Young Steinway Concert Series
2012-2013 Season
| October 7 | March 3 |
| November 4 | April 7 |
| December 2 | May 5 |
| January 6 | June 2 |
| February 3 |
The 31st Annual Young Steinway Concert Series begins on Sunday, October 7 in Skokie Public Library's Petty Auditorium. These concerts have showcased young people with extraordinary talent, giving local audiences the chance to enjoy first-class music close to home. Many of our past performers have gone on to great achievements as professional musicians, and we are proud to count them as part of our Young Steinway family.
Concerts begin at 3:00pm in the Petty Auditorium. Free tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis one-half hour prior to each performance. Limited seating is available for patrons with disabilities.
We invite you to learn more about the accomplishments of this season's performers, and look forward to seeing you at these wonderful concerts!
October 7, 2012
Derek Chung, piano
School
Seventh grader at Woodlawn Middle School in Long Grove
Recent performances and honors
Performed in honor recital at International Institute for Young Musicians
First place and best performance of romantic music in 2012 Los Angeles Young Musician International Competition
Musical studies
Studies piano with Sueanne Metz
Plays viola in his school orchestra
Other interests
Reading, basketball, soccer, video games
Trio Con Fuoco
Krystian Chiu, cello
Hannah White, violin
Ryan Jannak-Huang, pianoThe members of Trio Con Fuoco play together as one component of the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy Program for gifted precollege musicians. They have performed at Nichols Hall and Gordon Bennett Hall Ravinia..
Krystian is a freshman at William Fremd High School in Palatine and studies cello with Hans Jorgen Jensen. Hannah is homeschooled and studies violin with Hye-Sun Lee. Ryan is a freshman at Palatine High School and studies piano with Brenda Huang.
November 4, 2012
John Paul Pendowski, piano
School
Senior at Elk Grove High School
Recent performances and honors
Performed with Harper College Symphony Orchestra as second place winner of 2011 Emilio Del Rosario Concerto Competition
Finalist in 2011 District 214 Concerto Competition
Musical studies
Studies piano with Brenda Huang
Accompanies numerous choirs, jazz bands, and pit bands, and plays drums
Other interests
Basketball, tennis, cooking, learning Italian
Marianthie Wank, cello
School
Senior at Wheaton North High School
Recent performances and honors
Performed as soloist with Wheaton North High School Orchestra as winner of the school’s 2010-11 Concerto Competition
Pprincipal cellist of Chicago Youth Symphony Concert Orchestra and Wheaton North High School Chamber Orchestra
Musical studies
Studies cello with Gilda Barston
Other interests
Reading, snowboarding, student government
December 2, 2012
Emily Jones, violin
School
Senior at New Trier High School in Winnetka
Recent performances and honors
Performed at Sydney Opera House in Australia as concertmaster of New Trier Symphony Orchestra in March 2012
Performed as soloist with North Suburban Symphony in Lake Forest in 2011
Musical studies
Studies violin with Desiree Ruhstrat
Studied piano for five years and chamber music since 2004
Other interests
Traveling, learning French, reading, writing
Solomiya Chuyko, piano
School
Senior at St. Ignatius College Preparatory School in Chicago
Recent performances and honors
Performed on Young Artists Music Series at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art
Gold Medal in 2012 North Shore Music Teachers’ Association Sonata - Sonatina Festival
Musical studies
Studies piano with Tatyana Stepanova
Member of chamber ensembles with Midwest Young Artists and Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra
Other interests
Ukrainian dance and culture, Dance Team at St. Ignatius College Prep
January 6, 2013
Genevieve Smelser, violin
School
Senior at DeKalb High School
Recent performances and honors
Performed as soloist with Northern Illinois University Sinfonia as winner of 2012 Concerto Competition of Northern Illinois Community School of the Arts
Received scholarship to Meadowmount School of Music for summer 2012
Musical studies
Studies violin with Mathias Tacke
Member of Alpaca String Quartet through Midwest Young Artists
Member of four orchestras
Other interests
All things French, yoga, laughing with friends
Cindy Yang, piano
School
Eighth grader at Science and Arts Academy in Des Plaines
Recent performances and honors:
Gold medal in 2012 North Shore Music Teachers’ Association Sonata – Sonatina Festival
Gold medal in 2011 Chicago Area Music Teachers Association Sonata – Sonatina Festival
Musical studies
Studies piano with Sueanne Metz
Plays flute in school concert band
Other interests
Science Olympiad, math team, art, singing
February 3, 2013
Carrie Jones, viola
School
Senior at New Trier High School in Winnetka
Recent performances and honors
Performed as principal violist in Sydney Opera House with New Trier Symphony Orchestra in March 2012
Toured Spain in June 2012 with Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra
Musical studies
Studies viola with Desiree Ruhstrat
Studied piano
Studied chamber music since 2005
Other interests
Learning Japanese, traveling
Natalie Nedvetsky, piano
School
Sophomore at Chicagoland Jewish High School in Deerfield
Recent performances and honors
Performed as soloist in Harris Theater Rising Stars Series
Master class and public concert with Menahem Pressler, both in February 2012
Musical studies
Studies piano with Elaine Felder and Alan Chow
Studies chamber music at Music Institute of Chicago
Studied chamber music at at the Musica Mundi International Chamber Music Program in Belgium in 2011
Other interests
Poetry, photography, surfing
March 3, 2013
Tony Fu, piano
School
Freshman at Lake Forest Academy
Recent performances and honor
Finalist in the 2012 Chopin Youth Piano Competition in Milwaukee
First place in North Shore Music Teachers’ Association 2012 Sonata – Sonatina Festival
Musical studies
Studies piano with Brenda Huang
Plays clarinet in school band and has accompanied school chorus and spring musical
Other interests
Painting, ping pong, Chinese Kung Fu
Janani Sivakumar, violin
School:
Freshman at Barrington High School
Recent performances and honors
Concertmaster for IMEA District 7 Junior Honors Orchestra and Barrington Middle School Orchestra in 2011-12
Played ‘Winter’ from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in Side-by-Side with Ballet Chicago in November 2011
Musical studies
Studies violin with Bernardo Arias
Plays viola and participates in chamber music and pit orchestras for school and community theater musicals
Other interests
Scholastic bowl, theater
April 7, 2013
Caitlin Adamson, viola
School
Senior at North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka
Recent performances and honors
Semi-finalist in national 2012 Sphinx Competition
Member of Quartet Ventoso, which was awarded Audience Choice and Haydn prizes at the 2012 St. Paul String Quartet Competition
First place in the 2012 Jules M. Laser Chamber Music Competition
Musical studies
Studies viola with Desiree Ruhstrat
Plays violin and enjoys performing in musicals and chorus
Other interests
Cross country running, soccer, journalism
Lucie Ticho, cello
School
Freshman at Hinsdale Central High School
Recent performances and honors
Performed as soloist with Elgin Symphony Orchestra in April 2011
Will perform with Northwest Symphony in May 2013 as winner of 2012 Paul Vermel Young Artist Award
Musical studies
Studies cello with Tanya Carey
Coprincipal cellist of Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and Encore Chamber Orchestra
Member of Rhea Quartet
Other interests
Classical ballet, traveling, visual art
May 5, 2013
Peter Pendowski, guitar
School
Junior at Elk Grove High School
Recent performances and honors
Metropolis School of Performing Arts Donor, Grand Guitar, and Teacher’s Pick Recitals
Won third place in 2012 Elmhurst Symphony Concerto Competition
Musical studies
Studies guitar with Paul Henry
Plays electric guitar and bass, jazz piano, and ukulele
Other interests
Basketball, learning Japanese, surfing
Kimberly Siu, piano
School
Eighth grader at Wood Oaks Junior High School in Northbrook
Recent performances and honors
Soloist with Harper Symphony Orchestra at Harper College in late 2011 and May 2012
Awarded second place in the senior division of the 2012 Emilio Del Rosario Piano Concert Competition
Musical studies
Studies piano with Brenda Huang
Plays violin in school orchestra and quartet, sings with the school chorus, plays piano with the school wind ensemble and for the 2012 school musical
Other interests
Tennis, learning Mandarin Chinese, traditional Chinese dance
June 2, 2013
Alexander Campbell, trumpet
School
Junior at Maine South High School in Park Ridge
Recent performances and honors
Toured Europe for three weeks with Blue Lake International Jazz Orchestra during summer 2011
Performed in honor ensemble in 2011 Senior Division Music Festival, District 7 of Illinois Music Educators' Association
Musical studies
tudies trumpet with James Davis
First trumpet in school concert band and jazz band
Other interests
Math team, science, Model United Nations
Zihan Xiong, piano
School
Freshman at New Trier High School in Winnetka
Recent performances and honors
Honorable mention in 2012 Chicago Symphony Orchestra Youth Auditions and Sejong Piano Competition Junior Division
First place in 2011 Society of American Musicians’ Piano Competition Junior Division
Musical studies
Studies piano with Brenda Huang
Studies chamber music
Other interests
Badminton, photography
