Student Accomplishments 2023

AUGUST 2023

Conservatory students Yanfeng (Tony) Bai, piano, Duncan McDougall, violin, and Ye Un Park, cello, were awarded the coveted Rotary Club Scholarship as Trio Azura for best chamber music ensemble of the 2023 Academia Chigiana Summer Festival in Siena, Italy.

Music Academy student James Birch, violin, has been invited by Muse-ique to perform Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major with conductor Rachel Worby.

Music Academy student Ziqi (Flavia) Jin, cello, won a full scholarship with Morningside Music Bridge held at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, and graduated from The Music Middle School, affiliated with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in Shanghai, China, representing the highest international standards of excellence.

JULY 2023 

Community School 

Community School student Raymond Cai, piano, received third prize in Category C of the California Association for Professional Music Teachers Romantic/Impressionistic Competition. 

Community School student Kai Canton, piano, and Rivenka Tomasian, piano, were prizewinners in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.  

Community School student Kai Canton, piano, received Honorable Mention in Category B of the California Association for Professional Music Teachers Romantic/Impressionistic Competition. 

Community School student Alani Gibson, piano, received first prize and a scholarship in the junior division of the Nina Simone Piano Competition.  

Community School student Caden Guo, piano, received Honorable Mention in Category B of the California Association for Professional Music Teachers Romantic/Impressionistic Competition. 

Community School student Nathan Ortiz, cello, is attending the Philadelphia International Music Festival this summer. 

Community School student Rivenka Tomasian, piano, received Honorable Mention in Category A of the California Association for Professional Music Teachers Romantic/Impressionistic Competition. 

Music Academy 

Music Academy student Jessica Zhang, cello, won first prize at the Redlands Bowl Competition.

Music Academy student Kayden Kelly, piano, competed in the 2023 Nina Simone Piano Competition, receiving an award, and was selected to perform with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra on October 6, 2023, under the baton of Louis Langrée. 

Conservatory 

Conservatory student Gabriel Crist, piano, won the Concerto Competition at the Piano Texas International Festival and Academy in Fort Worth, Texas, leading to a performance of the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Fort Worth Symphony conducted by Miguel Harth-Bedoya. 

Conservatory student Jackson Prasifka, horn, won a one-year position as 3rd horn in the Baltimore Symphony. 

Conservatory student Shawn Zheng, horn, won a position in “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. 

Conservatory Alumni 

Conservatory alumnus Justin Cummings ‘18, bassoon, won 2nd bassoon with the San Francisco Symphony. 

Conservatory alumnus Martin Mangrum ‘20, horn, won third/second horn with the Beethoven Orchester Bonn.


JUNE 2023 

Music Academy student Lillian Feng, piano, is a junior fellowship recipient at Montecito International Music Festival this summer and won first place in category three the CAPMT Romantic/Impressionistic competition in late May. 

Community School student Landon Fringer, piano, received first prize in the Palisades Symphony Young Artist Competition, and he was one of six finalists to perform during the 2023 MostArts Festival in Alfred, New York during the final round of the Young Pianist Competition. 

Community School student Isaac Fujikawa, piano, received Honorable Mention in the Advanced B category of the California Association for Professional Music Teachers Sonata/Sonatina Competition. 

Trudl Zipper Dance Institute students Totocani Garcia and Natalia Reszka both received the Young Artist Scholarship through Laguna Dance Festival and will be receiving funds to put toward their dance education. 

Community School student Elysian Kloepfer, piano, was a prize winner in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival. 

Community School student Kento Ishikawa, piano, received first prize in the Advanced Complete I category of the California Association for Professional Music Teachers Sonata/Sonatina Competition. 

Community School student Leyna Ishikawa, piano, received first prize in the Advanced B category in the California Association for Professional Music Teachers Sonata/Sonatina Competition. 

Community School students Holly Lacey, violin, Nathaniel Yue, cello, and Tiger Zhang, piano, received the Horszowski Trio Prize for Piano Trio of the 50th Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition as the Nth Trio. 

Community School students Amy Lee, violin, Samuel Tatsuki, viola, and Kailey Yun, violin received third prize in the Junior String Division of the 50th Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition as the Evie Quartet. 

Community School student Richard Liu, piano, received Honorable Mention in the Advanced B category of the California Association for Professional Music Teachers Sonata/Sonatina Competition. 

Conservatory grad Bobby Nunes ‘23, oboe, won Principal Oboe with the Sarasota Orchestra. 

Community School student Yena Oh, violin, won the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic Concerto Competition. 

Community School student Mia Safdie, harp, is a finalist in the American Harp Society National Competition. 

Community School student Liam Thomas, violin, received first prize in the 2023 Great Composers Competition, Music of the 19th Century (age group 2) and first prize in the Charleston International Music Competition.  

Community School student Luke David Thomas, violin, received first prize in the 2023 Great Composers Competition, Music of the 19th Century (age group 1). 

Conservatory graduate Molly Turner ‘23, conducting, was appointed as a Conducting Fellow with the New World Symphony. 

Community School student Allen Wang, violin, received first prize in the 2023 CalASTA Los Angeles Bowed Strings Competition (Novice Category). 

Conservatory grad Jonathan Wisner ‘23, percussion, won second percussion with the Seattle Symphony. 

Community School student Gavin Yang, violin, received first prize in the Music Teachers’ Association of California Glendale Concerto Competition and performed with orchestra on May 21.   

Community School student Ryan Yang, cello, received first prize in the 2023 CalASTA Los Angeles Bowed Strings Competition (Novice Category). 


MAY 2023

Community School students Samantha Adams-Blanco, cello, Joanna Bai, violin, Aviv Pilipski, viola, Kai Yoshimoto, violin, won First Prize in the Music Teachers’ Association of California, VOCE Competition as the Kraft Quartet.

Conservatory students Nadia Azzi, piano, Zi Yang Low, violin, Eugene Lin, cello, advanced to the live rounds of the ARD Music Competition in the Piano Trio category as Trio Tokava. Live rounds will be held in September 2023 in Munich, Germany.

Conservatory students Yanfeng (Tony) Bai, piano, Duncan McDougall, violin, and Ye Un Park, cello, advanced to the live rounds of the ARD Music Competition in the Piano Trio category as Trio Azura. Live rounds will be held in September 2023 in Munich, Germany.

Community School student Kristina Brick, piano, was a prize winner in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Conservatory student Ben Brogadir, oboe, won solo English horn with the Oregon Symphony, and will begin in Fall 2023.

Community School student Caden Guo, piano, received First Prize in the Music Teachers’ Association of California Scholarship Competition.

Community School student Kai Canton, piano, won First Prize in Category B of the California Association for Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT) Sonata/Sonatina Competition.

Community School student Kai Canton, piano, was a prize winner in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Community School student Raymond Cai, piano, was a prize winner in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Community School student Raymond Cai, piano, won Second Prize in Category C of the California Association for Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT) Sonata/Sonatina Competition.

Community School student Andrew Chang, piano, earned an honorable mention in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Community School students of the Colburn Jazz Workshop Big Band won Outstanding Performance in the Downbeat Student Music Awards.

Community School student Evan Dexter won Outstanding Jazz Arrangement from the Downbeat Student Music Awards for “Alice in Wonderland.”

Community School student Joaquin Garde, guitar, won Outstanding Jazz Solo Performance from the Downbeat Student Music Awards.

Community School student Caden Guo, piano, received First Prize in the Music Teachers’ Association of California Scholarship Competition.

Community School student Caden Guo, piano, was a prize winner in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Community School students Enni Harlan, piano, Lauren Hsu, cello, and Marena Miki, violin, won Third Prize in the Music Teachers’ Association of California, VOCE Competition as the Elm Trio.

Community School students Aaron Ho, Catherine Kang, Emily Wang, and Isabella Zhou, violin, won First Prize in the Music Teachers’ Association of California, Concerto Competition (Glendale Branch), Junior Division.

Community School student Aaron Ho, violin, won Third Prize in the Music Teachers’ Association of California, Concerto Competition (Glendale Branch), Junior Division.

Conservatory student Mei Hotta, cello, was a semifinalist for the 38th Irving M. Klein International String Competition to be held at the San Francisco Conservatory in June 2023.

Community School student Dylan Iskandar, piano, was awarded the Edison Scholar and the Amazon Future Engineer scholarships for his research in combining his interest in music/piano performance with artificial intelligence.

Community School student Catherine Kang, violin, won Second Prize in the Music Teachers’ Association of California, Concerto Competition (Glendale Branch), Junior Division.

Community School student Catherine Kang, violin, was a prize winner in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Conservatory student Sooyoung Kim, oboe, won a Fellowship with the New World Symphony and will begin in Fall 2023.

Community School student Elysian Kloepfer, piano, was a prize winner in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Community School students Holly Lacey, violin, Nathaniel Yue, cello, and Tiger Zhang, piano, won First Prize in the Music Teachers’ Association of California, VOCE Competition as the Nth Trio.

Community School students Amy Lee, violin, Samuel Tatsuki, viola, and Kailey Yun, violin, won First Prize alternate in the Music Teachers’ Association of California, VOCE Competition as the Evie Quartet.

Community School student Zoey Liu, piano, earned an honorable mention in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Community School student Elizabeth Lu, piano, was a prize winner in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Conservatory student Shengyu Meng, cello, was the Grand Prize Winner of the 2023 Hennings-Fischer Young Artists Competition and will perform the Elgar Concerto with the Burbank Philharmonic next season.

Conservatory student Zecharia Mo, viola, was a semifinalist for the 38th Irving M. Klein International String Competition to be held at the San Francisco Conservatory in June 2023.

Conservatory student Javier Morales-Martinez, clarinet, won first prize at the Fine Arts Club of Pasadena.

Community School student Amanda Nova, piano, earned an honorable mention in the Music Teachers’ Association of California, Sonata Festival.

Conservatory student Bobby Nunes, oboe, won Principal Oboe with the Virginia Symphony and will begin in Fall 2023.

Community School student Nathan Ortiz, cello, won the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) Concerto Competition.

Conservatory student Ye Un Park, cello, is a finalist for the Paolo Cello Competition to be held in October 2023 in Finland.

Community School student Jackson Perry, jazz guitar, is a finalist in the 2023 Music Center Spotlight Competition.

Community School student Mina Ree, piano, earned first prize in the Music Teachers’ Association of California, Sonata Festival.

Community School student Mina Ree, piano, was a prize winner in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Community School student William Schwartzman, jazz piano, won the High School Honors award for Jazz Solo at the Downbeat Awards, is a finalist in the 2023 Music Center Spotlight Competition.

Conservatory student Michael Song, cello, is a Finalist for the Paolo Cello Competition to be held in October 2023 in Finland.

Community School student Luciano Soriano won Outstanding Composition for Small Ensemble from the Downbeat Student Music Awards for “Embrace,” as well as for Jazz Arrangement of “We See.”

Community School student Lev Sakae Taira, violin, won the 2023 Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition.

Community School student Rivenka Tomasian, piano, was a prize winner in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Conservatory student Benett Tsai, cello, is a finalist for the Paolo Cello Competition to be held in October 2023 in Finland.

Community School student Emily Wang, violin, won Fourth Prize in the Music Teachers’ Association of California, Concerto Competition (Glendale Branch), Junior Division.

Community School student Emily Wang, violin, was a prize winner in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Community School student Richard Wang, piano, was a prize winner in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Conservatory student Ray Ushikubo, violin, is a semifinalist for the 38th Irving M. Klein International String Competition to be held at the San Francisco Conservatory in June 2023.

Community School student Jason Yang, piano, was a prize winner in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Community School student YiQi Yang, piano, earned an honorable mention in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Community School student Nathaniel Yue, cello, received Third Prize in the Music Teachers’ National Association National Competition.

Community School student Nathaniel Yue, cello, is a finalist in the 2023 Music Center Spotlight Competition.

Community School student Winston You, piano, won First Prize in the Music Teachers’ Association of California, Concerto Competition (Glendale Branch), Junior Division.

Community School student Winston You, piano, won First Prize in the Music Teachers’ Association of California, Concerto Competition (Glendale Branch), Junior Division.

Community School student Ashlyn Zheng, piano, was a prize winner in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Community School student Boyi Zheng, piano, was a prize winner in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Community School student Oriana Zhou, piano, earned an honorable mention in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Community School student Celine Zhu, piano, won First Prize in the Music Teachers’ Association of California, Concerto Competition (Glendale Branch), Senior Division.


APRIL 2023

Community School students Trevin Ching, Leyna Ishikawa, Richard Liu, Yahan Lin, and Alexander Wang, piano, were winners of the branch level of the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.

Music Academy student David Choi, piano, was one of five finalists selected in the Hilton Head Young Artist Competition.

Community School students Scarlett Cohan, Dagmar Huskey, Vienna Lee, Mia Safdie, and Matisse Wittman-Chesney, piano, received First Prize in the Elite International Music Competition.

Trudl Zipper Dance Institute student Alexa Dollar has accepted a position with Ballet Austin as an apprentice.

Music Academy student Lillian Feng, piano, was selected as a semifinalist to compete in the Redlands Concerto Competition, and awarded second place in the CAPMT’s Honors Piano Competition and the Concerto Competition Regional South.

Trudl Zipper Dance Institute student Totocani Garcia received an Honorable Mention in the Music Center’s Spotlight.

Community School student Sophia Glicklich, piano, was a panel finalist and was awarded State Honors in the Music Teachers’ Association of California Certificate of Merit program.

Community School students Sophia Glicklich and Cordelia Scoville, piano, were medal winners in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival, Orange County West Branch.

Community School students Sam Guevara, cello, Amy Lee, violin, Samuel Tatsuki, viola, and Kailey Yun, violin, received first prize and the Junior Division Grand Prize in the Coltman Competition as the Evie Quartet.

Community School students Kento Ishikawa, piano, received first prize in the California Association for Professional Music Teachers State Final Honors, Category A. He also performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, K. 39 with the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic as a winner of their concerto competition.

Community School students Enni Harlan, piano, Lauren Hsu, cello, and Marena Miki, violin, were semi-finalists in the Coltman Competition.

Community School students Holly Lacey, violin, Nathaniel Yue, cello, Tiger Zhang, piano, were finalists in the Coltman Competition and quarterfinalists in the Fischoff Competition as the Nth Trio.

Community School student Narayan Neti, Cordelia Scoville, and Iris Zhou, piano, were awarded State Honors in the Music Teachers’ Association of California Certificate of Merit program.

Community School student Chloe Yoon, violin, received first prize in the Bellflower Concerto Competition, Intermediate/Senior Division.