Academy Winter Roundup 2025
February 18th, 2025
The Music Institute of Chicago is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our Academy students this winter. From prestigious competitions to national broadcasts, our young musicians have demonstrated remarkable artistry, dedication, and excellence on some of the most esteemed stages.
Cellist Katarina Kenney, student of Cornelia Watkins, and violist Vivian Van de Sype-Cucu, student of Davis King, are two of the three finalists in the ANNUAL AUDREY G. BAIRD STARS OF TOMORROW Competition. The 2025 Audrey G. Baird Stars of Tomorrow Auditions took place on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at the First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa. The three finalists will have the honor of appearing as soloists with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra at the Audrey G. Baird Stars of Tomorrow Concert on April 8, 2025. In addition to the honor of performing as a soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony, winners are eligible to receive up to $2,000 in awards. MSO musicians serve as judges for all rounds of the competition. Semi-finalists and honorable mentions will be given the opportunity to play side-by-side with Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra musicians.
Academy violinist Matthew Kim, student of Sang Mee Lee, and Community Music School student Kashyap Prasad, piano student of Dr. Matthew Hagle, performed on the Skokie Library Young Steinway Concert Series on February 2, 2025.
Cellist Lucy Wu, student of Stefan Kartman, and violist Vivian Van de Sype-Cucu, student of Davis King, advanced from the semifinals to the Final Forte of the Bolz Young Artist Competition! The final round is on March 5th. PBS Wisconsin visited the Academy to record interviews with Lucy and Vivian. The Bolz Young Artist Competition is a highly regarded statewide competition in which Wisconsin’s young musicians compete for scholarships and the opportunity to perform as soloists with the Madison Symphony Orchestra (MSO). Four finalists will compete in The Final Forte, which will be broadcast on PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio.
Neena Agrawal, viola student of Sang Mee Lee, as the winner of the Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest's Annual Concerto Competition 2024-2025, performed on the SOP concert Sunday, February 16, 2025, and will also receive a cash prize. Neena performed Stamitz Viola Concerto in D major, first movement.
Violinist Elle Cho, student of Almita Vamos, was named the 2nd place winner at the 69th Annual DuPage Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Auditions, on Sunday, February 2, 2025, in Wentz Concert Hall, Naperville, IL. “Elle delivered an exceptional performance of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major, first mvt., impressing the judges with her artistry and technical command.”
Pianist Noah Kim, student of Christopher Guzman, was named runner up at the 56th Annual Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra Stanger Competition Division Round. If the winner is not available to perform at the finals in May, the runner up will compete in the May final round. Noah performed the first movement of the Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor. The Elmhurst Symphony Association, through its Stanger Competition, encourages serious study and high standards among young musicians. It is the Association’s intention that the Competition be both educational and rewarding to each entrant.
Cellist Lucy Wu, student of Stefan Kartman, performed with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra as their featured soloist in the Rhythm Rhapsody Youth Concert Series due to winning the 2024 MSO Stars of Tomorrow. She played in four concerts for children from local schools in the Bradley Symphony Center Hall. In addition, Lucy, a winner in the Civic Music Milwaukee High School Competition, was selected as one of ten instrumentalists and vocalists from the ‘winners’ round to perform in a Showcase Recital on Saturday, February 16. Lucy won the top scholarship award (1st prize) at the competition, and was one of four classical musicians to receive a Young Artist Scholarship. The competition is a well-regarded Milwaukee competition for accomplished high school age musicians.
Violinist Lily Sullivan (student of Grigory Kalinovsky) and cellist Jan Vargas Nedvetsky (student Hans Jorgen Jensen and Oleksa Mycyk) appeared on the Monday, February 17 broadcast of From the Top, America’s largest national platform celebrating young classically-trained musicians. Through NPR broadcasts and digital content, and the Learning and Media Lab Fellowship, From the Top empowers young musicians to use their music and stories to engage and inspire audiences of all ages.
We congratulate all our students on their dedication and hard work. Stay tuned for more incredible performances and milestones in the coming months!