Annual Youth Festival

Violinist Austin Haley Berman is a 6th grade home schooled student. He began violin at age 5, and is currently studying with Xiao Fu Zhou. Austin is a member of the Main Line Youth Chamber Orchestra. In 2008, he was awarded First Place in the Junior Division of the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra Competition. He has studied ballet at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet since age 7 and made his debut as Fritz in The Nutcracker at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center in 2007. Austin is an accomplished juggler and enjoys tennis.

Bass-baritone Justen Blackstone, in 11th grade at West Chester Christian School, studies voice with Phillip Gingery of West Chester. At school, he leads the vocal sextet SixPence. At Bob Jones University High School Festival recently, he placed first in male vocal solo and second in classical piano and two-piano duet. Starting piano at age 8, he currently studies with Marguerite Pond of Exton. At age 12 he won First Place on piano in the Kennett Symphony Young Artist Competition. At age 14 he was accepted to play percussion with the Delaware County Youth Orchestra. Justen also enjoys accompanying. He often performs with his sister Alyssa, who plays the violin, under the name of The Finishing Touch.

Flutist Trish Campos is in 10th grade at Octorara Area High School where she is a member of the high school band. She began studying the flute at age 7 with Joan Sparks. She was a member of the Lancaster County Junior Orchestra, the Delaware All State Junior Band, the PA Region 6 Band, and the District 12 Orchestra. Apart from flute, she enjoys being on the cross country and lacrosse teams.

Violinist/violist Rachyl Duffy, age 15, began studying violin at age 5 and took up viola last year at Wilmington Music School, where she currently studies as a Certificate Program student with Shelley Beard-Schleigh. Rachyl is a participant in chamber music programs at WMS and Darlington Fine Arts Center, where she received an ACMP scholarship. She is also a member of Delaware County Youth Orchestra and has performed in many master classes and recitals this year. In 2007, she was the recipient of a WMS Honor Award and won second place in the WMS Estella Hillersohn Frankel Competition. She was recently offered a scholarship for Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts. Rachyl has been invited to attend Indiana University's Summer String Academy in June.

Flutist Megan Sutter (Left) is an 8th grade student at Owen J. Roberts Middle School. She has been a Suzuki flute student of Dr. Lynne Cooksey since age 7. Meg has been a member of the marching band for 3 years and also enjoys singing with the Varsity Singers. She was selected to participate in the 2008 PMEA District 12 Song Fest. In addition to her music making, Meg enjoys reading, scrap booking, and raising chickens for her small egg business.

Flutist Kelsey Fries (right) is an eighth grade student at Owen J. Roberts Middle School. She started playing the flute at age ten, and has been studying with Dr. Lynne Cooksey for three years. Kelsey plays in the school band and sings with the Varsity Singers. She says music is her passion, and plans a career in the music field. In addition to her music, Kelsey spends time playing lacrosse.

Pianist Eric Guo, age 15, is a sophomore at Lower Merion High School. He started to play piano at age 4 in Japan, and currently studies with Igor Resnianski at The Nelly Berman School of Music. Former teachers have included Mrs. Kurihashi, Mrs. Ayako, Mrs. Clinton, Dr. Kevin Orr, and Ori Steinberg. He has won many awards at piano competitions at the state level, including Alternate of 2005 MTNA Florida State, Winner of 2005 FFMC Convention Junior Piano Concerto, and Senior Alternate of 2007 Pennsylvania Piano Competitions. He likes to play chess, table tennis, and he enjoys swimming. Besides English, he can speak Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish.

Cellist Colin Hartwick, age 16, is a sophomore at Abington Senior High School, where he plays in the school orchestra. Colin is also the assistant principal cellist in the Philadelphia Sinfonia Youth Orchestra and principal cellist in their chamber orchestra. He played in a quintet that performed the pre-concert for a Network for New Music production. Colin participated in the District 11 and Region 6 orchestras as second chair, and was fourth chair in the State Orchestra. He has been studying with Cassia Harvey for 5 years.

Clarinetist Stephanie Herrmann, age 14, is in 8th grade at Welsh Valley Middle School. She began playing the clarinet in elementary school and currently studies with Joseph Smith of the Philly Pops. Stephanie serves as principal clarinetist in the Welsh Valley Middle School Band and Orchestra and this year played with the Schuylkill Valley Band. Also a jazz enthusiast, she plays the alto saxophone with the Welsh Valley Competition Jazz Band. Last spring, she won the “best soloist” award at the Music in the Parks competition. Stephanie is also an accomplished pianist. In her spare time, she enjoys writing her own music and experimenting with other instruments.

Violinist Grace Ju is a freshman at Radnor High School. She started violin at age 5 and currently studies with Kimberly Fisher of the Philadelphia Orchestra. At age 6, she won First Place in the Korean Young Musician's Competition. In 2004, she won Third Place in the Loeb Performing Arts Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation Competition, and in 2006, she won First Place in the Old York Road Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artists Competition. This year, she won the Ambler Symphony’s Menges Scholarship Competition. Grace is a member of the Temple Youth Chamber Orchestra. She performs regularly at Yuong-Sang Presbyterian Church and is a member the Yuong-Sang Orchestra. Grace has received scholarships from the Benjamin Franklin Institute Science Museum and from the General Jeong Fund in Korea for her outstanding academic performance. Also, she won medals in the regional division of the Concours National Français in 2007 and 2008, and was awarded Radnor Middle School’s Reeser Award as well as the President’s Award for Academic Excellence at graduation from the middle school. Grace plays field hockey as goalie and also pole vaults for the RHS track and field team. She also enjoys photography.

EKKO

Cellist Yuki Koyama (front), age 17, is an 11th grader at Strath Haven High School. He began his cello studies with the late Christina Hayakawa at age 10 and has continued with Amy Sue Barston and Efe Baltacigil. In 2005, he won Second Place in Junior Strings at the Tri-County Concerts Youth Festival. Also, he won the Grand Prize at the Concerto Competition of the International Strings Festival in Philadelphia and the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra's Young Artist Auditions, subsequently performing as soloist with the Ocean City Pops orchestra, the Independence Sinfonia, and the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra. Yuki has participated in master classes with Eleonore Schoenfeld, Steven Doane, and Paul Katz. He has been the principal cellist of the Delaware County Youth Orchestra since 2006.

Ellen Morris (middle), pianist in the ensemble EKKO, is a 16 year old sophomore at The Baldwin School where she is active in the B-Flats, a capella singing group and theater. She recently appeared in "My Name is Alice." Last summer, she studied Shakespeare at The Shakespeare School in Stratford, Ontario. After the performing arts, her next favorite activity is sailing; she races 420s and teaches sailing at the North Haven Casino in North Haven, Maine. She began studying piano at age 4 and gave her first solo performance at the Keswick Theatre stage at the age of 7. She has performed with many local orchestras including the Main Line Orchestra, the Old York Symphony, the Ambler Symphony, Musica 2000, and the Pottstown Symphony. As a winner of the Russian American Teachers Association Competition, she performed at Carnegie Hall. She currently studies with Igor Resnianski.

Clare Semes (right), violinist in the ensemble EKKO, is a 10th grade home-schooled student who studies violin with Choong-Jin Chang. She is a recipient of a Starling Violin Scholarship at Temple Prep, where she is Co-Concertmaster of the Youth Chamber Orchestra, and performed as soloist with them at the Kimmel Center in April. Clare is also principal second violinist of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. As winner of the Temple Prep Concerto Competition this year, she performed as soloist with the Temple University Orchestra. In August 2007, she and her 3 sisters were soloists with the Macau Youth Orchestra and guests on the Hong Kong radio station RTHK's show "Children's Corner." Clare will attend the Aspen Music Festival this summer.

Maria Semes (left), violist in the ensemble EKKO, is a 12th grade home-schooled student who studies with Choong-Jin Chang. She is a recipient of a Starling Violin Scholarship at Temple Prep, where she is co-concertmaster of the Youth Chamber Orchestra. She was a featured soloist with them in the Kimmel Center this April. Maria is acting concertmaster of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. In August 2007, she was soloist with the Macau Youth Orchestra and was heard on Hong Kong's radio station, RTHK. Maria will be attending the Aspen Music Festival this summer and The Juilliard School in the fall.

Pianist Kevin Li, 13, an 8th grader at Sandy Run Middle School, is a student of Marcantonio Barone. His prior teacher was Susan Lou. Kevin attributes his love of music to his two wonderful teachers. He won two Grand Prizes in the 49th World Piano Competition,First Prize in the West Chester University Piano Competition in 2004 and 2008, the International Young Artist Piano Competition, and the Laugna Musica International Piano Competition in Italy, among many others. He received The Highest Achievement award from the Young Pianist Competition of New Jersey for winning First Prize in Concerto, Solo, Ensemble, and Young Artist Divisions. He has been featured in the NPR program "From the Top." He has performed with four local symphony orchestras and Orchestra Sinfonica di Chioggia in Italy.

Harpist Lindsey McQuiston, age 15, is a 9th grade honor student at Conestoga High School. She began playing the harp at age 6 and is currently studying with Keetie Dolfe. In 2005, Lindsey performed in a master class given by harpist Linda Woods Rollo. In 2006 she won Third Place in the Junior Pedal Harp Division of the American Harp Society Philadelphia Chapter's student competition, and in 2007 she won First Place in the Tri-County Youth Festival's Junior Musica Diversa Division. She has also played in several local student recitals and will be joining the Conestoga Orchestra in the fall of 2008. Besides playing the harp, Lindsey enjoys the outdoors and gardening.

Julia Morelli has been playing cello for 10 years and currently studies with Cassia Harvey. She is a senior at Perkiomen Valley High School, but is dually enrolled at Montgomery County Community College, studying online. Julia is in the Delaware County Youth Orchestra, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, and has an Advanced Study Scholarship at Settlement Music School for the Trowbridge Chamber Orchestra. In addition to being in ensembles, Julia loves teaching cello privately. She has recently won a scholarship from the Afternoon Music Club. In the fall, Julia will attend The Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University of Bloomington, where she will study cello with Emilio Colon.

Soprano Kara Mulder, a 14 year old freshman at Haverford High School, made her debut as a super numerary for the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s production of Norma at the age of 4. She has had a love for the stage ever since. While attending Haverford Middle School, Kara performed the role of the Sour Kangaroo in Suessical and played Sharpay Evans in High School Musical. She was also a member of the school’s select chorus, Seventh Heaven. At Haverford High School, she has sung as a Radio Singer and was featured as the Star Spangled Banner Singer in Damn Yankees. She also enjoys singing under the direction of Marsha Bobnak in the school’s Chorale. Kara has been a featured soloist with the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church’s Youth Chorale and Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, most recently in the "Laudamus te" from Vivaldi’s Gloria. The Lyricfest Concert Series also featured Kara in Mendelssohn’s "I Waited for the Lord." This summer Kara is attending the Hotchkiss Summer Portals Vocal Chamber Music Program to study choral repertoire, vocal chamber music, and musical theater. She currently studies voice with Suzanne DuPlantis and is a piano student of Byron Davidovich.

Flutist Esther J. Park, age 16, is a freshman at Germantown Academy, where she is a member of the Wind Ensemble and the Jazz Band, as well the Singing Patriots, the school choir that sang this spring at the United Nations. She has been studying flute for 5 years, currently with Nancy Etris. In 2005, she received Second Prize in Junior Winds in the Tri-County Youth Festival. Along with her musical interests, she enjoys field hockey, lacrosse, and languages. This year, she placed sixth in the National French Contest, and she translates at her church. Last summer, she visited Peru on a mission trip for a month. This year, she looks forward to another exciting summer with sports, internships, and academics.

Pianist Allison Peng, age 12, is a 7th-grader at Wissahickon Middle School. She studies piano with Lena Solaiman and violin with Tao Lin. She participates in orchestra at school. Allison is in the Distinguished Honor Roll and participates in the gifted program. She has won an Outstanding Student Award and has been in the newspaper four times. Her essays were published in the Philadelphia Inquirer and in a book two times in a row. In addition to receiving high honors and superior in the PMTA and Dorothy Sutton Festivals six years in a row since 2002, Allison was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall. Allison and her team won 1st place at Chapter MathCounts. Along with playing piano and violin, Allison enjoys playing sports and doing community service.

Pianist Hugh Phelan is in the 8th grade at the Rosemont School of the Holy Child where he serves as co-president of the student body. Hugh has been studying piano since of age of 6 with Anna Kopansky. This past year he was awarded first place in the Philadelphia Archdiocesan Elementary Piano Competition. In addition to piano, Hugh plays violin. He also is an avid sportsman, focusing these days on squash and basketball.

Trumpeter Jason Silverman, age 14, is in 9th grade at Unionville High School. A member of the award-winning marching band, Jason also participates in concert band and jazz band. He won first place in the 2006 junior winds competition sponsored by The Kennett Symphony. Weekends, Jason enjoys working on his outdoor model railway or at Brandywine Hardware, where his favorite task is operating the forklift.

Cellist Samuel Soltoff, age 16, is a sophomore at Cheltenham High School, where he is principal cellist in the school orchestra. Samuel is a member of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and the Snitzer Advanced Study String Quartet at Settlement Music School. This year, Samuel participated in PMEA Orchestra festivals at the District, Regional, and State levels. He won Second Place in the Junior Strings Division of the 2006 Tri-County Youth Festival, and First Place Senior Strings in 2007. He was a winner of the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra's Young Artist Auditions and the Warminster Symphony Orchestra's Young Artist Competition and has soloed with the Lansdowne and Warminster Symphonies, as well as with the Bux-Mont Chamber Orchestra. He has played the cello for 5 years and studies with Cassia Harvey.

Trombonist Jim Tobias, age 11, is a 6th grader at Bala Cynwyd Middle School. He began studying trombone at age 9 with Jerry Schauer. He enjoys playing classical and jazz repertoires, and has performed in area churches. He is a member of his school’s Senior Orchestra and Senior Jazz Band. Jim received an Outstanding Soloist award at the 2008 Beverly Hills Middle School Jazz Festival. Jim also studies piano with Sharmini Anandarajan, is an avid history buff, and pitches and catches for his baseball team.

Violinist Helenmarie Vassiliou, age 12, studies with Hirono Oka. Previous teachers include Lingchin Liao Hacker, Julian Meyer, and C.J. Chang. In 6th grade at Valley Forge Middle School, Helenmarie participates in orchestra, Select Ensemble, chorus, handbells, band, and Reading Olympics. She has played in Temple University Music Prep’s orchestras and ensembles since she was 6, and is currently in the Youth Chamber Orchestra and a quartet. In 2007, she was a winner of the Ambler Symphony Concerto Competition and received an Honorable Mention in the Lansdowne Symphony Concerto Competition. Helenmarie soloed with Ambler Symphony in October 2007 and will be soloing with Ocean City Pops in July 2008. Helenmarie was concertmaster of the PA District 12 5th/6th grade StringFest Orchestra in 2007 and 2008. She was principal oboe at the 2008 Chester County 5th/6th grade BandFest, qualified for the 2008 Chester County Knowledge Bowl, and is a Tae Kwon Do green belt.

Pianist Lisa Xu, age 15, is a sophomore at Bayard Rustin High School. She started playing piano at the age of 4, and currently studies with Dr. David Pasbrig at Temple University. Lisa has participated in the Dorothy Sutton Performance and Constance W. Murray Piano Festivals and the National Piano Playing Auditions. She has also placed in the West Chester University Piano Competition and attended Luzerne Music Center during the summers of 2004-2006. Besides piano, Lisa is involved in and leads many extracurricular activities in her school; she enjoys public speaking, foreign languages, and business, ballet, snowboarding, and swimming.