2022-2023 Online Conference Student Honors Recital
My name is Maya Tran. I am currently a sixth grader in the Visual Performing Arts program at Booker Middle School. I have been studying piano for almost six years with Ms. Sung Choe. Besides the annual Christmas and Spring piano recitals, I have also been participating in the FFMC Junior piano festivals, receiving superior ratings in the solo, duet and concerto categories. Besides music, my other favorite hobby in life is drawing and arts. I was selected as one of the six winners in the Rising Stars category for the 2022 Embracing Our Differences art contest. I have also been practicing karate at Ming Wu Martial Arts for the last six years. I currently hold a first-degree black belt and am working toward my second dan. Lastly, I love spending time with my family and going to the beach.
My name is Daniel Oh. I am currently in 7th grade at Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences. I enjoy playing piano and cello.
Since the beginning of last year, fourteen-year-old pianist Katerina Sommers has won numerous awards and distinctions, including second prizes in the King’s Peak International Music Competition, the Charleston International Spring Music Competition, and the Frost Young Artist International Piano Competition. She has also received first prize in the Golden Classical Music Awards International Music Competition and will make her debut at Carnegie Hall later this year.
Katerina has been very much fascinated with classical music and the piano since an early age. She has made her first musical steps with the help of her Ukrainian grandfather. Later on she started taking piano lessons professionally.
She has also attended the Interlochen Center of the Arts Summer Program for two summers now, where she studied with the visiting teachers as well as participated in the organized masterclasses.
Katerina has been very much fascinated with classical music and the piano since an early age. She has made her first musical steps with the help of her Ukrainian grandfather. Later on she started taking piano lessons professionally.
She has also attended the Interlochen Center of the Arts Summer Program for two summers now, where she studied with the visiting teachers as well as participated in the organized masterclasses.
Hello, my name is Sarah Wu! I have been playing the piano when I was 9 so I’ve been playing for around 6 years, and I am currently a sophomore at Riverview High school. Throughout the years I’ve been through local recitals hosted by my teacher, Ms. Choe. When I was younger, I always had a passion towards piano and was encouraged to do the thing that I love. Throughout my piano journey it has been difficult because I had to maintain practice and determination, but it is worth it at the end. I enjoy sitting and playing new pieces that were given to me; by doing this I find my inner peace. Ms. Choe has helped me through learning piano, which I am very grateful for. My hobbies I usually enjoy would be something that I use my hands for such as piano and art! Piano definitely made me enjoy little things that I didn’t before!
Vivian Phung. I am in 12th grade this year. Some of my hobbies are swimming and photography.
I have been playing the piano since I was 7 years old with my piano teacher, Sung Choe. I participate in Christmas and Spring Recitals annually. I have also received superior ratings for solo, duet, and concerto events at the FFMC junior festivals for the past 10 years. I won first place in the Suncoast Music Scholarship Competition in the 10th and 11th grade division. Last year also participated in the St. Boniface Young Artist Scholarship and 3rd place in the Sarasota Music Conservatory Piano Competition. This past summer I studied under Santiago Rodriguez at the Eastern Music Festival.
Recently, I have been playing piano at nearby nursing homes and it has been fun playing for others and a great experience.
I have been playing the piano since I was 7 years old with my piano teacher, Sung Choe. I participate in Christmas and Spring Recitals annually. I have also received superior ratings for solo, duet, and concerto events at the FFMC junior festivals for the past 10 years. I won first place in the Suncoast Music Scholarship Competition in the 10th and 11th grade division. Last year also participated in the St. Boniface Young Artist Scholarship and 3rd place in the Sarasota Music Conservatory Piano Competition. This past summer I studied under Santiago Rodriguez at the Eastern Music Festival.
Recently, I have been playing piano at nearby nursing homes and it has been fun playing for others and a great experience.
Caleb Horner first began playing the piano in 5th grade and quickly grew to love it. He studied at the New Music School in Chicago under Ani Gogova, and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan, before moving to Sarasota. He now studies under Sung Choe at Booker High School in the VPA program, and with piano teacher Lise Frank. Caleb took the top award in the 10th grade division at the Suncoast Music Scholarship competition in April 2022. He has also had the opportunity to play keyboards and bass in rock bands, with venues at Hard Rock Cafe, City Winery, Metro and Lalapolooza in Chicago, and the Sony Playstation Theatre in New York City. Caleb plans to pursue a career in music.
My name is Tristan Tran. I am currently a sophomore in the Visual Performing Arts program at Booker High School. I have been studying piano for 11 years with Ms. Sung Choe, and she has been an amazing mentor and guide throughout my journey in music. An ambition of mine is to become a music artist where I would write songs in the style of pop and rock. Apart from performing classical piano pieces at competitions and recitals, I have also been enjoying my time as a keyboardist and drummer for the modern bands at Booker. An accomplishment of mine was being spotlighted in the “Manatee’s Got Talent” feature of the NEXTGEN Family Magazine. Outside of music, I also enjoy practicing martial arts. I currently hold a third-degree black belt at Ming Wu Martial Arts. My goal in life is to enjoy it by taking things at a balanced pace.
Maria Medina's musical experience dates back to her childhood in Cuba. She remained enrolled in two music schools from age seven for ten years where she was instructed in theory, music history, and ensemble performance, among others, apart from general education classes. Additionally, she collaborated as an accompanist.
She entered the State College of Florida in 2021 as a student of Ms. Torshkoeva. That year, Maria and her teacher were guest soloists in a concert with the Bradenton Symphony Orchestra. She won the piano division of the 2022 FCSAA Student Artist Competition, and she is also a recipient of the Steinway Society of Sarasota Scholarship.
Her repertoire includes pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, and Lecuona. She has participated in multiple masterclasses scheduled at the campus. Apart from her classical practice, she has been a pianist for the SCF Jazz Band and Presidential Jazz Trio.
She entered the State College of Florida in 2021 as a student of Ms. Torshkoeva. That year, Maria and her teacher were guest soloists in a concert with the Bradenton Symphony Orchestra. She won the piano division of the 2022 FCSAA Student Artist Competition, and she is also a recipient of the Steinway Society of Sarasota Scholarship.
Her repertoire includes pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, and Lecuona. She has participated in multiple masterclasses scheduled at the campus. Apart from her classical practice, she has been a pianist for the SCF Jazz Band and Presidential Jazz Trio.
Melody Morrison, NCTM, is a second-year doctoral student in the Piano Pedagogy program at Florida State University studying with Dr. Heidi Williams and Dr. Diana Dumlavwalla. She teaches undergraduate class piano as a graduate TA and serves as President of MTNA @ FSU, the collegiate chapter of the Music Teachers National Association at Florida State University.
A Taiwanese pianist Ying-Chen (Amy) Kuo is currently a doctoral candidate and teaching assistant at Florida State University studying under Dr. David Kalhous.
With her first solo performance at age 12 in the Michaelhouse Centre at Cambridge University, Kuo has gone on to perform across various international venues. An avid advocate for chamber music, Kuo was recently invited to join the Chamber Music Silicon Valley’s Emerging Artist Fellowship Program. Kuo has also been an on-call collaborator for Florida State University, San Jose State University, Musicians at Apple, and staff accompanist for the United States Music Competition.
In addition to her studies with David Kalhous at FSU, Kuo has studied intensively under respected Ravel expert Gwendolyn Mok. She has also participated in masterclasses with Ruth Slenczynska, Alon Goldstein, Ning An, Daniel Pollack, and Sandra Wright.
With her first solo performance at age 12 in the Michaelhouse Centre at Cambridge University, Kuo has gone on to perform across various international venues. An avid advocate for chamber music, Kuo was recently invited to join the Chamber Music Silicon Valley’s Emerging Artist Fellowship Program. Kuo has also been an on-call collaborator for Florida State University, San Jose State University, Musicians at Apple, and staff accompanist for the United States Music Competition.
In addition to her studies with David Kalhous at FSU, Kuo has studied intensively under respected Ravel expert Gwendolyn Mok. She has also participated in masterclasses with Ruth Slenczynska, Alon Goldstein, Ning An, Daniel Pollack, and Sandra Wright.
Jair Zacarias, a 20-year-old pianist was born in Trujillo, Peru. At age 13 he was accepted into the Pre-college Program of the National Conservatory of Music in Lima, Peru. There he studied with Professor Katia Palacios for five years and performed frequently in recitals and festivals in his home country. Jair received a full scholarship to attend Florida Gulf Coast University, where he currently studies with Dr. Michael Baron. Jair has performed in masterclasses for Pavel Nersessian, David Dubal, Michael Shinn, and Paulina Zamora. He is the winner of several competitions, such as the MTNA Young Artist Piano Competition for the State of Florida and prize winner of the Big Arts Scholarship Competition. He received second prize at the Parnassus of the Music International Competition. In 2021 Jair was a finalist in the Stetcher & Horowitz Two-Piano Competition with his duet partner Arturo Fernandez.
Arturo Fernandez was born and raised in Trujillo, Peru. He is a Junior piano performance major studying with Dr. Michael Baron at Florida Gulf Coast University. Arturo began his musical life at home at age 4 under the tutelage of his uncle and father, and continued his piano studies over the years with his uncle. At age 6 he performed with the Trujillo Symphony Orchestra. He gave a solo recital at age 11 and was a prize-winner in the “Music Patronage Competition” in Peru. During his remarkable growth while at FGCU he has had the honor of being the winner of the Jillian Prescott Award to perform with the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. He was also winner of the MTNA Senior Piano Competition for the State of Florida and has been a prizewinner at many other competitions while performing frequently.