Junior Strings Concerto Competition: 2nd Place

Maria Kuge, 12 years old, is a 6th grader at Williams IB Middle Magnet School in Tampa. She was born in Japan and she is fluent both English and Japanese.

She started violin lessons at the age of 5 and currently studies with Julia Ruby. She has played in the Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra for 5 years. She is also enjoying playing in the Youth Orchestra's Chamber Music group.

Maria has received awards at the FFMC Junior State Competition for violin and piano, and was the winner of2009 Florida MTNA Concerto Competition Elementary Division and the alternate of 2009 Florida MTNA Competitive Events Junior Division.

She is a member of Williams IB Middle Magnet Robotics Team. Maria's other interests include running, reading and fishing.