FRIDAY NIGHT CAFÉ
FRIDAY NIGHT CAFÉ online
We encourage all of you to join in the fun! It's easy to do.
Send your YouTube video, a picture and short bio to musicforyouthct@gmail.com.
Each week up to 7 students will be featured in our Mailchimp blast. Get your work out there and share the music!
If you would like to receive our email blasts, please email musicforyouthct@gmail.com or click here to subscribe.
If you have any questions, please call 203-254-0123. We have archived Friday Night performances below.
Watch the interview below with Darwin Shen to learn some helpful tips on making a good recording!
We encourage all of you to join in the fun! It's easy to do.
Send your YouTube video, a picture and short bio to musicforyouthct@gmail.com.
Each week up to 7 students will be featured in our Mailchimp blast. Get your work out there and share the music!
If you would like to receive our email blasts, please email musicforyouthct@gmail.com or click here to subscribe.
If you have any questions, please call 203-254-0123. We have archived Friday Night performances below.
Watch the interview below with Darwin Shen to learn some helpful tips on making a good recording!
March 27th, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians
Lina Elwood, piano; Andrei Orasanu, guitar; Szofia Seres, flute; Cedar Newman, violin
April 3rd, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians - featuring winners of the Marianne Liberatore Instrumental Competition
Wujin Kim, cello; Gerald Kim, violin; Avery Duer, piano, Joshua Peiffer, flute
April 17th, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians - featuring friends & families
Isabella Mariani, Mia Jung-Pitkin, violin; father Joel Pitkin, piano; Andrei Orasanu, father Serban Orasanu, duo guitar; George Li, Alex Beyer, duo piano; Luke Calejesan, father Ed Calejesan, duo guitar
April 24th, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians
Camden Archambeau, cello; Cameron Chase, violin; Alexandra Mascoff, piano; Ava Turner, piano
May 1st, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians
Sequoia Kessler, bassoon; Joy Xu, piano; Josuéa and Samuel Bustamante, duo violin; Julian Shively, cello
May 15th, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians
Gardiner Dietrich, piano; John Russell, oboe; Andrei Orasanu, guitar; John Hui, violin
May 22nd, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians
Arav Amin, violin; Camden Archambeau, cello; Jesse Balkcom, guitar; Ava Cho, violin
May 29th, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians
Samuel Bustamante, violin; Cedar Newman, violin; Bobby Master, saxophone
June 12th, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians
Kate Wegener, oboe; Audrey Szymanski, violin; Sabrina Lee, violin
June 26th, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians
Ava Turner, piano; The Amante String Trio (Josué Bustamante, violin I; Samuel Bustamante, violin II; Cristina Bustamante, cello)
Lina Elwood, piano; Andrei Orasanu, guitar; Szofia Seres, flute; Cedar Newman, violin
April 3rd, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians - featuring winners of the Marianne Liberatore Instrumental Competition
Wujin Kim, cello; Gerald Kim, violin; Avery Duer, piano, Joshua Peiffer, flute
April 17th, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians - featuring friends & families
Isabella Mariani, Mia Jung-Pitkin, violin; father Joel Pitkin, piano; Andrei Orasanu, father Serban Orasanu, duo guitar; George Li, Alex Beyer, duo piano; Luke Calejesan, father Ed Calejesan, duo guitar
April 24th, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians
Camden Archambeau, cello; Cameron Chase, violin; Alexandra Mascoff, piano; Ava Turner, piano
May 1st, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians
Sequoia Kessler, bassoon; Joy Xu, piano; Josuéa and Samuel Bustamante, duo violin; Julian Shively, cello
May 15th, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians
Gardiner Dietrich, piano; John Russell, oboe; Andrei Orasanu, guitar; John Hui, violin
May 22nd, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians
Arav Amin, violin; Camden Archambeau, cello; Jesse Balkcom, guitar; Ava Cho, violin
May 29th, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians
Samuel Bustamante, violin; Cedar Newman, violin; Bobby Master, saxophone
June 12th, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians
Kate Wegener, oboe; Audrey Szymanski, violin; Sabrina Lee, violin
June 26th, Friday Night Digital Cafe Musicians
Ava Turner, piano; The Amante String Trio (Josué Bustamante, violin I; Samuel Bustamante, violin II; Cristina Bustamante, cello)
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March 27th
Lina Elwood (10), piano Lina, age 10, started playing the piano when she was 5 years old under the guidance of Kumiko Imamura. She has since won many top prizes in both local and international competitions, including Second Prize at Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, CT, First Place at the Connecticut Bach Festival Competition, First Prize for both the Best Debussy Performance and the Best Bach Performance of the Great Composers Competition, First Prize in the French Category of the Schubert Club Awards Competition, First Prize at Glory International Baroque Music Competition, Second Prize at Future Stars International Piano Competition and Gold Award at the Golden Key Music Festival which she performed at the Carnegie Hall. Watch Lina's performance of Aaron Copland's The Cat and the Mouse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=W1kaRDOk9ao&feature=emb_logo Andrei Orasanu (11), guitar Andrei was born in 2008 in Stamford, CT and began playing classical guitar at the age of five using the Suzuki method for the first year. During the years he has studied with many teachers, including Daniel Hartington, Meredith Connie, James Kerr, Daniel Corr, Scott Hill and for the last two years with Tudor Niculescu-Mizil. Andrei has participated in many prestigious national and international competitions, like Boston Guitar Fest, Mid Maryland Guitar Festival, Suzanne Culley Strings Competition, Sinaia International Guitar Festival, and Eduard Pamfil International Guitar Competition, where he took first prizes in his age group as well as in higher age categories. He performs regularly in many of the Music for Youth events around Fairfield County under the kind and enthusiastic guidance of Misty Beyer. Watch Andrei's performance of Tango en Skai by Roland Dyens and Sonata No 1 by Albert Heinrich: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ckKbs4h2Ok&feature=youtu.be%E2%80%8B Szofia Seres (12), flute Szofia started to play the flute 2 years ago. She is a member of Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestra, the Young Artist Philharmonic, and a flute choir in Old Greenwich. She volunteers with the Orange Music Band, coaching and mentoring young flute players and has also volunteered as a guest artist with the MFY preconcert Meet the Orchestra program. Watch Szofia's performance of the 2nd Movement of Bach's Sonata in A minor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1swDwTUMjgk&feature=youtu.be%E2%80%8B Cedar-Rose Newman (16), violin Cedar studies with Lucie Robert at the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College. She was the recipient of the Kate Bamberger Scholarship for violin (2018), holds the Jocelyn Gertel Scholarship for strings (2019) and won the Philharmonic String Concerto Competition in October 2019/20. Cedar began violin with Sarah Hindson in Wollongong, Australia and attended the local conservatorium, before moving to work with Albert Markov in the US in 2016. She has worked with her pianist Akiko Chiba, since 2017. Cedar completed her AMEB Associate Diploma piano, studying with Gian-Franco Ricci. An active participant in Music for Youth Connecticut, her involvement includes; performance, accompanying young violinists on the piano, performing recitals and hosting concerts. In 2019, Cedar committed to raising funds for “A Musical Gift," a Rural Aid Australia program designed to help provide greater access to music for students in isolated rural communities. Cedar attended a Montessori school until 11 and is now an online student of Wolsey Hall Oxford, preparing her IGCSE’s. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, bouldering and hiking in the Australian bush. Watch Cedar's performance of Karl Syzmanowski's Notturno and Tarantella: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J-1nN8Q4bI April 3rd Wujin Kim (18), cello First Place Winner of the 2019 Marianne Liberatore Instrumental Competition Wujin Kim, 18, currently studies cello under Clara Minhye Kim at the Juilliard School. He is currently a member of the New York Youth Symphony and served as the principal cellist of Principal Orchestra in the Norwalk Youth Symphony from 2017 to 2018. In 2014 and 2015, Wujin was the winner of the Junior Competition and Senior Competition of the Young Artist Festival sponsored by the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with the American Chamber Orchestra after winning the Concerto Competition in 2016. In 2017, Wujin was selected as a winner of the Norwalk Youth Symphony Concerto Competition and served as the principal cellist of the CMEA All-State Orchestra in 2017 and 2019. He has also won the 2019 YWCA NY Music Competition and the 2019 Marianne Liberatore Instrumental Competition. Watch Wujin's performance of Bach's Cello Suite no.3 in C Major, BWV1009 Prelude: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjuIW0iBWJ0&feature=youtu.be Gerald Kim (17), violin Second Place Winner of the 2019 Marianne Liberatore Instrumental Competition Gerald Kim is 17 years old and a junior at Fairfield Ludlowe High School, where he is concertmaster of the Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. He is also a member of the Tri-M music honor society. He started to play the violin at age 7 and is currently studying under Wendy Sharp at Yale School of Music. He was a winner of American Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition in 2018 and Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition in 2019 and performed as a soloist with the orchestras. He was the 2nd place winner of the Wallingford Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition in 2019 and a finalist of the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition in 2019. Watch Gerald's performance of Henryk Wieniawski's Polonaise Brillante in D Major: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzsbdG-XuPQ&feature=youtu.be Avery Duer (18), piano Pianist Avery Duer, 18, a senior at Greens Farms Academy and Vassar College bound, has been studying piano with Steinway Artist, Yoshie Akimoto for three years. This past January, she won the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition with the Rachmaninoff 2nd Piano Concerto. In 2018, she won First Place in the Connecticut Bach Festival, Second Place in the Senior Chopin Award at the Schubert Club Competition of Fairfield County and Second Place at the Chappaqua Orchestra Concerto Competition. In 2017, she won “Most Outstanding Performance” at the Annual CSMTA Deborah Kahan Competition. That same year, she performed at the Vianden International Festival in Luxembourg. Watch Avery's performance of Rachmaninoff's Etude Tableaux, Op. 39, No. 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-TkSoTzSCU&feature=youtu.be Joshua Peiffer (17), flute Joshua Hyuk Peiffer is 17 years old and a junior at Fairfield College Preparatory School. He has been studying flute for 8 years. In the summer of 2018 he attended the Eastman School of Music Summer Classical Music Program (formerly Music Horizons Program). He placed third in the 2018 Marianne Liberatore Memorial Instrumental Competition, which awarded him a one hour solo recital in September, 2019. During the 2018-2019 academic year he was Principal Flute in both the Principal and Chamber Orchestras of the Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestras (GCTYO). He currently attends the Mannes School of Music Pre-College Program in New York and is Principal Flute in the Philharmonic Orchestra. In February of 2020 he was named a finalist in the GBS Young Instrumentalist Concerto Competition. He has been accepted into Brevard Music Center and Boston University Tanglewood Institute for the summer of 2020. Watch Joshua's performance of Mozart's Flute Concerto in D major, K.314: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0DIRX1a4mU&feature=youtu.be April 17th Isabella Mariani (9), violin Isabella, age 9, began playing violin when she was four and a half years old. She studies at the Suzuki Music School of Westport under the guidance of Dr. Rafael Videira. She was a 2020 Special Award Winner of the Deborah Kahan Competition and awarded first place at the 2018 Fairfield CSMTA Sixth Annual Festival. Isabella was selected to participate in the Suzuki School’s annual Concerto & Aria each year from 2017 to present and enjoyed performing as a soloist with the Suzuki orchestra at the Westport Library opening. Isabella also performs with the Norwalk Youth Symphony and plays viola for her school orchestra. Mia Jung-Pitkin (8), violin Mia, age 8, is a third grader and has been playing violin for two and a half years. She studies with Dr. Sigrid Karlstrom at the Suzuki Music School of Westport and is a member of the Advanced Baroque Ensemble at the Neighborhood Music School. At SMSW, Mia was selected for the 2018 Honors Recital and the 2020 Concerto & Aria Concert (together with Isabella Mariani) for their performance of the Bach Double Violin Concerto. Watch Isabella and Mia's performance of the 1st Movement of Bach's Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c-gTi99C0I Andrei and father Serban Orasanu, guitar Andrei was born in 2008 in Stamford CT and began playing classical guitar at the age of five using the Suzuki method for the first year. During the years he has studied with many teachers including Daniel Hartington, Meredith Connie, James Kerr, Daniel Corr, Scott Hill and for the last two years with Tudor Niculescu-Mizil. He also studies music theory and composition with composer/pianist Lyudmila German. Andrei has participated in many prestigious national and international competitions like Boston Guitar Fest, Mid Maryland Guitar Festival, Suzanne Culley Strings Competition, Sinaia International Guitar Festival and Eduard Pamfil International Guitar Competition where he took first prizes in his age group as well as in higher age categories. Andrei was awarded first prize in the 2020 Mid-Maryland Guitar Festival Young Artists Competition in the middle school division this month! Watch Andrei and Serban's performance of Luis de Narvaez's Fantasia del Quarto Tono: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woHhc9vd1hg April 24th Camden Archambeau (18), cello Cellist Camden Archambeau, 18, is a native of Weston, CT and a student in the Harvard-NEC Dual Degree Program. Camden was a member of the New York Youth Symphony for four years and a sat for two years as Rosengarten Chair Principal Cellist. As a soloist, Camden won first place in the 2019 2018 Greater Bridgeport Symphony Young Instrumentalist Competition and first place in 2016 LIU Post Chamber Music Festival Concerto Competition. He was first prize winner of the Mary Alice Cox Award in 2019, and third place in the NFMC Stillman-Kelley Competition in 2020. Camden has performed locally as a soloist and chamber musician. Camden’s chamber accolades include first place Jr. Ensemble in the 2018 Camerata Artists International Competition with Juilliard Pre-college Piano Trio Astra, 2017 and 2018 Meadowmount Chamber Ensemble playoff winner with string quartets. He appeared on NPR’s From the Top Show #363 in 2018. Since the age of 8, Camden has volunteered and performed for Music for Youth in its Bridgeport Public School Residency program, benefit concerts and as MC in monthly Friday Young Artist Cafe concerts. Thank you, Camden! Watch Camden's performance of Debussy's La fille aux cheveux de lin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MUUvCs9O-c Cameron Chase (19), violin Cameron Chase, 19, has been playing the violin since he was five. At the Juilliard School where he studies with Naoko Tanaka he is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in violin performance. In the Pre-College Program at Juilliard he studied with Mr. Hyo Kang and Mr. I-hao Lee. He has attended music festivals such as the International Academy of Music in Italy, Music Mountain Masterclasses in CT, and The Bowdoin International Music Festival in Maine. Cameron is also an avid chamber music devotee and has worked with coaches such as Mischa Amory, Mikhael Kopelman, Ayano Ninomiya, Daniel Phillips, Peter Winograd, Kim Kashkashian, and the Verona Quartet. Under the direction of Maestro Jonathan Yates for two years Cameron was the concertmaster of the Principal Orchestra of Norwalk Youth Symphony, and as one of the winners in the Bridgeport Symphony Competition he was thrilled to play two of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with the Bridgeport Symphony. Cameron would also like to thank Regi Papa, his teacher of seven years, for his endless patience with this student. Watch Cameron and David Bernat's performance of the 1st Movement of Prokofiev's Sonata for Two Violins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzjSSeHsyL4&feature=youtu.be Alexandra Maskoff (16), piano Alexandra (Sasha) Maskoff, 16 years old, began playing the piano at the age of 5 under the guidance of Tatiana Pikayzen. She has performed at numerous venues, including Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and Baruch Performing Arts Center. She was the winner of the Rondo Young Artist Vanguard Competition in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020, and the American Protege Competition in 2014 and 2017. Additionally, Alexandra was an alternate winner of the Connecticut state MTNA competition of 2017, and the Grand Prix winner of the Concert Festival Concerto Competition, performing Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto #2 with the Concert Festival Orchestra in 2016. Most recently, she was the winner of the ACO Concerto Competition, and will perform Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto with the ACO Orchestra in the summer of 2020. She has participated in several trios and small ensembles, performing with Chamber Music Central for three years (2014-2017), and is currently a sophomore at Staples High School in Westport, CT. Additionally, she is a member of Orphenians, an elite acapella group where she enjoys her other passion; singing. This summer, she will be attending the prestigious Tanglewood Young Artist Piano Program. Watch Alexandra's performance of Chopin's Fantasy in F Minor, Op. 49: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvTMrFD1Tg8 Ava Turner (17), piano Ava Turner is a 17-year-old homeschooled student who has studied piano with Edith Sullivan in Danbury since the age of six. She plans to major in piano performance in college. Ava has won numerous awards in Connecticut and New York, including the opportunity to perform in Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall this past June. She participated in the Chamber Music Central summer session in 2016, as well as the advanced “Amici” chamber program in 2017. In 2018, she attended the Summer Piano Academy at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. Watch Ava's performance of Chopin's Etude in c# minor, Op. 10, No. 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2HDDntmbqc May 1st Sequoia Kessler (18), bassoon Sequoia Kessler, 18, a senior at Guilford High School, started private bassoon lessons with Sue Zoellner-Cross at NMS in 2014. She is Principal bassoon of the Greater New Haven Youth Orchestra, as well as the Guilford High School Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. Sequoia has performed with professional orchestras such as the Greater Bridgeport Symphony and the Hotchkiss Philharmonic. She has extensive experience in chamber and orchestral playing as well as musical productions. In 2019 she won the NMS Concerto competition and was a Finalist of the Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition and the MFY Marianne Liberatore Instrumental Competition. Sequoia has performed as a soloist with the Greater Connecticut Chamber Youth Orchestra, the Guilford Town Band and as a Young Artist Performer. Sequoia was awarded the Silvia Risi Award from the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra for outstanding Musicianship as well as multiple Merit Awards in recognition of outstanding effort and progress from NMS and GHS. Watch Sequoia's performance of the 1st Movement of Paul Hindemith's Sonata, Leicht Bewegt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOjZnCcikZE&t=5s Joy Xu (14), piano Joy Xu, 14 years old, is a 9th grader at Hopkins School in New Haven, CT, and has been a student of Yoshie Akimoto, Steinway Artist, since 2017. Joy began her piano studies at age 4 with Kumiko Imamura. In 2019, at age 13, Joy won the Danbury Symphony Concerto competition and performed the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Symphony conducted by Ariel Rudiakov. She was invited to perform at a master class of Nelita True and at a Music For Youth benefit concert. Joy has also performed at Carnegie-Weil Hall and Stern Auditorium, and the Steinway Hall in New York, as well as at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Colorado. Watch Joy's performance with the Danbury Symphony Orchestra of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIWlog3RJOI&feature=youtu.be Josué Bustamante (21), violin Josué “Joshua” Bustamante, a resident of Bridgeport, has had the pleasure of exploring various opportunities to study violin, viola, and piano under a wide range of music styles ranging from classical and jazz to gospel and rock. His willingness to expand his training has led to instruction and collaborations with the Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestras, Kids Empowered by Your Support, BackCountry Jazz, SOAR Music Camp, Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County, the Suzuki Music School of Westport, the Greater Bridgeport Symphony, the Chamber Music Institute for Young Musicians, Music Haven and Music for Youth. He has long been involved in the community in musical capacities, serving as volunteer in the Bridgeport Public Schools Joshua is currently the director of the Roosevelt Strings program based out of Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School and maintains his own private studio, directly teaching a combined number of over 50 students. For his contributions to the community, he has been inducted into the KEYS Hall of Fame and received the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Music Ambassador Award. In chamber music, his groups, coached by Patrick Sohn, have placed as finalists in the Chamber Music Competition of the National League of Performing Arts for two years running. He is double majoring in Music Education and Violin Performance at the University of Bridgeport and currently studies violin with Patrick Doane and piano with Alexis Zingale. Samuel Bustamante (17), violin Samuel Bustamante is in his senior year of high school and is homeschooled. He has been playing violin since he was 7 years old and is classically-trained but also has experience performing in jazz bands and gospel ensembles. He has been involved as a student and volunteer for Music for Youth, Kids Empowered by Your Support, Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestra, Greater Bridgeport Symphony, Chamber Music Institute for Young Musicians, Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County, BackCountry Jazz, and SOAR Summer Camp. He is part of the Asombro Quintet based out of Westport coached by Patrick Sohn and currently studies violin with Patrick Doane. Watch Josué and Samuel's performance of an excerpt from Charles-Auguste de Bériot's Duet in G Minor, I. Moderato: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gi42872jzU&feature=youtu.be Julian Shively (19), cello The Shively household is a musical household; both parents hold graduate degrees in composition, and Julian’s younger sister is violinist and frequent chamber music partner. When, at age 2, Julian demonstrated an ability to retain pitches from his toy keyboard by memory, his parents knew they had a budding musician on their hands. Piano lessons were arranged shortly after, and by age 6, Julian was studying cello as well. Julian’s earliest studies were in the Suzuki Method, an experience which Julian notes, “…cultivated my ear and technical foundation in a fun and loving environment.” Growing up in Connecticut afforded Julian the opportunity to particiate in the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras – an organization he participated in until heading off to McGill University in 2018. Julian has always fostered a love for chamber music. He cannot recall a time when he was not active as a chamber musician, and alongside the fulfilling musical experience, he finds it to be an excellent vehicle for improved musicianship. Currently pursuing studies at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, Julian is an active member of a string quartet as well as the McGill Symphony Orchestra. In his free time you might catch Julian out and about on the streets of Montreal – one of his favorite pastimes is jumping on his bicycle and exploring the city. Julian was winner of the MFY Marianne Liberatore Instrumental Competition in 2017 and often a featured guest artist at MFY Benefits and events. He was a frequent participant in the master classes that followed the Free Young Persons’ Concerts and a coach and mentor to many students in their Bridgeport Residency and Exchange program. Watch Julian's performance of the 2nd Movement of Prokofiev's Sonata in C Major, Op. 119: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHOrRY4uF1I May 15th Gardiner Dietrich (11), piano Gardiner Grace Dietrich is an 11 year old 5th grader at Sidwell Friends School in Washington D.C. She began piano at 6 and has been studying with Yoshie Akimoto, Steinway Artist, the past two years online and once a month in Connecticut. In 2018 Gardiner won first prize at the Festival Audition of the Connecticut State Music Teachers Association and 2nd Prize in the French Award of the Schubert Club of Fairfield County. In 2016, 2017 and 2018 she received the Music Fest Grand Prix and the Grand Prize. Gardiner loves her piano lessons and trips to Connecticut. She loves school, riding her bike, reading books and time withher friends and her loving cat, Mr. Wuffles. Watch Gardiner's performance of Bach's Partita No. 1 in B♭major: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyCcznIF6WE&feature=youtu.be Watch a live interview with Gardiner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVg20ggcun8&feature=youtu.be John Russell (16), oboe John Russell, 16, is a sophomore at King School in Stamford, CT and has been studying the oboe with Kathryn Giampietro since 2015. John performs in the Norwalk Youth Symphony as Co-Principal oboe of the Principal Orchestra; he has spent three years performing with the Norwalk Youth Symphony, and is also a member of the Youth Committee. Chosen to participate in Connecticut Western Region's musical groups for the past 5 years, he was selected as first chair All-State Band as a high school freshman. In the past two summers, John attended the Philadelphia International Music Festival as a member of the solo, chamber, and orchestra programs and studied with Elizabeth Masoudnia of the Philadelphia Orchestra. When not playing the oboe, John runs Varsity Cross Country, and is a member of his school's band, Debate Team and Math Team. Watch John's performance of Haydn's Oboe Concerto in C Major: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gceMVV3njgM&feature=youtu.be Andrei Orasanu (11), guitar Andrei began playing classical guitar at the age of five using the Suzuki method in the beginning. During the years he has studied with many teachers including Daniel Hartington, Meredith Connie, James Kerr, Daniel Corr, Joao Luiz, Scott Hill and for the last two years with Tudor Niculescu-Mizil. He also studies music theory and composition with composer/pianist Lyudmila German. Andrei has participated in many prestigious national and international competitions like Boston Guitar Fest, Mid Maryland Guitar Festival, Suzanne Culley Strings Competition, Sinaia International Guitar Festival and Eduard Pamfil International Guitar Competition where he took first prizes in his age group as well as in higher age categories. Participating in all these festivals gave him the opportunity to work in masterclasses with prominent guitarists and teachers such as Gabriel Bianco, Rene Izquerdo, Mak Grgic, Catalin Stefanescu-Patrascu and Stephen Robinson. Currently he is preparing for a series of online competitions including Guitar Foundation of America, Kithara Project Competition and Southern Guitar Competition. A month ago he received the first prize in Mid Maryland Competition (Middle School Division) which this year also took place on-line. Watch Andrei's performance of Andrew York's Home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zV4TuaCM0Y John Hui (17), violin John Russell, 16, is a sophomore at King School in Stamford, CT and has been studying the oboe with Kathryn Giampietro since 2015. John performs in the Norwalk Youth Symphony as Co-Principal oboe of the Principal Orchestra; he has spent three years performing with the Norwalk Youth Symphony, and is also a member of the Youth Committee. Chosen to participate in Connecticut Western Region's musical groups for the past 5 years, he was selected as first chair All-State Band as a high school freshman. In the past two summers, John attended the Philadelphia International Music Festival as a member of the solo, chamber, and orchestra programs and studied with Elizabeth Masoudnia of the Philadelphia Orchestra. When not playing the oboe, John runs Varsity Cross Country, and is a member of his school's band, Debate Team and Math Team. Watch John's performance of the 1st and 2nd Movements of Franck's Violin Concerto in A Major: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqPCu73tKXg May 22nd Arav Amin (13), violin Arav is a 13-year-old 7th grader at Roton Middle School in Norwalk. Arav was 5 years old when he began studying the violin with Daniela Gongora at the Talent Education Suzuki School in Norwalk. In 2016, he enrolled in the 4-year Music Advancement Program at the Juilliard School where he studied with Lucie Gelinas. Over this time, Arav has won awards in competitions in New York and Connecticut and has performed in venues such as Engelman Recital Hall at the Baruch Performing Arts Center. He has also participated in summer music programs, including Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Sphinx Summer Academy at the Juilliard School, Interlochen Arts Camp, and Chamber Music Central in Fairfield. Watch Arav's performance of Chopin's Nocturne in c#-minor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIok--CRUNY&feature=youtu.be Camden Archambeau (18), cello Cellist Camden Archambeau, 18, is a native of Weston, CT and a student in the Harvard-NEC Dual Degree Program. Camden was a member of the New York Youth Symphony for four years and a sat for two years as Rosengarten Chair Principal Cellist. This past summer he toured Europe with the National Youth Orchestra and is currently Principal Cellist of the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra. He has also served as Assistant Principal Cellist of Juilliard Pre-College Orchestra (2018), Juilliard Pre-College Symphony (2017), and Principal Cellist of orchestras including the National Arts Centre of Canada SMI YAP Pre-College Orchestra (2016 and 2017), Danbury Community Orchestra (2014-2016), LIU Post Summer Festival Orchestra (2016) and Interlochen Jr. Adv. Strings Orchestra (2012). Since the age of 8, Camden has volunteered and performed for Music for Youth in its Bridgeport Public School Residency program, benefit concerts and as MC in monthly Friday Young Artist Cafe concerts. MFY has appreciated the musical gifts Camden has shared with the community! Watch Camden and friends "From the Top" perform Glinka's Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABxhmXTmZrM&feature=youtu.be Watch a live interview with Cameron: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QZbpKJPdzU&feature=youtu.be Jesse Balkcom (15), guitar Jesse Balkcom began studying classical guitar in the Suzuki method at the age of 3. He has been fortunate to study with many talented teachers: Mr. Michael McCallie, Mr. Jesse Crites, Mr. Nick Cutroneo, Ms. Meredith Connie, and Mr. David Veslocki. He is now 15 years old and currently studies with Mr. Trevor Babb at the Connecticut Suzuki Guitar Academy in Norwalk. Jesse would like to thank all his teachers for their musical gifts. Jesse has played at the World Trade Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Conservatorio Profesional de Musica in Segovia, Spain, as well as at the Bloodroot Restaurant in Bridgeport, and has been a frequent guest musician at United Church on the Green in New Haven. He has also been a frequent performer at United Community Nursery where he enjoys sharing his music with the children there. In 2019 Jesse took 3rd place at the Mid-Maryland Guitar Competition, one of the largest classical guitar festivals in the country. He won 2nd place in the same competition the previous year. In May 2018 Jesse's ensemble won 2nd place a the Guitar Foundation of America in Louisville, KY. Watch Jesse's performance of Heitor Villa-Lobos' Etude 11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0u7nTJfXr0&feature=youtu.be Watch a live interview with Jesse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX9U87MPg-g&feature=youtu.be Ava Cho (15), violin Ava Cho is a sophomore at Hopkins School in New Haven, CT. She has been playing the violin for 8 years and currently studies with Mrs. McNamara. Ava plays in both the Hopkins Orchestra (assistant concertmaster) and the Norwalk Youth Symphony (principal second). Ava has qualified for the CMEA (Connecticut Music Educators Association) Southern Region High School Festival placing concertmaster both freshman and sophomore year and the CMEA All-State Festival. Additionally, her quartet at Hopkins was accepted into the 2020 YMC Regional Concert. She also started a non-profit organization called Busking For Change in 2017 which raises money for charities by playing music in public areas. Watch Ava's performance of Paganini's Cantabile in D Major: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYIAhGOtkco&feature=youtu.be May 29th Samuel Bustamante (17), violin Winner of the 2020 Dorothy Straub and Bob Genualdi $1000 Scholarship Samuel Bustamante is 17 years old, and is currently finishing his senior year of homeschooling. He hopes to pursue the field of computer science in the future as well continuing his study of music. Samuel has been playing violin since the age of 7 and has participated and volunteered his time in various music organizations and ensembles including Music For Youth, Kids Empowered by Your Support, BackCountry Jazz, Chamber Music Institute for Young Musicians, Greater Bridgeport Symphony, and the Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestras. In the community, he has served as part of the music ensembles of Trinity Baptist Church and Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. Most recently, his chamber music group, the Westport-based Asombro Quintet, placed as a finalist in the International Grande Musical Competition in New York City with a planned performance of Schubert's String Quintet, D. 956 at Merkin Hall in August. Part of a musical family, Samuel enjoys playing chamber and solo repertoire alongside his siblings and also volunteers as a violin and viola teacher alongside his brother, Josué Bustamante in the Bridgeport Public Schools with the Music for Youth afterschool Musical Mondays program. He currently studies violin with Patrick Doane. Watch a live interview with Samuel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ7YAFt0hoo Cedar-Rose Newman (16), violin Cedar-Rose Newman studies with Lucie Robert at the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College. She was the recipient of the Kate Bamberger Scholarship for violin (2018), holds the Jocelyn Gertel Scholarship for strings (2019) and won the Philharmonic String Concerto Competition in October 2019/20. Cedar began violin with Sarah Hindson in Wollongong, Australia and attended the local conservatorium, before moving to work with Albert Markov in the US in 2016. She has worked with her pianist Akiko Chiba, since 2017. Cedar completed her AMEB Associate Diploma piano, studying with Gian-Franco Ricci. An active participant in Music for Youth Connecticut, her involvement includes; performance, accompanying young violinists on the piano, performing recitals and hosting concerts. In 2019, Cedar committed to raising funds for “A Musical Gift," a Rural Aid Australia program designed to help provide greater access to music for students in isolated rural communities. Cedar attended a Montessori school until 11 and is now an online student of Wolsey Hall Oxford, preparing her IGCSE’s. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, bouldering and hiking in the Australian bush. Watch Cedar's performance of Eduardo Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AajKPn1Rexw Bobby Master (16), saxophone Bobby Master is 16 years old and attends Fairfield Ludlowe High School. He has been playing alto saxophone for over three years. He also sings and does audio engineering. Watch Bobby's performance of Ray Charles' "Unchain My Heart": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BElLxghrDqs Watch a live interview with Bobby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpcK94MpWI8&feature=youtu.be June 12th Kate Wegener (19), oboe Kate Wegener is a 19 year old oboist from Easton, Connecticut. She is a rising junior at the Juilliard School, where she studies with Nathan Hughes. Kate has participated in summer festivals including the Sarasota Music Festival, the Domaine Forget International Music Festival, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and has been a member of Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra of the USA. In 2017, she appeared on NPR’s segment “From the Top” celebrating young classical musicians, performing with host and pianist Christopher O’Riley at Carnegie Hall. Watch Kate's performance of Bach's Flute Partita in a minor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBqf6Glwwro Watch a live interview with Kate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEhVG9pShoM&feature=youtu.be Audrey Szymanski, violin MFY 2018 Dorothy Straub and Bob Genualdi Scholarship Recipient Audrey Szymanski is currently studying Music Education at the Western Connecticut State University on a full scholarship. She studies violin with Hafez Taghavi and has sat Assistant Concertmaster and Principal Second in the WestConn Orchestra. In March 2016, Audrey performed as Concertmaster and violin soloist in Carnegie Hall with the KEYS Orchestra. She also performed as Concertmaster while attending high school at the Agricultural and Biotechnology Center in Trumbull, CT. For five years, Audrey studied jazz violin at the BackCountry Jazz Summer Camp. She performed solo jazz violin in numerous concerts with Bennie Wallace and the BackCountry Jazz Beboppers. From 2014 to 2018, Audrey has helped organize and direct Heartstrings, a string chamber ensemble. As a community service, she performed as a violin and viola soloist with Heartstrings in numerous concerts at senior nursing homes throughout Connecticut. In 2018, she was awarded the Dorothy Straub/Bob Genualdi Scholarship from Music For Youth. Audrey is a teaching artist with the KEYS organization and in February 2018, she began assisting and teaching the strings program at the High Horizons and Multicultural Magnet Schools in Bridgeport, CT through the non-profit Music For Youth. Currently, Audrey is performing violin and viola in various string quartets, jazz combos, and bands in multiple other genres, and is a member of the second violin section with the Danbury Symphony Orchestra. Watch Audrey's performance of Sicilienne from Bach's g minor Violin Sonata no.1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNbCclYP-w4 Sabrina Lee (12), violin Sabrina has been playing violin since she was 6 and studies with Russian violinist Yuri Vodovoz in New York and previously worked with Yuan Ma in Stamford. Sabrina received an Honorable mention at 2019 Suzanne Culley Competition in Connecticut. Sabrina has recently become involved in Music for Youth Friday Night Cafes and attended a master class with the Vera Quartet sponsored by MFY in 2019. Sabrina is finishing her first year at Middlesex Middleschool in Darien, she likes dogs and plays marble chess in her spare time. Watch Sabrina's performance of Jacques-Féréol Mazas' Etudes, Op. 36, #47 (Staccato): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2NqoLU_KRM&feature=youtu.be Watch a live interview with Sabrina: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPagepuYHfw&feature=youtu.be June 26th Ava Turner (17), piano Ava Turner is a 17-year-old homeschooled student who has studied piano with Edith Sullivan in Danbury since the age of six. She plans to major in piano performance in college. Ava has won numerous awards in Connecticut and New York, including the opportunity to perform in Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall this past June. She participated in the Chamber Music Central summer session in 2016, as well as the advanced “Amici” chamber program in 2017. In 2018, she attended the Summer Piano Academy at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. Watch Ava's performance of Beethoven's Sonata, Op. 2, No. 3 in C major: I. Allegro con brio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AbkneeHe1k&feature=youtu.be II. Adagio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kev3o-MiA1s III. Scherzo: Allegro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R20y3xAjul4 IV. Allegro assai: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3jap1Qqahs The Amante String Trio: Cristina Bustamante, cello Cristina has been playing cello since the age of 5. Like her siblings, she has been actively involved in and studied under a large number of music organizations including Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestras, Kids Empowered by Your Support, BackCountry Jazz, the Suzuki Music School of Westport, Westport Music School, Broadway Method Academy, the Greater Bridgeport Symphony, the Chamber Music Institute for Young Musicians, and Music for Youth. Josué Bustamante, violin Josué “Joshua” Bustamante, a resident of Bridgeport, has had the pleasure of exploring various opportunities to study violin, viola, and piano under a wide range of music styles ranging from classical and jazz to gospel and rock. His willingness to expand his training has led to instruction and collaborations with the Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestras, Kids Empowered by Your Support, BackCountry Jazz, SOAR Music Camp, Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County, the Suzuki Music School of Westport, the Greater Bridgeport Symphony, the Chamber Music Institute for Young Musicians, Music Haven and Music for Youth. He has long been involved in the community in musical capacities, serving as volunteer in the Bridgeport Public Schools Joshua is currently the director of the Roosevelt Strings program based out of Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School and maintains his own private studio, directly teaching a combined number of over 50 students. For his contributions to the community, he has been inducted into the KEYS Hall of Fame and received the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Music Ambassador Award. In chamber music, his groups, coached by Patrick Sohn, have placed as finalists in the Chamber Music Competition of the National League of Performing Arts for two years running. He is double majoring in Music Education and Violin Performance at the University of Bridgeport and currently studies violin with Patrick Doane and piano with Alexis Zingale. Samuel Bustamante, violin Samuel Bustamante is in his senior year of high school and is homeschooled. He has been playing violin since he was 7 years old and is classically-trained but also has experience performing in jazz bands and gospel ensembles. He has been involved as a student and volunteer for Music for Youth, Kids Empowered by Your Support, Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestra, Greater Bridgeport Symphony, Chamber Music Institute for Young Musicians, Neighborhood Studios of Fairfield County, BackCountry Jazz, and SOAR Summer Camp. He is part of the Asombro Quintet based out of Westport coached by Patrick Sohn and currently studies violin with Patrick Doane. Watch The Amante String Trio's performance of Haydn's Divertimento in C Major, Hob.IV:1, Mvt. I. Allegro Moderato: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82k-P0L_UYQ&feature=youtu.be Watch a live interview with The Amante String Trio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI3cuS7X2gU&feature=youtu.be |
Music for Youth, Inc. © Copyright 2018. All rights reserved.
Designed by Mona Sinha @ThatMusicDogKid.
Designed by Mona Sinha @ThatMusicDogKid.
