Chicago Youth in Music Festival

February 26, 2016

The CHICAGO YOUTH IN MUSIC FESTIVAL is a celebration of young classical musicians from across Greater Chicago. The 2016 Festival was presented by the Negaunee Music Institute at the CSO in partnership with the city’s leading community music schools and youth orchestra programs. Artistic leadership was provided by Chicago Symphony Orchestra Music Director Riccardo Muti, Judson and Joyce Green Creative Consultant Yo-Yo Ma, Civic Orchestra Principal Conductor Cliff Colnot, musicians of the CSO and the Civic Fellows of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.  

Since its inception in 2011, the Festival, presented for the first time in back to back years, has created numerous opportunities for young people from across the city to come together, celebrate and deepen their love for instrumental music, and connect to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Members of the 2016 Festival Orchestra participated in two private rehearsals and sectionals with CSO musicians February 12 and 14 with conductor Cliff Colnot, and on February 15 they performed Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture in a final open rehearsal was under the baton of Maestro Gennady Rozhdestvensky.  

The orchestra populated entirely by advanced musicians grades 7-12 from partner organizations (save Civic musicians as string principals), was comprised of string players recommended from each partner organization; brass and percussion students were accepted after a live audition.  Twelve Music Institute of Chicago Academy string students participated in the Festival, including violinist Karisa Chiu who was selected as Assistant Principal.

MIC ACADEMY PARTICIPANTS

Violins

KARISA CHIU, Assistant Principal, student of Almita Vamos

MAYA BUCHANAN, student of Almita and Roland Vamos

ZACHARY BRANDON, student of Hye-Sun Lee

BYRON FULOP LAING, student of Almita Vamos

JOHN HEO, student of Almita Vamos

Viola

PETER MORIN, student of Li-Kuo Chang

Cello

NATHAN MO, student of Hans Jørgen Jensen

LYDIA RHEA, student of Hans Jørgen Jensen

ANNAMARIE WELLEMS, student of Tanya L. Carey

BRENDAN TARM, student of Gilda Barston

Bass

BEN FRIEDLAND, student of Rob Kassinger 

At the conclusion of the festival, Sunday, February 28, three chamber ensembles, selected via lottery, participated in a master class with celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma.  The Music Institute of Chicago is proud to have the Academy's Iris Piano Trio as one of the chamber ensembles selected.

ABOUT THE IRIS PIANO TRIO

Trio Iris is comprised of Ria Honda, violin; Ayoun Alexandra Kim, cello; and Natalie Nedvetsky, piano. All three students are Fellows at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, a pre-college training program for gifted musicians. The trio is currently coached by artist faculty members Milana Pavchinskaya and Paul Vanderwerf. All three members of Trio Iris were semifinalists in the 2015 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. In addition, the members have individually won numerous competitions and prizes locally, regionally, and nationally.

All members of Trio Iris currently reside in Wilmette. Ria and Alexandra both attend New Trier High School, while Natalie is homeschooled. The word “Iris” means “rainbow” in Latin. This name represents the group perfectly because the rainbow is a symbol of perfect harmony and unity. An iris is also a flower with three main petals, which is fitting for a trio. Finally, in Greek mythology, Iris links the gods to humanity, and similarly Trio Iris hopes to link the audience to the music.

 2016 COLLABORATING ORGANIZATIONS

Chicago Center for Music Education • Chicago Metamorphosis Orchestra Project • Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras • DePaul School of Music Community Music Division • Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra • Hyde Park Suzuki Institute • Hyde Park Youth Symphony Orchestra • Merit School of Music • Midwest Young Artists • Music Institute of Chicago • New Music School • The People’s Music School • Ravinia Festival • Sherwood Community Music School at Columbia College Chicago