Compilation of Awards and Scholarships (2006 - 2024)

Here is a sampling of award winners since 2006 including the current Academy season.

2023- 2024 Awards and Achievements

Violinist Clark Snavely toured with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra.  He will be featured as soloist, and will perform Sarasate's Carmen Fantasy at the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Queen Elizabeth Hall in Antwerp, and the Parkzaal Musis Sacrum in Arnhem.  There is a bon voyage performance at the Sharon Lynne Wilson on Saturday, July 8th.  Clark will be the featured soloist with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra on July 5th as part of 40th anniversary Concerts on the Square series.  The audience could exceed 50,000 people that day.  He will perform the first movement of Prokofiev's second violin concerto.  (event details:  https://wcoconcerts.org/events/contrastes)

Academy pianist Noah Kim won 1st prize and Young Jury Award at the Arthur Fraser International Piano competition in South Carolina. Noah, a student of Marta Aznavoorian's, will perform a complete concerto with the South Carolina Philharmonic in Masterworks concert series during the 2024/2025 season.  For one week every June, the Southeastern Piano Festival transforms the University of South Carolina School of Music and the city of Columbia into a major cultural destination that draws in audiences and young piano talent from across the United States.  Twenty of some of the best most accomplished pre-college pianists on the piano scene today take part in a rigorous program that includes daily lessons with University of South Carolina piano faculty, master classes with guest artists and up to five hours of practice a day. The week's events culminate with the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition, adjudicated by a distinguished panel of judges. Past Academy winners include David Hou, Yerin Yang, and Sean Yeh.

http://southeasternpianofestival.com/study/competition/winners/2023/

•    Cellist Serge Kalinovsky and violinist Clark Snavely split 3rd prize in the senior category of the Ronald Sachs International String Competition. Violinist Lily Sullivan split 3rd prize in the junior category of the competition. 

•    Cellist Simon Updegraff and former Academy violinist Leo Zupko, winners of the Chicago Chamber Music Concerto Competition, soloed at Northeastern Illinois University on October 18, 2023, under the baton of conductor Ben Firer and the NEIU Orchestra.

•    Cellist Jan Vargas Nedvetsky performed at the Annual Hope for Miracles Gala and fundraiser in Lake Placid, New York. Hope for Miracles is a nonprofit organization bringing hope to families of children with Neuroblastoma and other childhood cancers, by funding research for life saving trials and cures. You can read more at https://www.hopeformiracles.org/

•    Pianist Zachary Guo was selected as the winner of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Senior Piano Division for the state of Illinois.  Zachary competed in the regional divisions in March of 2024.  Zachary is a student of Matt Hagle.

•    YoungArts Winners - Founded in 1981, YoungArts identifies exceptional young artists, amplifies their potential, and invests in their lifelong creative freedom. Every year thousands of performing, visual and literary artists age 15-18 apply to YoungArts through our national competition. Award winners with distinction attend National YoungArts Week to collaborate with peers and develop their crafts with internationally recognized leaders in their fields. Award winners with distinction in their senior year are further eligible for nomination as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts—one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students. This year, the following academy students were YoungArts winners: Bianca Ciubancan, Zachary Guo, Matthew Hahn, Noah Kim, and Xavier Miyazaki.

The YoungArts Award with Distinction recognizes work that demonstrates exceptional technique; a strong, sophisticated, nuanced, and clear artistic point of view; and a depth of thinking/performance that far exceeds the level of peers at this career stage. Winners at this level are invited to participate in National YoungArts Week and are also considered for nomination to the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. This year, academy student Jan Vargas-Nedvetsky was a winner of this prestigious honor.  

•    Cellist Jan Vargas Nedvetsky, student of Hans Jensen, was selected as a Junior Division Semi-finalist in the 27th annual Sphinx Competition.  The Sphinx Competition is a national competition held in Detroit, Michigan, offering young Black and Latinx classical string players a chance to compete under the guidance of an internationally renowned panel of judges and to perform with and receive mentorship from established professional musicians.

•    Neena Agrawal is one of six finalists for the American Viola Society Competition, Junior Division. She will be going to the Colburn School in Los Angeles, California in June to compete as part of the American Viola Society Conference, which is held in conjunction with the Primrose Competition.  Neena studies viola with Sang Mee Lee. 

•    Clark Snavely, student of Almita Vamos, won second place in International Young Artist Concerto Competition with his performance of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major. Violinist Sasha Varchenko, student of Grigory Kalinovsky, was a semifinalist and cellist Serge Kalinovsky, a student of Susan Moses, received an honorable mention. The International Young Artist Concerto Competition showcases extraordinary young talents from around the globe, offering an opportunity for young musicians aged 18 and under to perform as soloists alongside a professional orchestra in the semifinal and final rounds. 

•    At the invitation of performing artist Vadim Gluzman, violinist Lily Sullivan performed the first movement of the Brahms Concerto for Emmy Award-winning violinist Robert McDuffie at the North Shore Chamber Music Festival Onstage/Offstage Series in December. Lily is a student of Grigory Kalinovsky.

•    Cellist Lucy Wu tied for first place in the Strings 9th Edition of the ENKOR International Competition. ENKOR provides young musicians with the unique opportunity to be heard and recognized by hundreds of professionals and influential people in the music industry and has a Jury Board consisting of 500+ members from 70+ countries on 6 continents.

•    The Elysian Quartet, made up of Nolan Chang, Kai Isoke Ali-Landing, Vivian Van de Sype-Cucu, Katarina Kenney, and coach Claudia Lasareff-Mironoff received an Honorable Mention at the 2024 Rembrandt High School Chamber Music Competition.

•    Cellist Jan Vargas Nedvetsky was named winner in The Central Oregon Symphony Association Young Artist Competition. A celebration of exceptional talent and dedication to musical excellence, the competition attracted submissions from young musicians nationwide. Notably, winners were selected based on their outstanding performances and promise in the world of classical music. Each winner will have an opportunity to perform on the Central Oregon Symphony's Winter Concert Series, Bend Senior High School on February 24th and 25th, 2024.  This year's winners were selected by a panel of judges, evaluating performances that resonated with passion, technical skill, and artistic interpretation.  The COSA Young Artist Competition not only provides a platform for emerging talent but also offers monetary awards to support the winners' musical journeys. The first-place recipient will receive $1250, the second place will receive $1000, and the third-place winner receives $750.

•    In February, cellist Jan Vargas Nedvetsky and violinist Bianca Ciubancan were named finalists in “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, in conjunction with the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, Concerto Competition for High School Musicians. The event was held in Washington DC. Seven exceptional high school musicians from across America convened at John Philip Sousa Band Hall to compete in the final round. The winner received a $2,500 scholarship courtesy of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation and a performance with the Marine Band. This was quite an honor for our Academy students to be named finalists in this prestigious competition.

•    Cellist Lucy Wu, student of Stefan Kartman, has advanced to the finals of the Schubert Competition at Macalester College, St. Paul, MN, on Sunday, March 10. The Bruce P. Carlson Student Scholarship Competition, held each spring, awards a total of over $70,000 annually to young musicians to be used for further musical education. The competition began in 1922, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Schubert Club. It started modestly with three winners representing the categories of voice, violin, and piano. The competition has since grown to fifteen different categories with three cash prizes awarded for each category to be used for further musical education. The winners of each category are also invited to perform in the annual Winners Recital, Musicians on the Rise.  

•    Exceptional young musicians from all corners of the country competed in Midwest Young Artists Conservatory's Annual Walgreens National Concerto Competition at the end of December. Students from elementary through twelfth grade competed for more than $20,000 in scholarships and cash prizes in the MYAC Division and the Open Division, which were both further divided into the Junior Level (up to 8th grade) & Senior Level (grades 9-12). Cellist Amelia Zitoun was the overall Open Division grand winner. Violinist Clark Snavely was a winner in the Senior Division in the Early Music category and received an honorable mention in the Strings Category of the Senior Division. Cellist Lucy Wu also received an honorable mention in the Strings Category of the Senior Division.

•    Academy students competed in the DePaul Concerto Festival. Since 2003, the DePaul Concerto Festival has given students from the Midwest the opportunity to compete and receive performance evaluations from well renowned judges. Winners had the opportunity to perform a movement of a concerto with the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago in March of 2024. Cellist Lucy Wu and violinist Clark Snavely were winners in their instrument categories, and violinist Kai Isoke Ali-Landing received an honorable mention. 

•    The MYA Chicago Chamber Music competition is an annual event designed to provide an educational and competitive experience for young chamber ensembles. The competition is open to chamber ensembles in 12th grade and younger and consists of two divisions (Open and MYAC). The competition is open to all instruments and is divided into the following two instrument categories: Strings and Piano and All Other Instruments (brass, percussion, voice, winds). Contestants compete for over $5,000 in cash prizes and scholarships and the winner of each category in each division will perform in a Winners Recital. Quartet Meraviglia, made up of academy students Elle Cho (violin), Lauren Kim (violin), Emily Chen (viola), and Lucy Wu (cello), won the Overall Open Division and were the winners of the Strings and Piano Category. 

•    Cellist Lucy Wu is a finalist in The Audrey G. Baird Stars of Tomorrow competition. This competition highlights the great musical talent of teens across the state of Wisconsin. Three student finalists will appear as featured soloists with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, along with an exciting performance featuring musicians of the MSO side-by-side with semi-finalists for a public performance on Tuesday, April 30, 7:30pm. 

•    In February, Quartet Meraviglia had the opportunity to perform at the Pilgram Chamber Players Rising Stars concert in Highland Park. Each year, Pilgrim dedicates one concert to showcasing the talents of advanced high school musicians. It's a free event, open to the community, and features exceptional young soloists and chamber ensembles, all 18 years old and younger.  Quartet Meraviglia is made up of violinist Elle Cho, violinist Lauren Kim, violist Emily Chen, cellist Lucy Wu, and coach Rodolfo Vieira. 

•    Cellist Amelia Zitoun, student of Hans Jensen, advanced to the finals of the 2024 Concert Artists Guild Competition. Winners receive management and performance opportunities and join a network of rising young artists who are ready to launch their careers internationally. Amelia will perform in the finals concert in New York City on May 10. MIC alumna Hannah White, former student of Hye-Sun Lee and Almita Vamos, was a semifinalist in the competition this year.  Amelia is also a semi-finalist in the prestigious  Irving M. Klein International String Competition. The Klein Competition which will be held in San Francisco in June. Celebrating 39 years of nurturing and championing the world’s finest young string players, the event takes place on June 1-2 at the San Francisco  Conservatory of Music. Audiences will view eight contestants compete for cash prizes and performance contracts in front of a live audience, as a jury of seven convenes to determine the winners. The Klein will also stream worldwide on the Violin Channel, Facebook, Vimeo, YouTube and our website.

Academy former winners:
•    2021 – Ria Honda, 4th, violin
•    2019 - James Baik, 1st place, cello
•    2018 - Julian Ree, 2nd, violin
•    2017 – Karisa Chiu, 4th, violin
•    2015 – Erika Gray, 4th, viola
•    2012 – Emma Steele, 2nd violin,  Alexandra Switala, 3rd violin
•    2011 – Mindy Park, cello, 4th
 
•    Pianist Zachary Guo performed with his school orchestra in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London at the end of March. While playing viola for most of the concerts, Zach also performed organ solos at three churches.

•    Cellist Katarina Kenney was one of four winners of the Madison Symphony Orchestra’s 2024 Bolz Young Artist Competition. She competed with the other winners in the Final Forte, and she won first prize, receiving a scholarship, and the Marian Bolz Prize for Distinguished Musical Achievement. The performance was broadcast live on PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio. As the first-place winner, Katarina also had the opportunity to perform on Madison Symphony Orchestra’s Spring Young People's Concert. PBS Wisconsin came to the Academy to film Katarina in chamber music and orchestra rehearsals as a part of a feature on the finalists. Katarina is a student of Cornelia Watkins.

•    Five Academy chamber groups advanced to the live quarterfinal round in the Junior Strings Division of the 51st  Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Known as one of the largest and most prestigious chamber music competitions in the world, Fischoff offers winners cash prizes as well as performance opportunities and prestige. The quarterfinal round will take place in South Bend, Indiana on May 10. The following groups were accepted into the next round of the competition: Callisto Trio*- Lily Sullivan (violin), Amelia Zitoun (cello), Noah Kim (piano) coached by Rodolfo Vieira & Marta Aznavoorian; Elysian Quartet- Nolan Chang (violin), Kai Isoke Ali-Landing (violin), Vivian Van de Sype-Cucu (viola), and Katarina Kenney (cello), coached by Claudia Lasareff-Mironoff; Quartet Meraviglia- Elle Cho (violin), Lauren Kim (violin), Emily Chen (violin), and Lucy Wu (cello), coached by Rodolfo Viera; Seraphim Quartet- Clark Snavely (violin), Sasha Varchenko (violin), Tristan Zhu (violin), and Serge Kalinovsky (cello), coached by Sang Mee Lee; Trioscuro- Mingshi Xia (violin), Simon Updegraff (cello), and Ethan Zheng (piano), coached by Elaine Felder and Stefan Kartman.  * Due to a date conflict with another competition, Callisto Trio forfeited their quarterfinal spot.

•    Academy chamber groups Quartet Meraviglia and Elysian Quartet advanced to the finals of the St. Paul String Quartet Competition in St. Paul Minnesota on April 13, 2024. Founded in 2012, the St. Paul String Quartet Competition provides an educational opportunity for young musicians in Minnesota and surrounding states to hone their chamber music skills, perform, and compete for monetary prizes, scholarships, and musical gifts. Quartet Meraviglia is made up of violinist Elle Cho, violinist Lauren Kim, violist Emily Chen, cellist Lucy Wu, and coach Rodolfo Vieira.  Elysian Quartet is made up of violinist Nolan Chang, violinist Kai Isoke Ali-Landing, violist Vivian Van de Sype-Cucu, cellist Katarina Kenney, and coach Claudia Lasareff-Mironoff. 

•    Seraphim Quartet, Clark Snavely (violin), Sasha Varchenko (violin), Tristan Zhu (violin), and Serge Kalinovsky (cello), won 1st Place and Grand Prize at the Twelfth Annual A.N. and Pearl G. Barnett Chamber Music Competition, Sunday, March 17, 2024. This regional competition offers cash prizes and an opportunity for chamber ensembles in grade 12 and under to compete. Quartet Meraviglia, Elle Cho (violin), Lauren Kim (violin), Emily Chen (violin), and Lucy Wu (cello) received an Honorable Mention. Seraphim Quartet is coached by Sang Mee Lee and Quartet Meraviglia is coached by Rodolfo Vieira. 

•    Jan Vargas Nedvetsky was one of six cello fellows in the Music Academy of Lichtenstein. Jan received a full scholarship to study with Jens Peter Maintz, a Professor of Cello at the Berlin University of the Arts, one of the world’s leading cello pedagogues. Jan performed in masterclasses at the Academy and in a concert in Vaduz, capital of Liechtenstein.  
 
•    Violinist Neena Agrawal was chosen to be Principal Viola of the National Pathways Festival Orchestra, a program of Equity Arc. This program selects the top students from all US programs for underrepresented students in classical music and brings them together for a weekend to play with a professional orchestra. Neena will be playing with the Nashville Symphony April 5-8, 2024. Neena is a student of Sang Mee Lee.

National and International Competitions and Significant Scholarship Awards

  • Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition
    • 2020- 1st Prize, Alumna Maya Anjali Buchanan, violin
  • 2nd Triennial Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition
    • 2020 - 1st Prize - Alumnus Julian Rhee, violin and Community Engagement Award
  • International Violin Competition Leopold Mozart
  • 10th Annual International LOUIS SPOHR Competition for Young Violinists, Germany
    • 2023 - 3rd - Lily Sullivan, violin
  • London and Brussels Grand Prize Virtuoso Competitions,
    • 2023 - 1st  - Lily Sullivan, violin 
  • American Protégé International Concerto Competition (April and May Winners' Concerts)
    • 2022 - Tristan Zhu, violin
    • 2022 - Ethan Zheng, piano
    • 2021 - Mark Zhu, piano
    • 2021 - Sidney Lee, viola
    • 2017 - 2nd Irina Casasnovas, violin
    • 2015 - 1st Richard Li, cello
    • 2014 - 1st Nathan Mo, cello
  • American String Teachers Association National Solo Competition (ASTA/ILASTA)
    • 2019 - Grand Prize, Zechary Mo
    • 2018 - 1st Irina Casasnovas, violin
    • 2016 - HM Hannah White, violin
    • 2009 - 1st Matthew Lipman, viola
  • Blount-Slawson Young Artists Competition (January)
    • 2019 - 2nd John Heo, violin; Irina Casasnovas, finalist
    • 2018 - 1st Maya Anjali Buchanan, violin (alumna)
    • 2016 - 1st Karisa Chiu, violin; Finalist - Nathan Mo, cellist
    • 2013 - 1st Gallia Kastner, violin; 2nd Ade Williams, violin
    • 2012 – 3rd Claire Bourg, violin
    • 2011 – 1st Kelly Talim, violin; 3rd Alexandra Switala, violin
    • 2010 – 1st Matthew Lipman, viola; Finalist - Vincent Meklis
  • ENKOR International Music Competition -Chamber Music (January)
    • 2017 - Astera String Quartet -  Ria Honda and Hannah White, violins, Kayla Cabrera, viola, Annamarie Wellems, cello
  • ENKOR International Music Competition - Strings 
    • 2019  - First Place, Cello, Mia Wimbiscus
    • 2016 - Grand Prize, First Place, Violin - Joshua Brown
  • Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition (May)
    • Gold Medal (6)
      • 2018 - Kairos String Quartet - Joshua Brown and Julian Rhee, violin/viola, Thompson Wang, violin, Lydia Rhea, cello
      • 2013 - Quartet Lumière  - Rebecca Benjamin and Gallia Kastner, violin, Mira Williams, viola, Josiah Yoo, cello
      • 2012 - Quartet Stracciatella - Erika Gray and Hyun-Jae Lim, violin, Stephanie Block, viola, Johannes Gray, cello
      • 2010 - Quartet Danaë  - Zachary Spontak and Sophia Cho, violin, Leah Ferguson, viola, Benjamin Fried, cello
      • 2009 - Aurelia String Quartet - Susie Koh and Laura Park, violin, Arianna Smith, viola, Allan Steele, cello
      • 2008 -  Quartet Polaris - Andrea Jarrett and Vincent Meklis, violin, Matthew Lipman, viola, Gabrial Cabezas, cello
    • Silver Medal (6)
      • 2023 -  Pelios String Quartet - Ellen Zhou, Clark Snavely, violins; Tristan Zhu, viola;  Amelia Zitoun, cello
      • 2020 - Dasani String Quartet - Isabella Brown, Katya Moeller, violin, Zechary Mo, viola, Brandon Cheng, cello (Virtual Competition)
      • 2017 - Astera Quartet - Ria Honda and Hannah White, violin, Kayla Cabrera, viola, Annamarie Wellems, cello
      • 2014 - Vox Quartet -  Serena Harnack and Hansuh Rhee, violin, Mira Williams, viola, Nathan Mo, cello
      • 2010 - Emerald Quartet - Ethan Hoppe, Kenneth Jones-Madrid, Clayton Penrose-Whitmore, violin/viola, Alexander Hersh, cello
      • 2008 -  Ridere Quartet - Samantha Bennett, Ryan Meehan, Emma Steele, violin/viola, Mindy Park, cello
    • Bronze Medal (5)
      • 2022 - Peresson String Quartet -  Katya Moeller, Kelly Kim, Sidney Lee,  Serge Kalinovsky, cello
      • 2016 - Vibrante String Quartet - Zachary Brandon and Hannah White, violin, Freya Irani, viola, Leevy Williams, cello
      • 2012 - Quartet Ardella -  Jennifer Cha and Laura Park, violin, Devon Naftzger, viola, Ben Solomonow, cello
      • 2009 - Quartet Danaë  - Sophia Cho and Natsuki Kumagai, violin, Leah Ferguson, viola, Ben Fried, cello
      • 2008 - Aurelia String Quartet - Susie Koh and Laura Park, violin, Arianna Smith, viola, Allan Steele, cello
    • Honorable Mention (2)
      • 2015 Atara String Quartet - Karisa Chiu and Hannah White, violin, Tess Krope, viola, Krystian Chiu, cello
      • 2012 Pallas Trio - Kelly Talim, violin, Mariel Werner, cello, Kate Liu, piano
  • Irving M. Klein International String Competition (June)
    • 2021 - 4th Ria Honda, violin
    • 2019 - 1st James Baik, cello
    • 2018 - 2nd - Julian Rhee, violin; also, Best Performance of the Commissioned Work and the Pablo Casals Prize for the best performance of the solo Bach work.
    • 2017 - 4th - Karisa Chiu, violin
    • 2015 - 4th - Erika Gray, viola
    • 2012 -  2nd - Emma Steele, violin
    • 2012 -  4th - Alexandra Switala, violin
    • 2011 - 4th- Mindy Park, cello and Daniel Cho, violin (tie)
  • Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award (rolling admission)
    • 2022 -  Zachary Allen, oboe (Community Music School)
    • 2018 - Zachary Brandon, violin
    • 2017 - Andrew Guo, piano and composition
    • 2016 - Josiah Yoo, cello and  Hannah White, violin
    • 2015 - Mira Williams, viola
    • 2014 - Gallia Kastner, violin
    • 2013 -  Ade Williams, violin
    • 2007 - Matthew Lipman, viola
  • M-PRIZE International Chamber Arts Competition (May) - Note: Discontinued in 2019
    • 1st Place
      • 2018 -  Kairos String Quartet  - Joshua Brown and Julian Rhee( violin/viola), Thompson Wang, violin, Lydia Rhea, cello
      • 2017  - Astera String Quartet -  Ria Honda, violin, Hannah White, violin, Kayla Cabrera, viola, Annamarie Wellems, cello
    • 2nd Place
      • 2017 -  Vieira String Quartet - Maya Anjali Buchanan, violin, Karisa Chiu, violin, Steven Song, viola, Nathan Mo, cello
      • 2016 - Vibrant String Quartet  - Zachary Brandon and Hannah White, violin, Freya Irani, viola, Leevy Williams, cello
    • 3rd Place
      • 2017 - Invictus Piano Quartet - Zachary Brandon and Joshua Brown (violin/viola),   Lydia Rhea, cello, Andrew Guo, piano
      • 2016 - Calliope Piano Trio - Karisa Chiu, violin, Nathan Mo, cello, Andrew Guo, Piano
  • MTNA National Competition Winners (Spring Nationals)- defunct
    • 2016 - 1st Andrew Guo, Senior Composition
    • 2014 - 2nd Maya Anjali Buchanan, Junior Violin
    • 2013 - 1st Hannah White, Junior Violin
    • 2013 - 2nd Andrew Guo, Junior Violin
    • 2012 - 1st Jonas Tarm, Senior Composition; 2nd Ryan Jannak-Huang, Junior Piano
    • 2010 - 1st Leah Ferguson, Senior Viola
  • From The Top National Radio Broadcasts (solo performances unless otherwise noted)
    • 2022 - Matthew Hahn
    • 2021 - Esme Arias-Kim
    • 2020 - Esme Arias-Kim
    • 2020 - Cameron Chiu and The Chiu Family
    • 2018 - Kairos String Quartet (alumni group) Joshua Brown and Julian Rhee, violin; Thompson Wang, viola; Lydia Rhea, cello
    • 2018 - Ria Honda, Julian Rhee
    • 2017 - Zachary Brandon, Karisa Chiu, Andrew Guo, Nathan Mo, Julian Rhee
    • 2016 - Joshua Brown, Maya Anjali Buchanan, Josiah Yoo
    • 2014 - Erika Gray, Mira Williams,
    • 2013 - Daniel Kaler, Gallia Kastner, Hannah White, Quartet Lumiere: Rebecca Benjamin, Gallia Kastner, Mira Williams, Josiah Yoo
    • 2011 - Arianna Smith
    • 2012 - Stephanie Block, Johannes Gray,  Laura Park, (January and October) ,Quartet Al Dente: Caitlin Adamson, Claire Bourg, Tara Safavi, Adé Williams
    • 2012 - Claire Bourg, Alexandra Switala, Kelly Talim, Adé Williams
    • 2010 - Quartet Danaë: Leah Ferguson, Benjamin Fried, Sophia Kim, Zachary Spontak
    • 2008 - Quartet Polaris: Gabriel Cabezas, Andrea Jarrett, Matthew Lipman, Vincent Meklis,
    • 2008 - Kate Liu
    • 2007 - Matthew Lipman
  • National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (January)
    • 2018 - Silver Award, Presidential Scholar in the Arts, Julian Rhee, violin
    • 2017 - Gold Award, Presidential Scholar in the Arts, Andrew Guo, piano
    • 2009 – Silver Award, Presidential Scholar in the Arts, Andrea Jarret, violin
  • Sphinx Competition Finalists and Laureates (February)
    • 2022 - Senior Division - Alexandra Switala, violin, finalist (alumni)
    • 2022 - Junior Division - Jan Vargas-Nedvetsky, cello, finalist
    • 2020 - Junior Division - Esme Arias Kim, violin, 1st Place
    • 2020 - Senior Division - Alexandra Switala, violin, finalist (alumni)
    • 2019 - Junior Division - Claire Arias-Kim, violin, finalist
    • 2019 - Senior Division - Adé Williams 2nd place Laureate (alumni)
    • 2019 - Senior Division - Hannah White, violin, finalist
    • 2018 - Junior Division - Irina Casasnovas, violin, finalist
    • 2018 - Junior Division - Claire Arias-Kim, violin, finalist
    • 2018 - Senior Division - Hannah White, violin, finalist, special award achievement
    • 2018 - Senior Division - Mira Williams, viola, finalist
    • 2017 Junior Division - Irina Casasnovas, violin - 4th Place
    • 2017 - Senior Division - Alexandra Switala, violin, finalist
    • 2017 - Senior Division - Mira Williams, viola, finalist
    • 2016 - Junior Division - Kayla Cabrera, viola finalist
    • 2015 - Junior Division - Hannah White, violin – 1st Place; Mira Williams, viola – 2nd Place
    • 2014 - Junior Division - Julimar Gonzalez, violin, finalist
    • 2014 - Junior Divison - Mira Williams, viola – 2nd Place; Hannah White, violin – 3rd Place
    • 2014 - Senior Division - Clayton Penrose-Whitmore, violin – 2nd Place
    • 2013 Junior Division - Caitlin Adamson, viola, finalist
    • 2013 - Junior Divisoin - Hannah White, violin finalist
    • 2013 - Senior Division - Santiago E. Osorio, viola
    • 2012 Junior Division - Caitlin Adamson, viola; finalist
    • 2012 - Junior Division - Ade Williams, violin – 1st Place; Mira Williams, viola finalist
    • 2012 - Senior Division - Gabriel Cabezas, cello – 1st Place
    • 2011 - Junior Divison - Caitlin Adamson, viola; finalist;
    • 2011 - Junior Division - Alexandra Alvarado Switala, violin, 1st
    • 2011 - Junior Division - Ade Williams, violin, finalist
    • 2010 - Junior Division - Kenneth Jones-Madrid, violin finalist
    • 2009 Junior Division - Alexandra Alvarado Switala, violin – 2nd Place
    • 2008 Junior Division - Clayton Penrose-Whitmore, violin – 1st Place
    • 2008 - Junior Division - Alexandra Alvarado Switala, violin – 2nd Place
    • 2008 - Junior Divison - Chaunte Ross, violin finalist
    • 2007 Junior Division - Alexandra Alvarado Switala, violin finalist
    • 2006 Junior Division - Gabriel Cabezas, cello – 1st Place
    • 2006 - Junior Division - Clayton Penrose-Whitmore, violin – 5th Place
  • St. Paul String Quartet Competition (April)
    • Gold Medals (6)
      • 2023 - Pelios String Quartet - Ellen Zhou, Clark Snavely, violins; Tristan Zhu viola, Amelia Zitoun, cello
      • 2022 - Peresson String Quartet - Katya Moeller, Kelly Kim, violin, Sidney Lee, viola, Serge Kalinovsky, cello
      • 2017 - Astera String Quartet - Hamnah White, violin, Ria Honda, violin, Kayla Cabrera, viola, Annamarie Wellems, cello
      • 2015 - Atara String Quartet - Karisa Chiu and Hannah White, violin, Tess Krope, viola, Krystian Chiu, cello
      • 2010 - Emerald String Quartet -Ethan Hoppe, Kenneth Jones-Madrid, Clayton Penrose-Whitmore, violin/viola, Alexander Hersh, cello
      • 2009 - Aurelia String Quartet - Susie Koh and Laura Park, violin, Arianna Smith, viola, Allan Steele, cello
      • 2007 - Ridere Quartet - Samantha Bennett, violin, Ryan Meehan, violin Emma Steele, violin, Mindy Park, cello
    • Silver Award (4)
      • 2022 - Omaggio String Quartet - Tara Hagle, violin, Abigail Park, violin, Elinor Detmer, viola, Jan Nedvetsky, cello
      • 2018 - Kairos String Quartet - Joshua Brown and Julian Rhee, violin/viola, Thompson Wang, violin, Lydia Rhea, cello
      • 2017 - Vieira Quartet - Maya Anjali Buchanan and Karisa Chiu, violins, Steven Song, viola, Nathan Mo, cello
      • 2014 - Atara String Quartet - Hannah White violin, Karisa Chiu, violin, Tess Krope, viola, Krystian Chiu, cello
    • Bronze Award (5)
      • 2023 - Calcifer String Quartet - Zak Chen, Kana Aihara, violins; Leo Zupko, viola, Jan Vargas-Nedvetsky, cello
      • 2021 - Omaggio String Quartet - Elinoir Detmer and Tara Hagle, violin; Abigail Park, viola; Jan Vargas-Nedvetsky, cello
      • 2019 - Nova String Quartet - Irina Casasnovas, violin, John Heo, violin, Zechary Mo, viola, Cameron Chiu, cello
      • 2016 - Quartet Degas - Joshua Brown and Maya Anjali Buchanan, violin, Tess Krope, viola, Josiah Yoo, cello
      • 2009 - Quartet Danaë - Sophia Cho and Natsuki Kumagai, violin, Leah Ferguson, viola, Benjamin Fried, cello
      • 2008 - Quartet Polaris - Andrea Jarrett and Vincent Meklis, violins, Matthew Lipman, viola, Gabriel Cabezas
    • HAYDN AWARD
      • 2023 - (Honorable Mention) Calcifer String Quartet - Zak Chen, Kana Aihara, violins; Leo Zupko, viola, Jan Vargas-Nedvetsky, cello -
      • 2023 - Pelios String Quartet - Ellen Zhou, Clark Snavely, violins; Tristan Zhu viola, Amelia Zitoun, cello
      • 2022 - (BIPOC Honorable Mention) Peresson String Quartet - Katya Moeller, Kelly Kim, violin, Sidney Lee, viola, Serge Kalinovsky, cello
      • 2021 - (Honorable Mention) Omaggio String Quartet - Elinor Detmer and Tara Hagle, violin; Abigail Park, viola; Jan Nedvetsky, cello
      • 2014 - Atara String Quartet - Karisa Chiu and Hannah White, violin, Tess Krope, viola, Krystian Chiu, cello
      • 2010 - Quartet Danaë - Sophia Cho and Zachary Spontak, violin, Leah Ferguson, viola, Ben Fried, cello
      • 2009 - Quartet Danaë - Sophia Cho and Zachary Spontak, violin, Leah Ferguson, viola, Ben Fried, cello
      • 2008 - Quartet Polaris - Andrea Jarrett, Vincent Meklis, violin, Matthew Lipman, viola, Gabrial Cabezas, cello
      • 2007 - Zeloso String Quartet - Scot Moore and Janis Sakai, violins, Moira Bette, viola, Eliott Lee, cello
    • Audience Prize
      • 2021 - Omaggio String Quartet - Elinor Detmer and Tara Hagle, violin; Abigail Park, viola; Jan Nedvetsky, cello
      • BIPOC Honorable Mention (Black, Indigenous, Persons Of Color)
      • 2019 - Xena String Quartet (Claire Arias-Kim, violin, Noelle Naito, violin, Isabel Chen, viola, Camille Toubol, cello)
      • 2012 - Audience Prize and Haydn Prize for best interpretation of the master's work - Quartet Ventoso - Jennifer Cha and Erika Gray, violin, Caitlin Adamson, viola, Johannes Gray, cello
  • Stradivarius International Violin Competition (July)
    • 2013 - 3rd Laureate - Gallia Kastner
    • 2016
      • 2nd Laureate - Maya Anjali Buchanan
      • 3rd Laureate - Joshua Brown
      • 4th Laureate - Zachary Brandon
  • Stulberg International String Competition (May)
    • 2023 - Gold - Amelia Zitoun, cello
    • 2018 - Bronze - Maya Anjali Buchanan, violin
    • 2017 - Bronze and Bach Prize - Karisa Chiu, violin; Zachary Brandon, violin, finalist
    • 2016 - Bach Prize and Finalist - Zachary Brandon, violin
    • 2013 - Bronze: Laura Park, violin
    • 2012 - Gold: Matthew Lipman, viola, Bronze: Vincent Meklis, violin
    • 2010 - Bronze: Allan Steele, cello
    • 2007 - Ben Beilman, violin
  • Avery Fisher Career Grant
    These Grants of $25,000 give professional assistance and recognition to talented instrumentalists who the Recommendation Board and Executive Committee believe have great potential for solo careers.
    • 2018 - Calidore String Quartet wtih violinist Ryan Meehan
    • 2016 - Alumnus Gabriel Cabezas, cellist
    • 2015 - Matthew Lipman, violist
    • 2012 - Benjamin Beilman, violinist and Conrad Tao, pianist
  • Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition (July)
    • 2022 Violin - 2nd Sameer Agrawal
    • 2019 Violin - 2nd Isabella Brown
    • 2017 Violin - 4th Zachary Brandon, 5th Maya Anjali Buchanan
    • 2015 Violin - 1st (shared 1st prize) Gallia Kastner, 2nd and Audience Award Joshua Brown, 4th Karisa Chiu, 6th Maya Anjali Buchanan
    • 2013 Violin - 4th Gallia Kastner
    • 2011 Violin - 2nd Alexander Switala, 3rd Laura Park, 6th Kelly Talim
    • 2010 Piano - 3rd Kate Liu
  • Triennial Johansen International Competition (March)
    • 2018 - 1st Julian Rhee, violin
    • 2015 - 3rd Maya Anjali Buchanan, violin
    • 2012 – 1st Gallia Kastner, violin
    • 2009 – 1st Matthew Lipman, viola; 2nd Gabriel Cabezas, cello
    • 2006 - 3rd Ben Beilman, violin
  • Washington International Competition
    • 2012 - 1st Matthew Lipman, viola
  • William C. Byrd International Competition (March)
    • 2020 - Noelle Naito, violin

Regional Competitions and Significant Scholarship Awards

  • American Opera Society of Chicago (March)
    Eleanore Pierce Scholarship
    • 2019 John Heo, violin
    • 2017 Nathan Mo, cello
    • 2016 Joshua Brown, violin
    • 2010 Lydia Umlauf
  • Arthur J. and Glenna B. Collins Award
    • 2017 Julian Rhee, violin
  • Annual Steinway Young Artist Competition for Pianists (discontinued for a number of years)
    • 2021 - Chicago Regionals | Division III
    • 2021 - 1st place - Zachary Guo (Soo Lee)
    • 2011 – 1st Wonjin Hahn
    • 2010 – 1st Andrew Tung, 2nd Paul Juhn
    • 2009 Senior Solo Division sweep 1st–4th places:
      Sean Yeh (1), Andrew Tung (2), Paul Juhn (3), Adam Kim (4)
  • A.N. & Pearl G. Barnett Chamber Music Competition (April)
    • 2023 - Goya Piano Trio, 1st Place Strings and Piano - Lily Sullivan, violin, Serge Kalinovsky, cello, Noah Kim, piano
    • Pelios String Quartet, 2nd Place Strings and Piano – Ellen, Clark, Tristan, and Amelia
    • 2022 - Grand Award Winner: Dando Piano Trio
    • Honorable Mentions: Hermes Piano Trio and Peresson String Quartet (Katya Moeller, Kelly Kim, Sidney Lee, Serge Kalinovsky)
    • 2nd Place: Omaggio String Quartet (Elinor Detmer, Abigail Park, Tara Hagle, Jan Nedvetsky)
    • Strings & Piano Division 1st Place Dando Piano Trio (Lily Sullivan, Myroslav Myhailenko, Mia Wimbiscus)
    • 2019 - Grand Award Winner and Strings and Piano Division 1st Place Winner - Xena String Quartet (Claire Arias-Kim, Noelle Natio, Isabel Chen, Camille Toubol); coahced by Mathias Tacke
    • 2018 - Grand Award Winner and Strings and Piano Division 1st Place Winner - The Kairos Quartet - Joshua Brown and Julian Rhee (violin and viola), Thompson Wang (viola) and Lydia Rhea (cello); coached by Rodolfo Vieira
    • 2017 - Grand Award Winner and Strings and Piano Division 1st Place Winner, Vieira String Quartet -- Maya Anjali Buchanan, Karisa Chiu, Steven Song, Nathan Mo; coached by Rodolfo Vieira
    • 2nd Place - Invictus Piano Quartet -- Joshua Brown, Zachary Brandon, Lydia Rhea, Andrew Guo (coached by Elaine Felder and Mathias Tacke)
    • 2016 - Grand Award Winner and Strings & Piano Division1st Place Winner, Iris Piano Trio -- Ria Honda, Alexandra Kim and Natalie Nedvetsky (coached by Paul Vanderwerf and Milana Pavchinskaya)
      • 2nd Place - Vibrante Quartet -- Hannah White, Zachary Brandon, Freya Irani, and Leevy Williams (coached by Mathias Tacke)
      • 3rd Place - Quartet Degas -- Maya Buchanan, Joshua Brown, Tess Krope and Josiah Yoo (coached by Sang Mee Lee and Roland Vamos)
    • 2015 - Grand Award Winner and Strings & Piano Division1st Place Winner - Fortis Piano Quartet - Joshua Brown and Kitsho Hosotani, violin/viola, Nathan Mo, cello, Daniel Szefer, piano
      • 2nd Place - Atara String Quartet - Karisa Chiu, violin, Hannah White, violin, Tess Krope, viola, Krystian Chiu, cello
      • 3rd - Premier Quartet - Ria Honda, violin, Nicholas Brown, violin, Katherine Gallagher, viola, Richard Li, cello
    • 2014 - Grand Award Winner and Strings & Piano Division1st Place Winner – Trio Solaris - Gallia Kastner, violin, Nathan Walhout, cello, Andrew Guo, piano
      • 2nd Place – Vox Quartet - Hansuh Rhee, violin, Serena Harnack, violin, Mira Williams, viola, Nathan Mo, cello
      • 3rd Place – Atara String Quartet - Karisa Chiu, violin, Hannah White, violin, Tess Krope, violin, Krystian Chiu, cello
    • 2013 - Grand Award Winner and Strings & Piano Division1st Place Winner – Quartet Lumiére - Gallia Kastner, violin, Rebecca Benjamin, violin, Mira Williams, viola, Josiah Yoo, cello
      • 3rd Place - Trio Giocoso - Serena Harnack, violin, Nathan Mo, cello, Andrew Guo, piano
  • Crain-Maling Foundation Chicago Symphony Orchestra Youth Auditions (April)
    • 2023 - Cello Finalist and 1st Alternate Winner - Jan Vargas-Nedvetsky
    • 2022 - 1st Noah Kim, piano
    • 2020 - 1st Isabella Brown, violin
    • 1st Alternate Winner - Esme Arias-Kim, violin
    • Finalist - Mia Wimbiscus, cello
    • 2018 - 1st Yerin Yang, piano
    • 2017 - 1st Maya Anjali Buchanan, violin
    • 1st Alternate Winner Joshua Brown, violin
    • Finalist - Thompson Wang, violin
    • HM - Isabella Brown, violin
    • 2015 - Finalist, David Hou, piano
    • 2014 - 1st Gallia Kastner, violin
    • 2012 - 1st Kyle Jannak-Huang, piano
    • 2011 - 1st Johannes Gray, cello
    • 2009 – 1st Adam Kim, piano
    • 2008 – 1st Gabriel Cabezas, cello
  • DePaul Open Division Concerto Festival Competition (January)
    • 2023 Cello Winner - Serge Kalinovsky
      • Honorable Mention
        • Jan Vargas Nedvetsky
        • Lucy Wu
    • Violin Winner
      • Emily Chen
      • Tristan Zhu
    • Honorable Mention with Distinction - Clark Snavely
    • Honorable Mention - Leo Zupko
    • 2022
      • Honorable Mention with Distinction - Jan Nedvetsky, cello
      • Honorable Mention - Lucy Wu, cello
      • Honorable Mention with Distinction - Noah Kim, piano
      • Honorable Mention with Distinction - Emily Chen, violin
      • Honorable Mention - Lauren Kim, Mingshi Xia, Tristan Zhu, violin
    • 2021
      • Honorable Mention with Distinction - Mia Wimbiscus, cello
      • Honorable Mention - Jan Vargas Nedvetsky, cello
      • Honorable Mention - Sidney Lee, viola
      • Violin Winners - Sameer Agrawal, Elinor Detmer, Kelly Kim
      • Violin Honorable Mention with Distinction - Sonya Jones
      • Violin Honorable Mention - Carrie Wang
    • 2020
      • Cello Winners - Amelia Zitoun
      • HM - Jan Vargas Nedvetsky
      • Piano Winners - Ashley Kim
      • Violin Winners - Isabel Chen
      • Honorable Mention with Distinction - Esme Arias-Kim
      • HM - Kelly Kim and Abigail Park
    • Open Division Winners 2019
      • Cello HM - Cameron Chiu
      • Cello HM - Mia Wimbiscus
      • Viola 1st - Zechary Mo
      • Violin 1st - Sameer Agrawal
      • 1st - Claire Arias-Kim
      • HM with Distinction - Kelly Kim
      • HM - Sonya Jones
    • 2018
      • 1st James Baik, cello
      • HM - Cameron Chiu and Mia Wimbiscus, cello
      • 1st - Yerin Yang, piano
      • 1st - John Heo,violin
      • Honorable Mention with Distinction - Thompson Wang, violin
      • HM - Claire Arias-Kim and Irina Casasnovas, violin
    • 2017
      • 1st Maya Anjali Buchanan and Zechariah Mo, violin
      • HM - Claire Arias Kim and Steven Song, violin
    • 2016
      • 1st Isabella Brown and Ria Honda, violin
      • HM Claire Arias-Kim, violin
      • HM with DISTINCTION Lydia Rhea, cello
      • HM Brendan Tarm, cello Annamarie Wellems, cello
      • HM Peter Morin, viola,
    • 2015
      • 1st Leevy Williams, cello
      • HM with Distinction - Krystian Chiu, cello
      • 1st Katherine Gallagher, viola
      • 1st Joshua Brown, Karisa Chiu, Steven Song, violin
      • HM - Kitsho Hosotani
    • 2014 - 1st Alexandra Kim, cello
    • 2013
      • 1st Nathan Mo, cello
      • HM - Krystian Chiu, Leevy Williams, and Josiah Yoo
      • 1st Mira Williams, viola
      • Honorable Mention with Distinction: Serena Harnack,
      • 1st Hansuh Rhee, violin
      • Honorable Mention with distinction: Karisa Chiu
    • 2012 - 1st Serena Harnack, violin
  • DuPage Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Audition (February)
    • 2023- Tristan Zhu, violin
    • 2021 - Esme Arias-Kim, Violin, Veronica Rokicki, Violin, Mia Wimbiscus, Cello
    • 2020 - 2nd Sonya Jones; HM - Zechary Mo, viola; Linda Wang, violin; Kate Nelson, violin
    • 2019 - 1st Isabella Brown, violin; 2nd - Irina Casasnovas, HM- Cameron Chiu and Zechary Mo
    • 2018 - 2nd John Heo, violin, HM-Zechary Mo
    • 2017 - 1st Thompson Wang, violin, HM - Kayla Cabrera, viola
    • 2016 - 1st Nathan Mo, cello
    • 2015 - 2nd Joshua Brown, violin; HM - Nicholas Brown and Steven Song, violin
    • 2014 - 1st Katherine Gallagher, violin
    • 2013 - 1st Serena Harnack, violin
  • Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra Robert Stanger Young Artist Audition (February)
    • 2021 - 1st Elinor Detmer, violin; 2nd Esme Arias Kim, violin
    • 2020 - 3rd Mia Wimbiscus, Cello
      • 4th Elinor Detmer, Violin
      • HM Abigail Park, Violin
    • 2016 - 1st Karisa Chiu, violin
    • 2015 - 1st Joshua Brown, violin 3rd - Steven Song, violin
    • 2014 - 2nd Serena Harnack, violin 4th - Steven Song, violin
    • 2013 - 4th Serena Harnack, violin
  • Fox Valley Concerto Competition
    • 2020 1st Esme Arias-Kim
    • 2019 1st Cameron Chiu, cello; 2nd Zechary Mo, viola
    • 2018 2nd John Heo, violin
  • Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA) Piano Competition North (Fall)
    • 2021
      • Junior Division
        • 3rd Place - Zachary Guo (Soo Lee)
      • Senior Division
        • 2nd Place - Kimiko Darcy (Matthew Hagle)2020
        • Third: Zachary Guo
      • Senior Piano Solo Division
        • Second: Kimiko Darcy
  • Jules M. Laser Chamber Music Competition (discontinued in 2015)
    Music Institute ensembles have taken first place in each of the past six years.
    • 2014 --1st Atara String Quartet - Karisa Chiu, violin, Hannah White, violin, Tess Krope, viola, Krystian Chiu, cello
      • 2nd Vox String Quartet - Hansuh Rhee, violin, Serena Harnack, violin, Mira Williams, viola, Nathan Mo, cello
    • 2013 – 1st Quartet Lumiére - Gallia Kastner and Rebecca Benjamin, violin, Mira Williams, viola, Josiah Yoo, cello
    • 2012 – 1st Quartet Ventoso - Erika Gray, violin, Jennifer Cha, violin, Caitlin Adamson, viola, Johannes Gray, cello
    • 2011 – 1st Okemo String Quartet - Ade Williams, violin, Hansuh Rhee, violin, Mira Williams, viola, Josiah Yoo, cello
    • 2010 – 1st Emerald String Quartet - Alexander Jones-Madrid, Ethan Hoppe, Clayton Penrose-Whitmore, violin/viola, Alexander Hersh, cello
      • 2nd Quartet Danae - Zachary Spontak, violin, Sophia Cho, violin, Leah Ferguson, viola, Benjamin Fried, cello
    • 2009 – 1st Aurelia String Quartet - Laura Park, violin, Susie Koh, violin, Arianna Smith, viola, Allan Steele, cello
  • Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra's Arthur D. Montzka Young Artists Concerto Competition (January)
    • 2023 - Runner Up Neal Eisfeldt, violin
    • 2022 - 1st Esme Arias-Kim violin
      • HM - Abigail Park, violin
    • 2020 - 1st Isabella Brown, violin
    • 2019 - 1st John Heo, violin
    • 2018 - Runner-Up John Heo, violin
    • 2017 - 1st Maya Anjali Buchanan, violin
    • 2016- 1st Karisa Chiu, violin, Runner-up Alexandra Kim, cello
    • 2015 - 1st Nathan Mo, cello
  • Lakeview Orchestra Concerto Competition
    • 2022
      • Second Place: Jan Vargas Nedvetsky, cello
      • Honorable Mention: Esme Arias-Kim, violin
      • Honorable Mention: Sidney Lee, viola
    • 2020 - Runner-up Sidney Lee, violin
    • 2019 - 1st Isabella Brown, violin
    • 2017- 1st Claire Arias-Kim, violin
  • Music Festival in Honor of Confucius Competition (November)
    • 2020 and 2021 were canceled
    • 2019
      • 1st - Abigail Park
      • 2nd - Sonya Jones
    • 2018
      • Finalists Junior II
      • Sameer Agrawal, student of Sang Mee Lee
      • Senior
      • Sonya Jones, student of Almita Vamos and Davis King
      • Abigail Park, student of Almita Vamos
      • Honorable Mention
      • Linda Wang, student of Almita Vamos and Hye-Sun Lee
    • 2017- Honorable Mention - Claire Arias-Kim, student of Almita Vamos,
    • 2015
      • VIOLIN SENIOR
        • 1st - John Heo, student of Almita Vamos
        • 3rd - Karisa Chiu, student of Almita Vamos
      • VIOLIN JUNIOR II
        • 1st - Isabella Brown, student of Almita and Roland Vamos/ Hannah Lin (tie)
      • CELLO SENIOR
        • 2nd - Nathan Mo, student of Hans Jensen
      • CELLO JUNIOR I
        • 2nd - Mia Wimbiscus, student of Gilda Barston
    • 2014
      • VIOLIN – JUNIOR 2
        • 1st - Joshua Brown
      • VIOLIN – SENIOR
        • 2nd - Nicholas Brown
        • 3rd - Tabby Rhee
      • CELLO – SENIOR
        • 1st - Josiah Yoo
        • 2nd (tie) - Annamarie Wellems
        • 2nd (tie) - Nathan Mo
  • Musicians Club of Women Scholarship Competition (March)
    • 2022 Sidney Lee, viola and Esme Arias Kim, violins; shared 1st place Nerenberg Award Junior Division
      • Claire Bourg*, violin - Nerenberg Award, Senior Division and Ayoun Kim*, cello - Farwell Trust Award
    • 2021 Katya Moeller, violin, Mira Williams*, viola Nerenberg Award
    • 2019 Esme Arias Kim, violin - Farwell Trust Award
    • 2018 Irina Casasnovas - Farwell Trust Award
    • 2017 Tabby Rhee* - Jerome and Elaine Nerenberg Foundation Scholarship
    • 2017 Alexandra Switala* - Farwell Trust Award
    • 2017 Maya Anjali Buchanan - Farwell Trust Award
    • 2016 Karisa Chiu - The Jerome and Elaine Nerenberg Foundation Scholarship
    • 2016 Hannah White - The Farwell Trust Award
    • 2015 Serena Harnack - The Farwell Trust Award
    • 2014 Hansuh Rhee - The Jerome and Elaine Nerenberg Foundation Scholarship
    • 2013 Gallia Kastner - The Jerome and Elaine Nerenberg Foundation Scholarship
    • 2013 Ade Williams - The Farwell Trust Award
    • 2012 Kelly Talim - The Edith Newfield Award
    • 2012 Claire Bourg - The Farwell Trust Award
      *Alumna
  • Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) State Competitions (Fall)
    • 2021
      • Illinois Junior Piano Performance – 26 entries
        Honorable Mention - Zachary Guo (Soo Lee)
      • Illinois Senior Piano Performance- 22 entries
        Winner – Ashley Kim (James Giles, Matthew Hagle)
        Honorable Mention – Kimiko Darcy (Matthew Hagle)
      • Illinois Senior Performance String-15 entries
        Winner – Isabella Brown, violin (Almita Vamos)
        Alternate – Esme Arias-Kim, violin (Almita Vamos)
        Honorable Mention – Sidney Lee, viola (Roland Vamos and Davis King) and Mia Wimbiscus (Hans Jensen)
      • Iowa State Winner - Katya Moeller, violin (Almita Vamos) and West Central Divison - Senior-Alternate Winner
    • 2020-2021
      • Senior strings
        First place: Isabella Brown
        Alternate: Esme Arias-Kim
        Honorable mention: Sidney Lee
        Honorable mention: Mia Wimbiscus
        NOTE: Katya Moeller, First place, Iowa State Winner
      • Senior piano
        First place: Ashley Kim
        Honorable mention: Kimiko Darcy
        Junior piano
        Honorable mention: Zachary Guo
  • MYA Discover National Chamber Music Competition (February)
  • Chicago National Chamber Competition (formerly Discover Competition)
    • 2023- Goya Piano Trio- Lily SUlivan ,violin, Serge Kalinovsky, cello, Noah Kim, piano
    • 2020 - Overall and Open Strings Winner - Insieme Piano Trio – Sonya Jones: violin/viola, Abigail Park: violin/viola, Ashley Kim: piano
      • Infini Quartet – Honorable Mention (Open Strings Category) Sameer Agrawal: violin, Linda Wang: violin/viola, Kelly Kim: violin/viola, Mia Wimbiscus: cello
    • 2016 - Open Division Overall Winner and Strings and Piano Category Winner - Calliope Trio (Karisa Chiu, violin; Nathan Mo, cello; Andrew Guo, piano)
      • Overall and String/Piano Division Winner Honorable Mention - Cantare Piano Quintet - Seoyun Baek, piano; Isabella Brown, Barbara Juminaga, Zechary Mo, violins/viola; Mia Wimbiscus, cello
    • 2015 - Open Division Overall Winner and Strings and Piano Category Winner - Ètoile Quartet (Gallia Kastner, violin; Serena Harnack, violin; Freya Irani, viola; Alexandra Kim, cello)
      • Strings and Piano Honorable Mention - Atara String Quartet (Karisa Chiu, violin; Hannah White, violin; Tess Krope viola; Krystian Chiu, cello) and Fortis Piano Quartet (Kitsho Hosotani, violin; Joshua Brown, violin; Nathan Mo, cello; Daniel Szefer, piano)
    • 2014 - Overall Winner and Strings Category Winner - Vox Quartet - (Hansuh Rhee, violin; Serena Harnack, violin; Nathan Mo, cello; Mira Williams, viola)
      • Honorable Mention Atara String Quartet - (Karisa Chiu, violin; Hannah White, violin; Tess Krope viola; Krystian Chiu, cello)
    • Previous Awards: In 2015, won the Open Division Overall Winner and Strings/Piano Category Winner (Gallia Kastner, Serena Harnack, Freya Irani and Alexandra Kim) and the Atara String Quartet (Hannah White, Karisa Chiu, Tess Krope, and Krystian Chiu) and Fortis Piano Quartet (Kitsho Hosotani, Joshua Brown, Nathan Mo, and Daniel Szefer) received Strings/ Piano Honorable Mention. In 2014, the Overall Division Winner and Strings Category Winner went to the VOX String Quartet (Hansuh Rhee, Gallia Kastner, Mira Williams, Nathan Mo).
  • MYA Walgreen National Concerto Competition (December)
    • 2023
      • SENIOR OPEN DIVISION
        • Strings Winner: Clark Snavely, 17, violin student of Almita Vamos
        • Simon Updegraff, 15, cello student of Avi Friedlander, Early Music Honorable Mention
        • Jan Vargas Nedvetsky, 16, cello student of Hans Jensen, Early Music Honorable Mention
        • Ethan Zheng, 16, piano student of Marta Aznavoorian, Piano Honorable Mention
      • JUNIOR OPEN DIVISION
        • Strings Winner: Neal Eisfeldt, 13, violin student of Almita Vamos and Injoo Choi
    • 2021
      • Open junior division: Lauren Kim, violin
      • Grand Prize Winner: Kayta Moeller, violin
      • Open senior division, Katya Moeller, violin
    • 2020
      • Open Junior division:
      • Early Music Category Honorable Mention Jan Vargas-Nedvetsky
      • Open Senior Division
      • Open Senior Division and Overall Open Division Winner and String Category Winner Esme Arias-Kim
      • Open Senior Division String Category Honorable Mention: Isabel Chen
      • Early Music Category Winner: Isabel Chen, 17, Northbrook, violin, Almita Vamos
    • 2020
      • SENIOR OPEN DIVISION
        • Zechary Mo, viola (Strings HM)
        • Ashley Kim, piano (Piano HM)
      • JUNIOR OPEN DIVISION
        • Early Music Winner - Esme Arias Kim, viola
        • Jan Nedvetsky, cello - (Strings HM)
    • 2018 Junior Open Division Strings Category
      • Honorable Mention: Sameer Agrawal, violin student of Sang Mee Lee
      • Senior Open Division Strings Category
      • Honorable Mention: Zechary Mo, viola student of Almita Vamos
    • 2017 Senior Open Division
      • Julian Rhee, violin - Winner
      • John Heo, violin - Honorable Mention
    • 2016 Senior Division Winners
      • Karisa Chiu, violin - winner, and Overall Senior Open Division Winner
      • Julian Rhee, violin - honorable mention
      • Nathan Mo, cello - honorable mention
      • Brendan Tarm, cello - honorable mention
    • 2015 Senior Division Winners
      • Overall Winner - Zachary Brandon, violin
      • String Division Winner - Zachary Brandon, violin
      • String Division Honorable Mention
      • Leevy Williams, cello
      • Karisa Chiu, violin
      • Alexandra Kim, cello
      • Junior Division Winners
      • String Division Winner - Isabella Brown, violin
    • 2014
      • Open Category Senior Division
      • String Category Honorable Mention
      • Joshua Brown, violin
      • Nicholas Brown, violin
      • Karisa Chiu, violin
      • Serena Harnack, violin
      • Krystian Chiu, cello
      • Nathan Mo, cello
      • Junior String Division
      • John Heo, violin
    • 2013
      • Open Senior Division Results
      • Overall Open Division Winner and String Category Winner (will perform in February at Symphony Center)
      • Hansuh Rhee, violin
      • Honorable Mentions (String Category)
      • Serena Harnack, violin
      • Alexandra Kim, cello
      • Nathan Mo, cello
      • Steven Song, violin
      • Open Junior Division Results
      • String Category Co-Winner - Maya Anjali Buchanan, violin
      • Honorable Mention (String Category)
      • Kitsho Hosotani, violin
  • Rembrandt Chamber Players Music Competition (January)
    • 2023 Goya Piano Trio (Lily Sullivan, violin, Serge Kalinovsky, cello, Noah Kim, piano)
    • 2022 - HM - Peresson String Quartet - Kelly Kim, Katya Moeller, Sidney Lee, Serge Kalinovsky
    • 2021 Second Place: Carmen Quartet - Katharine Nelson, Veronica Rokicki, Kimberly LaFranzo, Ethan Raviv
      • Honorable Mentions: Salice Piano Quartet - Myroslav Mykhailenko, Carrie Wang, Angelica She
      • Zephyr String Quartet - Esme Arias-Kim, Isabel Chen, Sidney Lee, Mia Wimbiscus
    • 2020 -- Aurora Piano Quartet - Sidney Lee, violin, Elinor Detmer, violin, Colin Song, piano, Amelia Zitoun
    • 2019 -- 2nd Xena String Quartet - Claire Arias-Kim, violin, Noelle Naitio, violin, Isabel Chen, viola, Camille Toubol, cello
      • HM - Fiero String Quartet - Isabella Brown, violin, Kaylin Liu, violin, Elena Galantas, viola, Alun Hayut, cello
    • 2018 -- 1st Kairos String Quartet - Julian Rhee, violin, Thompson Wang, violin, Joshua Brown, Lydia Rhea, cello
    • 2017 -- 1st Vieira String Quartet - Karisa Chiu, violin, Maya Anjali Buchanan, violin,
      • Song, viola, Nathan Mo, cello
    • 2016 -- HM Quartet Degas - Joshua Brown, violin, Maya Anjali Buchanan, violin, Tess Krope, viola, Josiah Yoo, cello
    • 2015 -- 1st Etoile String Quartet - Serena Harnack, violin, Gallia Kastner, violin, Freya Irani, viola, Ayoun Alexandra Kim, cello
    • 2014 -- 1st Vox String Quartet - Serena Harnack, violin, Hansuh Rhee, violin, Mira Williams, viola, Nathan Mo, cello
      • HM - Trio Anima - Trio Anima Steven Song, violin, Leevy Williams, cello, David Hou, piano
    • 2009 – 1st Aurelia String Quartet - Laura Park, violin, Susie Koh, violin, Arianna Smith, viola, Allan Steele, cello
  • Sejong Music Competition (November)
    • 2022
      • Violin Junior Division Winner & Best Interpretation of a Korean Piece – Neal Eisfeldt, student of Almita Vamos and Injoo Choi
      • Violin Senior Division – 3rd place – Lauren Kim, student of Almita Vamos and Injoo Choi
      • Piano Senior Division Best Interpretation of a Korean Piece – Ethan Zheng, student of Marta Aznavoorian
    • 2021
      • Violin Senior Division
        First - Esme Arias-Kim (Almita Vamos)
        Second - Abigail Park (Almita Vamos)
        Finalists: Sonya Jones (Almita Vamos and Davis King) and Kelly Kim (Almita Vamos)
        Piano Senior Division
        Honorable Mention: Zachary Guo (Soo Lee)
    • 2020
      • Violin Senior Division
      • First: Esme Arias-Kim
      • Second: Abigail Park
      • Finalist: Sonya Jones
      • Finalist: Kelly Kim
      • Piano Senior Division
      • Honorable Mention: Zachary Guo
    • 2019
      • VIOLIN SENIOR DIVISION
      • First place: Noelle Naito
      • Third: Jonah Kartman
      • Honorable Mention: Esme-Arias Kim
    • 2018
      • VIOLIN SENIOR DIVISION
      • First Place & Best Interpretation Korean piece:
        Isabella Brown
      • Second Place & Best Interpretation Korean piece:
        Katya Moeller
      • Honorable Mention: Claire Arias-Kim
      • Honorable Mention: Sidney Lee
      • VIOLIN JUNIOR DIVISION
      • First Place & Best Interpretation Korean piece:
        Esme Arias-Kim
      • Second Place & Best Interpretation Korean piece:
        Sameer Agrawal
    • 2017
      • SENIOR STRING DIVISION
      • 1st Place - Ria Honda, violin,
      • 2nd Place - Thompson Wang, violin
      • 3rd Place - John Heo, violin
      • HM - Claire Arias Kim
      • Best interpretation of a Korean piece: John Heo
    • 2016
      • SENIOR STRING DIVISION
      • 1st Place - Zachary Brandon
      • 2nd Place - Ria Honda
      • 3rd Place - Claire Arias-Kim
      • HM-Thompson Wang
      • Best Interpretation of a Korean piece: Zachary Brandon
    • 2015
      • SENIOR PIANO DIVISION
      • 1st - John Schindler
      • Best Interpretation of a Korean piece - John Schindler
      • SENIOR VIOLIN DIVISION
      • 1st Place - Karisa Chiu
      • 2nd Place - Zachary Brandon
      • HM - Ria Honda, John Heo
      • Best Interpretation of a Korean Piece - Karisa Chiu
    • 2014
      • SENIOR VIOLIN DIVISION
      • 1st - Joshua Brown
      • 2nd - Karisa Chiu
      • 3rd - Serena Harnack
      • Honorable Mention - Nicholas Brown
      • JUNIOR VIOLIN DIVISION
      • 2nd - John Heo
      • Best Interpretation of a Korean Piece - John Heo
  • Skokie Valley Symphony Young Artist Winners since 2007
    • 2016-17 1st Maya Anjali Buchanan, violin, 2nd Place Tabby Rhee (alumna), viola
    • 2015-16 1st place Joshua Brown, violin; 2nd place Karisa Chiu, violin; HM Maya Anjali Buchanan, violin and Nathan Mo, cello
    • 2011-12, 1st place Gallia Kastner, violin; 2nd place, Claire Bourg
    • 2010-11, 1st place Alexandra Switala, violin
    • 2009-10, 1st place, Zachary Spontak, violin; 2nd place, Kate Liu, piano
    • 2008-09, 2nd place, Benjamin Lash cello
    • 2007-08, 1st place Natsuki Kumagai, violin
  • Society of American Musicians (January - February)
    • 2022 - 1st: Jan Vargas Nedvetsky, cello
    • 2021
      • Intermediate Division
      • 2nd Place: Violin Intermediate Contestant #11 Kelly Kim
      • Senior Division
      • 1st Place: Violin Senior Contestant #1 Sameer Agrawal
      • Honorable Mention: Violin Senior Contestant #13 Sonya Jones
    • 2020
      • Violin Senior 1st Place - Isabel Chen
      • Viola Senior 1st Place - Zechariah Mo
      • Cello Senior - HM - Jan Nedvetsky
    • 2018
      • Violin Intermediate Division 2nd - Kaylin Liu
      • Cello Intermediate Division 1st- Cameron Chiu
    • 2017
      • Violin young Artist Division 1st - Julian Rhee
      • Viola Senior Division 1st - Tabby Rhee, alumna
    • 2015
      • Cello - Senior Division
      • 1st - Annamarie Wellems
      • 2nd - Leevy Williams
      • Violin - Senior Division
      • 2nd Place - Joshua Brown
      • Honorable Mention - Steven Song

Indiana

  • Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's Maurer Young Musicians Contest
    • 2023 - Lily Sullivan, violin
  • Carmel Symphony Orchestra's (CSO) 35th Young Artists Competition
    • 2021 - 1st Runner Up Serge Kalinovski, cello
    • 2015 - 1st Lydia Rhea, cello
  • Fort Wayne Philharmonic Concerto Competition
    • 2017 – 1st Lydia Rhea, cello
  • Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's Side-by-Side Program Concerto Competition
    • 2021 - Serge Kalinovsky, cello
    • 2017 – 1st Lydia Rhea, cello
  • Orchestra Indiana’s Patricia Tretick Young Artist Competition (formerly Muncie Symphony Orchestra Competition)
    • 2023 - Senior Divsion Winner - Serge Kalinovsky, cello
    • 2017 - Silver Medal, Lydia Rhea, cello
  • 2023 International Young Artists Concerto Competition
    • Runner-up - Serge Kalinovsky, cello
  • New World Youth Orchestra's Young Artist Competition
    • 2016 - 1st Senior Division - Lydia Rhea, cello

Wisconsin

  • Schubert Club Student Scholarship Competition
    • 2023 - Strings 2 division - 1st Place, Amelia Zitoun
    • Finalist - Kana Aihara
    • Strings 1 division - 2nd place, Lucy Wu
  • Concord Chamber Orchestra, Walter A. and Dorothy J. Oestreich Concerto Competition
    • 2023 - 1st Runner Up - Clark Snavely, violin
  • Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Young Artist Competition,
    • 2023 - Winner and recipient of the David Lewis Crosby Scholarship, Clark Snavely, violin
  • Wisconsin Philharmonic Shining Stars Competition
    • 2023 - Bryant Scholarship Winner UW - Madison Mead Witter School of Music, Zak Chen, violin
    • 2023 - Tuition Waiver Award Winner, Zak Chen, violin
  • Bolz Young Artist Competition, The Final Forte
    • 2023 - 1st Amelia Zitoun, cello Lucy Wang, cello finalist
    • 2022 - 1st Ellen Zhou, violin, Zak Chen, violin finalist
    • 2021 - Carrie Wang, violin, HM
    • 2020 - Jonah Kartman, violin finalist
    • 2017 - 1st Julian Rhee, violin
    • 2016 - 2nd Tabby Rhee, viola
    • 2015 - HM Freya Irani, viola
  • LaCrosse Symphony Orchestra Rising Star Young Artist Competition
    • 2021 - 3rd place, Carrie Wang, violin
    • 2020 - 2nd place, Katya Moeller, violin
    • 2019 - Zechary Mo, viola and Claire Arias-Kim, violin, Finalists
    • 2017 - 1st Julian Rhee, violin
  • Milwaukee Civic Music Competition Scholarship
    • 2023 - Zak Chen, violin
    • 2022 - Zak Chen, violin
    • 2018 - Julian Rhee, violin
    • 2017 - Julian Rhee, violin

Iowa

  • 2018 - MTNA State Winner - 1st Katya Moeller, violin

Michigan

  • 2021 Arbor Symphony Young Artists Concerto Competition - Lily Sullivan, violin