Young Steinway Concert Series
2011-2012 Season

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September 4	February 5
October 2	March 4
November 6	April 1
December 4	May 6
December 18: Alumni concert	June 3
January 8

The 30th Annual Young Steinway Concert Series begins on Sunday, September 4 in Skokie Public Library's Petty Auditorium. For 29 years the concerts have showcased young people with extraordinary talent, giving local audiences the chance to enjoy first-class music close to home. Many of our past performers have gone on to great achievements as professional musicians, and we are proud to count them as part of our Young Steinway family.

Concerts begin at 3:00pm in the Petty Auditorium. Free tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis one-half hour prior to each performance. Limited seating is available for patrons with disabilities.

We invite you to learn more about the accomplishments of this season's performers, and look forward to seeing you at these wonderful concerts!

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September 4, 2011

Ryan Jannak-Huang, piano

School
Eighth grader at Walter R. Sundling Junior High School in Palatine, Ilinois

Recent performances and honors

First place, Illinois junior division of the Music Teachers National Association competition, November 2010

First place, Virginia Geyser Behrendt Scholarship Competition, October 2010

Musical studies
Studies piano with Brenda Huang and plays piano duets with his twin brother

Other interests
Reading, golf, tennis, cross country

Primo Duo

Monet Lee, violin
Jonathan Cruz, piano

School
Monet, freshman at Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Jonathan, eighth grader at Clarendon Hills Middle School

Musical studies
Coached by Dr. Soo Young Lee

Monet Lee and Jonathan Cruz play together as Primo Duo through the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy Program for gifted precollege musicians.

Monet and Jonathan are accomplished young musicians, winners of numerous competitions and honors, and both are active in their school music programs as well as the Music Institute of Chicago.

October 2, 2011

Jorie Butler-Geyer, violin

School
Senior at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois

Recent performances and honors
Soloist with Bach and Beyond Orchestra, Fall 2010

Performed with Trio Bravo on WFMT’s “Introductions” program, Fall 2010

Winner, DePaul University Concerto Festival Competition, 2010

Soloist with Oistrach Symphony Orchestra

Musical studies
Studies violin with Desiree Ruhstradt

Member of Trio Bravo (which has appeared on the Young Steinway Concert Series)

Concertmaster, Midwest Young Artists Symphony Orchestra

Other interests
Teaching violin, hiking, swimming, tennis

Mark Pecak, piano

School
Senior, Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock, Illinois

Recent performances and honors

Performs at Fryderyk Chopin Polish School several times a year, featuring works of Chopin

Received prizes in Northshore Music Teachers Association competitions

Musical studies
Studies piano with Dr. Soo Lee

Other interests
Sailing, fishing, camping, mathematics, science

November 6, 2011

Benjamin Fleischacker, cello

School
Senior, Chicagoland Jewish High School in Deerfield, Illinois

Recent performances and honors
Young Artist of Tomorrow scholarship at Music Institute of Chicago, 2010-2011

Performed in National Cello Institute Advanced Residency Program Concerts in the Community, August 2011

Musical studies
Studies cello with Blake Brasch

Member, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra where he played Brahms piano trio in CYSO ChamberPalooza, May 2011

Other interests
National Chemistry Olympiad (received honors in 2011), cross country, Russian novels, vanilla ice cream

Anne McLaughlin, piano

School
Senior, New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois

Recent performances and honors
Performed live on WFMT’s “Introductions” program, March 2011

Received merit scholarship from Music Institute of Chicago, 2011

Performed in Four-score Music Festival: Generation Next Composer’s Lab, March 2011

Musical studies
Studies piano with Soo Young Lee

Also studied violin, viola, and clarinet

Accompanied her middle school band, orchestra, and chorus

Other interests
Foreign languages (Japanese, Gaelic, Chinese, Spanish), reading, biking

December 4 , 2011

Susie Lee, piano

School
Sophomore, Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Ilinois

Recent performances and honors
Honorable mention, Emilio del Rosario Piano Concert Competition, April 2011

Second place, Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition

Musical studies
Studies piano with Brenda Huang

Plays flute in school band, chamber music in two Midwest Young Artists groups, is part of her school’s Jazz Ensemble

Other interests
Reading, swimming, volunteering, tennis

Hansuh Rhee, violin

School
Freshman, Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Ilinois

Recent performances and honors
Soloist, Music Institute of Chicago Academy Strings, February 2011

Soloist, Emilio del Rosario Memorial Tribute Concert, January 2011

Performed at Notre Dame University Library, May 2011

Received merit scholarships from Music Institute of Chicago and Okemo Young Artists’ Program for several years

Musical studies
Studies violin with Marko Dreher

Member of Okemo String Quartet and the Academy Strings

December 18, 2012

Alumni Concert

Barton Rotberg, violin
Sungeun Kim, piano

Barton Rotberg, assistant professor of music at Mercyhurst College’s D’Angelo Department of Music in Erie, Pennsylvania, was born in Chicago. He has performed as a violinist in the U.S., Canada, France, Spain, Costa Rica, and Mexico and has been a prizewinner in the International Chamber Music Competition of Boston and the Liberty Freemont Young Artists Competition in Illinois.He served for three seasons as concertmaster of the Southwest Symphony Orchestra in Illinois, and has been a member of the Illinois Philharmonic, Ann Arbor Symphony, Lansing Symphony, and Flint Symphony orchestras.

Sungeun Kim, assistant professor of piano and chair of the keyboard department at Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music, has given numerous concerts in the U.S., Canada, Russia, Spain, Korea, and Italy. A first-prize winner of the Virginia Waring International Piano Competition, she has appeared as guest soloist with the Texas Conservatory Piano Festival for Young Artists, the Virginia Rising Star Concert Series, the Palm Springs Concert Series, and the 24th Concert Stage at St. Ivo in Rome.

January 8, 2012

Aidan Perreault, violin

School
Eighth grader, Old Orchard Junior High School in Skokie, Illinois

Recent performances and honors
Selected to perform in a masterclass with Odin Rathnam, March 2011

Auditioned for From the Top, 2011

Musical studies
Studies violin with David Yonan

Concertmaster, Midwest Young Artists Concert Orchestra

Participates in the MYA chamber music program

Other interests
Hiking, soccer, chess, computer programming

Jarrett Takaki, piano

School
Seventh grader, Wilmette Junior High School in Wilmette, Illinois

Recent performances and honors:
Performed in Steinway Young Artist Competition Winner’s Recital, February 2011

Second place, Elementary Division of the Bradshaw Buono International Piano Competition in New York, 2010

Musical studies
Studies piano with Sueanne Metz

Loves all types of music and performs with great energy

Other interests
Soccer, baseball, reading manga

February 5, 2011

Vivian Jin, piano

School
Freshman, Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois

Recent performances and honors
Sejong Cultural Society Music Competition Winners’ Concert, December 2010

First place, Roberta Savler Piano Competition, April 2011

Musical studies
Studies piano with Brenda Huang, chamber music at OPUS Camp

Pianist for school Jazz Ensemble, violinist in school orchestra

Other interests
Science, math, science fiction and fantasy books

Devon Naftzger, viola

School
Senior, Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois

Recent performances and honors
Performed on WFMT’s “Introductions” program, October 2010

Soloist, I Solisti Chamber Orchestra, 2010

Played the national anthem at a Cubs Game, August 2010

Musical studies:
Studies viola with Desiree Ruhstrat

Participates in Midwest Young Artists orchestra and chamber music programs, where her quartet won second place in the Rembrandt Competition, January 2011

Performed in the Stars of Tomorrow Concert, April 2011

Other interests
Ballet, writing (poetry), tutoring math

March 4, 2012

Katie Gallagher, violin

School
Sophomore, St. Francis High School in Wheaton, Ilinois

Recent performances and honors
Chicago Consort Anniversary Concert at Symphony Hall, March 2011

Tour of Spain, June 2010

First place winner, Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, 2010

Performed as soloist with Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, May 2011

Musical studies
Studies violin with Thomas Wermuth

Member of the Chicago Consort, Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Saints Peter and Paul Church String Ensemble

Other interests
Square dancing, enjoying time with friends

Jessica Ni, piano

School:
Freshman, Vernon Hills High School in Vernon Hills, Illinois

Recent performances and honors
In Honor of Confucius Festival Winners’ Concert, November 2010

Musical studies
Studies piano with Brenda Huang

Plays cello in school orchestra and chamber orchestra

Other interests
Reading, writing, kung fu

April 1, 2012

Stephanie Block, viola

School
Senior, Barrington High School in Barrington, Illinois

Recent performances and honors
Performed with Oistrach Symphony as winner of DePaul Concerto Festival for Young Performers, January 2011

Solo performance with Northwest Symphony as winner of Paul Vermel Young Artist Award, May 2011

Musical studies
Studies viola with Desiree Ruhstrat

Principal violist with Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and CYSO Encore Chamber Orchestra

Selected to perform with Chicago Youth in Music Festival Orchestra under the direction of Riccardo Muti, May 2011

Other interests: Triathlons, dance, swimming, playing the piano

Mitchell Greene, guitar

School:
Senior, Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois

Recent performances and honors
Performed on WFMT “Introductions” program, October 2010

Attended Aspen Music Festival on scholarship to study with Sharon Isbin

Musical studies
Studies guitar with Julia A. Miller

Plays string bass in Glenbrook Symphony Orchestra and electric guitar in a rock band

Other interests
Math, tennis, horseback riding

May 6, 2011

Christopher Gao, Cello

School:
Freshman, Stevenson High School in Buffalo Grove, Illinois

Recent performances and honors
Soloist, Midwest Young Artists Concert Orchestra, February 2011; and with Oistrach Symphony Orchestra, January 2011 as winner of DePaul Univeristy Concerto Festival for Young Performers

Musical studies
Studies cello with Hans Jensen

Principal cellist, Midwest Young Artists Concert Orchestra, I Solisti Chamber Orchestra, and The Meshugene Quartet

Other interests
Tennis, math, reading

Rachel Stenzel, Violin

School
Homeschooled high-school sophomore

Recent performances and honors
Soloist, Northern Illinois University Community School of the Arts Sinfonia Orchestra as winner of their concerto competition, February 2011

Overall winner, Midwest Young Artists Junior Division of the 2010 Walgreens National Concerto Competition

Performed on WFMT’s “Introductions” program with her string quartet, April 2011

Musical studies
Studies violin with Lisa Chodorowski

Plays piano

Member of Midwest Young Artists Symphony Orchestra

Past member of the McHenry County Youth Orchestra

Other interests
Awana, softball, crafts, journaling

June 3, 2011

Jeeahn Ko, Flute

School:
Sophomore, Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois

Recent performances and honors
Soloist, Loyola Symphony Orchestra, April 2011

America High School Honors Performance at Carnegie Hall (Honors Band), February 2011

Musical studies
Studies flute with Amano Hideko, chamber music with Midwest Young Artists

Plays piccolo

Other interests
Animal welfare volunteer work, skiing, swimming

Giancarlo Latta, Violin

School
Junior, Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Recent performances and honors
Soloist, Oistrach Symphony as winner of 2011 DePaul Concerto Festival for Young Performers, January 2011

First place winner, 2010 Shar Quartet Competition with Calliope String Quartet

Musical studies
Studies violin with Almita Vamos with Merit Scholarship at Music Institute of Chicago

Concertmaster, Ann Arbor Youth Symphony Orchestra and Interlochen Summer Arts Camp Intermediate Symphony Orchestra

Other interests
Writing, biking, swimming