Christina Strohmann, age 16, is an A Beka Academy DVD Homeschooler and is currently in 11th grade. She began playing the piano at age seven and has attended various competitions in both China and America. At age thirteen, she gave two solo recitals in China. Her current private piano teacher is Mr. Scott Holshouser, the pianist for the Houston Symphony.

Her hobbies include reading, watching television, listening to music, and making latch hook rugs. She also enjoys spending time and hanging out with her friends from church.

Bowie Lin is a junior at Bellaire High School. He began his violin studies at the age of six with Joyce Durfee and later studied with Henry Rubin. He currently studies with Frank Huang. Bowie has been in first violin of the TMEA All-Region Symphony Orchestra since 7th grade and served as concertmaster and soloist of the All-Region Symphony Orchestra in 2012. He has also been in first violin in the TMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra since freshman year. Bowie’s other musical achievements include 1st place in Greater Houston Youth Orchestra Competition, Finalist in Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition, and 2nd place at the Houston Civic Symphony Young Artist Competition. He is also the concertmaster of the Sinfonia Orchestra at Bellaire High School and has received the Outstanding Soloist Award several times. In addition, Bowie has received scholarship every year from the Glassell Junior School of Art since the age of ten and is now enrolled in the Advanced Junior Studio Program under the tutelage of Jane Young. Bowie swims on the Bellaire High School swim team. He is a member of the National Honor Society and an officer in the Spanish National Honor Society as well as other clubs at his school. In his free time, Bowie enjoys watching movies, hanging out with friends, listening to music, singing, and enjoying fine food.

Nathan Lo currently enrolled at Kinkaid School,started the piano at age 4 and the cello at age 7. He currently studies under John Weems for piano, and Lachezar Kostov and Brinton Smith for the cello. He has won numerous 1st place awards in competition through the area, including:

2004, 2006, 2008, 2009: First Place, Houston Forum for Young Artists competitions
2005: First Place, Texas State University in San Marcos for Grades 3-4.
2006: First Place, Houston Tuesday Musical Club Foundation with $500 scholarship award
2007: Soloist, Bloch Piano Concerto Grosso
2012: First Place, TMTA Concerto Competition for Grades 11-12 Cello Awards:
2012: Co-Winner of the Clear Lake Concerto Competition

Christopher Henselman, a sixteen year-old resident of Austin, Texas, has extensive performance experience as soloist and in ensemble settings. He has performed as soloist with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra and three times with the Austin Civic Orchestra. He is currently serving as piano/keyboard/celeste player with the Austin Civic Orchestra for his second season. His competitive awards include international, national, state, as well as regional honors. As a winner in the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition (New York City) at ages 9 and 10, he performed twice in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall with works by Bach, Shostakovich, Debussy, and Toch. He has earned multiple prizes in the United States Open Music Competition in California, the United States International Duo Piano Competition in Colorado, and the Debose National Piano Competition in Louisiana. He has been awarded top awards in the Texas Music Teachers Association Performance Competition at the TMTA state convention.

Christopher’s repertoire includes music of all historical eras, as well as jazz, duet, and duo piano literature. His performance schedule involves dozens of appearances each year, including recitals, festivals, competitions, and honors concerts. In addition to his passion for music, Christopher loves playing ultimate frisbee, juggling, and climbing mountains in the Rockies.

Melissa Du, 15, is a 10th grader at Cypress Falls High School. She is a distinguished honor roll student with straight “A” grades in all classes since elementary school. Melissa began her violin studies at 6 years old, and has been a member of TMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra, Houston Youth Symphony, and All Region high school orchestra. She has been concertmaster in her Region 27 orchestra in both middle school and high school, and consistently receives “Superior” ratings in Solo and Ensemble competitions in 6th grade, 7th grade and 8th grade.

In 2010, she won the Houston Civic Symphony Young Artist Competition. In 2011, she has won the Clear Lake Symphony Concerto Competition, and was also awarded second place in the Civic Symphony Concerto Competition Senior Division and third place in the Fort Bend Symphony Concerto Competition. She was selected to have a solo performance in the 2009 and 2011 Houston Young Artists “Rising Star” concert, and was a finalist in the 2011 and 2012 Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition. In 2010 Melissa was privileged to perform in a master class with well-known violinist Leila Josefowicz. Melissa currently studies with Eric Halen. In addition to her passion to classical music, Melissa also shows interests in other areas. She actively volunteers through her school and competes in competitive Science Olympiad tournaments. Her interests include surfing the web, having fun with her friends, eating out at restaurants, and watching good movies.

Andrew Shiau started his studies with Cornelia Watkins at age eleven. He has won competitions including the Houston Youth Symphony Concerto Competition, the Clear Lake Concerto Competition, and the Houston Civic Symphony Concerto Competition. He won the bronze medal at the Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition. In addition, he has been a member of the Texas all-state orchestra for three years, and was selected as a 2011 Houston Young Artist. He attended Madeline Island Music Camp in 2009 and 2011 and the Indiana University Summer String Academy in 2010. He has played in masterclasses with luminaries such as Steven Isserlis. He enjoys reading and listening to classical music.

Nina Sandberg, 16, is a junior at the High School for Performing and Visual Arts. She began her violin studies at the age of five with her former teacher, Lucy Shaw. She currently studies with Professor Kenneth Goldsmith at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. At her high school, she is a member of the chamber and symphony orchestras and participates in the HSPVA chamber music program.

As part of the Inferno string quartet, she has performed on The Front Row (KUHF) and on a St. Cecilia Chamber Music Society concert. She participated in the Rice Preparatory School chamber music program from 2008-2010, taking part in several chamber ensembles. Over the past two summers she attended Madeline Island Music Camp where she pursued her interest in chamber music. Nina also enjoys attending concerts, riding her bike, reading, and spending time with her friends and her crazy cat, Zeke.

Patrick Pan, 12 years of age, graduated from Westbrook Intermediate School in May 2010. He is pursuing his interests in science, music, math, and computer science as a homeschooled student. Patrick plans to attend Clear Lake High School in fall of 2011. Patrick started playing piano at three and violin at seven. His current music teachers are Mr. John Weems (piano) and Mr. Henry Rubin (violin).

Patrick has won the titles of Houston Young Artist (HYAC, 2009-2010 and 2011-2012) and Impulse Young Artist (2010) as a pianist. He also won first place at the Houston Forum Young Artist Piano Competition (2006, 2007, and 2009), TMTA State Piano Competition (2010), first place at the Clear Lake Symphony Concerto Competition (Violin in 2010 and Piano in 2011), first place at the Houston Civic Symphony Concerto Competition (Violin in 2011), and first place at the Houston Youth Symphony Concerto Competition (Violin in 2011). Patrick has been a member of the Houston Youth Symphony for three years and has been concertmaster. He has been a first violinist of the Texas Region 17 Orchestra yearly from 2007 to 2011, and is in the top level of the TMEA All-State Orchestra (2011).

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Charles Seo, performing Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1 in E Flat Major.

Charles Seo is an 8th grade honor roll student and is a National Junior Honor Society Member at Memorial Middle School in the Spring Branch ISD. He began playing cello when he first came to the United States which was less than 5 years ago. He has been a member of the Houston Youth Symphony(HYS) for 5 years and is the principal cellist in the HYS, despite the fact that he is one of the youngest members. He was also the principal cellist in the Region 23 Orchestra in the 6th, 7th and 8th grade. He has received "Outstanding" rankings at concerto competitions. He also received honorable mention as a 6th grader in the 2008 Houston Civic Symphony Competition as well as in the HYS Competition.

In 2009, he won the Civic Symphony competition and the HYS solo competition. He went to the Madeline Island Music Camp and he was invited to perform for the Garden of Music Concert in Minnesota. Also, he was invited for the West Houston Assistance Ministries(WHAM) concert as a special guest performer with the Civic Orchestra. This year, he won the Fort Bend Symphony Competition. Charles was taught by Donna Rogers. He is now working with Dr. Brinton Smith. He enjoys playing the saxophone and Taekwondo.

Erik Lawrence is a 17-year-old home schooled student. He has been with the Michael P. Hammond Preparatory Program at the Shepherd School of Music since the age of ten. His former teacher was Dr. Sohyoung Park and his teacher for the past two years has been Dr. Robert Roux, who heads the Piano Department at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. He has participated in the Chamber Music program and both Honor's Recitals with the Preparatory Program there.

Erik was a finalist in the 2007 Texas Music Teacher's Association State Competition, a finalist in the 2007 and 2008 World Piano Pedagogy Conference Competitions, and a winner in the 2005, 2007 and 2009 Houston Young Artist Competitions. He attended the 2009 Indiana University Piano Academy, receiving the maximum Merit Scholarship as well as the only Incentive award. He played the Brahm's Piano Concerto No. 1 as the finale performer in the Honor's Recital. Erik has also been privileged to participate in numerous Masterclasses with well-known pianists, including Jon Kimura Parker, Jean-Phillipe Collard, Gustavo Romero, Jonathan Biss, and Andre Watts. In addition to his passion for Classical music, Erik enjoys reading the Classics, including C.S.Lewis and Herman Melville. He loves traveling, body surfing, and Thai food.

Erik Wheeler, cello

Erik Wheeler, 15, is a student at the High School for Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas. Erik began his cello studies with Diane Bonds and continued with Steve Laven, Lynn Harrell and Brinton Smith. He currently studies with Desmond Hoebig. Erik performed numerous solos as a member of the Johnston Middle School Advanced Orchestra, under the direction of Kathryn Brown.

Erik has been a member of the Greater Houston Youth Orchestra for six years, and was the winner of the GHYO Concerto Competition for the String Ensemble and the Orchestra, appearing as soloist both times. He also performed as soloist with the Houston Civic Symphony and the Clear Lake Symphony as winner of their respective Junior Division Young Artist's competitions. Last year, Erik was selected as the first-chair cellist of the Texas All-State Symphony Orchestra. He won the GHYO Concerto Competition this past December and will perform with GHYO in May, and performed as soloist with the HSPVA Orchestra in December. Both of Erik's parents are professional musicians.

1st Place Piano -
Benjamin Kwak, age 16
Kinkaid School
Teacher: John Weems

1st Place Strings -
Hyeok Kwon, age 15
High School for Performing and Visual Arts
Teacher: Donna Rogers

Honorable Mention: Piano
Aidin Ashoori, age 17
Pearland High School
Teacher: John Weems

Honorable Mention: Violin
Andrew Sheu, age 16
Elkins High School
Teacher: Ya-ning Hu

Honorable Mention: Piano
Kaede Uesugi, age 9
West University Elementary School
Teacher: Yelena Brusilovskaya

Honorable Mention: Violin
Kelly Ding, age 16
Clear Creek High School
Teacher: Henry Rubin

Winner -
Kevin Charubhat
Westside High School
Teacher: Galina Lay

Runner Up -
Kana Tanaka
Walker Station Elementary School
Teacher: Shu Hao Pao

Honorable Mention -
Kenneth Chan
Honorable Mention
Teacher: Carmen Yip

Runner Up -
Jasper Chen, Violin
Cinco Ranch High School
Teacher: Yueming Song (Mary)

Honorable Mention -
Jennifer Moon, Cello
James E. Taylor High School
Teacher: Vagram Saradjian

Honorable Mention -
Lillian Pettit, Cello
HSPVA
Teacher: Chris French

Winner -
Rebecca El-Saleh, Harp
HSPVA
Teacher: Kimberly Snaufer