Artist Roster

Sogol Aliabadi is a violist whose musical journey began in her hometown of Santa Monica, CA. Though she began her undergraduate studies as a pre-med bio major at UC Davis due to cultural pressures to become a doctor, her love for music never wavered. After three years of dedicated study in the sciences, she fully changed gears by following her passion for music and hasn’t looked back since then. She graduated from UC Davis with a bachelor’s in Viola Performance. She was honored to receive the Outstanding Senior Award in Music from the university – an award granted to only one graduating senior from each major.

After graduating, Sogol spent seven months in Europe playing in the Royal Academic Orchestra, Nya Kammarorkestern, and Baroque Conspiracy orchestras in Sweden followed by acceptance into the Prague Summer Nights Music Festival in the Czech Republic. She holds a Masters degree in Viola Performance from the University of California, Santa Barbara where she was chosen to be the viola fellow for the Young Artist String Quartet.

Sogol has served as violist of the California Young Artist Symphony since its inaugural season. She has also been a violist in the American Youth Symphony, San Luis Obispo Symphony, Santa Barbara Chamber Players, and a guest principal viola of the Camellia Symphony. She has also performed in masterclasses for the Danish String Quartet, Alexander String Quartet, Tamas Varga, Joseph Spacek, Andres Cardenez, and Robert Levine. Sogol’s principal teachers include Benjamin Ullery, Jonathan Moerschel, Josephine Moerschel, Ellen Rose, and Dana Griskevicius.

Polymathic at heart, Cam Audras believes musicians possess the power to serve as advocates for social good. Audras has served as Principal Violist with the Santa Barbara Chamber Players, the California Young Artists Symphony, and Symphony of the Vines. Additionally, he holds substitute positions with the Santa Barbara Symphony, New West Symphony, Long Beach Symphony, Santa Cruz Symphony, and Rogue Valley Symphony. Audras has claimed top prizes in the Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation Competition, Valley Talent Music Scholarship Competition, and Henry Schwab Violin and Viola Competition. Festival appearances have included the Center Stage Strings Music Festival at the University of Michigan, Credo Chamber Music Festival at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and Manchester Music Festival. He has performed in masterclasses for Kim Kashkashian, Rachel Barton Pine, and Dimitri Murrath, and his principal teachers were Jonathan Moerschel, Che-Yen (Brian) Chen, Yura Lee, and Helen Callus. Audras graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) Thornton School of Music with a degree in viola performance, and was honored to be selected as the USC Thornton School strings department’s outstanding undergraduate. He completed a second degree in environmental studies. His “Resilience Project” won a grant from the USC Arts and Climate Collective. This climate action performance series features dance, an original soundtrack, and poignant slam poetry. He holds Master’s degrees in Viola Performance and Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Cam enjoys bringing up the next generation of artists as adjunct viola faculty at Westmont College.

I started playing music in middle school orchestra, and it was the viola’s voice that drew me in. But beyond that, I found that music has this incredible ability to bring people together, creating a shared experience for both the performers and the audience. It became less about me and more about what music could offer others—how it could evoke memories, emotions, and even take people to new places in their hearts and minds. It’s that connection with the audience that inspires me to continue this journey in music.

I was born and raised in Saint-Petersburg in Russia. I was handed my first instrument, which was the clarinet at the age of 6, unsure if it was the best fit for me. My first encounter with Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov and visiting the Mariinsky Theater was what inspired me to study music. My mom witnessed how passionate I was and still am with music, so she supported me through sending me to the central music school in Saint-Petersburg to further my musical knowledge.

Naomi Bernardino is currently a sophomore pursuing a bachelor’s degree in cello performance at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, in CSU Long Beach. She began her musical journey in her school’s elementary string orchestra, and decided to continue with private lessons a year later. Her teachers include Miriam Wu, Victor Lawrence, and she is currently studying under Joon Sung Jun.

As a highschool student, she was involved with the Newbury Park High School Orchestra, volunteering at many outreach events, and running sectionals with her peers. Additionally, she collaborated with her teacher and had the privilege of performing Elgar Cello Concerto with her highschool orchestra. Naomi was a member of the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra for six years, principal for one year, and played in the youth orchestra’s Virtuosi chamber music group under prominent violinist, director, and conductor Alexander Tseitlin.

Naomi has been a member of the California Young Artists Symphony for two years. Recently, she held the principal position in CSULB’s 2024 production of the opera Die Fledermaus, playing under Andreas Mitisek. At Cal State Long Beach, she has enjoyed the collaborative experience it has provided, working with student composers, and performing in various chamber ensembles.

I started in my public school’s elementary beginning strings program, at the suggestion of my mom. There were many formative events that inspired me, my involvement in my local youth orchestra being a major contributor. I decided to commit to music as a career when I was touring colleges in highschool and saw what life as a music major could look like. Since then, I have learned so much and been incredibly happy alongside others who share the passion for music, and inspire me to grow.

Cayden Bloomer is an American oboist from the quaint beach town of Pacific Grove, California, famously nicknamed “Butterfly Town, U.S.A.” Each year, he returns to the vibrant city of Los Angeles to pursue his career as a professional oboist and to complete his Bachelor of Music degree at UCLA under the guidance of Jonathan Davis. In past summers, Cayden has studied at the Hidden Valley Institute of the Arts with Elaine Douvas and at the Brevard Music Center with Eric Ohlsson, Emily Brebach, and Christopher Philpotts.

While Cayden’s deepest passion lies with the oboe, he is equally acclaimed as a versatile multi-instrumentalist. Cayden has received invitations to perform at several prestigious events along the California Coast, including the Monterey Jazz Festival with the MJF All-Star Band and MocoHovo Vocal Ensemble, the San Jose Jazz Festival, the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival, and the Carmel Bach Festival. As a soloist, Cayden performed the Mozart Oboe Concerto with the Youth Music Monterey Honors Orchestra in 2022, and recently, Cayden won the Diablo Symphony Yen Liang Concerto Competition and will perform the Vaughan Williams Concerto. After his time studying with Gabe Young and Janet Archibald at the Central Coast Academy for Jazz and Orchestra, Cayden won a position playing the English horn in a nation-wide orchestra at Carnegie Hall through Honors Performance Series.

From a young age, my grandpa and I would listen to a lot of opera music since his brother was a professional tenor. Most of the operas were in Italian, and while I didn’t understand the words, the music moved me in some way. I began piano lessons at seven, and later, I played saxophone and clarinet in school. But it was never about the instrument; I’ve always seen music as its own language that I am eager to learn. When playing such an expressive instrument like the oboe, I feel most connected to these emotions and I can explore my growing curiosity for this universal form of communication.

I first began playing the tuba in my school band program in the 6th grade. Thanks to my supportive teachers, I quickly grew to enjoy playing and performing on the instrument. I decided to commit to music as a profession in my junior year of high school. First as a teacher, and later additionally as a performer.

Neil Cole is a full time multiple woodwinds musician specializing in oboe. He currently serves as a musician for St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Principal Oboe in the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra, and Second Oboe in the California Young Artist Symphony. He has also performed with many local orchestras including the Whittier Regional Symphony, Peninsula Symphony, and Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay. A big fan of Broadway, Neil has performed in more than two dozen musical theatre productions. He has also shared the stage with artists such as Anderson .Paak, T-Pain, Dr. Dre, Tevin Campbell, and John Legend. Being a supporter of youth band programs, Neil has been an instructor for more than 30 band programs including Beverly Hills High School, West Ranch High School, and Kell High School. He currently is the Director of Woodwinds at Granada Hills Charter High School, Malibu High School, and Malibu Middle School. He was also guest lecturer for the UCLA Summer Pit Orchestra Intensive, Reinhardt University’s Woodwind techniques class, and a reed making teaching assistant at the Southern Oboe Intensive. Neil has earned degrees in music performance from Georgia State University, University of California, Los Angeles, and University of Southern California. His primary teachers are David Hauser, Dr. Lara Dahl, Dr. Jonathan Davis, Dr. Joel Timm, Marion Kuszyk, Joe Stone, and Dan Stolper.

I first started playing clarinet in 4th grade because the options I had for an elective was to take band, orchestra, or an additional science course. My very first band director was a professional musician and occasionally our homework assignments would be to watch him perform on television. I remember staying up late to watch him perform on 30 Rock, Saturday Night Live, and the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting. I enjoyed the varying musical performances he found himself in and it sparked an interest in being a full time freelance musician. As long as i’m playing, I can never have a boring day!

“Nathan Culcasi is a freelance trombone player and music educator based in Los Angeles, CA. A graduate of UCLA, Nathan performs professionally in a variety of settings, including symphony orchestras, jazz ensembles, musical pit orchestras, brass quintets, and recording session ensembles. Recently he has worked with the Santa Monica Symphony, New West Symphony, Jens Lindemann’s Big Band, and recorded alongside RAIGN on a live studio album. Nathan has also won multiple awards in solo and chamber competitions, including the UCLA “All-Star” Concerto Competition and the ITA Trombone Quartet Competition. He teaches music for Harmony Project, YOLA, and SMMUSD, and aims to instill simple, accessible methods for students to succeed on their own musical journey.”

I developed a love for music at an early age, influenced by my dad who listened CDs constantly and played rock guitar and piano every night. I gravitated to music because it was so fun and interesting, and I was inspired to learn piano like my dad and eventually I took up trombone to join band in school. My passion for listening combined with a joy for making music, and as I got older I realized that all my free time was occupied with musical activities. When college decisions came around I couldn’t imagine sacrificing my desire to make music at a high level to pursue a career in something else, and thus it became obvious to me that I should dedicate my life to becoming a professional musician.”

Joshua de Senna is a classically trained violinist living in Southern California, USA. While living in Brazil in 2017, studying under Igor Jouk, he was awarded first place in the state competition “STELA MOTA” for category under sixteen. When he was 12 years old, Joshua participated in the international festival I Festival de Música de Câmara de Manaus at the Palace of Justice with the Amazonas Philharmonic. He also performed alongside musicians such as Bogdan Hudzelaits and Irina Kazak during the II Festival de Música de Câmara de Manaus at the Universidade Estadual do Amazonas.

Upon moving to the United States in 2018, Joshua created an ensemble with local musicians. Over a period of two years he performed in numerous concerts throughout California, composed and performed original pieces, arranged and produced commercial recordings. In collaboration with other artists, he co-wrote and recorded an album along with several music videos and was a regular performer on the international TV station Loma Linda Broadcasting Network. In 2023 and 2024, he participated in the RISE Diversity project as concertmaster with conductor Anthony Parnther and Musicians at Play, recording the music of John Williams, Ludwig Göransson, James Horner, and Jongnic Bontemps at Eastwood Scoring Stage in Warner Bros. Studios. Later in 2024, he recorded for the movie Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F at Sony Entertainment.

He is currently a student at La Sierra University and studies with Professor Jason Uyeyama – he has also studied with violin instructor and Director of Fulton Summer Music Academy, Addison Teng. Joshua currently is a fellow at California Young Artists Symphony, and performs with Civic Orchestra of Los Angeles. He has also recorded music with several classical, jazz, and Christian artists.

Growing up in the amazonian rainforest of Brazil, I’ve always had a love for music. As a kid, I was gifted a toy violin at the age of 7 – this small gift paved the way for my musical journey, and is now the reason I travel, teach, and play. Seeing the profound impact music has on people makes me continually seek to become a better musician.

I began my musical journey with the violin in the 4th grade with my elementary school’s music program. I found the collaboration and cooperation in music to be very fulfilling and because of that I have sought any opportunity to play in orchestras, chamber groups, and other ensembles. This love of cooperation is what led me to my goal of being a conductor. My music teachers in middle school and high school have inspired me a great deal to pursue this dream through opportunities such as directing musical theater performances and leading the orchestra in concerts.

Lauren Goff, is a horn player from Commerce Township Michigan, and is a current graduate student at the University of Southern California studying with Julie Landsman. She previously studied with Jeff Scott and Roland Pandolfi at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. During her time at Oberlin she had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie hall twice with the Oberlin Orchestra. Lauren has performed with many different orchestral, wind, and chamber ensembles, including the Sarasota music festival in the summer of 2023.

I grew up in Commerce, Michigan and started playing horn in 6th grade. I’ve been in love with the instrument ever since then. I started taking horn seriously in order to start pursuing my dream of being a member of a professional orchestra someday. I decided to attend the Interlochen Arts Academy for my senior year of high school to help me get closer to that dream and have continued on my journey to live out that dream ever since then.

My journey in Music began in 5th grade when I borrowed my uncles old cornet for band class. I continued to develop through elementary school, but really feel in love with music when I joined my local youth orchestra. We played the Suite from West Side Story and I began to consider music as a career. I continued my education at Michigan State University and the Colburn Conservatory.

I first began my journey in music by listening to Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 and being inspired to play an instrument. I decided to commit to music as a profession because of the opportunities to travel the world and perform in concert halls. I’m driven to continually improve my technique and musical abilities to open new avenues for performance.

Despite the lack of music funding at his elementary school, Theodore Hom received classical music training through the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s El Sistema-inspired program YOLA. After 2 years on the clarinet Theodore chose to try a string instrument, eventually choosing the cello after hearing Mstislav Rostropovich’s recording of Dvorak Cello Concerto. After attending the California School for the Arts, Theodore transferred to the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) for his high school studies where he started training with Orchestral conductor and cellist Alan Mautner his 2nd year at LACHSA.

Theodore was the principal cello/soloist for Olympia Youth Orchestra performance of Vivaldi’s four seasons with world class soloist Dr. Chin Kim. After his performance he was invited by the conductor and violin professor at Azusa Pacific University and Cal State University of Los Angeles to make his concerto debut with the Pasadena Summer Youth Chamber Orchestra, performing Haydn’s Cello Concerto #1.

Through the LACHSA string ensemble, Theodore performed as a soloist for Vivaldi concerto for two cellos and Vivaldi’s concerto for violin and cello, and Vaughan Williams Dives and Lazarus.

After winning LACHSA’s concerto competition, Theodore performed the Elgar Cello concerto at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre accompanied by the LACHSA symphony orchestra.

Summer festivals include Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Two Cranes International Music Festival in Taiwan, Idyllwild, Interlochen, and YOLA National festival where he performed the front stand of William Tell Overture under the baton of LA Phil and NY Phil conductor Gustavo Dudamel. Through YOLA, Theodore has performed many times at the Walt Disney concert hall, Hollywood bowl, Gagosian Gallery, The Beckman YOLA center, and other venues in Los Angeles.

Theodore currently studies under the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s cellist David Garrett at the Bob Cole Conservatory of music at CSULB.

As an aspiring teacher he has had positions at the Saturday Conservatory of music, Belmont Music Studio, Through the staff, and the YOLA mentorship program.

He is currently a cellist in the California Young Artists Symphony and teaches with “The Youth Center” in Los Alamitos school district.

Theodore is also the founder and director of operations of Mindclef, which focuses on mental health for classical musicians. Through mindclef he has interviewed experts in the field such as Bulletproof musician, Classical Wellness, Joseph Conyers, Sound Mind Musician, Classically Black, Molly Gebrian, Christopher Still, and many others. Mindclef collaborates with the National Alliance against Mental Illness (NAMI) to provide workshops and in person events to use music to foster mental health.

I first began my musical training through the El Sistema inspired program YOLA, originally on the clarinet, trumpet, and then eventually the cello. I decided to take music seriously when I had my first full orchestra experience in high school. There was something so motivating about watching my peers be able to play the standard orchestra rep so effortlessly and ever since the pandemic I have focused my attention on becoming the best musician that I could be. I would be lying if I said I have never looked back, musical craft takes a lot of time and effort, and setbacks can be discouraging. I am, however, incredibly grateful that I chose the path of doing what I have loved more than anything else in my life.

Janice Hu is currently a fourth-year undergraduate pursuing bachelor’s degrees in music performance and neuroscience at UCLA. She studies violin with Movses Pogossian and Varty Manouelian. Among her honors are winning the 2024 UCLA Atwater Kent Concerto Competition, 2022 UCLA All-Star Competition, 2021 Music Teachers’ Association of California’s State VOCE Senior Solo Strings Competition, and 2020 San Diego Youth Symphony Ovation Concerto Competition. This past summer, she served as the Associate Principal Second Violinist of the National Repertory Orchestra. Her previous teachers include Michael Tseitlin, Huifang Chen, Maree Sawhney, and Patrick Clifford.

My journey in music began with piano lessons that my lovely parents signed me up for when I was four. Music has since grown to become one of my closest companions. When I realized that I want to keep walking with it and share the life I find through it as long as I’m able to, I decided to further my commitment to music and pursue it as a profession.

Luigi is a violist from Quezon City, Philippines. Having grown up in a musical family, he was always surrounded by music from a young age, firstly playing piano and singing in choir and later picked up the violin in his late childhood. He attended the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music in Manila, Philippines studying violin with Gina Medina-Perez and voice with Ronan Ferrer.

During his time in Manila, Luigi explored a wide range of musical styles, including orchestral and chamber music, Filipino folk music, Kundiman music, jazz, opera, and musical theatre. He has performed with groups such as the Manila Symphony Orchestra, and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra as a featured vocalist and performing around the archipelago.

Now based in Los Angeles, Luigi performs actively with many orchestras such as the California Young Artists Symphony, Culver City Symphony Orchestra, American Youth Symphony, and the San Fernando Valley Symphony. He has performed in notable venues like the Walt Disney Concert Hall, among others, and remains involved in different music circles around the city.

As an active chamber musician, Luigi attended the Borromeo Music Festival held in Switzerland for two consecutive years, working with many great teachers and musicians such as Ben Hong (LA Phil), Juan-Miguel Hernandez (Royal Academy of Music), Vicki Powell (Royal Stockholm Philharmonic). Luigi is currently pursuing his Master of Music degree in Viola Performance at California State University Northridge, studying with Lorenz Gamma and Wendy Richman.

When I immigrated to the USA, I thought I was going to quit music and do something else because I had to find work to support myself in a new country. I didn’t play for many years it made me realize that it is our choice to live our lives the way we want it. I wanted to enjoy and live fully without regrets. I picked up the viola not long after and I never looked back. I have met lifelong friends and made unforgettable experiences because of my viola.

I began my musical journey taking childhood piano lessons. Raised in a musical family, my Mom (an opera vocalist) especially inspired me to pursue my passion for music. I switched from piano to horn at age 11, and since then have met some of the best horn players in the world. Fueled by their passion for music, I decided that a master’s degree at UCLA would be my opportunity to take advantage of!

Minjae Kim graduated from the Seoul Art Highschool and is now a second year bachelor’s student at Colburn school studying with Professor David Rejano Cantero. Minjae has performed works by Jim Pugh, Ropartz, Dutellieux, Faleris, David, and Casterade. Minjae was the finalist of 2023 International trombone festival solo competition (Age 22 under) and the winner of the American trombone workshop solo competition division 2. He was also the tenor trombone fellow of Tanglewood music center 2024.

I first started playing trombone when I was 13 years old at elementary school orchestra. Playing with other instruments and making harmony was really inspiring to me and it still inspires me to play trombone and music.

Magdaline Kovalchuk is an American born Russian/Belorussian cellist and pianist who was born and raised in Whittier, CA. She was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Boston Massachusetts and Washington D.C., taking home first place Gold in each ensemble. She would often create her own quartet/trio groups to perform in front of local stores and monumental galleries within the area.

She was a part of the Whittier Area Youth Orchestra (WAYO) run by Deborah Carnahan, performing in various locations such as Disneyland, Skyrose chapel, and was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall with her ensemble.

Magdaline was given a scholarship and the opportunity to pursue private lessons with her previous teacher, Wendy Velasco where she later received a scholarship to perform at the SoCal Chamber Music Institute and perform with a quintet over the summer and played in the Cello Weekend Ensemble with the renowned cellist Chu Yi-Bing. She also has received first prize for the Charleston International Music Competition.

She has performed in places such as Warner Bros Hollywood, Royce Hall, Glass Slipper Palace, Broadway West, Fred Kavli Theatre, Candlelight concert & invited to perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA Theatre, etc.

She has had masterclasses with renown musicians such as Robert deMaine (principal cellist of the LA Phil), Suli Sue (Violinist of LA Phil), David Garret (Cellist of La Phil), Ko Iwasaki, Chu-yi Bing, Pat Boone, Larry Livingston, and many more.

She is now an active member of the California Young Artists Symphony (CYAS) where she recently performed at the Royce Hall and is studying cello with her current professor Dr. Marek Szpakiewicz as well as piano with Professor Mark Gasbarro at Azusa Pacific University. She is also a part of the APU chapel team, principal in the APU symphony, and continues to work as an independent musician in the Los Angeles music scene. She also coaches strings at La Serna High School and maintains a private cello & piano studio.

She teaches cello and piano and has worked with rising artists such as Mike Sabath, Haley Joelle, and had the opportunity to be in music videos such as “Being Human” (2023), “Dumbstruck” (2023), “Memory Lane” (2024), and more.

My journey in music commenced during my middle school years, where I participated in an orchestra program directed by Deborah Carnahan. In this program, I had the opportunity to select any instrument, ultimately choosing the cello, although my parents told me to pursue piano simultaneously. My initial exposure to the cello occurred at the age of eleven while listening to the Piano Guys, which sparked my interest in pursuing this instrument. I have found myself constantly drawn to the cello, often listening to music that features it, and I cannot envision a future without it. Additionally, I take great pleasure in performing for audiences, as witnessing the reactions of my peers brings me immense satisfaction and joy and I also love connecting with other musicians as I collaborate with them.

Francis Krupa, a French Horn player from Warsaw who started his musical journey in 2009 as a student at a conservatory-like primary school in Poland with the emphasis in Horn performance. As he moved to Orange County in early 2016, he reoriented his musical interests towards a more professional path. Studying with teachers from the LA area, Jerry Garvin and Lisa Cherry, allowed him to attend the Orange School of the Arts between 2018 and 2019. During that time, he decided to pursue a music career, particularly focused in the area of performance. Working with Professor Christopher Russel helped him get on a firmly established path toward a music career in the upcoming years.

From 2019 to 2023, he attended a music conservatory in his hometown, Warsaw. During that time, he studied with Kaz Machala, the first French Horn player in the history of the Juilliard School, to get his musical arts doctorate. Under his guidance, Francis built a successful career in Poland.

He performed with the Lutoslawski Youth orchestra in Szczecin twice, won an Online International Music Competition held during the pandemic, participated in prestigious workshops and masterclasses across Poland (such as Corno Brass music festival in Zielona Gora), recorded two original compositions: “Shame Opera” and Concerto for an accordion as a project entering a competition held by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, and worked on recording a short film soundtrack at the Polish Radio Studios in 2021.

Aside from a French Horn career, Francis performed in the Czech Republic during a series of Choral Christmas concerts in 2020, competed in a Conservatory Choral overview project held by the Belgian Ministry of Culture, published an essay about music education in Poland in a magazine issued by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

As of today, Francis attends the Azusa Pacific University and studies under guidance of Professor James Thatcher. He is a newly admitted section member of the California Young Artist Symphony, as well as a freelance musician in the LA area. Recently Francis had worked in a professional film scoring session at Sony Studios and recorded a film soundtrack to a 2024 Netflix production “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F”. Being based in Los Angeles did not exclude him from playing a music festival in Great Britain during the summer of 2024. He was invited to perform with the Amadeus Academy Orchestra and toured the southern part of England.

My musical journey was a complete coincidence. I never planned on becoming a musician, but my parents suggested that I be the first one in the family to do so. Committing to it as a profession also happened accidentally as I continued studying music despite the intention of switching to dance. After a few years, it became an integral part of me that I could never get rid of, and now I cannot imagine my life without it.

I first began playing music in 7th grade in the beginning strings class, my teacher asked me if I wanted to violin and I said no, she put me on viola and I never looked back. I continued with music throughout high school and participating in the Idyllwild Arts ChamberFest program for a few summers. When it came to figure out where I would be applying to university, I realized that music was the only thing I could see myself doing in the future. I applied for a few schools but ultimately decided to attend CSUN, and it’s been a dream being able to do what I love every day.

Bella Hyojeong Kim is a skilled violinist and dedicated educator from South Korea. She began violin lessons at the age of five and quickly developed a passion for diverse musical styles, including classical and new-age music. At just nine years old, she made her debut concert appearance and continued to perform in various concert settings throughout her youth. Bella studied at prestigious institutions in Korea, including Yewon Art Middle School and Seoul Art High School, before moving to the United States to study under Yuki Mori and Min-Jung Park, both students of the legendary Jascha Heifetz.

A former concertmaster of the Goyang Youth Symphony, Bella performed with renowned cellist Young-Chang Cho at Aram Hall and led the orchestra for two years. She has won numerous awards, including 1st place in competitions such as Music Journal, Hanmi, Ara, Sungjung, and the MTAC Music Scholarship Competition (Los Angeles Branch). Bella’s professional career includes recording film soundtracks at Capitol Records and The Bridge Recording, contributing to projects for Netflix films Beverly Hills Cop Axel and Megan Leavy.

In 2016, Bella performed as a member of the orchestra at Walt Disney Hall and began her studies as a Music Performance major at Azusa Pacific University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in 2022. She continues to teach and perform, serving as a member of the Civic Orchestra of Los Angeles and as concertmaster of the Rise Orchestra in 2023.

I was introduced to music at a young age, growing up in a home where my mother, a pianist, ran a music academy. I initially played the piano but switched to the violin due to my small hands. Over time, I discovered the power of music as a universal language, especially when I performed for senior centers and saw how my music brought comfort and connection to others. The joy of helping people through music inspired me to pursue it as a lifelong profession.

Chloe Le is a dedicated cellist currently in her sophomore year of high school. With twelve years of experience, she began her orchestral journey at the tender age of five with the Kadima Junior Philharmonic.

Chloe has served as Assistant Principal for the CSUN Youth Philharmonic since 2022, a role she previously held with the Kadima Conservatory Philharmonic from 2018 to 2022. She has also actively participated in the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA).

Her musical education includes studying under the guidance of renowned cellists Cathy Biagini since 2022 and Lynn Angebrantt from 2012 to 2022. Chloe has further honed her skills through prestigious summer programs at Interlochen Center for the Arts, Cal Poly Humboldt University, and Idyllwild Arts Academy.

Recently, Chloe won a concerto competition and will be performing Elgar’s Cello Concerto with the CSUN Youth Philharmonic. Beyond her musical pursuits, Chloe enjoys baking, volunteering at hospitals, and going to the beach with her friends. Chloe is excited to currently be a part of CYAS, where she continues to grow as a musician and connect with fellow young artists.

I began my journey in music when I was four years old because I wanted a bigger instrument than my sister, who played the violin. This playful competition led me to discover my love for music, which has grown immensely over the years. Now, at 15, I’ve attended numerous music summer programs, and music remains a significant part of my life, helping me express my emotions. These experiences have deepened my connection to music and solidified my commitment to it as a profession. Music has become more than just an activity; it is a vital part of who I am and how I communicate with the world.

When I was young, I’ve always wanted to try playing an instrument and performing music for others, and I’ve always liked how the cello sounded, so I chose the cello. Ever since then, I realized how much I enjoyed playing the cello, so that inspired me to commit to music.

Edward Li is currently a second year graduate student pursuing a MM in cello performance at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. He received a bachelor’s degree in music performance and a minor in multimedia design from Pepperdine University in 2023. Edward has roughly 16 years of experience playing the cello and has performed with various orchestra groups including the San Diego Youth Symphony, Pepperdine University Symphony, and the UCLA Philharmonia. He hopes to inspire and help other musicians.

My music journey began with the piano at the age of 4, before I picked up cello. My experiences performing at venues, recitals, and other concerts allowed me to display my talents to others, and inspire people to learn classical music. I believe a career in the musical field will allow me to help other musicians and continue to be an influence.

Griblas, a Brazilian-Chilean cellist, began his cello studies in 2005 at the age of 14 at the Liceu de Artes e Ofícios Cláudio Santoro, in his hometown of Manaus, the capital of the state of Amazonas. He started taking lessons with the Belarusian professor Anton Minenkov, completing the course in 2013. In the same year, he was accepted after auditioning for the Amazon Philharmonic Orchestra, the principal orchestra of the renowned Teatro Amazonas, home to the famous Amazonas Opera Festival and one of the most active orchestras in Brazil. Griblas was the first native of Manaus to join the cello section, which until then had been composed exclusively of Russians, Italians, Bulgarians, and Belarusians musicians.

He served as studio musician, participating in the recording of the soundtrack for the movie “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” and as Principal Cellist of the Experimental Orchestra of the Amazonas Philharmonic, Assistant Principal Cellist of the Amazonas Chamber Orchestra, and Cello Tutti in the Amazonas Philharmonic. He has also performed with various other orchestras, including the Mariuccia Iacovino Symphony Orchestra (RJ) California Young Artist Symphony, Corona Symphony with numerous performances in Brazil, Argentina, and United States.

He holds a degree in Music from Claretiano University and completed an Artist Certificate program under the guidance of the renowned cellist Dr. Marek Szpakiewicz at Azusa Pacific University in California.

One fine day my father came home with a CD by the band Scorpions, from an acoustic show they did in 2001. When I heard that wonderful cello solo in the song Dust in the Wind, I wanted to play that instrument. My father at the time sold his keyboard to buy my cello. My mother enrolled me in the conservatory and that’s how it all started. I saw in the music a way to improve as a person and improve my life and the life of my family.

My journey in music began in 7th grade when I played my first concert with the Spokane Youth Symphony. It was my first experience playing with a full orchestra and an accomplished conductor. We played Shostakovich Symphony 5 and to this day that piece reminds me of the love I have and the joy I take from music.

Alisa Ikeza Luera is an active musician and instructor based in Los Angeles. Ms. Alisa has performed widely in Austria, Czech-Republic, Hungary, Italy, and across the United States as a chamber and orchestral musician. As a former member of JCM’s Artist Program, her quartet has been called “a fierce, plush, ensemble sound that would be the envy of many a mature professional groups” by the New York Concert Review Inc. at Carnegie Hall.

Alisa received her Bachelor Degree in Violin Performance & Music Orchestral String Studies at the California State University, Northridge under Dr. Lorenz Gamma. She was in the CSUN Scholarship Quartet and took masterclasses with Arnaud Sussmann of Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Bin Huang of China Conservatory, Yuan Sheng of Beijing Central Conservatory of Music, Ben Hong of USC and LA Philharmonic, and the Calder Quartet. While attending CSUN’s Department of Music, she was co-concertmaster in the CSUN Symphony Orchestra and was selected to perform chamber music with Dr. Lorenz Gamma, Dr. Julia Heinen, Dr. Robert Berg, Ben Hong, and Jonathan Moerschel of the Calder Quartet.

As an independent musician for hire, she has performed with Debut Orchestra, GSPO (Golden State Pops Orchestra), Brightwork NewMusic Ensemble, Disney XD, Shari Sutcliffe, David Grohl, the Foo Fighters, Tony Visconti, La Marisoul, and Grammy-winning music composer Cheche Alara and performed in venues such as Walt Disney Hall and Carnegie Hall. While working on her Master Degree at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, she continues her passion for teaching in the Los Angeles area.

I moved to Los Angeles with my mother, a piano teacher, who applied her knowledge and practicing methods to my young interest in music. This began by teaching me piano and violin, accompanying me in performances, and I volunteered in my community’s music space together. A deep passion as a collaborative form has driven me to take work with composers such as Russell Steinburg of the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra, and continued collaborating for commissioned works by fellow students and colleagues.

EJ Miranda grew up in Rancho Cucamonga, California and is currently an undergraduate at the University of Southern California. He studied at Brigham Young University from 2021 to 2023 under Dr. Jason Bergman and Jeff Luke. While at BYU, he went on concert tours to the Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, and played with the Utah Symphony.

After moving back to Southern California, EJ started studying with Tom Hooten and Jennifer Marotta in the Thornton school of music. He currently holds a position as a trumpet performer at The Disneyland Resort and works as a freelance musician in the Lost Angeles area.

Music for me started even before I was born. My parents met in their school wind ensemble in college each pursuing their music education degree. From the day I was born, my parents were playing Mozart in my room as I was going to sleep and I was always hearing my dad’s high school bands at their performances and competitions. As I grew up, I realized how much meaning can be packed into a piece of music and how it can make others feel the same excitement I felt. It went from a fun hobby to an earnest effort to get my friends and family to hear what I heard beyond the notes and rhythms. Now every time I play, I try to get my audience to feel the same child like inspiration that I felt when I was young.

My musical journey first began as a clarinet player in the elementary school band. My band director saw that I was learning the clarinet quickly and suggested that I try the bassoon. I really liked it and stayed with it since then, but what really made me realize that I want to do this for the rest of my life was when my mother bought me my own bassoon in 10th grade. I was genuinely so happy that I was crying in the car on the way back home, and it was difficult to imagine my life without the bassoon. This was when I realized I wanted to major in music and pursue it as a career.

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Aidan has been surrounded by entertainment and the arts since birth. Aidan studied the violin from an early age but soon moved to the other end of the orchestra and picked up the double bass. Aidan’s father, Dr. Geoff Neuman, became his first double bass teacher. Aidan graduated from the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts in 2020, where he studied orchestral performance.

Mr. Neuman graduated from California State University Northridge in 2024 with his Bachelor’s of Music. While there, he studied with The Los Angeles Philharmonic members Jory Herman and Kaelan Decman. Aidan is now continuing his musical journey at UCLA with the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Principal double bassist, Chris Hanulik.

Also an active member of the southern and central California classical music scene, Aidan was appointed Principal double bass of the California Young Artists Symphony in 2024 and has been a member since 2021. He has also been a member of the San Luis Obispo Symphony since September 2023. In addition, Mr. Neuman enjoys a lively performance career in the Las Vegas and LA area including substituting with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, touring with Andrea Bocelli’s orchestra, Super Bowl LVIII recording sessions, international tours, union performances, as well as jazz and big band opportunities.

Aidan is also a passionate teacher and holds a small private studio. He coaches at The Harvard-Westlake School and teaches 6 young and enthusiastic double bassists.

In addition to being a double bassist, Aidan loves storytelling in all mediums. Mr. Neuman is set to release his first album, Band of Wizards, in early 2025. Addison Bennett, Scott Johnson, and Zack Cruz bring their talents to create a unique listening experience that combines whimsical compositions, cooperative storytelling, and varied genres to the album. He enjoys writing short stories as well as preparing for his multi-year Dungeons and Dragons campaign.

My musical journey began in my living room with my father. He showed me how to hold the bass and how to play a scale. As I honed my skills, my father always supported and pushed me to be better. Soon enough I was sitting in the bass section performing Tchaikovsky’s 4th symphony with the Nevada All-State Orchestra and I had a transformative experience. As the 4th movement downbeat was given, chills rushed down my spine and I knew, without a doubt, I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.

Ariana O’Connell is earning her master’s degree in Violin Performance at the University of Southern California’s Thornton of Music, studying with Glenn Dicterow. She earned second place in the 2019 Chicago Violin Competition and first prize in the2019 Midwest Conservatory Concerto Competition. Ariana has been the associate concertmaster of the California Artists Symphony since 2022. She received the 2023 Kathleen and Jerry Eberhardt Scholarship while attending Music as a Violin Fellow.

When I was five years old, I saw a video of Shania Twain in concert with an electric violinist, Roddy Chong. I was in awe, and began violin lessons shortly after. Growing up, I had an amazing experience in Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Having the opportunity to tour the Baltics and to perform Firebird for an audience in St. Petersburg for the final concert of our tour was truly a life changing experience. I learned so much from my time in CYSO, and that, along with my violin teachers – Betty Haag-Kuhnke, Taka Matsunaga, and Glenn Dicterow, have all been my inspirations to become the best musician that I can be.

Danny began playing the cello at the age of four at the Community School of the Arts at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL. He studied with Carol Ourada for thirteen years as well as Dr. Tanya Carey. Throughout the years, Danny has traveled all around the world with his cello including Alaska, Spain, Scotland, and Austria. He was awarded the 2016 Norman Cooper International Chamber Music Competition Senior Division 1st Place in Scotland. Danny also won the Sigma Alpha Iota La Grange Chapter competition in 2018. He has played in Symphony Center under the direction of John Nelson in the Credo Alumni Orchestra in 2019 and this past summer under David Chan in the celebration for the 25th season Credo. In the summer of 2019, Danny was the principal cellist of the ISYM Symphony Orchestra, and the recipient of the ISYM Pre-College Scholarship, as well as the conductor’s choice of the outstanding orchestral member. Danny has also taught for three summers as a TA at a chamber music camp in Wheaton, IL called Tutti.

Recently, Danny was selected for the 2024 ASTA National Conference Collegiate Cello masterclass with guest clinician Norman Fischer. During his time at Eastman, Danny constantly premiered works by living composers around the Rochester community. Danny was also rotating principal cellist in both orchestras at Eastman, and continues to perform as principal cello with the USC Symphony as well as the California Young Artist Symphony. He also values education and spends his time working with younger musicians in order to grow their skills as people and musicians. An avid movie lover, Danny was the production assistant of the Empire Film and Media Ensemble, a group that performs live to picture performances of silent films, shorts, and movies such as LaLa Land, the 1989 classic film Batman, and Buster Keaton’s The General. This spring, Danny graduated with his Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance and Music Education from the Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of Professor Guy Johnston and Ahrim Kim, earning High Distinction and the Alan Harris Cello Award. Danny is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Cello Performance at the USC Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles studying with Andrew Shulman. Besides cello, Danny spends as much time as he can outside with his dog and enjoys playing golf.

At 4 years old I began playing the cello since the other string instruments were already taken up by my older sisters. Starting on a cardboard box and wooden dowel rod, I progressed to my first real cello when I turned 5. After sticking with it for about 10 years, I realized that the cello was more than just an instrument to me. It was a way of life and a method of communication I could use for feelings that I didn’t feel comfortable expressing verbally. After playing Tchaikovsky’s 1812 overture in 2019, I realized that the musician’s path is the one that was and is waiting for me. Connecting with others through music is a special aspect that not all professions share and I’m glad that CYAS is giving me the opportunity to continue my musical journey and connect with even more fabulous musicians.

Alexander Parlee is an American clarinetist and San Diego native who has been praised for his innovative and sensitive playing. He has been a prize winner in competitions throughout the United States, such as the Musical Merit Foundation Competition, Clarinet Society Competition, and the Manhattan School of Music Woodwind Concerto Competition.

Alex has performed as Principal Clarinetist with multiple orchestras, including the Civic Orchestra of Los Angeles, the American Youth Symphony, and the Orchestre de la Francophonie (Montreal). He also performed with American Composers Orchestra and Manhattan School of Music Philharmonia in New York City. His festival appearances include Domaine Forget in Quebec, Interlochen Summer Arts Festival, and Festival Napa Valley. In addition to his career as a clarinetist, Alex is also an avid classical pianist. He started playing the piano at age 4 and continued lessons and performances at Manhattan School of Music with Dr. Tianyu Deng. His favorite composers include Bach, Tchaikovsky, and Arvo Pärt. Alexander Parlee is an American clarinetist and San Diego native who has been praised for his innovative and sensitive playing. He has been a prize winner in competitions throughout the United States, such as the Musical Merit Foundation Competition, Clarinet Society Competition, and the Manhattan School of Music Woodwind Concerto Competition.

Alex has performed as Principal Clarinetist with multiple orchestras, including the Civic Orchestra of Los Angeles, the American Youth Symphony, and the Orchestre de la Francophonie (Montreal). He also performed with American Composers Orchestra and Manhattan School of Music Philharmonia in New York City. His festival appearances include Domaine Forget in Quebec, Interlochen Summer Arts Festival, and Festival Napa Valley. In addition to his career as a clarinetist, Alex is also an avid classical pianist. He started playing the piano at age 4 and continued lessons and performances at Manhattan School of Music with Dr. Tianyu Deng. His favorite composers include Bach, Tchaikovsky, and Arvo Pärt.

Alex is also a passionate pedagogue and has been teaching clarinet and piano in both Southern California and New York City. His approach to music education focuses on encouraging students to expand their curiosity in music through exposure to different repertoire, genres, and styles in addition to proper technique.

Alex completed his Bachelor of Music degree at Manhattan School of Music in New York City under the tutelage of Alan Kay. He is currently completing his Master of Music degree at UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music with Boris Allakhverdyan.

I first started my journey in music at the age of 4, on the piano, but what really inspired me was my high school clarinet teacher, a grad student at the time, who showed me that music can be a noble lifelong pursuit. She inspired me to major in clarinet and go to a conservatory. After becoming enthralled with the clarinet in high school, I became obsessed with classical music on a broader scale as well, listening to many famous works for the first time, and beginning my journey as a musician.

I’ve always been fascinated with music ever since I was little. I first picked up electric bass when I was 8, later picking up double bass at 11. From there, I joined my school’s orchestra as well as Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra. My persistence and dedication to this medium has inspired me to continue playing.

Originally from the Bay Area, Cole Perez is a recent graduate of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at CSU Long Beach. There, he earned both his Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees studying under Moni Simeonov and Henry Gronnier. An avid chamber musician, he has participated in masterclasses from members of the Kronos, Telegraph, and Aizuri Quartet. As an orchestral musician, Cole has served as Concertmaster for the Bob Cole Conservatory Symphony and Associate Principal 2nd for the California Young Artists Symphony, has regularly performed with the Mozart Classical Orchestra and American Youth Symphony, and recently won an orchestral fellowship with the Stockton Symphony. For the 2022 and 2023 summer seasons, Cole was a member of the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado. He also enjoys writing arrangements and transcriptions for strings, and has written arrangements for Midori.

In addition to performing, Cole is a passionate music educator. He enjoys teaching a wide age range of students and coaching string ensembles in public schools throughout Orange County. After completing his degrees in performance, Cole decided to make the shift from being a freelance musician to having a career in music education. He is now working towards his teaching credential in music at CSULB.

The clarinet was actually my first instrument in 4th grade! After about a year, I decided it wasn’t for me and asked my grandparents to buy me a violin. I eagerly started teaching myself through method books and quickly dropped the clarinet. Very soon I was put into private lessons and became more musically involved outside of school. What made me stick with music was the unique sense of community that I never got to experience anywhere else in my life. As I tradition toward a career in music education, one of my goals is to create a sense of community in the classroom for my students, similar to what I experienced when I was a student.

I began playing music simply due to an overwhelming sense of curiosity when I was 11 years-old. There was nothing in my life that had any association with this symphonic craft, so as soon as the opportunity became available to me through my middle school’s “beginning strings” orchestra, I joined and persisted to make the most of what performances I had. The drive to improve and bring out the rich tones of the double bass in a variety of settings/genres is what brought me to consistently increase my involvement in this field. I eventually realized that the most fulfillment I’ve experienced yet has been in the pursuit of a greater level of orchestral aptitude and professionalism.

Benjamin Richard is a bassoonist hailing from Ann Arbor, MI. In 2019, Benjamin began his career at the University of Michigan and has since played with musicians of the New York Philharmonic, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Jackson Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, and more. From there, he continued his studies at the University of Southern California under the tutelage of Shawn Mouser, Associate Principal Bassoon of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. This past year, Benjamin was a soloist with the USC Chamber Orchestra in Narong Prangcharoen’s Absence of Time (Concerto for Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, and Clarinet). In addition, he has been awarded the 2024 Stephen Maxym Memorial Award for Outstanding Bassoonist.

During the summer of 2024, Benjamin was chosen to be a part of the Chautauqua Music School Festival Orchestra. While there, he was featured in a PBS documentary titled “Chautauqua at 150: Wynton Marsalis’ All Rise”, where he was part of the first commercial audio recording of Marsalis’ seminal work since its premiere recording with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2003. As well, he will be featured in a full-length video of the piece, which has yet to be done before. All of these will be available to view on PBS and other streaming platformings in early 2025.

I actually started on the trombone at the age of 10! I loved that it had a slide, which was different from everyone else’s instruments with keys, holes, and buttons. A year later, my band director John Mason told me I should think about switching to the bassoon, as it would be a good challenge. I hadn’t heard of that instrument at the time, but once I tried it, I fell in love. Not only did I get to play both the high and low parts, I finally found an instrument that was as tall as me. Once I reached the end of high school, I had realized I didn’t want to give up playing in ensembles at a high-level; so I auditioned for some music schools. Once I got into music school, it’s been history ever since.

Southern California native Elvin Schlanger is the newly appointed 3rd Flute/Piccolo of the Las Vegas Philharmonic. He is also the Principal Flute of the California Young Artists Symphony and has made appearances with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, San Luis Obispo Symphony Orchestra, and Symphony San Jose.

Elvin has won and placed in several competitions including the Sphinx Orchestral Partners Competition, the Music Academy of the West Keston MAX Competition, and the Music Academy of the West Duo Competition. He was also awarded 2nd prize in the National Flute Association Young Artist Competition. He has appeared as a soloist with the Inland Valley Youth Symphony, Southern California Philharmonic, Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Academy Festival Orchestra, and the Colburn Orchestra.

Elvin received his Artist Diploma from the Colburn School where he studied with Jim Walker. He is also a graduate of the Yale School of Music where he earned his Master’s Degree studying with Ransom Wilson, and of CSU Long Beach where he received his Bachelor’s Degree studying with Dr. John Barcellona. He has had the honor of working with legendary flutists and teachers such as Denis Bouriakov, Sarah Jackson, Carol Wincenc, Demarre McGill, Jennifer Grim, Philippe Bernold, Emmanuel Pahud, Yubeen Kim, and Sebastian Jacot.

Elvin is a Wm. S. Haynes Young Artist, and plays a Haynes Custom Fusion flute.

My musical journey was a complete coincidence. I never planned on becoming a musician, but my parents suggested that I be the first one in the family to do so. Committing to it as a profession also happened accidentally as I continued studying music despite the intention of switching to dance. After a few years, it became an integral part of me that I could never get rid of, and now I cannot imagine my life without it.

Los Angeles-based musician Thacher Schreiber’s interests lie in maintaining a diverse repertory, from chamber and solo performances to orchestral playing to contemporary composition. Recent engagements include performances with the California Young Artists Symphony, the Civic Orchestra of Los Angeles, and Fivemind Reeds, of which he is a founding member.

Thacher studied oboe with Dr. Jonathan Davis at the Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLA, where he holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance. He is also a recent graduate of the Mannes School of Music, where he studied under professor Ryan Roberts, English horn of the New York Philharmonic.

In addition to his work as a performer, Thacher is an avid composer, with a growing body of work featuring solo sonatas, song cycles, and orchestral showpieces. He is currently a member of the composition studio at UCLA.

Inspired by my mother, whose favorite instrument was the violin, I began violin lessons at the age of 7. Those formative years shaped a desire for music to become lifelong endeavor. The process of collaborating with others, creating something bigger than myself, and working steadily toward a common goal invigorates me as I deepen this journey. In performing I find a joy in empowering others — both musicians and audience alike — and this sparks the energy with which I approach every note.

Viraj Sonawala is a fourth-year undergraduate at the University of California Los Angeles pursuing a double major in Percussion Performance and Music Education. He began percussion at the age of 10 through his elementary school music classes and developed the love for classical music since then. Growing up, Viraj was the section member and co-principal percussionist of the Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble (PSYWE) from 2016-2021, having traveled with the group in July 2017 to Vienna, Austria to participate in the Summa Cum Laude International Music Festival. Viraj is one of the founding members of the PSYWE Percussion Ensemble and has also participated in the California All-Southern and All-State Honor Bands and Orchestra. Viraj has a big passion for giving back to the community through his involvement with the Music Partnership Program through the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and is an active Music Educator in the greater Los Angeles area. He has attended prestigious summer festivals such as the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Percussion Workshop, Sewanee Summer Music Festival as a percussion fellow, and the So Percussion Summer Institute. Viraj is currently involved in the UCLA Philharmonia, Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Music of India Ensemble, Bruin Chamber Musicians, and Flux Contemporary. Viraj cherishes the love of music with his colleagues and is currently working on an album to feature percussion contemporary music, an art that he can describe as being “memorable and impactful” to his growing musical career. He is an alumni of Diamond Bar High School and was principal percussionist of the Concert Orchestra, member of the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and the Thundering Herd Marching Band.

I first began my journey in music with being involved in elementary music class that my mom decided to enroll me in. It was through there that I began to feel a sense of comfort, joy and happiness with playing basic beats on a drum pad. This transitioned into learning snare drum and later on other percussion instruments that my teachers throughout middle and high school have continued to build my accessibility to performing more. I decided to commit to music as my profession from the inspiration of allowing different communities to hear the music that I put my soul and heart into. I have strong belief that giving back to the community is just like helping someone receive a smile from music making that is touching. It is this drive that has lead me down the current path I am pursuing in college and beyond with creating music that is connectable, meaningful, and overall very impactful not only to my life, but the life of other people.

 Preston Spisak’s deep love for the percussion art form and classical music tradition inspires him to devote his life towards the mastery of his craft. He is a timpanist and percussionist based at the Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California where he studies with members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Joseph Pereira and Jim Babor. There, he performs with the Thornton orchestra, opera, and other ensembles under artistic director, Carl St. Clair.

 While in Los Angeles, Spisak has held positions with the American Youth Symphony, Principal Timpani, as well as California Young Artists Symphony, Associate Principal Percussion, and he is also an avid freelancer. During his time in L.A., Spisak has had the privilege to perform under notable conductors such as Carl St. Clair, Anthony Parnther, Hans Graf, and Jason K. Fettig at numerous Los Angeles concert venues, including Walt Disney Concert Hall.

 In the summers of 2022-2024 Spisak has taken part in the National Youth Orchestra and Round Top Orchestra festivals. With NYO he went on tour for performances at Carnegie Hall and then prominent venues across Europe including the Royal Concertgebouw, Berlin Konzerthaus, and Lucerne Festival Hall under the baton of Daniel Harding. After many years of summer music programs Spisak has had the opportunity to learn from esteemed timpanists and percussionists from top orchestras such as the San Francisco Symphony, The Cleveland Orchestra, and Houston Symphony Orchestra.

 Originally from Greenville, South Carolina, Spisak received the majority of his pre-college training from Wesley Strasser at the Fine Arts Center of Greenville.

I started my journey in music when I joined middle school band in 6th grade, and it was around the time I was 15 when I found myself seriously committed. The fulfillment I gain from honing my skills each day is what inspires me to pursue music professionally. I never get bored of my work knowing that every effort is an investment in my growth and in my ability to share moving performances with the world; I’m glad the California Young Artists Symphony provides me another opportunity to cultivate these passions.

Mana Tatsuki is a sophomore at the University of California Los Angeles pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance under the tutelage of Varty Manouelian and Movses Pogossian. Former music mentors include Jin-Shan Dai, Peter Marsh, Hana Kim, Martin Chalifour, Moni Simeonov, Dr. Mathew Ward, and Dr. Sakura Tsai.

As an experienced advocate for stage productions, she was a member of the L.A. Opera’s featured production of “On Gold Mountain” and recently won a seat with the California Young Artists Symphony. Her dedication and responsibilities as Assistant to the Music Director for gala, musical, ballet, and opera productions have informed her appreciation for all performing arts.

Mana has previously attended numerous summer programs including Interlochen Arts Camp, Boston University Tanglewood Institute’s Violin Workshop—Young Artists Orchestra program where she served as assistant principal second violin.

With her colleagues, Mana also co-founded the non-profit organization group ARCK Chamber, which performs in hospitals and retirement centers and provides immersive musical experiences to those who have limited access to live classical performances. Outside of music, Mana enjoys spending her time reading, drawing, and collecting decorative pins.

I started playing the violin looking after my mother. I would try to touch my mother’s instruments so often that she got me my own. I decided to pursue music because it’s one of the things in my life that I love most, and I get to connect with so many people because of it. Even if the time I spend with someone is short, I’m able to learn a lot and create meaningful memories with them, making me enjoy music even more.

I started playing the violin at age 6 and decided to pursue this as a career at 16. This journey was not easy, and my younger self would be both shocked and proud. It was the best decision I made. Being able to perform for a small or big audience, my goal is to create an impactful experience for them.

Eva Tseitlin is a cellist residing in Thousand Oaks, California. She began her musical studies at age 4 with her father and mother, Alexander and Rebecca Tseitlin. Her studies have been greatly influenced by her private studies with Kirill Rodin (Moscow Conservatory), Ben Hong (LA Phil), Ronald Leonard (LA Phil), Ruslan Biryukov, and her grandfather Michael Tseitlin.

Eva gave her first full public recital at age 11 with a performance of the Haydn C-Major Cello Concerto, Brahms e-minor Cello Sonata, and Bach’s d-minor cello suite, performing all 3 works in their entirety. She has since performed as a recitalist and chamber musician throughout the US and Germany, alongside prominent musicians such as Alexander Tseitlin (CYAS), and James Lent (UCLA).

At age 13 she was a finalist and winner of the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic Opus Series, performing the first movement of the Schumann cello concerto, as well as a finalist and winner of the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra Artist Series, performing Popper’s Hungarian Rhapsody.

At age 9, she won the Associate Principal Cello position of the CVYO Symphony Orchestra, and won a seat at CVYO’s Virtuosi Ensemble. At age 13, she won a fellowship with the prestigious California Young Artist Symphony. She has played under the baton of David Chan (New York Met), Radu Paponiu (Naples Philharmonic), Alexander Tseitlin (CYAS, CVYO), Larry Livingston (USC), and Neil Stulberg (UCLA).

Sofia Tseitlin began studying piano and violin with her father and mother, Alexander and Rebecca Tseitlin, at age 4. Her studies have been greatly influenced by her grandfather father Michael Tseitlin (California Institute of Music), and David Chan (New York Met Opera). She has participated in festival and faculty performances throughout California with prominent artists such as Ornela Erwin.

Sofia has held the concertmaster position at CVYO’s symphony orchestra as well as the principal second violin in CVYO’s Virtuosi Ensemble. She also holds an apprentice fellowship with the California Young Artist Symphony.

A developing pianist, violist, cellist, and conductor, Sofia conducts the Camerata Orchestra at Beacon Hill’s Classical Young Artists Program, and maintains a small studio at Eleos Music.

Erin Tsui, from California is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance under the tutelage of Movses Pogossian and Ji Young An, and a Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science at UCLA. She has won numerous awards in competitions such as the US Open Music Competition, Korean American Music Supporters Association Music Competition, and Junior Bach Festival. Having previously played in the California Youth Symphony, Korean American Music Supporters Association Orchestra, California All-State Symphony Orchestra, East Bay Chamber Music Festival, and attended the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Institute at the Kennedy Center, she desires to pursue a career in orchestral music and explore new colors and mediums in which an ensemble can create sound. Outside of the practice room, Erin enjoys understanding how others express themselves creatively through reading and discovering new films to watch.

At the age of 5, my mother who never received the opportunity to study music enrolled me in group violin lessons. From there, I joined my first youth orchestra in 4th grade, which is largely the reason why I continued playing the violin. I continued to cultivate my love for collaborative music throughout high school and my time at my first orchestral summer festival in Washington D.C. impelled me to pursue music as a profession. My experiences have culminated in a realization that the energy in a performance is truly captivating, addicting, and something that I cannot find anywhere else.

Lisandro Atencio is a percussionist originally from Dallas Texas. He received his Bachelor of Music degree at Baylor University studying under Dr. Todd Meehan, Arlo Shultis, and Dr. Chris Sies. He is currently pursuing his Master’s degree at the Colburn School under Ted Atkatz.

Lisandro has held positions with the Central Texas Philharmonic, California Young Artists Symphony, the Waco Symphony, and is an avid freelancer in the L.A area. During the summers he has been a fellow at Spoleto Festival USA, Texas Music Festival, and the Hot Springs Music Festival. In 2021 he won 2nd runner up in the Pasic Mock Audition where he got to play for Matthew Strauss, Braham Dembar, John Kinzie, George Knickson, and Ted Atkatz.

Lisandro is also a proud member of the Sphinx organization and teaches private lessons to lower income families to help ensure students of all backgrounds can have access to music education.

I started playing my instrument when I was 12 because I loved how essentially every genre of music had drum set. Then I was introduced to this whole other world of music that I was so unfamiliar with. It was really at the age of 15 at TMEA, when I fell in love with the excitement that orchestral music created when everyone in the group really prepared their parts.

Isaac Visoutsy is a performing violinist and teacher based in the greater Los Angeles area. He has participated in masterclasses for renowned concertmasters such as Jorja Fleezanis and Glenn Dicterow, and acclaimed teachers like Lina Bahn, Haik Kazazyan, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, and many more. Over the last seven years, Isaac has played under the batons of masterful conductors such as Carl St. Clair, Michael Stern, Joann Falleta, Rob Kapilow, and Tania Miller to name a few.

In the summer of 2023 Isaac was a violin fellow at the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado, where they played over eighteen symphonic concerts in eight weeks. Isaac enjoys chamber music and has worked with many great mentors. His most influential collaborative mentor’s include violinists Jan Talich and Roman Patocka of the Talich Quartet, Domenic Salerni of the Attacca Quartet, and pianist Ning An with whom he studied collaboration with pianists.

He is also a dedicated violin teacher and enjoys preparing his students for competitions, auditions, and recitals. Aside from his private studio, he is also a Teaching Artist with the Harmony Project, teaching violin classes to under-privledged students from 4th grade to 12th grade. In 2019, at CSU Fullerton Isaac was the recipient of the Yamaha Strings Award and placed second in the school wide Concerto Competition. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in performance from CSU Fullerton where he studied with Dr. Ernest Salem. He is currently working towards his master’s degree in violin performance at UCLA studying under Varty Manouelian and Movses Pogossian. Isaac is fortunate enough to be playing on a Lucchi Bow generously loaned to him from the Maestro Foundation based in Santa Monica, CA. In his free time, Isaac loves playing chess and cooking for his loved ones.

Evelyn Webber returns to her birthplace of Southern California to pursue a master’s degree in French Horn from USC. Aside from CYAS, her other musical involvements include performing with multiple ensembles and chamber groups within USC, teaching private lessons, participation in the music school’s student council, and freelancing. A recent notable performance includes the inaugural concert of the Civic Orchestra of Los Angeles.

Prior to moving to California, Evelyn worked as a full-time private lesson teacher in Austin, Texas. She offered individual instruction to dozens of students a week, led masterclasses, conducted a horn choir, and judged region auditions. Her other musical endeavors included being a performer for the Austin Brass Collective, playing principal horn for the Balcones Community Orchestra, and other freelance opportunities that brought her sound to many stages across the city.

Evelyn received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Between academic years, she marched drum corps with the Phantom Regiment, where she was offered different soloist and leadership opportunities. The highlight of her marching career was sharing a stage with the Boston Pops for an all-brass concert.

As a young kid, I always knew I wanted to play french horn. I have no memory of how I even learned what the instrument was, but it was something that I latched onto in my early childhood and I absolutely couldn’t wait to begin band in middle school. When it came time to choose what to go to college for, there was no other option in my mind.

My journey in music began when I was 10 years old in fifth grade, and I picked up the trombone in eighth grade. Even at a young age, I realized that the art of music is something I found myself looking forward to each day, as the experience was unique and like none other than what I was doing at the time. Something that really made me want to pursue music was being able to share this art with other people, making music with others around me or even performing for the audience. As my musical journey continues, the more people I meet and perform music with, motivates me more to work towards the profession I wake up every day looking forward to enjoy.

My passion for music began when I started playing electric guitar as a child. When I got in to middle school, I joined the string orchestra and started my first year playing violin. At 13 years old, I was inspired to start playing cello after discovering a YouTube video of Jacqueline Du Pre performing Elgar’s Cello Concerto. After switching to cello, I then realized I made a great decision. The idea of being a performer for my family and my community, is what inspired me to pursue a long-term career in music