Megan Dillon - Kenneth Radnofsky Saxophone Merit Award - 2023
Megan Dillon is a saxophonist in the Boston area. After graduating from Interlochen Arts Academy, she studied at Texas Tech University where she achieved a bachelor's degree in music theory and a minor in French. She then studied under Kenneth Radnofsky and Roger Graybill at the New England Conservatory, earning two master's degrees in saxophone performance and music theory. She studied counterpoint and pedagogy under Lyle Davidson, earning a concentration in music-in-education. She currently works as a Teaching Assistant for the saxophone studio and music theory department and is a teaching fellow for the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. She is a member of the ChagallPAC Quartet and works as a woodwind teacher and freelancer. Her arrangements for saxophone ensemble have been published by RC Editions. She is a member of the North American Saxophone Alliance and has performed at NASA regional conferences, the World Saxophone Congress, and premiered and commissioned new works for the saxophone. She continues her studies at the New England Conservatory towards a Doctorate of Music in Saxophone Performance.
Ana Diaz Asencio - Kenneth Radnofsky Saxophone Merit Award - 2023
Ana Diaz Asencio is a saxophonist from Spain whose professional career includes various awards such as the Large Ensembles in the CEM de Triana competition, the chamber music competition "Jacobo Soto Carmona" of Albox, the soloist competition of the CSM Manuel Castillo, the King's Peak International Music Competition and the Chamber Music Competition "José Gámez". Highlighted performances include soloing with T. Smith ́s "Fantasía" for saxophone and band, "Legénde" by F. Schmitt for saxophone and orchestra, and “Danzón no 6” by Arturo Márquez for saxophone and saxophone ensemble. Diaz has also participated in chamber ensembles such as the “Ensemble de Música Contemporánea of the Manuel Castillo" Conservatory of Seville and the “Orquesta Joven de Andalucía”. She began her saxophone studies in Gerena, Spain, where she later became the music director of the youth band. She graduated in 2018 from the Conservatory of Music Cristobal de Morales with an Honorable Mention, and completed her bachelors in Saxophone Performance at the CSM Manuel Castillo in 2022. She is currently a student at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee where she was awarded a scholarship to pursue her Masters of Music degree.
Rachel Clevenger - Kenneth Radnofsky Saxophone Merit Award - 2019
In her thirteen years as a saxophonist, Rachel Clevenger has performed for audiences in numerous places, such as her home state of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and as far as Italy. During her collegiate career at Elon University in North Carolina, she gained experience playing a myriad of different musical genres, including music for wind band, big band, sax quartet, experimental chamber groups, pop, rock, funk, jazz, Latin, and more. Rachel graduated from Elon with a B.S. in Music Production & Recording Arts and a B.A. in Saxophone Performance (studying with Virginia Novine Whittaker), combining her love of performing and her passion for the music industry. In the fall of 2018, she began her graduate studies at Boston University. While studying with Ken Radnofsky, she has performed in sax quartets, the BU saxophone ensemble, and the BU Wind Ensemble, most recently at Symphony Hall.
Co-recipients Kenneth Radnofsky Saxophone Merit Award - 2016
Kangyi Liu 
is a native of the southern inland city Changsha in China. Kangyi started playing saxophone in his childhood. At age of 15, he was enrolled at the middle school attached to the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing as the first saxophone student since the school was established. During middle school study, he was the principle saxophonist of China Youth symphonic band. He participated in various performances as a soloist, such as the culture interchange performances with American high school bands. Before he came to United States, Liu received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Central Conservatory of Music, where he was also awarded the “National Scholarship” and “National Determined Scholarship” by the Ministry of Education of P. R. China. Meanwhile, Liu discovered his interest in teaching and social volunteer. He was the saxophone instructor at Beijing YAMAHA Music Center, and he taught students in China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe, a UNESCO Artists for Peace organization. In 2010, Liu was selected to become a master’s candidate at the Longy school of Music of Bard College, studying with saxophonist Ken Radnofsky. Liu continued to concentrate on varied teaching approaches under the school’s teaching artist program. Additionally, he was featured soprano saxophone in chubby boy sax. quartet playing chamber music in conference of North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Liu is currently pursuing his Doctoral degree at Boston University. He enjoys performing numerous works of solo and chamber music and has a great enthusiasm for public schools in Boston area.
Scott Chamberlain 
is an advocate for the saxophone in all music, new and old. He frequently performs in the Boston area with local orchestras, small ensembles and as a chamber and solo musician. In addition to traditional performance, educational outreach is very important to Scott. He has performed standard recitals, premiered new works, and engaged audiences extensively in the Boston area and throughout New England, as well as in Europe, including the World Saxophone Congress in Strasbourg, France. He recently completed a Masters of Music degree at the New England Conservatory, where he won the 2016 Wind Ensemble Concerto Competition. He is currently enrolled at NEC as a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree, studying saxophone with Kenneth Radnofsky. In addition to a busy schedule as a performer and student, Scott teaches privately in the Boston area, both in saxophone and music theory.
Kangyi Liu - Kenneth Radnofsky Saxophone Merit Award - 2015
A native of the southern inland city Changsha in China, Kangyi Liu, was born into a family of art and literature, where he started playing saxophone in his childhood. At age of 15, he was enrolled at the middle school attached to the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing as the first saxophone student since the school was established. During middle school study, he was the principle saxophonist of China Youth symphonic band. He participated in various performances as a soloist, such as the culture interchange performances with American high school bands.
Before he came to United States, Liu received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Central Conservatory of Music, where he was also awarded the “National Scholarship” and “National Determined Scholarship” by the Ministry of Education of P. R. China. Meanwhile, Liu discovered his interest in teaching and social volunteer. He was the saxophone instructor at Beijing YAMAHA Music Center, and he taught students in China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe, a UNESCO Artists for Peace organization.
In 2010, Liu was selected to become a master’s candidate at the Longy school of Music of Bard College, studying with saxophonist Ken Radnofsky. Liu continued to concentrate on varied teaching approaches under the school’s teaching artist program. Additionally, he was featured soprano saxophone in chubby boy sax. quartet playing chamber music in conference of North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA)
Liu is currently pursuing his Doctoral degree at Boston University. He enjoys performing numerous works of solo and chamber music and has a great enthusiasm for all public schools in Boston area. He was the saxophone instructor at North Andover Public Schools during 2014 - 2015 school year.
Charles Murrell III - Kenneth Radnofsky Saxophone Merit Award - 2013 & 2014
Native to Dover, Delaware, Charles M. Murrell III is a musician, civil 
rights activist and an active member and composer for both Sotto Voce Saxophone Duo and Kaya Wind Ensemble. His primary studies were with saxophonist Tim Green at Morgan State University. He has also worked with woodwind clinician Stephanie Sanders, artistic coach Larry Williams and composer Dr. James Lee III. Sotto Voce Saxophone Duo, a collaborative artist chamber ensemble, holds a performance residency at Restoration Community Baptist Church and at the Epiphany School where both members perform regularly together, host lecture series with a variety of topics and have performed with other chamber ensembles to include Subito Ensemble and Elizabeth and Elizabeth. He holds a composition residency with the American Studio Orchestra in Baltimore, MD and has written works for The Boston Conservatory Saxophone Ensemble, Delaware State University Music Programs and the R.E.A.L. Orchestra in Raleigh, North Carolina. Prior commissioning projects include pieces for Seychelle Dunn (Longy Conservatory), Linus Ellis (Richmond, VA), Sting Brass Quintet (The Curtis Institute) and Dr. Anita Thesen (Baltimore, MD). Currently, Charles resides in Boston performing, composing and volunteering. He is a teaching artist at the Epiphany School and continuing studies under saxophonist Kenneth Radnofsky.
Co-recipients Kenneth Radnofsky Saxophone Merit Award - 2011
Goran Daskalov started playing the saxophone when he was 12 years old. He began his musical trainingin at the music high school MBUC "Ilija Nikolovski Luj" in Skopje
, Macedonia. Because of curiosity and wanting new experiences in life, in his junior year he transferred to one of the most prestigious music high schools in the USA, Interlochen Arts Academy. Now he is enrolled at Boston Conservatory where he studies with Kenneth Radnofsky. At the Boston Conservatory Goran is involved in the Conservatory Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and many different chamber groups. Mr. Daskalov has won many woodwind competitions and has performed many solo recitals and concerts.
Juan Ruiz began 
his musical studies when he was 11, studying Latin American percussion in his hometown of Caldas Antioquia, Colombia. At 14, he began clarinet studies with Elizabeth Isaza at the University of Antioquia's preparatory music school. He left Colombia in 2006 with a scholarship to study English and music at Atlantic Union College. After one year he transferred to the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA, where he was awarded a full scholarship to study clarinet performance and composition. Juan is currently pursuing his master's degree in Modern American Music at the Longy School of Music, his current teacher's include Greg Hopkins and Ken Radnofsky.
Vitalijus Lisovskis - Kenneth Radnofsky Saxophone Merit Award - 2009 Born in 1985. Vitalijus began studying music at the age of five at the Balys Dvarionas Music
School in Vilnius, Lithuania, his native city. After two years in the preparatory program he started playing saxophone. At age eleven he transfered to National M.K. Ciurlionis Art School and graduated in 2004. While studying with Albinas Guzelis he competed twice at the J. Pakalnis National Woodwind Competition and won 2nd and 3rd place prizes. He performed with the B. Dvarionas Music School symphony orchestra, traveled with concerts in Lithuania and Germany, and played a number of solo concerts in Vilnius. Vitalijus is currently a first year student at Longy School of Music, where he studies with BWS Honoree, Kenneth Radnofsky.
Kristine Gray - Kenneth Radnofsky Saxophone Merit Award - 2007 A native of 
Calgary, Alberta now living and studying in Boston, Massachusetts, Kristine Gray began her musical studies at an early age studying classical guitar, voice and saxophone. Kristine obtained her Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Calgary, under the direction of Dr. Jeremy Brown. During her time at U of C she was a featured soloist with the University of Calgary Symphonic Ensemble for David Maslanka’s Hell’s Gate and recorded the CD ‘Garden of Dreams’ with the University of Calgary Wind Ensemble. Kristine currently plays tenor saxophone in the Thump Saxophone Quartet which focuses on new works by emerging and established local composers. Kristine is currently pursuing her Masters in Saxophone Performance at The Boston Conservatory, under the direction of Kenneth Radnofsky.
Dejan Runevski - Kenneth Radnofsky Saxophone Merit Award - 2006 A native o
f Prilep, Macedonia, Dejan first came to the US to study at Interlochen. He did so well and was sufficiently inspired to remain in his adopted country and to start working with Kenneth Radnofsky, the saxophone artist in whose honor this award is named. Only nineteen years old, Dejan has shown deep dedication to his studies and an intense desire to succeed. "This award," he says, "will help me further my studies and will help to make my life here a little more comfortable. I'm extremely grateful to have been chosen for such an honor." Dejan is applying to several local music schools where he will receive a full, well-rounded musical education. If Dejan's past record is indicative of his future, it's just a matter of time before he will be taking his place in the ranks of mature artists.