The Academy Kicks Off a Strong Season
October 9th, 2025
The Academy has kicked off its 20th season with a strong start! From competition wins and premieres to community performances and broadcast features, our students are already making their mark on stages across the Chicago area and beyond. Take a look at some of the exciting accomplishments and upcoming performances from our talented Academy musicians this fall!
Academy student violinist/composer Syvia Pine, a member of the 2025 CSO Young Composers Initiative, premiered her composition, War, on WFMT Introductions Saturday, October 4. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Negaunee Music Institute and mentor Jessie Montgomery took six young composers and guided them through workshops of new pieces throughout the year. The Young Composers Initiative culminated in a concert featuring fellows of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago as performers.
Congratulations to cellist Lavie Huang, student of Avi Friedlander and violinist Eliana Song, student of Almita Vamos. Lavie and Eliana have been named winners of the Chicago Chamber Music Festival (CCMF) Concerto Competition 2025. Concerto competition winners will perform with the Northeastern Illinois University Orchestra in the Collage Concert of October 24th, 2025 @ 7:30pm. Lavie will perform Shostakovich Cello Concerto No.1, Mvt.1 and Eliana Lalo Symphonie Espagnole for Violin and Orchestra Location: NEIU Auditorium, 3701 W Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago.
Academy pianist Edie Park, student of Marta Aznavoorian and Winston Choi and Academy violinist Sebastian Manning, student of Almita Vamos, performed at The Merion in Evanston, to kick off a year of community engagement at local senior residences.
The Meraviglia Quartet, Elle Cho, Lauren Kim, Emily Chen, and Lucy Wu, coached by Rodolfo Vieira, performed at the Art of Masquerade Gala celebrating 70 years of the Deer Path Art League, Saturday, October 4 at the David Adler Estate in Lake Forest.
Pianist Edie Park, student of Marta Aznavoorian and Winston Choi, has some exciting performances coming up! Tune in to the Encore broadcast on WFMT Introductions October 18, 2025, 11:00 am to hear Edie performing Scarlatti, Beethoven, and Chopin. Edie will also perform Beethoven’s Fantasia for Piano, Chorus & Orchestra, Op.80 with the Fox Valley Orchestra on Sunday, Oct 26th 3pm at Crimi Auditorium at Aurora University, IL and the Young Steinway Concert Series on Sunday, April 12th, 2026.
Violinist Lauren Kim, student of Injoo Choi and Almita Vamos, and pianist Claire Wang will perform as part of the Young Steinway Piano Series at Petty Auditorium, Skokie Library, Sunday, November 2, 2025 3:00pm–4:15pm.
This remarkable start to the Academy’s 20th season sets the tone for an inspiring year ahead! Stay tuned for more Academy updates throughout the season!