The Yale Symphony Orchestra Roster

Natalie is a sophomore violinist in Silliman College from London, UK. She began her music studies on the piano at the age of three and developed a love for the violin a few years later. From the age of nine, she was concertmaster and associate concertmaster of the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain for 4 years. During that time, she continued her violin studies at the Royal College of Music with Professor Maciej Rakowski. More recently, Natalie has performed as soloist and chamber musician at Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, and Wigmore Hall. In the summers, she has participated in the Musica Mundi Festival in Belgium, Curtis Summerfest, BU Tanglewood Institute. Besides music, Natalie enjoys reading, finding good places to eat with friends and stargazing. 

Felix Fein is a junior violinist in Benjamin Franklin College from San Francisco. He is an alumnus of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and studied with Catherine Van Hoesen. At Yale, Felix studies the history of science and medicine, works as an EMT, leads FOOT trips, and treasures his role as co-social chair of the YSO! In his free time, Felix loves exploring cities, forests, and subways.

Naomi-Jeanne Main is a sophomore violinist in Davenport College from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A student of Wendy Sharp, she is an alumna of the Temple Music Preparatory program and has spent past summers at the Bowdoin International Music Festival, Madeline Island Chamber Music, and the Meadowmount School of Music. Aside from music, she loves backyard chicken keeping, running slowly, and green grapes.

Atticus Margulis-Ohnuma is a junior violinist in Branford College, studying music and psychology. He is originally from Westchester NY, though he feels as though he’s lived in New Haven for a while now. Outside of playing the violin, you can often find him working out, running for exercise, running to get to class, or eating lunch in Commons at 2:50pm. He currently studies violin with Wendy Sharp and works in the Mechanisms of Disinhibition psychology lab under the direction of Arielle Baskin-Sommers. Atticus is the current student president for the orchestra, and he is so excited to be working with an amazing executive board this year!

Jessica Na is a junior in Silliman College from Bellevue, Washington. At Yale, she studies neuroscience on the premed track. Jessica has been playing violin since the age of 6, and served as concertmaster of the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra. In her free time, she likes to travel, explore new restaurants, go to the beach, and play tennis. She is currently on an ongoing hunt to find the best iced latte in New Haven. 

Erin Nishi is a senior in Pauli Murray College from Honolulu, Hawaii. She majors in Psychology on the Neuroscience track and aspires to research the effects of music on cognition. She has been playing violin since the age of three and currently studies with Professor Kyung Yu at the Yale School of Music. Erin was concertmaster of the Hawaii Youth Symphony and Punahou Orchestra, and was privileged to perform concerti with the Hawaii Symphony, Maui Chamber Orchestra, Kamuela Philharmonic, and most recently, the Berkeley String Orchestra at Yale. She also began playing viola during her first semester at Yale, and has since enjoyed her alter ego as a violist in both chamber ensembles and the YSO viola section. In her free time, she also enjoys piano, hula, fishing, Japanese tea ceremony, and admiring sharks.

Isabelle Ong is a first-year violinist from Timothy Dwight College, and hails from Singapore. She is currently studying with Prof Ani Kavafian under the BA/MM program, and hopes to major in Mechanical Engineering at Yale College. Isabelle started playing the violin at the age of 4, coming under the tutelage of Assoc Prof Zuo Jun at the age of 14. In 2019, she attained Third Prize in the Intermediate Category of the Singapore National Piano and Violin Competition, and in 2022 was awarded First Prize and Jury’s Special Prize in the Inzai International Music Competition. Most recently, she was 1 of 5 finalists at the 2024 Leonid Kogan International Competition for Young Violinists. Outside of music, Isabelle loves Math and Physics and enjoys reading in her free time. 

Ella Saputra is a sophomore violinist in Davenport College from Schaumburg, Illinois. She is an alumna of the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative Program and the Colburn School’s Fortissima program. She has participated in the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra, Chamber Music Northwest Young Artist Institute, Orford Musique, and National Pathways Festival Orchestra, and she has previously appeared on NPR’s From The Top and WFMT 98.7 FM’s Introductions. She enjoys good food, coffee, and naps.

Lila Schweinfurth TD ‘25, a double major in Computer Science and Mathematics & Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, began studying the violin at an early age in her hometown of Portland, Oregon. Besides playing orchestral and chamber music, she also sings with the Yale Glee Club. Lila enjoys traveling and finding new places to eat.

Nate Strothkamp is a junior violinist in Pierson College and student of Wendy Sharp. Nate spent the past summer performing at the Spoleto Festival USA and Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. When not playing the violin, he spent his time hiking and driving through his beautiful home state of Oregon and improving his cooking skills. Nate is an American Studies major with an intensive Education Studies certificate, and he enjoys teaching violin at the YSM Music in Schools Initiative. 

I’m a first year in Benjamin Franklin College planning to major in Maths and Economics, and hail from London, UK. I was in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain for four years, ending as co-principal of the second violins in my final year, and studied with Professor Remus Azoitei. I love collecting novelty earrings, recording my dreams, being up at the crack of dawn, and cooking spontaneous dishes.

Tyler Tan is a junior violinist in Pauli Murray College. He is from Cheshire, Connecticut and studied at the Juilliard Pre-College program throughout high school. Tyler was a National YoungArts Finalist and a member of NYO-USA. At Yale, he is majoring in computer science and math. In his free time, he enjoys playing squash, adding chili oil to any meal, and taking the occasional nap.

Miriam Viazmenski (BF ’25) is a Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry major from Hanover, New Hampshire. She studies with Kyung Yu, has served as a fellow of the Colorado College Summer Music Festival, and has attended the Bowdoin and Aspen Music Festivals. Miriam’s teachers have included Syoko Aki, Scott Yoo, and Kristopher Tong, and she attended the New England Conservatory Preparatory School. Miriam also loves playing chamber music, dancing ballet, and cooking with friends. The YSO Mexico tour was the highlight of Miriam’s sophomore year, and she can’t wait for another season with the orchestra!

Sheeline Yu is a junior violinist in Stiles. She is from Nashville, TN, where she studied at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music. At Yale, she studies statistics and data science on the pre-med track. Sheeline loves playing chamber music and Mendelssohn, with whom she shares a birthday. Outside of music, she loves rock climbing with the Yale Climbing Team, eating so much fruit, and finding wildlife on hiking trips. 

Gloria Baek is a first-year violinist in Grace Hopper College. Originally from Naperville, Illinois, she has been playing violin since the age of five and has most recently studied with Drew Lecher. During her time in the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, she served as both concertmaster and second violin principal of the Symphony Orchestra and received the Albert Pick III Award in her senior year. At Yale, Gloria is interested in studying economics and public policy on a pre-law track, and would like to get involved at the Yale Farm as well. In her free time, Gloria enjoys going on long walks, finding good food, and trying to keep her succulent Kiwi alive (it may die by the end of this year but so far, so good!).

Keeley Brooks is a senior in Morse College, originally from Winthrop, Washington. She is a music major whose thesis is an oral history on violin pedagogue Dorothy DeLay. Keeley studies with Wendy Sharp and spent her past summer playing in the Maine Chamber Music Festival and working for the forest service on wildfire acoustic research. When Keeley isn’t playing her violin, you can find her teaching fitness classes at the gym, going on runs with friends, wishing for snow  and hanging out with people outside.

Mina is a first year in Davenport College hailing from Naperville, Illinois. She has been playing violin since she was five years old, and mainly studied with Julie Bickel through the Music Institute of Chicago. During her time in high school, she was a member of the Illinois All-State Honors Orchestra for three years and the concertmaster of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra for two. At Yale, Mina is interested in studying Ethics, Politics, and Economics while also pursuing the pre-med track. In her free time, she enjoys a variety of things, such as reading, writing, dreaming, film, listening to music, and hanging out with her friends.

Rachel Kim is a junior in Davenport College from Irvine, California. She has played in a variety of orchestras including the National Youth Orchestra 2 and Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, in both of which she held principal positions. She has performed as a soloist with the Bellflower Symphony Orchestra and has played in chamber groups such as the Pacific Symphony Youth Quartet, Junior Chamber Music, and the Chamber Music OC Pre-College Program. Rachel was chosen for a master class with world-renowned violinist Ray Chen. At Yale, she is studying Political Science and Education Studies and enjoys exploring a variety of fields, both STEM and humanities. In her free time, she enjoys going on walks, satisfying her boba addiction, and spending time with friends and family. 

Timothy Lee is a sophomore in Ezra Stiles College from Beaverton, Oregon. He has been playing the violin since the age of five and is currently studying with Wendy Sharp. Timothy spent the past summer studying abroad in London and has returned with a greater appreciation for cakes, castles, and candids. Outside of music, Timothy enjoys playing for the Yale Curling Club and encourages anyone remotely interested to join. 

Henry is a first-year violinist in Morse College from Katy, Texas. He began his music studies on the piano at the age of five before starting the violin at the age of nine, and he currently studies with Professor Kyung Yu at the Yale School of Music. Henry has been a member of the Texas All-State Symphony for four years and Houston Youth Symphony for six years, where he has served as associate concertmaster and principal second violinist. In the summers, Henry has attended Interlochen Arts Camp. At Yale, he plans to study Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology on the pre-med track. Besides music, Henry enjoys visiting national parks, watching dramedies, and finding the perfect hot pot restaurant.

Tobias Liu is a junior violinist in Trumbull College from Johns Creek, Georgia studying economics and molecular biology. He has spent past summers at the Bowdoin and Orford International Music Festivals, as a member in NYO-USA, and studying abroad in Ecuador, Argentina and Spain. Outside of music, Tobias loves swimming, Atlanta sports, and oatmeal. 

Marco Opeña is a first-year violinist in Grace Hopper College from Phoenix, Arizona. Marco began playing violin at age 5, and in his high school years, he studied with Dr. Katherine McLin at Arizona State University. He is also an alumnus of the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Rocky Ridge Summer College Intensive Program. Besides violin, Marco loves distance running, browsing library bookshelves, diving into Wikipedia rabbit holes, and listening to Radiohead. 

Skylar is a first-year violinist in Saybrook College from Seoul, South Korea. She is an alumna of the Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts and the Morningside Music Bridge summer program. When she is not profusely professing her adulation for Shostakovich, she can be found curating uber-specific Spotify playlists and vibing to hardcore Korean hip-hop.

Katy is a first-year violinist in Branford College from Wayland, MA. Katy started playing violin at age four and during high school studied with Zoya Bologovsky. She is an alumnae of the St. Paul’s School orchestra and chamber groups program as well as the Rivers School Conservatory Youth Symphony Orchestra. Katy competed in and was selected for the MMEA Junior District Orchestra for the Eastern District, the NHMEA All-State Orchestra, and the National Association for Music Education National Honors Orchestra. In her free time, she loves running, reading and spending time with friends and family.

Sophia Schwaner is a sophomore in Silliman, (most likely) majoring in physics and philosophy. She is from a small but very artistic town in Virginia, home to the Heifetz Music Institute, which she attended for three consecutive summers. In addition to classical music, Sophia enjoys jazz double bass and singing, as well as Appalachian folk fiddle. In her free time, she enjoys riding her bicycle, composing, philosophy, and ballet.

William Shaw is a first-year in Saybrook College from Orange, CT. He started playing the violin at 5 and studied at the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven with Dr. Viara Albonetti. He was the concertmaster for three years and soloist with the Greater New Haven Youth Orchestra, and has played in masterclasses for Hilary Hahn and David Kim. He currently studies violin with Professor Kyung Yu of the Yale School of Music. William plans to major in either American Studies or Ethics, Politics, and Economics. When not playing violin, William enjoys working out, playing fantasy football, eating poke, and cheering on the Red Sox.

Victoria is a first-year violinist in Morse College from Long Island, New York. She started playing the violin at four and studied with Khullip Jeung of The Juilliard School. She plans to major in Physics and Philosophy, and loves reading classic novels or YA fantasy. Victoria also enjoys writing, listening to music (particularly the pianist Yunchan Lim), arranging her Pinterest boards, and learning K-pop choreography. 

Parisa Verma is a freshman violinist in Pauli Murray College from Tenafly, New Jersey. While in high school, she attended the Manhattan School of Music Precollege and was concertmaster of the Riverdale Country School Orchestra. Some of Parisa’s most recent musical achievements include winning the Grand Prize of the 2022 Vision Competition, Platinum Medal at the Quebec Music Competition, and Gold Medal at the North American Virtuoso International Competition. Parisa has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, NJPac, and BergenPAC. At Yale, Parisa plans to study the History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health, hoping to pursue certificates in Global Health Studies, Spanish, and Chinese. Parisa also loves lacrosse, tennis, baking, mountain biking, and restaurant hunting.

Justine Xu is a first year violinist in Benjamin Franklin College from Guam. She began playing the violin at the age of 5 and has been the concertmaster of Guam’s award-winning Tumon Bay Youth Orchestra since 2018. Justine has played with multiple ensembles, orchestras, and enjoys solo performances. She was featured in Carnegie Hall and has won multiple international competitions as a soloist. She has also taken part in the summer violin programs at both Interlochen and Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute where she had a master class under Peter Zazofsky. Besides playing the violin, Justine is interested in majoring in biomedical engineering. She loves to hang out with friends and explore New Haven.

Andrew Yang is a junior in Pierson studying Chemistry. He has played the violin for twelve years, and is enthusiastic about his return to the YSO community. When granted reprieve from the endless onslaught of work, he enjoys spending those fleeting moments with a book and a cup of tea.

Alden Yorba is a first year student in Morse College. He has been playing the violin since the age of six, and has studied in the past with Professor Daniel Mason at the University of Kentucky. Alden has attended various summer programs including the Indiana University Summer String Academy, where he studied under Professor Erin Aldridge. He is tentatively hoping to study computer science (maybe in conjunction with molecular biophysics and biochemistry). Apart from music, Alden conducts research investigating microbial contamination bias in RNA sequencing and enjoys spending time with various animals on his farm at home, including the goose Eugene, of whom he is particularly fond.

Emily is a first-year violist in Morse College from Palo Alto, California. She studied with Dimitri Murrath at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre-College Division. Emily was a 2022 Klein Competition semifinalist and has been featured on NPR’s “From the Top” shows 407 and 421. She has also attended summer festivals such as Music@Menlo, Chamber Music Northwest, NYO-USA, and Morningside Music Bridge, where she received the Stuart Holland Memorial Award in 2023. In her free time, Emily enjoys writing, reading, and singing.

Elan Jiang is a first-year violist in Davenport College from Kansas City. She started playing viola when she was 11 years old and enjoyed serving as the Principal Violist of the Youth Symphony of Kansas City throughout high school. In the summer, she attended the National Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Music Institute in Washington DC. Elan is also passionate about music education and has enjoyed creating and teaching a free music lessons program in her hometown. She loves playing in chamber music groups and bringing music into community spaces such as food kitchens and hospitals. Elan hopes to pursue a double major in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) and Astronomy, on the pre-med track. In her free time, Elan enjoys stargazing, baking, practicing and teaching yoga as a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher, and dancing ballet.

Luka Dolgov is a first-year student in Jonathan Edwards College. He plans to major in computer science and mathematics. Luka has studied for 10 years with his teacher Marina Kitaychik. In high school, he was a member of the Norwalk Youth Symphony’s principal orchestra under Maestro Jonathan Yates. Luka has also played in multiple quartets directed by Maestro Yates, as well as his local high school orchestra. Luka has also played in his state orchestra for 3 years before coming to Yale. Outside of music, Luka loves to play chess, go to the gym, and is always excited to play football or tennis with his friends.

Jia Dunsby is a first-year violist in Stiles from Seoul, South Korea. In high school, Jia served as the principal violist of the Korean International Music Educators Association Honors Orchestra and received a Congressional Music Award from the National Assembly of Korea. Besides playing the viola, Jia enjoys taking her dog Lily on walks so long that she often has to carry Lily back home.

Ben Graham (DC ‘28) is a violist from Detroit, Michigan. Although his musical journey began on the piano at the age of three, he started playing the viola eight years ago in his elementary school music program. Since then, Ben has been a member of NYO-USA 2023, Interlochen’s World Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra, where he was principal viola for the 2023-24 season. Ben also loves playing chamber music, and participated in the Castleman Quartet Program this past summer. He is very grateful to have studied under Caroline Coade, Associate Professor of Viola at the University of Michigan and 3rd chair violist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Outside of music, Ben enjoys eating and drinking copious amounts of pizza and bubble tea, despite being lactose intolerant (he is still in denial). He is looking forward to an exciting first year with the YSO!

Jewon Im is a first-year in Benjamin Franklin from Saratoga, California. She plans to major in CS and has been playing the viola for the past seven years. She served as principal at her boarding school orchestra and at the Southern Regionals orchestra in Connecticut, and was a soloist for the Wallingford Symphony Orchestra. Jewon also participated in summer programs such as Tanglewood and the Curtis Young Artist Summer Program. In her free time, she enjoys lifting, eating Asian snacks, and sending memes to her siblings.

Kangsan Joshua Jin is a first-year violist in Grace Hopper College hailing from Pittsford, NY (although he says he’s from Rochester since it’s more recognizable). Josh has been the principal violist of the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra for three seasons and a proud member for five years since the 8th grade. He was a winner of the RPYO 2021-2022 season concerto competition. At the Eastman Community Music School, he performed in Showcase Recitals and received merit scholarships along with a full scholarship Honor Ensemble. At the 2023 NAfME Eastern Division Conference, Josh was selected as the third chair viola for the All-Eastern Symphony Orchestra. Previously, he was selected for the New York State Conference All-State Orchestra in 2021 and 2022. Joshua was the principal violist in the NYSSMA Area All-State Orchestra and All-County Orchestras. Outside of YSO you can find him playing volleyball, napping, or engaging in shenanigans around campus.

Samuel Johnson-Noya is a first-year violist in Saybrook College and hails from Laramie, Wyoming. He is an alumnus of the String Academy of Wyoming where he played violin and viola since he was five years old, studying at the Jacobs School of Music a few summers. He was awarded the Wyoming All-State Orchestra Player of the Year award his senior year in High school. His other hobbies include tennis, cooking, drawing and all things biology.

Greer Kennedy is a first-year violist in Jonathan Edwards College and comes from St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Her love of the viola and of music was cultivated at the Centenary Suzuki School in Shreveport, Louisiana, where she has studied since age three. Over the years, Greer has played in the Centenary Youth Orchestra (as co-principal), the Vermont Youth Orchestra (as principal), Vermont’s All-State Orchestra (as principal), the New England Music Festival Orchestra (as principal), and the All-National Orchestra (Fall 2023). She loves chamber music and listening to classical pieces on her record player at home. Greer hopes to pursue mathematics and French here at Yale.

Helen Qi is a Sophomore in Hopper College studying Ethics, Politics, and Economics. She has been featured on NPR Music Live Sessions as a part of the WRTI Young Artist Spotlight. Previously, she participated in the Boston University Tanglewood Institute and the Temple Music Prep Center for Gifted Young Musicians Program. In her free time, Helen enjoys painting, taking pictures of food, and buying things that are pink and fluffy.

Derek Song is a senior in Pierson College studying MB&B and Global Health on the premed track. A former Halloween Show producer and perpetual viola fanatic, he is excited to return to the YSO for his fourth and final year! Outside of viola, he can be found longboarding, nursing his longboarding injuries, and FroCoing for the best residential college.

Conan Thibodeau is a first-year violist in Silliman College. He plans to major in linguistics or to double-major in Russian and linguistics. Conan has been studying the viola for 10 years under Boris Deviatov. In middle and high school, he was a member of the Norwalk Youth Symphony’s principal orchestra under Maestro Jonathan Yates. Conan has also played in an oboe quartet directed by Maestro Yates, as well as his local high school orchestra. He plans to continue his study of viola with New Haven Symphony Orchestra musician and YSM graduate Yaroslav Kargin.

Amanda Wu is a first-year violist in Morse College from Seattle, Washington. She has been playing the viola for 10 years and was a longtime member of the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra, where she served as the principal violist. In 2024, Amanda won 2nd place in the Viola Solo category at the WA State Solo and Ensemble competition. She participated in the Seattle Chamber Music Society Academy in Spring 2024 and was featured on Classical King’s Northwest Focus Live with her piano quintet. She has also attended Interlochen Arts Camp, where she served as principal violist of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra. Outside of the viola, Amanda also enjoys long-distance running, discovering new hikes, and vlogging with friends. She is hoping to study Neuroscience on the Pre-Med track. 

Brandon is a senior in Davenport. Outside of YSO, you can find him winning pickleball, falling off his Landyachtz, or thinking about his pet turtle back home.

Thomas is a junior in Branford College from Germany, majoring in computer science. During high school, he was a member of the German National Youth Orchestra. Outside of music, he likes to hike, paint, and play with his hedgehog, Jasper.

Gabriela Berger is a sophomore cellist in Benjamin Franklin College from Pittsburgh, PA. She has been playing the cello since the age of five and was the co-principal cellist of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra. In high school, she also enjoyed playing trombone in her high school’s jazz band, concert band, and pit orchestra. Outside of music, Gabriela loves running, baking, and taking care of her plants.

David Cho is a first-year in Benjamin Franklin College from Acton, Massachusetts. Having played the cello since the age of 5, he has played for the Boston Youth Symphony and the MMEA All-State Orchestra. He is interested in studying either a joint major in Computer Science and Economics, or a pre-med track as a Computer Science major. Outside of music, David enjoys religiously watching soccer (he is a devout Tottenham Hotspur supporter), playing chess, and exploring the Classics.

Daniel is a first-year from Bellevue, Washington. He resides in Pierson College and is planning to major in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology on the pre-med track. Daniel started the cello when he was 6 and he has since played in both soloistic and orchestral settings. He has been involved in the Washington All-State, All-Northwest, and All-National ensembles, as well as serving as the principal cellist for the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra. During his free time Daniel enjoys watching and playing a variety of sports with friends.

Lee is a first-year student from New York in Pauli Murray College. He is interested in majoring in psychology at Yale. Lee has been playing cello for 13 years, and was principal of the Mannes Prep Symphony in high school. In his free time, Lee loves hiking, running, and spending time with his cats.

Benjamin Gruenbaum is a second-year cellist in Branford College and is fortunate to have made the long journey over from Greenwich Connecticut. Over the past summers, he has attended institutions such as Interlochen Arts Camp, Point CounterPoint, and CenterStage Strings. Currently studying physics and music, he also enjoys honing his German skills in his free time. Benjamin enjoys playing tennis and volleyball in his free time while also missing his kitty cat, Miss Junesy B.

Vien Le is a first year in Timothy Dwight from Canton, CT. She has played cello since the age of four and piano since the age of six. In past summers, Vien has loved attending the Bowdoin International Music Festival and the International Cello Institute. Besides music, Vien is interested in studying neuroscience and loves to ski, cook, and spend time with friends and family.

Huey-Ting Li is a first-year in Jonathan Edwards College from Hamden, Connecticut. He began playing the cello when he was five years old. He is thinking about majoring in either applied math or biomedical engineering as well as possibly doing pre-med. In his free time, he likes to play volleyball, play his ukulele, and watch anime.

Laec Lorentzen is a second year Trumbull College student from western Canada, majoring in Engineering and Applied Physics. Laec has been playing cello since the age of 6. He has soloed with the Calgary Civic Symphony and the Kensington Sinfonia, and spent happy summers at the Banff Centre, Domaine Forget International Music Academy, International Cello Institute, and Académie Orford Musique. In his free time he enjoys experimenting on his electric guitar, reading, writing, and listening to music.

Alexander Oh is a junior from New York. He is an economics major in Morse College. Outside of YSO he is also involved with Low Strung. In the past he was involved in the New York Youth Symphony chamber music program for five years and the orchestral program for two. During his free time, he likes to exercise, play golf, and hang out with friends.

The first musician in his family, Christian has played the cello since he was eight years old. Over the years, Christian has played in youth orchestras like the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, where he served as co-principal cellist. He has also participated in regional festivals like Solo & Ensemble, District 12 Honor Orchestra, and All-State Orchestra, as well as programs like Georgia Governor’s Honors Program and the Franklin Pond Chamber Music Fall into Spring Program. During the summer of 2023, Christian performed at Carnegie Hall and toured the Dominican Republic with National Youth Orchestra 2. Besides performance, Christian is passionate about expanding access to music education and served as both a cello tutor and the Georgia Recruitment Director of the Do Re Mi project. At Yale, Christian is pursuing a major in computer science. In his free time, he enjoys exploring cafes, filming vlogs, and practicing self-care.

Mateo Vidali is a first year cellist in Timothy Dwight College. He is from Holden Massachusetts, and is considering studying history. During high school, Mateo studied cello with Emmanuel Feldman at New England Conservatory Prep, and played in the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. For most of the summers of his life, Mateo attended Greenwood Music Camp. In his free time he enjoys food, playing basketball with friends, watching soccer, and playing with yo-yos.

Kira Wang is a junior cellist in Pierson College from Portland, Oregon. In past summers, she has loved attending Taipei Music Academy & Festival, Kneisel Hall, and NYO-USA. Kira enjoys knitting with her housemates and spying on her dog through the home security camera.

Danielle Yoon is a first-year cellist in Silliman College from Frisco, TX. She has been playing cello since the age of 5, and studied under Ko Iwasaki. She has attended programs such as NYO-USA, Morningside Music Bridge, NSO SMI, and ENCORE Chamber Music Institute. Danielle was also featured on NPR’s From The Top, named a Texas Young Master, and served as principal cellist of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra. Besides orchestra, she loves creative writing, seeing what the dining hall is serving for dessert, and Oxford commas. 

Eleanor is a first-year in Trumbull College. She has been playing bass for around 7 years, and is from Bethesda, Maryland. In addition to playing in the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras, she has attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute and participated in NYO-USA. Outside of music, she enjoys spending time with friends and watching sports and tv.

Juliette Mandelbrot is a first-year in Pauli Murray College and is from Madison, Wisconsin. She is interested in neuroscience and planning on doing pre-med. In the past, she has loved participating in the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, Interlochen Arts Camp, and chamber groups. In addition to bass, Juliette also plays cello. Outside of orchestra, she loves doing theatre, baking, playing ukulele, and composing both classical and non-classical music.

Lauren Kim is a junior in Timothy Dwight College from Ridgefield, Connecticut. She is majoring in Ethics, Politics, & Economics on a pre-law track. Before Yale, she studied at The Juilliard School’s Pre-College division. She was a fellow for NPR’s From the Top, appearing on their radio show in 2021, and has performed as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and Lincoln Center. Outside of the YSO, Lauren enjoys chamber music, hot yoga, fashion, and art galleries. 

Nadira Novruzov (ES ’25) is a flutist from New York City. At Yale, she studies History, though when people ask her to be more specific, she pretends not to hear them. She recently made her international debut playing the Reinecke Concerto with the YSO on their 2023 Mexico Tour. In the past year, she has also been a fellow at the Colorado College Summer Music Festival, as well as a participant of the New York String Orchestra Seminar. Nadira studies with Tara O’Connor at the Yale School of Music. She likes to read, crochet miscellaneous winter-appropriate items, and climb rocks (but only fake ones). She loves the YSO, and is very excited for her third year with this incredible group!

Maddy Park is a senior from Connecticut residing in Pauli Murray. In high school, she studied flute at the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College and Juilliard Pre-College. Over the summers, she has attended music camps such as Kinhaven and Boston University Tanglewood Institute. She is a Statistics & Data Science major. In her free time, Maddy enjoys napping, playing the ukulele mediocrely, and watching movies on the projector from her bed.

Sasha Tarassenko is a first year in Morse from Norcross, Georgia. A former student of Christina Smith, the principal flute of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Sasha was involved with many local youth orchestras, a wind symphony, and an Eastern-European folk ensemble. In her summers over the years, Sasha attended Eastern Music Festival, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and National Youth Orchestra. She loves crosswords and cats, despite rarely finishing crosswords and never owning a cat.

Andrew Cai is a first-year oboist in Saybrook College from Dallas, Texas. He has been playing the oboe since 6th grade in school ensembles and the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra. Outside of music, Andrew hopes to study Chemistry and enjoys running and spending time with friends.

Li-Yuan Chiang, a first-year PhD student in Physics from Taipei, Taiwan, began learning the oboe at the age of ten and studied with Prof. Chai-Hsuan Tsai for many years. More recently, he has performed as a soloist and served as the principal oboist at National Taiwan University. He often finds the connections between music, physics, and mathematics fascinating and dreams of learning more about composing music in the future.

Alex Moore is a junior in Grace Hopper College from St. Paul, Minnesota. He’s majoring in Math & CS, but also loves history and engineering. Alex played in youth symphony and many pit orchestras in high school, and has also played classical piano since he was 8. Outside YSO, Alex runs Yale Votes, helps produce The New Journal, and bakes for Hopper events. 

Ethan Chen is a first-year in Timothy Dwight planning to study history. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, he played clarinet in the Young People’s Symphony Orchestra, the oldest independent youth orchestra in the U.S. Outside of playing clarinet, he loves cooking, growing various herbs, and learning languages.

Gisela is a junior in Jonathan Edwards College and studies philosophy. This is her third year playing in the YSO. She grew up in London, UK, studying clarinet since she was 8 and further joining the Royal College of Music Junior Department at 11. She was also a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

Harrison Copp is a sophomore majoring in math. He hails from Portland, Oregon but is actually from Seattle, Washington. He also has Australian citizenship. He also likes watching movies. Unfortunately, Harrison doesn’t like talking about himself, so this is the end of the biography. 

Hi! My name is Diana and I’m a 3rd year student in Berkeley College. I have been in an unrequited relationship with the clarinet for many years. My favorite clarinet is the Eb clarinet due to its rich and beautiful sound. I believe when one enters the gates of heaven, they will be greeted with a tantalizing Eb concerto—which will continue in perpetuity. My least favorite clarinet is the bass clarinet due to a traumatic experience. I hope it is a bass concerto which haunts those who enter the underworld.

Sharif Hassen (ES, ’26) is a Computing and Linguistics major and bassoonist originally from New York City. Having grown up almost entirely in Abu Dhabi, UAE, he started playing at the age of 12, later performing with the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra during high school and participating in various international festivals through the AMIS organization. He now lives a comfortable, settled life between the granola walls of Stiles, where he studies Japanese, collects vinyl, plays a really bad game of badminton and way too much Super Smash Brothers.

I am a first year in Saybrook College, and I grew up in DeSoto, as well as Duncanville, Texas. I have played bassoon since the 6th grade for the Duncanville band program. I have played for the TMEA region orchestra for every year since I was a freshman in high school, and although I came short in making the TMEA All State Band, I made the TMEA Area Band all four years of my high school career. I’m majoring in mechanical engineering to focus on aerospace engineering as a career. When I’m not being a musician, you can find me practicing baseball, playing GTA/Smash Bros., exploring campus, and chowing down in the dining halls. 

Jack Landau (BF, ‘26) is a proud bassoonist hailing from Wellesley, Massachusetts. After starting on the piano at age 4, Jack fell in love with the bassoon, with his concert debut featuring his high school band’s arrangement of Africa by Toto. Since then, he’s participated in Boston Area youth orchestras as well as his home state’s All State band. In his free time, you can catch him struggling with problem sets, thrifting, failing skateboard tricks, or showing off his record player. 

Eric is a First-Year In Branford College. Eric grew up in Pearland, TX, where he found his love for bassoon. Eric has played in many groups including Houston Youth Symphony, AFA Texas, his High School/Region Bands/Orchestras, and is also a TMEA All-State Alumni. While Eric is still undecided for his major, he does have an interest for computer and political sciences. Outside of school and music, Eric can be seen playing tennis, competing in professional Valorant, and walking around campus trying out all the dining halls.

Jasmine Chen is a first-year student residing in Grace Hopper College. She grew up in Belmont, Massachusetts and has been playing the French horn since 4th grade. Jasmine has played in the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Boston Youth Symphony, and New England Conservatory Preparatory School Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. She has spent past summers at Brevard Music Center and Boston University Tanglewood Institute. Although her major is currently undecided, she is interested in studying psychology. In her free time, Jasmine enjoys biking, reading, and trying new foods.

Annie is a First Year Student in Morse College from Huntington Woods, MI.  Annie has played with Interlochen’s World Youth Symphony Orchestra as well as the Detroit Youth Symphony Wind Ensemble.  When Annie is not playing the French horn, she enjoys listening to Taylor Swift and running.  

Raoul is a Senior in Morse College from Brooklyn, NY. He is an urban studies major and intends to go into urban planning. His hobbies are reading, drawing, fantasy football (which he is the best at in the orchestra) and a little bit of conducting, too. Raoul’s favorite kind of news is good news.

Bryce is a first-year student in Morse College from Pittsburgh, PA. He has been playing the horn since 1st grade and has played in the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, PMEA Orchestras, and more. During high school, Bryce studied under Robert Lauver of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. While he is still unsure of his major, Bryce is planning on studying mechanical or electrical engineering. While not playing horn, he enjoys eating ice cream, rock climbing, and exploring New Haven.

Ethan is a first-year in Saybrook College planning to study computer science. He has been playing the horn for seven years, and played in the Triangle Youth Philharmonic, North Carolina All State Band, North Carolina All State Orchestra, and the Duke Symphony Orchestra. He graduated from the UNCSA high school music program in 2023. At UNCSA, Ethan performed with the UNCSA Wind Ensemble, Chamber Winds, Symphony Orchestra, Nutcracker Orchestra, Amadeus Orchestra, and a faculty led student brass trio. In addition to his studies with Dr. Maria Serkin, he has been a student of Rachel Niketopoulos and Christopher Caudill. Outside of the YSO, Ethan makes horn mutes and repairs, restores, customizes, and rebuilds horns with the help of his twin brother, Ryan. 

Evan Kessler is a freshman in Jonathan Edwards College from Highland Park, Illinois. He has been playing trumpet for nine years and has served as the principal trumpet of the ILMEA All-State Honors Orchestra and the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory Symphony Orchestra. He also was a member of the World Youth Wind Symphony at Interlochen Arts Camp. In addition to his trumpet playing, Evan is an avid composer, having written multiple works that have won national and international competitions. In his free time, he enjoys playing piano, running, and learning French.

Aiden Magley is a senior in Jonathan Edwards studying history. He has played the trumpet for 15 years and trained classically for 9. He is from Pittsburgh, PA and has enjoyed membership in the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, Three Rivers Young Peoples’ Orchestra, the River City Youth Brass Band and multiple musical theater pits, including four here at Yale. Along with YSO, Aiden works as a Communication and Consent Educator and plays in student band Free at Five.

Andrew is a senior in Berkeley studying Economics. He grew up in Beijing and went to high school in Johns Creek, GA. Andrew started playing poker on the Mexico tour his sophomore year, where he lost many buttery shifts worth of buy-ins. He has been honing his game theory optimal playing ever since and hopes to make back all his losses and more on the Greece tour. He plays trumpet and piano too.

Emily Zhang is a first-year student in Ezra Stiles college from Needham, Massachusetts. She has been playing trumpet for 8 years and has been in various groups such as the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra and the MMEA All-State Orchestra. Emily also enjoys volleyball, watching Love Island, and playing minesweeper in her free time. Although she is currently undecided, Emily is considering an MCDB major.

My name is Lucas and I’m from Orlando, Florida. I’m a second year in Trumbull majoring in biomedical engineering. I’ve been playing trombone since 6th grade, participating in state honor bands throughout high school. I’ve also participated in various trombone solo competitions, winning the 2021 American Trombone Workshop National Solo Competition as well as the 2022 S.E. Shires National Youth Competition. Outside of music I enjoy talking with my friends, playing chess, walking, and eating. Fun fact about me is that I was born on leap day and this is the only year I will have a birthday at Yale. I’m most excited for the Halloween show this year and playing for a packed concert hall!

My name is Konrad Kurczynski, and I’m a sophomore in Benjamin Franklin College. Although I spent my high-school years in the UK, I grew up in Poland and completed my music education at Rozycki Music School in Kielce, majoring in Trombone and Euphonium. Over the years, I participated in ensembles ranging from classical, through folk, to jazz. Outside of music, I’m interested in history, running, and philosophy!

Sophie Richardson (Ezra Stiles ‘27) is originally from Concord, Massachusetts. She started playing trombone in the fourth grade and has played in the Boston Youth Symphony, the Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble, and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Wind Ensemble. She also loves chamber music and will always have a soft spot for trombone choir and brass quintet. At Yale she plans to major in Statistics and Data Science and possibly pursue the Ethnography certificate!

Benson Wang is an Economics Major in Berkeley College. Through high school, Benson has made the CT All-State Festival four times, all being first chairs. He was Principal tuba for the inaugural year of the National Youth Wind Ensemble and the Carnegie Hall HPS Series Band. He has also been awarded prestigious orchestral fellowships at Interlochen, Idyllwild, and Brevard. In addition to his orchestral and wind ensemble endeavors, he was unanimously awarded first place at the ITEA’s International Tuba Solo Competition and Third Place at the American Protege Winds and Brass Competition. Throughout his musical endeavors, he has studied tuba with Tony Clements, David Winer, and James Gourlay.

Bryant Li is a first-year pianist in Trumbull College from Houston, Texas, majoring in Ethics, Politics, and Economics. He has performed concertos with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, Clear Lake Symphony, Symphony North of Houston, and New Orleans Civic Orchestra, in addition to being featured on NPR’s “From The Top”. Over the past few summers, Bryant has been invited to the Cliburn Junior Piano Festival, Morningside Music Bridge, Oberlin Piano Festival, Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival, and Brancaleoni International Music Festival. He is also a 2023 YoungArts Winner and 2022 Texas Young Master in Music. Outside of music, Bryant enjoys sampling espressos, doting on his cat, and hiking in nearby parks.

A junior and proud Sillimander based in Mililani, Hawai’i, Jairus Joseph-Sioeli Rhoades is studying computer science and music in the Computer and the Arts degree program while also fulfilling a certificate in Chinese. Currently taking lessons with Professor Elizabeth Parisot at the School of Music and having previously taken lessons with Haisun Paik at the New England Conservatory and Ms. Joana Zane-Fan in Honolulu, Jairus enjoys exploring solo repertoire as well as collaborating with other musicians and giving chamber recitals in all sorts of weird spots on campus, like a dining hall. Having worked with the Yale Concert Band, the Yale Dramat, and multiple student musical theater productions, he aims to bring as much of the spheres of piano music together as co-president of the Yale Undergraduate Piano Collective this year through masterclasses, studio classes, and chill vibes with musicians. 

Janice Hur is a sophomore in Morse College, originally from Seoul, Korea. Under the tutelage of Emmanuel Ceysson, Janice has won numerous national and international competitions, performing as both a concert-series, invited artist and principal harpist for the Seoul Youth Orchestra. She has attended prestigious summer festivals, including Carnegie Hall’s NYO-USA, Bowdoin, and MusicAlp. When not immersed in her music, you can find her studying in cafes, chatting with friends, or running up Science Hill to her 9 a.m classes.

Sophia Jho is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is a first-year in Berkeley College. Having studied with Gretchen Van Hoesen, Sophia has served as a harpist for various ensembles, including Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra 2, the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, NafMe All-Eastern Division Honors Orchestra, PMEA All-State Orchestra, and PMEA All-State Wind Ensemble. She has won multiple international, national, and regional competitions as a soloist. During summers, Sophia has participated in the Bowdoin International Music Festival and Curtis Harp Days. Aside from music, Sophia enjoys drawing and painting, singing, drinking tea, and facetiming her cat. 

Jacob Leshnower is a sophomore in Grace Hopper College from Long Island, New York, double majoring in Music and Statistics & Data Science. At Yale, Jacob also enjoys playing percussion with the Yale Concert Band and other ensembles, as well as piano with the Yale Undergraduate Piano Collective. Jacob has devoted summers to studying percussion at Juilliard, Tanglewood, NYU, Princeton, and Sewanee. This past spring, Jacob earned a spot as a percussionist with the CBDNA Eastern Division Intercollegiate Band. Outside of music, Jacob enjoys competing in Rubik’s Cube competitions and juggling.

Nate Mathew is a sophomore in Trumbull college studying Ethics, Politics, & Economics and Computer Science. He has been playing percussion for 15 years with groups such as the Central Illinois Youth Symphony, Midwest Young Artist Conservatory, and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Nate also spent two summers at the Interlochen Center for the Arts summer camp. Outside of music at Yale, Nate is involved with the Yale Student Investment Group and Yale Undergraduate Diversified Investments. In his free time, Nate can be found hanging out with friends, working out, or playing poker.

David Stolyarov is a first-year percussionist in Branford College. Hailing from Northbrook, Illinois, he has been playing percussion since elementary school and has performed with groups such as the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. At Yale, David is interested in studying Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry while also hoping to continue writing and to participate in the spoken-word poetry scene. In his free time, David can be found singing in the shower, working out, going on nature walks, and playing intense pick up basketball with his friends. 

Zahra Virani is a junior in Saybrook studying Urban Studies and History of Art. She is from Houston, Texas, where she played percussion in her high school’s marching band and drumline. Her favorite percussion instrument is the marimba (with the triangle coming in a close second) and she loves being able to play such a diverse array of instruments as a percussionist. In her free time, she can be found painting, jamming out to Taylor Swift, or exploring New Haven.

Jacob is a senior in Branford majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He has been playing percussion for 15 years and loves playing both classical and jazz. In his free time, Jacob enjoys playing soccer, backpacking, and drawing, and he can often be found daydreaming about new adventures to go on.