Family Foundation

Open to all Music Academy alumni, the award supports an emerging Music Academy alum in their professional pursuits as a performing artist.

The recipient of the 2025 APA is clarinet alum Gerbrich Meijer (‘20, ‘21, ‘22), who is slated to perform at the Academy’s Mariposa Concert Series on November 19, 2025 with Academy teaching artist Conor Hanick.

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