The 29th Annual Young Steinway Concert Series begins on
Sunday, September 5 in Skokie Public Library's Petty Auditorium. For
28 years the 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.
Skokie Public Library has sound amplification equipment for the hearing
impaired; receivers can be obtained at the East Circulation Desk.
We invite you to learn more about the accomplishments of this season's
performers, and look forward to seeing you at these wonderful concerts!
September 5, 2010
Kyle Jannak-Huang, piano
A seventh-grader at Walter R. Sundling Junior High School in Palatine, Kyle Jannak-Huang performed in the Winners Concert for the Sixth Annual Sejong Music Competition in January. He has been studying piano with Brenda Huang for six years and was named 2009 state winner in the ISMTA competition and won honorable mention in the open junior division of the 2009-10 and the 2007-08 Walgreens Concerto Competitions, among other awards and honors. Kyle also enjoys playing at area retirement communities and playing duets with his twin brother. When not playing piano, Kyle plays golf and tennis, participates in a Lego league, and likes to read.
Victoria Tu, violin
Victoria Tu is in seventh grade at Wood Oaks Junior High School in Northbrook. She began learning violin when she was four years old and studies with Injoo Choi. Victoria won honorable mention in the junior 1 division of the 2009 Chinese Fine Arts Confucius Competition and has also won awards in the Society of American Musicians and Granquist Music Competitions. Victoria plays the piano and sings, as well as playing the violin, and has won vocal awards. She has also won awards in poster competitions sponsored by the State of Illinois, International Lions Club, Metra, and Wildlife Forever.
October 3, 2010
Lewis Duo
Aaron and Jason Lewis hone their classical guitar skills at the Music Institute of Chicago with teacher Julia Miller. Aaron, age 15, was a recipient of the Music Institute’s Merit Scholarship award and was chosen to be a demonstration student for the Suzuki Association of the Americas 9th and 10th International Suzuki Teachers conference. He performed as a soloist on the Young Steinway Concert Series in June 201. Jason, age 13, was a finalist in the Guitar Idol competition at GAND Music in Northbrook in 2008 and won second place in the Society of American Musicians competition in 2009. Because of their relationship as brothers, they developed a deep understanding of each other as musicians, and began playing together as a duo. In 2007 they participated in a McDonald’s corporate video to promote music around the world. In 2009 they were chosen to perform at the sixth annual Patron Society Celebration for the Music Institute of the Chicago. They are honored to be performing at the annual Guitar Foundation of America convention this year.
Quintet Hero
Evan Fojtik, flute
Sam Mattenson, clarinet
Ian Daugherty, oboe
Joshua Sechuan, bassoon
Zach Popp, horn
Quintet Hero is a group of boys who have been playing together since ninth grade. Now seniors, they are all principal players in their sections of Midwest Young Artists’ Symphony Orchestra. They are good friends and exceptionally talented musicians, and won first place in the 2010 Chicago National Chamber Music Competition and honorable mention in the 2010 Society of American Musicians Competition. Evan attends Lake Zurich High School, Sam and Zach attend New Trier High School, Ian attends Roycemore School, and Joshua attends Highland Park High School. Sam also plays in a Klezmer band that has been featured on WFMT, and the boys all enjoy sports as well as their music.
November 7, 2010
Emily Acri, violin
Emily Acri, a senior at New Trier High School, studies violin and viola with Stacia Spencer at the Northwestern University Strings Academy. She began her studies at Hubbard Woods School in Winnetka at age 6. Emily is currently in the Northwestern Strings program, a select violin ensemble that performed three 2010 concerts in Rome, Florence, and Venice. She was concertmaster of Midwest Young Artists Symphony Orchestra in March 2010 as they performed four concerts in Germany. She won the New Trier 2010 Concerto Competition and performed as a soloist with the New Trier Symphony in April. In 2009, Emily was selected Principal Viola of the Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) District 7 Orchestra, and was also selected to perform in the IMEA State Honors Orchestra. In October 2009 Emily was chosen as the first recipient of the Charles Pikler Merit Scholarship at Midwest Young Artists. Emily was selected to perform in the Chicago Young Musician Initiative Orchestra, alongside members of the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. In addition to the violin, Emily enjoys cross-country, ice skating, and horseback riding.
Ariel Emily Chapman, viola
A junior at Chicago Academy for the Arts, Ariel Chapman began taking violin lessons at age 5 and then switched to viola at age 10. She studies with Lewis Rosove in Milwaukee. In 2009, Ariel was a soloist with the Knox Galesburg Symphony, performing Bloch’s Suite Hebraique, and performed a full recital at Chicago Academy for the Arts. She was Early Music Winner of the 2007 Walgreens Concerto Competition and received honorable mention in that competition in 2006, 2008, and 2009. Ariel has received merit scholarships at the Madeline Island Music Camp and has performed at the Russian Museum of Art in Indianapolis and in Preston Bradley Hall in Chicago. She has participated in chamber music with Midwest Young Artists for six years, primarily coached by Rami Salomonow. Ariel also enjoys studying history and philosophy, reading, writing, and spending time with friends.
December 5 , 2010
Leah Latorraca, violin
Leah Latorraca, a senior at Madison La Follette High School in Madison, Wisconsin, is a member of the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy program for gifted precollege musicians where she studies privately with Desiree Ruhstrat. She has won first place in the Society of American Musicians Young Artist Competition, the Bolz Young Artist Competition, second place in the 2009 Alexander and Buono International String Competition, and honorable mention in the Walgreens National Concerto Competition. Leah has soloed with the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras, the Madison Symphony Orchestra, and in an ensemble with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Leah has performed in master classes for Joel Smirnoff, Pamela Frank, Chee-Yun, Judith Ingolfsson, and William Preucil, and performed the Mendelssohn Octet with Ani and Ida Kavafian in 2009. Leah also enjoys hiking, biking, reading, and travel.
Brian Leong, piano
Brian Leong, a junior at Loyola Academy, began piano lessons with Sueanne Metz at age six. In May, he was a winner of the American Fine Arts Festival and performed at Carnegie Hall. He was a finalist this spring in the 12th Annual Chopin Youth Piano Competition in Milwaukee and has won prizes in numerous local piano competitions, including the Granquist Music Competition, the Chicago Area Music Teachers Association Sonata-Sonatina Competition, district winner in the Illinois State Music Teachers Association Competition, and the Illinois Music Association Competition. In addition, Brian is on the Drumline at his high school, is involved in the martial art,s and is an avid Cubs fan.
January 2, 2011
DeLaney Harter, violin
DeLaney Harter is now a senior at Walnut Hill School of Fine Arts in Natick, Massachusetts. She studied violin with Betty Haag in Buffalo Grove for 13 years and is currently a student of Peter Zazofsky at the New England Conservatory and David Yonan in Chicago. She is a first violinist in the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra of The New England Conservatory. She was also selected to perform with the Youth Music Initiative Orchestra conducted by Gustavo Dudamel at Chicago Symphony Center. DeLaney has won awards in the Walgreens National Concerto Competition, the Granquist Concerto Competition, Lima Symphony, Harper Concerto Competition, Philharmonic Society of Arlington, and The Chinese Fine Arts Society. She has performed solos at the Chinese Embassy in Rome, various Chinese Fine Arts Society Cultural events, for Joseph Suk and the Royal Lobkowicz Family in Prague, and the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra. She has performed in masterclasses with Kristof Barati, Vadim Gluzman, Benjamin Zander, Charles Pickler, Gerardo Ribiero, Edward Wulfson, David Yonan, and Arcady Foman, and has participated and soloed in many music festivals, including Music in the Mountains in Durango, Colorado, The Music Academy at Schloss Ort in Austria, and Master Classes Internationales at Chateau de Champs Sur Marne with Edward Wulfson.
Anna Ziv, piano
A junior at New Trier High School, Anna Ziv studies with Elaine Felder at the Music Institute of Chicago (MIC). She has been learning piano since age six. Anna has won gold medals in the CAMTA Sonata Festival for each of the past six years, along with awards in numerous other competitions, and was awarded an MIC Merit Scholarship in 2008. Anna enjoys collaborating with other musicians, taking part in the Music Institute of Chicago’s Duo Piano Festivals every summer since 2005, and has been a member of a piano trio for six years. In 2009, the trio learned and performed three new works by budding composers as part of the Music Institute’s recently launched Composter’s Lab. Anna’s favorite subjects in school are Latin and chemistry, and she loves painting and drawing, as well as running on her school cross country team.
February 6, 2011
Emily Camras, cello
A sophomore at the Illinois Math and Science Academy, Emily Camras, 15 years old, began piano at age five and cello at ten. She has soloed with the Oistrach Symphony, Midwest Young Artists’ I Solisti Chamber Orchestra, and the Elgin Youth Symphony Philharmonia. Emily won the 2010 DePaul Concerto Festival for Young Performers, an Honorable Mention in the 2010 Society of American Musicians Competition, and the 2009 Midwest Young Artists Carrie Dennis String Scholarship. In 2009, she participated in the Honors Orchestra of America National Festival, and is assistant principal of the Midwest Young Artists Symphony Orchestra. Her piano trio, Trio Chanterelle, participated in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Emily currently studies with Andrea LaFranzo in Warrenville, IL. Her other cello teachers include Paul York, Hans Jensen, and Melissa Kraut.
Jean Lin, piano
Jean Lin is a junior at Vernon Hills High School. She began playing piano at age six and currently studies with Sueanne Metz. Jean also plays violin in her high school orchestra. She was awarded honorable mention in the junior IIA division of the 2009 Chinese Fine Arts Society Competition and has won first-place awards in a number of other competitions, and gold medals in north shore and Chicago area sonata festivals. When not busy with the piano, Jean enjoys scrapbooking, tennis, and biking.
March 6, 2011
Thomas Chen, piano
A senior at Glenbrook North High School, Thomas Chen studies piano with Claire Neiweem at the Music Institute of Chicago. Thomas began learning to play piano at age five, and began taking violin lessons at about the same time. He plays violin in his high school orchestra, but concentrates his solo playing on the piano. Thomas won his high school’s concerto competition in 2010 and performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Glenbrook Symphony Orchestra in March 2010. He has won gold medals in the ISMTA Sonata Festival each of the past seven years, in addition to numerous other honors. Outside of music, Thomas enjoys playing a number of sports.
Zachary Spontak, violin
Zachary Spontak is a 17-year-old violinist from Fairbanks, Alaska. He began his musical studies at age three and currently studies violin with Almita and Roland Vamos through the Senior Academy Program of the Music Institute of Chicago. He has been part of the Fairbanks IDEA home school program for the past four years and has taken additional coursework at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. During Summer 2010, Zach was selected as concertmaster of the American High School Honors Orchestra for their performance at Carnegie Hall. In addition, he attended the Astona chamber music festival in Switzerland. Zach is a graduate of the Fairbanks School of Talent Education Suzuki string program and is a three-time winner of the Fairbanks Symphony Association's Concerto Competition. In January 2009, as a finalist, he was a prize winner in the Coeur D’Alene Symphony Concerto Competition. In May 2010, Zach earned First Prize in the Skokie Valley Symphony Concerto Competition and will perform the Sibelius Violin Concerto during the 2010-2011 season. As a member of Quartet Danae of the Music Institute of Chicago, he won a silver medal at the Saint Paul String Quartet Competition, and, in May 2010, he earned the gold medal at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Zach has earned a black belt in Shudokan karate and enjoys running, reading, and watching art films,
April 3, 2011
James G. Stinehart, piano
James Stinehart, a junior at New Trier High School, studies piano with Brenda Huang, cello with Hans Jensen, and is a composer as well. He won first place in the 2009 North Shore Music Teachers Association Piano Competition and second place in the senior division at the state level of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association 2009 competition. James recently won first place in the Music Institute of Chicago’s music competition for a piece for solo cello. As a cellist, he is a member of the New Trier and Midwest Young Artists (MYA) Symphony Orchestras and was a member of the Eastern Sea Quartet, which won the 2009 Virginia G. Behrendt Scholarship at the 2009 Music Festival in Honor of Confucius. He is also a member of Trio Bravo, which won a spot in the Fishoff Chamber Music competition in 2010 and performed at an MYA gala benefit concert in April 2010 that featured pianist Lang Lang. James also enjoys playing volleyball and speaking Chinese and German.
Michaela Wellems, violin
A sophomore at Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Michaela Wellems, a violin student of Almita Vamos, began her music studies at age four. For the past several summers she has attended the Okemo Young Artists Festival in Vermont, where she studied with Marko Dreher, Almita Vamos, and David Bowlin. She later attended the Astona International Summer Music Academy in Switzerland on scholarship, where her teachers included Mikhail Mouller and Francis Gouton. She has placed in the Walgreens Concerto Competition, the Sejong Competition, and received a scholarship from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Youth Competition. Michaela has been the concertmistress of the Midwest Young Artists Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Currently she is a student at the Senior Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago. Michaela plays soccer and runs cross country. She also enjoys astronomy and raising love birds.
May 1, 2011
Philip Lee, cello
A senior at Evanston Township High School, Philip Lee began studying cello at age seven. He is a student of Blake Brasch and a member of the Senior Academy Program at the Music Institute of Chicago, where he won a merit scholarship in 2009. He is a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra as well as the Evanston Township High School Orchestra. Philip was principal cellist in the 2009 Illinois Music Education Association District 7 Orchestra and was a member of the All-State Honors Orchestra as well in both 2009 and 2010. Philip has also played piano for nine years, and enjoys drawing and computer programming.
Laura Lim, violin
Laura Lim, a junior at Oak Park and River Forest High School, began violin at age five with Edward Kreitman at the Western Springs School of Talent Education. Her current teacher is Thomas Wermuth. Through the school, Laura has participated in the violin ensemble Chicago Consort, with which she has toured and performed in China, Germany, Prague, and Spain. Laura began to attend the Merit School of Music at age ten and took part in the Merit Symphony Orchestra. She was awarded the Dr. Manuel L. Stillerman Violin Scholarship and the Andrew & Bonnie Stein Scholarship through winning competitions at the school. At age thirteen, Laura was accepted into the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and has been a part of it ever since; holding the title of the Dorothy Robinson Kramer Principal Second Violin Chair. She is also an active member of CYSO’s Encore Chamber Orchestra, her high school orchestra, and has participated in the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Honors Orchestra. When not busy with music, Laura enjoys playing badminton and spending time with her friends.
June 5, 2011
Patrick Connolly, violin
Patrick Connolly, a junior at James B. Conant High School in Hoffman Estates, is a student of Thomas Wermuth at the Western Springs School of Talent Education. He is a member of that school’s Chicago Consort, is a member of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, and is concertmaster of the Conant High School Symphony Orchestra. Patrick enjoys playing chamber music with members of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, where he has been part of a harp quintet, string trio, string quartet, and string quintet. He was awarded the Lawrence Wermuth Scholarship in 2010. Patrick also enjoys playing soccer and card games with his friends.
Scott Greene, clarinet
A freshman at Highland Park High School, Scott Greene studies clarinet with Walter Grabner and Sunshine Simmons. He began his musical studies with the piano at age seven, adding clarinet a year later. He received honorable mention in the 2010 MusicChorale Scholarship Competition and was a member of the Illinois Music Educators Association Honors Band in 2008 and 2009. Scott is a member of Midwest Young Artists Concerto Orchestra, Honors Wind Symphony, and chamber music program. He has also attended Interlochen Arts Camp for several summers, and composes electronic and classical music. When not immersed in music, Scott enjoys physics, math, science fiction novels, and roller coaster design.
A seventh-grader at Walter R. Sundling Junior High School in Palatine, Kyle Jannak-Huang performed in the Winners Concert for the Sixth Annual Sejong Music Competition in January. He has been studying piano with Brenda Huang for six years and was named 2009 state winner in the ISMTA competition and won honorable mention in the open junior division of the 2009-10 and the 2007-08 Walgreens Concerto Competitions, among other awards and honors. Kyle also enjoys playing at area retirement communities and playing duets with his twin brother. When not playing piano, Kyle plays golf and tennis, participates in a Lego league, and likes to read.
Victoria Tu is in seventh grade at Wood Oaks Junior High School in Northbrook. She began learning violin when she was four years old and studies with Injoo Choi. Victoria won honorable mention in the junior 1 division of the 2009 Chinese Fine Arts Confucius Competition and has also won awards in the Society of American Musicians and Granquist Music Competitions. Victoria plays the piano and sings, as well as playing the violin, and has won vocal awards. She has also won awards in poster competitions sponsored by the State of Illinois, International Lions Club, Metra, and Wildlife Forever.
Aaron and Jason Lewis hone their classical guitar skills at the Music Institute of Chicago with teacher Julia Miller. Aaron, age 15, was a recipient of the Music Institute’s Merit Scholarship award and was chosen to be a demonstration student for the Suzuki Association of the Americas 9th and 10th International Suzuki Teachers conference. He performed as a soloist on the Young Steinway Concert Series in June 201. Jason, age 13, was a finalist in the Guitar Idol competition at GAND Music in Northbrook in 2008 and won second place in the Society of American Musicians competition in 2009. Because of their relationship as brothers, they developed a deep understanding of each other as musicians, and began playing together as a duo. In 2007 they participated in a McDonald’s corporate video to promote music around the world. In 2009 they were chosen to perform at the sixth annual Patron Society Celebration for the Music Institute of the Chicago. They are honored to be performing at the annual Guitar Foundation of America convention this year.
Evan Fojtik, flute
Emily Acri, a senior at New Trier High School, studies violin and viola with Stacia Spencer at the Northwestern University Strings Academy. She began her studies at Hubbard Woods School in Winnetka at age 6. Emily is currently in the Northwestern Strings program, a select violin ensemble that performed three 2010 concerts in Rome, Florence, and Venice. She was concertmaster of Midwest Young Artists Symphony Orchestra in March 2010 as they performed four concerts in Germany. She won the New Trier 2010 Concerto Competition and performed as a soloist with the New Trier Symphony in April. In 2009, Emily was selected Principal Viola of the Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) District 7 Orchestra, and was also selected to perform in the IMEA State Honors Orchestra. In October 2009 Emily was chosen as the first recipient of the Charles Pikler Merit Scholarship at Midwest Young Artists. Emily was selected to perform in the Chicago Young Musician Initiative Orchestra, alongside members of the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. In addition to the violin, Emily enjoys cross-country, ice skating, and horseback riding.
A junior at Chicago Academy for the Arts, Ariel Chapman began taking violin lessons at age 5 and then switched to viola at age 10. She studies with Lewis Rosove in Milwaukee. In 2009, Ariel was a soloist with the Knox Galesburg Symphony, performing Bloch’s Suite Hebraique, and performed a full recital at Chicago Academy for the Arts. She was Early Music Winner of the 2007 Walgreens Concerto Competition and received honorable mention in that competition in 2006, 2008, and 2009. Ariel has received merit scholarships at the Madeline Island Music Camp and has performed at the Russian Museum of Art in Indianapolis and in Preston Bradley Hall in Chicago. She has participated in chamber music with Midwest Young Artists for six years, primarily coached by Rami Salomonow. Ariel also enjoys studying history and philosophy, reading, writing, and spending time with friends.
Leah Latorraca, a senior at Madison La Follette High School in Madison, Wisconsin, is a member of the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy program for gifted precollege musicians where she studies privately with Desiree Ruhstrat. She has won first place in the Society of American Musicians Young Artist Competition, the Bolz Young Artist Competition, second place in the 2009 Alexander and Buono International String Competition, and honorable mention in the Walgreens National Concerto Competition. Leah has soloed with the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras, the Madison Symphony Orchestra, and in an ensemble with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Leah has performed in master classes for Joel Smirnoff, Pamela Frank, Chee-Yun, Judith Ingolfsson, and William Preucil, and performed the Mendelssohn Octet with Ani and Ida Kavafian in 2009. Leah also enjoys hiking, biking, reading, and travel.
Brian Leong, a junior at Loyola Academy, began piano lessons with Sueanne Metz at age six. In May, he was a winner of the American Fine Arts Festival and performed at Carnegie Hall. He was a finalist this spring in the 12th Annual Chopin Youth Piano Competition in Milwaukee and has won prizes in numerous local piano competitions, including the Granquist Music Competition, the Chicago Area Music Teachers Association Sonata-Sonatina Competition, district winner in the Illinois State Music Teachers Association Competition, and the Illinois Music Association Competition. In addition, Brian is on the Drumline at his high school, is involved in the martial art,s and is an avid Cubs fan.
DeLaney Harter is now a senior at Walnut Hill School of Fine Arts in Natick, Massachusetts. She studied violin with Betty Haag in Buffalo Grove for 13 years and is currently a student of Peter Zazofsky at the New England Conservatory and David Yonan in Chicago. She is a first violinist in the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra of The New England Conservatory. She was also selected to perform with the Youth Music Initiative Orchestra conducted by Gustavo Dudamel at Chicago Symphony Center. DeLaney has won awards in the Walgreens National Concerto Competition, the Granquist Concerto Competition, Lima Symphony, Harper Concerto Competition, Philharmonic Society of Arlington, and The Chinese Fine Arts Society. She has performed solos at the Chinese Embassy in Rome, various Chinese Fine Arts Society Cultural events, for Joseph Suk and the Royal Lobkowicz Family in Prague, and the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra. She has performed in masterclasses with Kristof Barati, Vadim Gluzman, Benjamin Zander, Charles Pickler, Gerardo Ribiero, Edward Wulfson, David Yonan, and Arcady Foman, and has participated and soloed in many music festivals, including Music in the Mountains in Durango, Colorado, The Music Academy at Schloss Ort in Austria, and Master Classes Internationales at Chateau de Champs Sur Marne with Edward Wulfson.
A junior at New Trier High School, Anna Ziv studies with Elaine Felder at the Music Institute of Chicago (MIC). She has been learning piano since age six. Anna has won gold medals in the CAMTA Sonata Festival for each of the past six years, along with awards in numerous other competitions, and was awarded an MIC Merit Scholarship in 2008. Anna enjoys collaborating with other musicians, taking part in the Music Institute of Chicago’s Duo Piano Festivals every summer since 2005, and has been a member of a piano trio for six years. In 2009, the trio learned and performed three new works by budding composers as part of the Music Institute’s recently launched Composter’s Lab. Anna’s favorite subjects in school are Latin and chemistry, and she loves painting and drawing, as well as running on her school cross country team.
A sophomore at the Illinois Math and Science Academy, Emily Camras, 15 years old, began piano at age five and cello at ten. She has soloed with the Oistrach Symphony, Midwest Young Artists’ I Solisti Chamber Orchestra, and the Elgin Youth Symphony Philharmonia. Emily won the 2010 DePaul Concerto Festival for Young Performers, an Honorable Mention in the 2010 Society of American Musicians Competition, and the 2009 Midwest Young Artists Carrie Dennis String Scholarship. In 2009, she participated in the Honors Orchestra of America National Festival, and is assistant principal of the Midwest Young Artists Symphony Orchestra. Her piano trio, Trio Chanterelle, participated in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Emily currently studies with Andrea LaFranzo in Warrenville, IL. Her other cello teachers include Paul York, Hans Jensen, and Melissa Kraut.
Jean Lin is a junior at Vernon Hills High School. She began playing piano at age six and currently studies with Sueanne Metz. Jean also plays violin in her high school orchestra. She was awarded honorable mention in the junior IIA division of the 2009 Chinese Fine Arts Society Competition and has won first-place awards in a number of other competitions, and gold medals in north shore and Chicago area sonata festivals. When not busy with the piano, Jean enjoys scrapbooking, tennis, and biking.
A senior at Glenbrook North High School, Thomas Chen studies piano with Claire Neiweem at the Music Institute of Chicago. Thomas began learning to play piano at age five, and began taking violin lessons at about the same time. He plays violin in his high school orchestra, but concentrates his solo playing on the piano. Thomas won his high school’s concerto competition in 2010 and performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Glenbrook Symphony Orchestra in March 2010. He has won gold medals in the ISMTA Sonata Festival each of the past seven years, in addition to numerous other honors. Outside of music, Thomas enjoys playing a number of sports.
Zachary Spontak is a 17-year-old violinist from Fairbanks, Alaska. He began his musical studies at age three and currently studies violin with Almita and Roland Vamos through the Senior Academy Program of the Music Institute of Chicago. He has been part of the Fairbanks IDEA home school program for the past four years and has taken additional coursework at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. During Summer 2010, Zach was selected as concertmaster of the American High School Honors Orchestra for their performance at Carnegie Hall. In addition, he attended the Astona chamber music festival in Switzerland. Zach is a graduate of the Fairbanks School of Talent Education Suzuki string program and is a three-time winner of the Fairbanks Symphony Association's Concerto Competition. In January 2009, as a finalist, he was a prize winner in the Coeur D’Alene Symphony Concerto Competition. In May 2010, Zach earned First Prize in the Skokie Valley Symphony Concerto Competition and will perform the Sibelius Violin Concerto during the 2010-2011 season. As a member of Quartet Danae of the Music Institute of Chicago, he won a silver medal at the Saint Paul String Quartet Competition, and, in May 2010, he earned the gold medal at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Zach has earned a black belt in Shudokan karate and enjoys running, reading, and watching art films,
James Stinehart, a junior at New Trier High School, studies piano with Brenda Huang, cello with Hans Jensen, and is a composer as well. He won first place in the 2009 North Shore Music Teachers Association Piano Competition and second place in the senior division at the state level of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association 2009 competition. James recently won first place in the Music Institute of Chicago’s music competition for a piece for solo cello. As a cellist, he is a member of the New Trier and Midwest Young Artists (MYA) Symphony Orchestras and was a member of the Eastern Sea Quartet, which won the 2009 Virginia G. Behrendt Scholarship at the 2009 Music Festival in Honor of Confucius. He is also a member of Trio Bravo, which won a spot in the Fishoff Chamber Music competition in 2010 and performed at an MYA gala benefit concert in April 2010 that featured pianist Lang Lang. James also enjoys playing volleyball and speaking Chinese and German.
A sophomore at Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Michaela Wellems, a violin student of Almita Vamos, began her music studies at age four. For the past several summers she has attended the Okemo Young Artists Festival in Vermont, where she studied with Marko Dreher, Almita Vamos, and David Bowlin. She later attended the Astona International Summer Music Academy in Switzerland on scholarship, where her teachers included Mikhail Mouller and Francis Gouton. She has placed in the Walgreens Concerto Competition, the Sejong Competition, and received a scholarship from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Youth Competition. Michaela has been the concertmistress of the Midwest Young Artists Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Currently she is a student at the Senior Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago. Michaela plays soccer and runs cross country. She also enjoys astronomy and raising love birds.
A senior at Evanston Township High School, Philip Lee began studying cello at age seven. He is a student of Blake Brasch and a member of the Senior Academy Program at the Music Institute of Chicago, where he won a merit scholarship in 2009. He is a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra as well as the Evanston Township High School Orchestra. Philip was principal cellist in the 2009 Illinois Music Education Association District 7 Orchestra and was a member of the All-State Honors Orchestra as well in both 2009 and 2010. Philip has also played piano for nine years, and enjoys drawing and computer programming.
Laura Lim, a junior at Oak Park and River Forest High School, began violin at age five with Edward Kreitman at the Western Springs School of Talent Education. Her current teacher is Thomas Wermuth. Through the school, Laura has participated in the violin ensemble Chicago Consort, with which she has toured and performed in China, Germany, Prague, and Spain. Laura began to attend the Merit School of Music at age ten and took part in the Merit Symphony Orchestra. She was awarded the Dr. Manuel L. Stillerman Violin Scholarship and the Andrew & Bonnie Stein Scholarship through winning competitions at the school. At age thirteen, Laura was accepted into the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and has been a part of it ever since; holding the title of the Dorothy Robinson Kramer Principal Second Violin Chair. She is also an active member of CYSO’s Encore Chamber Orchestra, her high school orchestra, and has participated in the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Honors Orchestra. When not busy with music, Laura enjoys playing badminton and spending time with her friends.
Patrick Connolly, a junior at James B. Conant High School in Hoffman Estates, is a student of Thomas Wermuth at the Western Springs School of Talent Education. He is a member of that school’s Chicago Consort, is a member of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, and is concertmaster of the Conant High School Symphony Orchestra. Patrick enjoys playing chamber music with members of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, where he has been part of a harp quintet, string trio, string quartet, and string quintet. He was awarded the Lawrence Wermuth Scholarship in 2010. Patrick also enjoys playing soccer and card games with his friends.
A freshman at Highland Park High School, Scott Greene studies clarinet with Walter Grabner and Sunshine Simmons. He began his musical studies with the piano at age seven, adding clarinet a year later. He received honorable mention in the 2010 MusicChorale Scholarship Competition and was a member of the Illinois Music Educators Association Honors Band in 2008 and 2009. Scott is a member of Midwest Young Artists Concerto Orchestra, Honors Wind Symphony, and chamber music program. He has also attended Interlochen Arts Camp for several summers, and composes electronic and classical music. When not immersed in music, Scott enjoys physics, math, science fiction novels, and roller coaster design.
