Celebrating the Class of 2026: Community Music School Graduates
April 28th, 2026
As the school year draws to a close, we are proud to celebrate the Class of 2026. See where our graduates will be heading next year, and read their favorite memories from their time at MIC!
The Graduating Seniors Concert took place on Sunday, April 26 at Nichols Concert Hall. If you missed it, you can see the program and watch the recording here »
Julia Aliferis
Student of Nina Wallenberg
Glenview, Illinois
Undecided
“I have loved studying cello and participating in group classes and workshops. I had the opportunity to participate in master classes.”
James Baum
Student of Dave Onderdonk and Bill Baxtresser
Wilmette, Illinois
Sarah Lawrence College
Philosophy and Government
“Preparing my first trumpet solo for a music festival. Learning to play by ear for guitar.”
Jean-Paul Bournas
Student of Dorothy Jean Lloyd
Deerfield, IL
Caroll University
Political Science
“My favorite experience is honestly going in every week for a lesson for just 45 minutes. It gives me a break from the busy week and is like a rest.”
Anaya Brainch
Student of Milana Pavchinskaya
Wilmette, Illinois
Washington University
Film and Creative Writing
Sammy Bush
Student of Lisa Zilberman
Evanston, Illinois
Oberlin College
Film and Theater
“My favorite memories are going to a music lesson on a bad day and getting to express myself and feel better through music.”
Willa Cates
Student of Lisa Zilberman
Evanston, Illinois
University of Colorado at Boulder
Aerospace Engineering and Mathematics
“My favorite experiences have been recitals. It was so rewarding to hear everyone play at the end of each semester.”
Michael Cerimele
Student of Avi Friedlander
Glenview, Illinois
University of Notre Dame
Biochemistry
Malena Cerna
Student of Patrick O’Malley
Bordeaux, France
Université Bordeaux Montaigne
Musicology
“When I arrived in Chicago two years ago, it was my first time in the USA, and I felt so welcomed by the MIC and my teacher Patrick O'Malley. I really enjoyed the few performances that I got to do with my group and alone. Being able to be a student in the MIC really was an amazing experience and I am grateful for the donors and financial support that I received.”
Micah Chan
Student of Dr. Christina Tio
Skokie, Illinois
Indiana University Bloomington
Computer Science
“I've always loved hanging out with other musicians! My favorite memories at MIC are coming to cello group class every week and participating at CSI. I've made a lot of friends through these experiences and will continue to keep in touch with them after I graduate!”
Avalon Felty
Student of Phyllis Adams
Winnetka, Illinois
Reed College
“I have absolutely loved working with Mrs Adams. She is an incredible teacher and very supportive of not only my harp skills but also me as a person. I cannot thank her enough!”
Alana Gerbie
Student of Cecilia Ham
Evanston, Illinois
Undecided
Jasmine Horton
Student of Dr. Sarah Plum
Glencoe, Illinois
Wheaton College and Conservatory
of Music
Music and Mathematics
“Merit scholarship opportunities and chamber music, the string quartet in particular. Developing a lasting relationship with my latest teacher, Sarah Plum.”
Jaiden Hsu
Student of Barbara Ann Martin and
Dr. Louise Chan
Northfield, Illinois
Harvard College
English and Music
“I grew up at MIC. It’s like a second home to me. I started violin there when I was 2 years old, but was attending my big sister Savannah’s lessons long before. My voice teacher Ms. Barbara is like a second mother/grandmother to me and she has made me who I am today. Ms. Louise too has pushed me to challenge myself, but has also left me room so I don’t have to stress, and I am incredibly grateful to her. Getting to know the new people who work here has been a pleasure: Mr. Clem and Katie especially. I will never ever forget what everyone at MIC has done for me.”
Emily Hu
Student of Dr. Christina Tio
Kenilworth, Illinois
Carnegie Mellon University
Computer Science
“Some of my favorite memories that will stay with me throughout my life are Dr. Tio’s studio trip tours to London, Oxford, and New York City. I’ll never forget all the fun activities and memories I got to live through beyond just the Winnetka campus, all part of my experience here as an MIC student. I’d also like to thank my piano teachers Dr. Christina Tio and Dr. Winston Choi, and my violin teacher Mr. Shigetoshi Yamada for helping me become the musician and person I am today.”
Joey Kim
Student of Nick Collins and Brad Conroy
Libertyville, Illinois
Northwestern University
Music Performance and Physics
“I've been taking classical guitar from Brad Conroy since 2018, but recently began euphonium lessons with
Nick Collins. I've grown so much as a musician because of both of their musical wisdom.”
Juliana Konopacki
Student of Avi Friedlander
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Loyola University Chicago
Neuroscience and Art History
“One of my favorite experiences at MIC is going to the Mid-Winter Workshops every year. I always loved being a part of the cello orchestra, and I always found it so impressive how we were able to prepare multiple songs for our concert within just 2 or 3 days. I loved being able to bond with the other children my age as we ate snacks and pizza while on our breaks.”
Luke Montzka
Academy Orchestra
Chicago, Illinois
Swarthmore College
History and Minor in Music
“MIC highlights include 1) Being the only bass in Abbey Hansen's Suzuki Book 1 cello group class 2) Playing Bartók's Divertimento for String Orchestra in Nichols Hall with the Academy Orchestra 3) Wearing my astronaut costume (when I was four years old) to lessons with Eric Snoza”
Mary Esther Ng
Student of Dr. Louise Chan
Evanston, Illinois
Northwestern University
Neuroscience
“Piano at MIC has been a constant for most of my life, and I have truly enjoyed getting to learn more about the world of music through my experiences there. Louise Chan has been a wonderful teacher, kind and very patient, and I'm glad I've gotten to work with her over the years. My favorite memory, by far, is of getting to play a piano concerto with my grandma accompanying.”
Winifred Orth
Student of Shigetoshi Yamada
Winnetka, Illinois
Santa Clara University
Business
“I remember how excited I was to play Bach double. I worked extra hard for weeks to be able to play it in the concert.
It was also great to make friends in the group classes.”
Laura Quan
Student of Irene Zuppardo
Lake Forest, Illinois
Johns Hopkins University
Engineering
“I always enjoyed the recitals because I got to hear the different pieces other students had been learning.”
Belinda Rosas
Student of Bianca d'Avila do Prado
Evanston, Illinois
Oakton Community College
Chelsea Song
Student of Erica Anderson
Lake Bluff, Illinois
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Oboe Performance, Minor in Public Health
“MIC has been a great place for me to connect with my teachers, learn to grow in music as a musician but also as a person. I’ve been able to connect with other fellow musicians alike.”
Marin Wahlstrom
Student of Milana Pavchinskaya
Northbrook, Illinois
Clemson University
Biochemistry and Minor in Music
Viviann Wang
Student of Dr. Christina Tio
Green Oaks, Illinois
University of Wisconsin Madison
Pre-Pharmacy
“My favorite memory from attending MIC was going to New York to play at Carnegie Hall with Dr. Tio's studio”
Alexandra Zhu
Student of Kate Nir
Northbrook, Illinois
Northwestern University
Biomaterial Engineering
“Some of my favorite memories are of Nicholas Concert Hall. The atmosphere and energy there are breathtaking, and I am very grateful that I've had the opportunity to share my music and perform there.”
We celebrate the Class of 2026 for the hard work, dedication, and love of music! We're wishing them the best of luck on this exciting new chapter. Congratulations, Class of 2026!
View the Sunday, April 26 recital and read the program