For more than 92 years, Longy School of Music has advanced the career path of thousands of the world’s finest musicians. As we add profiles to our website, watch this page grow!

Ashley Hall '07

Edward Goldman ’43

Ana Catalina Ramirez ’04

Ashley Hall ‘07
From Longy to China and India

When Ashley Hall ’07 won the third trumpet position with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra in 2003, she never could have imagined the globe-trotting pathway ahead. Three years ago, the orchestra granted her a two-year leave of absence to further her studies with Steve Emery at Longy School of Music in the Artist Diploma program. “Working with Steve completely transformed my playing,” she said, “and he continues to be an amazing mentor.”

After graduating, Hall resumed her post with the Dayton Philharmonic. She also accepted the position of principal trumpet with the Sinfonia Gulf Coast Orchestra in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. In addition, she recorded her first solo trumpet album, Behold Him, a collection of hymn arrangements. The album was released in October 2007, and she has been traveling nationwide to church recitals that incorporate biblical text, personal testimony and music intended to edify all denominations.

“In October, the album’s producer, JD Miller, invited me to go on a concert tour of China with the Americana Music Group,” Ashley said. “For audiences of 4,000-6,000, I performed classical solo numbers and played in the ‘rock band’ in the cities of Xi'an, Shangai, Juijung and NanChang. It was a great experience!”

Hall feels Longy's motto, Preparing musicians to make a difference in the world, fits her and the multi-faceted desires of her heart. “I believe that each of us has unique gifts, talents and opportunities, and we don’t have to ‘choose one thing’ for our lives. I hope my career path will continue to reflect the intersection where my greatest desires meet the world’s greatest needs. Longy's curriculum helps students discover that being a musician is so much more than sitting alone in a practice room for hours each day, or performing on a stage and failing to connect with the audience in front of you. Music is about people, and it speaks the universal language of the heart.” This spring, Ashley will travel to India to work with the orphan children at the Sri Ram Ashram outside of Haridwar.

Hall points out that her most valuable experience at Longy was the independent study project she did with Ken Radnofsky, Solo Career Essentials. During her last semester, she developed her personal website, www.ashleyhalltrumpet.com, created a press kit and professional demo CD, and made more professional contacts, which eventually resulted in her debut CD.

When she is not practicing or performing, Ashley enjoys long-distance running, playing tennis, reading several books at a time and connecting with good friends over coffee at Starbucks. This July, Ashley will be married to her best friend and a fellow trumpeter, Nate Tighe.

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Edward Goldman ‘43
Pianist Now 90 and Still Going Strong

Edward Goldman, a 1943 alumnus of Longy, started his life as a pianist with distinction – by competing against Leonard Bernstein as a youngster and winning! At 90, he is happy to be one of our oldest living alums.

During his five years at Longy, Goldman studied piano with Erwin Bodky and composition with Nadia Boulanger, whose class he remembers with enthusiasm and deep affection. “Once I brought in a composition that sounded romantic, like Tchaikovsky, and she said, ‘That’s already been written!’" said Goldman. “I threw it away and got back to work.”

Another time Mme. Boulanger told him he had written the perfect ending for a piece, a huge compliment. Classes at Longy were small, and he appreciated the individual attention.

Goldman went on to study piano and composition at Juilliard. Practicing over six hours a day, he developed an injury that prevented him from continuing such arduous work. He decided to move to Bayonne, N.J., where his wife, Fritzi, grew up. There, he taught piano and conducted local ensembles throughout his life. “Longy gave me the knowledge and skills to be an effective teacher,” he said.

As a youngster at Boston Latin School, he was a classmate of Leonard “Lenny” Bernstein. When he competed against Bernstein and won, his reward was a week of performances with the Metropolitan Theatre Symphony Orchestra in Boston.

Goldman and Bernstein stayed in touch throughout life. “As an adult, I hosted a party and Lenny showed up and we began playing duets at a late hour in the evening. My landlord abruptly ended the party when she pointed her finger at Lenny and said, ‘You, Out!’”

Today, Goldman composes, practices piano, creates sculptures, paintings and writes poems. You can view his artwork on his website, www.edwardgoldman.com.

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Ana Catalina Ramirez ’04
Clarinetist Launches Career in Mississippi

On January 1, 2008, Ana Catalina Ramirez, a 2004 Longy alumna, is headed to Jackson, Mississippi, to begin a new chapter in her life– as principal clarinetist of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. That important step follows completing her master’s degree in music education with an emphasis in performance this month at University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

In her undergraduate studies at Longy, Ramirez studied clarinet with Jonathan Cohler. “Jonathan is an amazing musician. He performs all the time – a great example. He taught me a lot as a musician in the United States and the world. I value that as my most important Longy educational experience.”  

Ramirez appreciated being surrounded by so many committed students and faculty. “I loved the small environment, where the faculty is really dedicated and will help you.”  She added, “It was great having a clarinet studio where everybody could play, where they all were serious about getting better, and where I was only one more clarinetist trying to learn from everybody around me. I also gained some very practical experiences – like how to write a resume, publicize my concerts and become my own boss.”

Ramirez grew up in Costa Rica. After graduating from Longy in 2004, she gave a recital at the Cultural Institute of Mexico in Costa Rica, where she substituted with the National Orchestra. She went on a national tour with the Youth Orchestra of the Americas and performed in Latin countries including Venezuela, Columbia and Argentina. While in the Boston area, she taught at Komitas Music School in Belmont, Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill and her own private studio.

“I am very excited about going to Mississippi and doing what I love, to get to actually play all those excerpts we practice so much by ourselves. People are really friendly there; I felt almost at home (Costa Rica), and the weather is really warm. But I will miss New England and the many friends I’ve made during my almost seven years here. I hope to keep in touch.

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