Judges for Concerto/Aria Competition 2025-2026

Dr. John Irish is Professor of Music at Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas. In addition to his duties with the high brass studio, he directs ASU brass ensembles. Prior to this position, he taught at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio and at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas.

His career includes performances with the Southwest German Radio Orchestra, the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, the Dayton Philharmonic, the Omaha Symphony Orchestra, many chamber orchestras, brass quintets, and a wide variety of dance bands and commercial projects. He currently holds the position of principal trumpet of the San Angelo Symphony Orchestra, section member of the West Texas Symphony, and is active in the musical life of the area as well as a founder of Jazz Concho, a jazz combo made up of local professionals.

This university position follows a distinguished career in the Air Force Band system in which he performed in all fifty states, Canada, Mexico, and Western Europe. He has recorded often, premiered new works for winds, and soloed with bands and orchestras. Dr. Irish was featured in 2005 as a guest artist in a series of master classes and as a soloist with an orchestra in Chihuahua, Mexico as well as performing a solo recital in Taipei, Taiwan in 2010. In May 2011, he gave the world premiere of a new work for trumpet by Australian composer, Brendan Collins at the 36th Annual Conference of the International Trumpet Guild in Minneapolis. Since the summer of 2012, he performed as Principal Trumpet in the orchestra of Opera Maya, touring with that group throughout the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. Additionally, he held the position of Co-Principal Trumpet of an International Music Festival located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas and Dallas, Texas.

As a contributor of a series of articles in the Journal of the International Trumpet Guild (ITG), he has illuminated world-renowned trumpet players who have made a significant impact on the trumpet. In addition to his other frequent contributions to the ITG Journal, his writing has been featured in the Bandmasters Review (an educational publication of the Texas Bandmasters Association), the Newsletter of the International Women’s Brass Conference, the popular British periodical, The Brass Herald, along with a variety of publications and web resources in the music industry.

Irish completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music; he earned the MM and BM degrees from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Prominent teachers include Bert Truax, Alan Siebert, John Carroll, Vince DiMartino, and Dale Marrs. Dr. Irish is a clinician/artist for the Conn-Selmer Company.

Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, bass-baritone Mark Covey-Barrera has been described as “a real virtuoso” (Opera Today). He has performed throughout the United States, as well as in Germany, France, and Italy. He made his professional debut in 2014 with Opera Las Vegas as Fiorello in Il barbiere di Siviglia. Recently, he appeared as Bartolo in Park City Opera’s production of Il barbiere di Siviglia. Other notable roles include Simone (Gianni Schicchi), Dulcamara (L’elisir d’amore), Escamillo (Carmen), Rambaldo (La Rondine), Bartolo (Le nozze di Figaro), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), and Eisenstein in (Die Fledermaus) among others. He has performed with Opera San Antonio, Opera Company of Middlebury, and Festival Napa Valley among others . Mark has been a finalist in many national competitions including the Shreveport Opera Mary Jacobs Singer of the Year Competition, the Frances Walton Competition in Seattle, WA, and the Edvward Grieg Society of Minnesota Competition.

Mark is also an accomplished classical guitarist, having studied in the prestigious studio of renowned American classical guitar icon, Christopher Parkening. He has performed the guitar parts of Il barbiere di Siviglia for Opera Las Vegas, Opera San Antonio, the Mediterranean Opera Festival in Sicily, and Park City Opera. In 2017, he released his solo album, Glory of Guitar.

Mark was awarded the Graduate Opportunity Fellowship from the University of California, Santa Barbara to publish his DMA document, A Historical and Performance Companion to the Art Song of the 16th Century Spanish Vihuelistas with Texts and Translations. For his research, he uncovered long forgotten art songs from original manuscripts and treatises written by guitar composers of the Spanish renaissance. Dr. Covey continues to research and arrange music for voice and classical guitar.

Mark earned his Bachelor of Music degree with a dual-emphasis in voice and classical guitar from Pepperdine University. He received his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Vocal Performance from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He currently serves as Assistant Professor of Voice at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas.

Dr. Daria Miskiewicz is an accomplished cellist and educator currently serving as Assistant Professor of Low Strings at Angelo State University where she teaches cello and double bass. With nine years of experience in music education, she has built a career marked by artistic excellence, pedagogical dedication, and a commitment to fostering the next generation of musicians. Known for her dynamic performances and individualized teaching approach, Dr. Miskiewicz brings both passion and precision to the concert stage and the classroom.

Her musical training includes advanced study with Prof. JeGrey Lastrapes at Texas Tech University, where she also served as a graduate part-time instructor. While at Texas Tech, she expanded her expertise by studying double bass with Dr. Mark Morton, mastering both French and German bow techniques. She was also a member of the TTU Bass Studio. She is an active orchestral musician, performing as a member of the Lubbock Symphony where she performed with various soloists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Maja Bogdanowic, and Amit Peled. She has performed with the Amarillo Symphony, West Texas Symphony, Tulsa Signature Symphony, and Southwest Symphony. Dr. Miskiewicz is also the newest member of the Aurora Trio, which will allow her to continue to perform in chamber music settings. Dr. Miskiewicz has earned 1st Prize at the Women’s Club Competition in Oklahoma City, 2nd Place at the National Bach Competition in Poland, and 2nd Place at the National Chamber Music Competition in Poland. Her scholarly and creative contributions include creating a performance edition of Paul Hindemith’s Sonata for Solo Cello, Opus 25, No. 3, reflecting her meticulous attention to musical analysis and historical accuracy. Dr. Miskiewicz enjoys performing pieces composed by contemporary composers. She collaborated with Texas Tech School of Music faculty on Shifting Direction, a critically acclaimed contemporary album featuring works by all women composers, which received five-star reviews from critics Colin Clarke and Huntley Dent. In 2022, she also appeared as a soloist on a piece called Jackie’s Song, by Michael Daugherty with the TTU Contemporary Music Ensemble.

As an educator, Dr. Miskiewicz has taught applied cello, chamber music, and orchestral sectionals at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Summer Camp in Michigan, where she also performed in faculty chamber and orchestra concerts. She works extensively with West Texas youth, preparing students for All-Region and State auditions, and leads masterclasses and clinics for organizations such as the Lubbock Independent School District, Lubbock Youth Orchestra, and the Texas Tech Band and Orchestra Camp. Her teaching philosophy centers on the belief that every student deserves an individualized approach, recognizing that each musician learns and retains information in their own unique way.

As a dedicated member of the National Music Honor Society, Dr. Miskiewicz also invests in community engagement and professional development, participating in outreach programs and fostering a love of music across diverse audiences. Whether performing on stage, leading a rehearsal, or mentoring an aspiring musician, Dr. Miskiewicz continues to shape the musical landscape of West Texas and beyond through her artistry, scholarship, and commitment to excellence.