èßäAV

Millennium Stage Recitals

Join Us for a free concert at the Kennedy Center or Stream online!

• Thu. Oct. 17, 2024, 6 pm

• Thu. Jan. 16, 2025, 6 pm

• Thu. Jan. 30, 2025, 6 pm

• Thu. Feb. 27, 2025, 6 pm

• Thu. Mar. 27, 2025, 6 pm

• Thu. Apr. 30, 2025, 6 pm

• Thu. May 7, 2025, 6 pm

Sounds of US Festival - Sat. Nov. 16, 2024

• 1 pm - Peace Corps Gallery at the REACH
• 2 pm - Studio K at the REACH
• 3 pm - Peace Corps Gallery at the REACH

NSO Ugly Sweater Concert at on Dec. 4, 2024

901 Wharf Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024

Information: 202.888.0020

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• Private lessons taught by a member of the National Symphony Orchestra or Washington National Opera Orchestra (WNOO) musician*
• Chamber ensembles coached by NSO musicians
• Master classes and seminars
• Side-by-side performance opportunity with the NSO (subject to instrument and additional recommendation)
• Attendance at selected rehearsals and performances of the NSO
• Performance opportunities on the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage and within the community (solo and ensemble)  
• Exposure to internationally renowned conductors, soloists, and musicians

*A limited number of places may be available on an as needed basis for students who opt to continue private study with their non-NSO or non-WNOO teacher. Lesson fees with non-NSO or non-WNOO musicians will not be covered by the program.

Photo by H. Bruce Finkelstein

Eligibility

• entering grades 9-12 as of next September [younger musicians (gr. 6-8) may be considered on a special case-by-case basis] in the area of the metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG):  DC; MD—Charles, Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George's counties;  VA—Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties.  All students entering 6th, 7th, and 8th grades are required to submit an audition recording prior to being invited for the live audition.  
• seriously considering orchestral music as a career and willing to devote themselves to a musical education by making a commitment to practice their instrument a minimum of 60-90 minutes per day.

Instruments

Application Deadline

• Online Application including Financial Statement
• One (1) letter of recommendation
• Personal Statement (Written or Video)

Standards of Acceptance

Auditions

Audition Repertoire

Video or Written Personal StatementIn a video recording or written statement, please answer at least three of the following questions:

• Why you are interested in this program?
• What are your goals for yourself in the next year?
• How do you envision music being a part of your life?
• What do you think a challenge will be in reaching your immediate and long-term goals?
• Tell us about a meaningful musical experience you have had. Why was it meaningful?
• What are your hobbies/interests outside of music?

This video should be less than 5 minutes and a written statement should be less than 600 words

Citizen Artistry

With a focus on supporting the needs of 21st century students and cultivating the skills of 21st century artists, èßäAVpre-professional artist training programs are committed to nurturing the emerging visionaries who are the future change-makers and culture-shapers.

As an integral part of Kennedy Center Education’s mission to foster understanding and uplift communities, each program provides a space where young artists will explore the intersection of artistic practice and civic responsibility, engaging the world as Citizen Artists.

Obligation of Youth Fellows

Enzo Baldanza is an 18-year-old violinist and musician in the D.C. area. Enzo began violin studies at age three with Monty Bloom in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He currently studies with NSO Assistant Concertmaster Ricardo Cyncynates and is the only student and mentee of Concertmaster Nurit Bar-Josef. Enzo participated in the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras from 2015 to 2024 and was concertmaster of all five major orchestras throughout his time. Enzo has attended numerous summer programs, including the Philadelphia International Music Festival (2019-2022) and the Meadowmount School of Music (2023). He was the only violinist from Virginia and the D.C. area selected to be a part of NYO-USA in 2024. Enzo is a member of the Friday Morning Music Club and won their Strings Division in 2023. He is currently a senior at St. Albans School and also a huge football fan.

Sanjeev Belle Trichur is a 14-year-old ninth grader at Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C. He studies piano with Dr. Hyun-Sook Park at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where he participated in their prestigious Piano Academy. He receives additional coaching from Marian Hahn at Peabody and Dr. Lambert Orkis of the NSO. Sanjeev began his piano studies at age five and studied with Dr. Deborah Lloyd at Levine Music in Washington, D.C., where he was selected to join the Honors Program. He graduated from Levine’s piano curriculum in seven years and achieved a Distinction on his Level 10 Certificate Jury (equivalent to RCM Level 10). Sanjeev has also written his own music since age six and studied composition, violin, and music theory at Levine. He is now exploring jazz piano at Georgetown Day School. Sanjeev has participated in multiple music festivals, including the inaugural Ruth Monte Memorial Bach Competition organized by the American Bach Society, the Chicago International Music Festival and Competition, the Rosalyn Tureck International Bach Competition, and multiple solo piano competitions at Levine and Peabody. Sanjeev is also an avid amateur astronomer and loves cross-country running.

Esther Bonney is a violinist from Charles County, Maryland. She is a senior in high school and a full-time dual enrollment student at the College of Southern Maryland. Esther began playing violin at age 10 and currently studies with Jessica Fan of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. She has served as concertmaster for the Charles County Youth Orchestra and the Sewanee Summer Music Festival Symphony. She is currently a first violinist in the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra’s Philharmonic. Esther was a finalist in the 2022 Misbin Chamber Competition and won both the 2021 Charles County Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition and the 2023 COSMIC Symphony Young Artist Competition. In addition to performing, she teaches violin and piano part-time to elementary students. Beyond music, Esther enjoys caring for her five goats and leading her nonprofit, Nurture Natives, which focuses on promoting native biodiversity.

Jessica Chen is a 16-year-old junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. She started playing piano at age six and studies with NSO Youth Fellowship mentor and pianist Lisa Emenheiser Sarratt. She has performed at prominent venues including the Kennedy Center Concert Hall and Millennium Stage, Linehan Concert Hall, and Leighton Concert Hall. Recently, she performed in the semifinals of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition as part of the LBD Trio coached by NSO cellist Loewi Lin. Prestigious competitions in which she has claimed top prizes include the MTNA Virginia State Competition, VMTA State Auditions, VMTA State Concerto Competition, Gertrude Brown Concerto Competition, and the Lions Club Music Scholarship Competition, earning a $3,000 award. She has also previously been selected to perform in “Young Artist Musicales” at the GMU Center for the Arts, as well as in a masterclass with Dr. Daniel Pesca at the University of Maryland. Jessica is chief intern for the Tacy Foundation, through which she regularly gives her time and talent to local senior retirement homes and hospitals, bringing the gift of music to many. In her free time, she enjoys programming, graphic design, and hiking.

Ryan Day is a high school senior cellist from Northern Virginia. In his freshman year of high school, Ryan was admitted into three of the top youth orchestras in his area. He participated in the American Youth Symphonic Orchestra in his sophomore year, leading as principal cellist in their last concert cycle. In his junior year, he consistently performed in the first two stands of the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the most prestigious orchestras in the DMV area. This past summer, Ryan participated in the National Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Music Institute, a selective international program that invites musicians ages 15 to 20 to play in the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall. He has participated in masterclasses with Richard Aaron, Amir Eldan, and Rachel Young. He currently studies with Loewi Lin, a cellist in the NSO. He is planning to double major in cello performance and neuroscience in college.

Addison Ellis-Otovo is a 12-year-old violist who currently attends District of Columbia International School. She is one of the youngest members of the Peabody Youth Orchestra and Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra, playing under the batons of Andrés González and James Woomert, respectively. An avid fan of chamber music, Addison currently plays in a quartet with the 9th Street Chamber Music Intensive. She has attended several prestigious music programs, including the Sphinx Performance Academy, Meadowmount School of Music, Walnut Hill String Quartet Intensive, Greenwood Music Camp, Interlochen Arts Camp Advanced Strings Institute, and Dali Quartet International Music Festival. Additionally, Addison is a Vargas Foundation Student Scholar, a Black Violin Youth, and a student member of the Friday Morning Music Club and the American Viola Society. She participates in the National Philharmonic’s Youth Mentorship Program. She is a member of Renate Falkner’s studio at the Peabody Preparatory. Active in the DC community, Addison has performed at a variety of venues, such as the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Mansion, AMP by Strathmore, Strathmore Music Center, and Steinway Gallery. She has played for Randall Goosby, Nadir Khashimov, Ayane Kozasa, Sheila Browne, Peter Slowik, and Carol Rodland.

Donovan Holt-Harrington is a 17-year-old senior at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown, Maryland. Music is his passion. He participates in musical groups such as the West Virginia Honors Band, Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra, Mid-Atlantic Honors Band, Maryland Sr. All-State Band, and Maryland Sr. All-State Orchestra as the principal clarinetist. He has performed at Carnegie Hall with the High School Honors Performance Series. In addition, Donovan is the 2022 NAACP ACT-SO National Silver Medal Winner in the Instrumental - Classical category, the 2023 NAACP ACT-SO National Gold Medal Winner in the Instrumental - Contemporary category, and the 2024 NAACP ACT-SO National Gold Medal Winner in the Music Composition category. Outside of music, Donovan competes for his high school swim team and is a Boy Scout and an honor student in school. Donovan is a 2024 NSO Youth Fellow. He has also shown great passion for culture and language proficiency by passing the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy for Spanish.

Emily Hsieh, from Gaithersburg, Maryland, is 14 years old and attends Quince Orchard High School. She has been selected to participate in the NSO Youth Fellowship as a violist. Emily started her musical studies on the violin at age five with Joseph Scheer. At age 11, she added viola to her violin lessons. In 2023, she continued her viola studies with Daniel Foster, principal violist of the NSO. Emily is currently in her sixth season as a member of the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra. She also plays in a string quartet as part of the MCYO Chamber Music Program. Her string quartet has won 2nd prize in the 2022 YMIC Metropolitan Classical Music Festival and 1st prize in the 2024 Concert Artists International Competition. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health, and Strathmore Hall for board members. In her free time, Emily loves to draw, crochet, and bake..

Rishab Jain is a senior at River Hill High School and has been playing percussion since the age of eight. He currently studies with Scott Christian of the NSO and is grateful to have Robert Miller and Michael Blackman as key mentors in his musical journey. Rishab has had the opportunities to perform on NPR’s “From the Top” and to collaborate and solo with the NSO, experiences that have shaped his passion for performance. In addition to performing, Rishab is involved in classical music advocacy. As an editorial director of Cadence Corner, he helps publish bimonthly articles that spotlight various aspects of classical music, engaging both new audiences and seasoned listeners. Beyond publication, he interned with Equity Arc, where he assisted in organizing the National Pathways Festival Orchestra Experience and spoke on the Fellows Panel, sharing his insights with fellow musicians. With the guidance of his mentors and the support of his peers, Rishab strives to grow not only as a musician but also as a leader within the classical music community. Rishab’s ultimate aspiration is to leave a lasting impact on the percussion world and inspire future generations of percussionists.

Alexander Joe (“A.J.”) is a double bassist who was selected for the NSO Youth Fellowship as a rising freshman in 2022. A.J. began his musical studies on the piano at age eight and played cello briefly before picking up the bass at age 11. Since 2019, he has been a student of NSO bassist Paul DeNola and until recently was a musician with the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras. A.J. has performed in masterclasses and workshops for musicians including Robert Oppelt (NSO), Caroline Emery (Royal College of Music, Yehudi Menuhin School), Andres Martin (composer), and Dr. Sam Suggs (composer), among others. In the summers of 2023 and 2024, A.J. participated in the NSO Summer Music Institute, performing in the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall. As an NSO Youth Fellow, A.J. routinely performs solo or in chamber ensembles on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. He is a student at Yorktown High School in Arlington, Virginia and has represented Yorktown as the youngest double bassist in the 2024 All-Virginia Orchestra. He aspires to play classical music at the professional level so that he can bring joy to others by doing what he enjoys.

Fifteen-year-old violinist Emma-Grace Kim gave her first solo performance with an orchestra at nine years old. Since then, she has won numerous competitions, including the Virginia MTNA Competition, NVMTA Achievement Awards, AAMS Competition, and NVMTA Concerto Competition. In 2023, she had the honor to perform as a featured soloist at WETA Classical’s Annual Salon Series held at the House of Sweden and perform at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the US-ROK Alliance. Emma-Grace participated in NPR’s “From the Top” Learning and Media Lab Fellowship, where she recorded a performance and interview with pianist Peter Dugan and Grammy-Award-winning violinist Charles Yang. For the past seven years, Emma-Grace has been a member of the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and currently serves as concertmaster. This summer, she attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, where she was concertmaster of the Young Artists Orchestra and played in a masterclass with Boston Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Nathan Cole. Emma-Grace is a private student of Jing Qiao, first violinist of the NSO. In addition to performing, Emma-Grace leads ITZArt4you, a nonprofit organization she cofounded with her sister in 2021 that provides weekly music lessons to children in underserved communities.

Evelina Kleczek of Vienna, Virginia started studying piano at the age of five. Evelina has performed in various cities in the United States and Europe, such as Washington, D.C., New York City, Miami, Budapest, Madrid, and Szafarnia. She has won awards at several piano competitions, including 1st Prize and the Szymanowski Award at the 2020 Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Piano Competition for Young Pianists in Washington, D.C., the Rosalyn Tureck Prizes in the Contemporary and Prelude and Fugue categories at the 2022 Tureck International Bach Competition, and 3rd Prize and the Audience Award at the 2024 Thomas F. Hulbert International Piano Competition. She has also participated in lessons and masterclasses with acclaimed pianists and pedagogues, such as Kirill Gerstein, Garrick Ohlsson, Ewa Pobłocka, Kevin Kenner, Michael Lewin, Golda Vainberg-Tatz, Krzysztof Jablonski, Jeffrey Swann, and others. Evelina studies privately with Dr. Martin Labazevitch in Washington, D.C. and is a recipient of the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 Chopin Foundation Scholarships.

Margaret Laing is a senior at Patriot High School who has been described as a skilled and versatile percussionist. She began playing the drums at age seven and shortly after joined the Vienna Jammers, where she spent several years performing in marimba and steel pan ensembles while continuing to hone her skills behind the drum set. Margaret has participated in all of Prince William County’s honor bands and orchestras and provided percussion support in choral, string, and musical theater performances. She is a member of her school’s marching band, jazz band, percussion ensemble, AIA percussion ensemble, and wind symphony. She is proud to be able to step into a variety of musical environments as a percussionist. Margaret has pursued advanced studies through prestigious programs at the Eastman School of Music and New England Conservatory. In addition to her musical achievements, she is passionate about promoting visibility for female percussionists, especially in traditionally male-dominated spaces such as battery lines and orchestras. Her drive to inspire other young women to pursue percussion is an integral part of her musical journey. After high school, Margaret will pursue a degree in percussion performance with a focus on contemporary classical marimba.

Ian Lander is a senior at Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, Maryland. He is currently principal horn in the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra and Howard County Youth Orchestra, and as a junior, he played principal horn in Peabody’s Youth Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. He has previously participated in Interlochen’s Horn Intensive, the Csehy Summer School of Music, and the Maryland All-State Senior Band. Ian also has a wide range of chamber music experience in woodwind and brass quintets and a horn quartet. Ian is looking to double major in horn performance and engineering in college. His main teachers are Mike Harcrow and now Robert Rearden with the NSO Youth Fellowship. In his free time, Ian plays rec basketball, enjoys following Colorado sports teams, and attends church youth events.

Chloe Lee, age 16, is a junior at the National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C. She began her violin studies at the age of five and more recently started learning the viola. She is a student of June Huang on the violin and Jennifer Mondie on the viola. Chloe is a 1st prizewinner in several competitions, including the Peabody Preparatory’s Concerto Competition, the James Bland Music Scholarship Competition, the Washington Performing Arts Feder Memorial String Competition, Concert Artists Virtuoso, MSMTA, and the VIVO International Competition. She attended the Heifetz Institute’s summer festival in 2019 and 2021. Chloe is the concertmaster of the DC Youth Orchestra and principal violist of the Young Virtuosi Orchestra and has performed in masterclasses for Shirley Givens, Jonathan Carney, Nicholas Kitchen, and Judith Ingolfsson. Besides music, she enjoys playing field hockey.

Jayden Lee is a senior at Langley High School in McLean, Virginia. He is either playing the flute, listening to someone play the flute, or conducting invisible orchestras. It is rumored he even sings in his sleep. Jayden studied flute with Beth Bentley for many years and has had lessons with Alice Weinreb and Tabatha Easley. He currently studies under the amazing Aaron Goldman. This summer, Jayden joined the National Youth Orchestra of the United States. He was also honored as 2024 National YoungArts Winner in both classical music and creative writing. For the past two years, Jayden has been the principal flute of the All-Virginia Orchestra. He also performs in the Langley Wind Symphony and as a rotating principal in the American Youth Philharmonic. At Langley, Jayden serves as the president of the mock trial team and the head drum major of the marching band. When not playing the flute or reading up on the Supreme Court, Jayden is probably asleep—smiling ear to ear, a copy of the Constitution plastering his face. And if you listen carefully, you just may discern—only slightly damaged—the muffled notes of the piece he’s currently dreaming floating across the room.

Samuel Lee is a bassoonist from Laurel, Maryland who attends Atholton High School. He has served as principal bassoonist in youth orchestras such as the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra’s Philharmonic, the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Maryland All-State Senior Orchestra. He studied under Jimmy Ren until his acceptance as an NSO Youth Fellow, when he began studying under NSO bassoonist David Young in September 2024. Sam spent the summer of 2023 playing with the National Youth Orchestra 2, performing at Carnegie Hall and touring the Dominican Republic, and the summer of 2024 at the Brevard Music Center as part of the High School Orchestral Institute. Sam has performed at numerous masterclasses with esteemed bassoonists such as Frank Morelli, Keith Buncke, and William Short. Outside of school and music, Sam loves to travel and spend time with friends.

Kalman Levitin is an oboist who currently studies with NSO oboist Harrison Linsey. He previously studied with Dr. Jessica Warren. Kalman is a member of the DC Youth Orchestra Program’s Youth Orchestra and Young Virtuosi chamber orchestra, with which he has played on two international tours and at the Kennedy Center, the National Gallery of Art, and the Austrian Embassy. Kalman is also a nationally recognized composer. He has won 1st place in the Maryland division of the National Federation of Music Clubs Composition Competition multiple times and received an honorable mention in the Southeast Region. He has also been a finalist in the National Young Composers Challenge and received honorable mentions in the Music Teachers National Association Maryland Composition Competition. Additionally, Kalman is an avid jazz saxophonist. He plays first tenor sax in Paul Carr’s Jazz Academy Orchestra, which premiered one of his own compositions at the Blues Alley Big Band Jam at the Washington Monument, and with which he has played at the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival and the DC Jazz Festival. Kalman cofounded and codirects the 270 Jazz Orchestra, for which he plays lead alto sax and clarinet, composes, and arranges.

Raymond Lim is a 10th grader at Poolesville High School in Maryland. He became an NSO Youth Fellow in 2023 and studies violin with Ying Fu. Raymond has received various awards, including 1st place in the NVMTA Concerto Competition, the WPAS Feder Memorial Competition, and the AAMS International Music Competition. Raymond has performed solo at the Millennium Stage and the REACH at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, the National Gallery of Art, and the U.S. Department of Justice. Raymond made his orchestral debut with the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra in June 2024, playing Saint-Saëns’s Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso after winning 1st place in the MSO Concerto Competition. His chamber group won 1st place in the Rushmore Music Festival, which he attended on a full scholarship in 2023 and 2024. As an avid volunteer musician and chief intern for the Tacy Foundation, Raymond takes on various leadership roles to host concerts and play violin for patients and hospital staff at the National Institute of Health, the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and local nursing homes. Raymond’s other interests include the art of math problem-solving, reading novels, and traveling with his family..

Jane Morrison is a homeschooled 10th grader from Burke, Virginia. This is Jane’s second year in the NSO Youth Fellowship. She is currently a musician with the Washington Musical Pathway Initiative and American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. Jane has won awards in several music competitions, including the Charleston International Music Festival (U.S.), North International Music Competition (Sweden), Washington Performing Arts Feder Competition (U.S.), and Best Beethoven Competition (U.K.). Jane has performed solo viola concertos with orchestra at the National Music Educators Association and Virginia Music Educators Association conferences, as well as in New York City aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid. Over the summers, Jane has attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute String Quartet Workshop and Young Artists Orchestra, the Interlochen Advanced String Quartet Workshop and World Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia International Music Festival, and the Lyra International Music Festival. Jane has a passion for sharing her love of music with others. She has performed at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, National Gallery of Art, The Lyceum, Howland Cultural Center, BlackRock Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, and outreach concerts at retirement centers and places of worship across the metropolitan area. Jane studies with NSO violist Tsuna Sakamoto.

Chloe Robertson is a violinist from Rockville, Maryland and an eighth grader at Julius West Middle School. This is her first year in the NSO Youth Fellowship studying with Angelia Cho. Chloe has played violin in the DC Youth Orchestra and is currently concertmaster of the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra’s Symphony. She has performed in venues such as the Kennedy Center, National Institutes of Health, University of Maryland, Carnegie Hall, Strathmore Hall, Strathmore Mansion, and AMP by Strathmore. This year, she participated in the 2024 Maryland All-State Junior Orchestra as principal second violin and played in Levine Music’s Showcase Concert at Catholic University. Chloe has won Levine’s Cogen Concerto Competition, the Marlin-Engel Competition, and the Misbin Chamber Competition, and she won 1st place twice in the solo and chamber divisions of the YMIC Competition. Chloe also plays bassoon and loves all kinds of music. In her spare time, she performs at senior centers with the Music and Love organization, swims with her friends, and spends time outside. She hopes to compete and perform more and pursue a career in classical music.

Kerri Elizabeth Robinson is an 18-year-old violinist. She studied with Ricardo Cyncynates of the NSO for three years and now has studied with Wanzhen Li of the NSO since 2022. She has been an NSO Youth Fellow since 2020. She has performed with the American Youth Concert Orchestra as concertmaster, American Youth Symphonic Orchestra as concertmaster, Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra, AYCO Junior Chamber Ensemble Program, American Youth Philharmonic, Iceberg Chamber Music Institute, and Institute Suzuki Montreal Orchestra. In 2016, at age 10, she was the youngest musician accepted into the Karger College Preparatory Program and performed a commissioned piece at the Maine College of Art Music Festival. Later that year, she became the youngest musician accepted into the Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra. After moving from Maine to Virginia, she played in side-by-sides with the NSO as a Youth Fellow and the U.S. Army Orchestra. She has performed solo and in ensembles at the Appalachian Chamber Music Festival, the Kennedy Center Concert Hall and Millennium Stage, the Dirksen Senate Building, Rachel M. Schlesinger Hall, the Lyceum, and the Athenaeum. A homeschooled high school student, she intends to attend a music conservatory to study music performance and education as well as business.

Aliza Small is a French horn player from Fairfax, Virginia. She is currently a senior at Robinson Secondary School and in her second year with the NSO Youth Fellowship. Aliza began playing the horn in fifth grade at Laurel Ridge Elementary School. In 10th grade, she started taking private lessons with her current teacher, James Nickel. Aliza has played in many ensembles, including the Virginia Winds Academy, the Robinson Philharmonic Orchestra, the Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestra, and the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, where she is currently principal horn. Aliza has enjoyed participating in events like the Senior Regional Orchestra and Virginia All-State Band. Last year, she performed at the National Concert Band Festival with the Robinson Symphonic Band, and she’ll travel with them to Chicago to perform at the Midwest Clinic this winter. She also plays the mellophone and is the visual captain in the Robinson Marching Band. After high school, Aliza hopes to pursue a degree in horn performance. She is a member of the National Honor Society, volunteers with the Robinson Pyramid Area Band program, and in her free time enjoys baking and listening to Taylor Swift.

Elías Swift is a cellist in 11th grade living in Falls Church, Virginia. He currently studies with David Teie of the NSO. His musical studies began on the piano at the age of five with Kristin Gilbert. He started his studies on the cello seriously at age 13. Since then, he has attended summer festivals such as the Csehy Summer School of Music, MasterWorks Festival, and Sphinx Performance Academy at the Cleveland Institute of Music. In the 2021-2022 season, he played in the Crescendo Chamber Music Program. In 2022, he was accepted by audition into the NSO Youth Fellowship with the Avery Cello Scholarship. He plays on a modern Italian cello and Cohen bow owned by the Kennedy Center which the late Dr. Gordon Avery generously donated.

Joshua Thrush, a senior at James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia, is in his fifth year with the NSO Youth Fellowship and has been playing double bass for eight years under the instruction of Ira Gold of the NSO. Major festival and orchestral experience include the Domaine Forget International Music Academy, the New York String Orchestra Seminar, the National Youth Orchestra of the United States, and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute’s Young Artists Orchestra. Joshua has also been a featured soloist on NPR’s “From the Top” and has been recognized in classical music by YoungArts for the past two years. Recent awards include 1st place in the 2024 Richmond Symphony League Concerto Competition, 2nd place in the 2024 U.S. Army Band Young Artist Concerto Competition,1st place in Penn State’s 2023 Mock Orchestral Audition Competition, 1st place in the 2023 American Youth Philharmonic Concerto Competition, and 1st place in the Louisiana Bass Fest age 15-18 Solo Competition. In 2023, Joshua was also a semifinalist in the International Society of Bassists biennial age 15-18 Solo Competition after previously winning their 14 and under Solo Competition in 2021. Joshua intends to pursue a career in classical double bass performance.

Louis Westerman is a senior at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland. At age six, he decided to switch from playing piano to clarinet, beginning his studies under Cheryl Hill at the Washington Conservatory of Music. At age nine, Louis was accepted into the DC Youth Orchestra Program, where he played for four years. In 2018, Louis participated in the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra’s Clarinet Ensemble. In 2019, he was accepted into the MCYO Young Artist Orchestra and played in the Clarinet Quartet. He has also been a member of the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras program since 2020 and currently plays in the Philharmonic. During the summer of 2021, Louis attended the Intermediate Band Wind Program at Interlochen and was appointed concertmaster. The next summer, he attended Interlochen’s Advanced Clarinet Intensive and participated in the virtual International Clarinet Workshop. He has been recognized for excellence in performance, winning 2nd prize at the Fischoff Competition alongside the Five Guys Wind Quintet, 1st prize at the Ross-Roberts Competition, and 1st prize at the AYPO Concerto Competition. Louis has studied under Alexander Fiterstein at the Peabody Institute of Music since 2019 and NSO clarinetist Paul Cigan since 2023.

Elaine Zhang, age 14, is a freshman at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Elaine began playing cello at age 10. She has been an NSO Youth Fellow since 2024 and is a student of Loewi Lin. As the 1st place winner of the 2023 VMTA Concerto Competition, Elaine made her solo debut at age 13 performing with the Old Dominion University Symphony Orchestra. Some of her other achievements include 1st place in the NVMTA Concerto Competition, 1st place in the AYCO Concerto Competition, State Alternate in the MTNA Junior String Performance Competition, and Honorable Mention in the Richmond Symphony League Annual Student Concerto Competition. Elaine is also actively involved with the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras, where she has held multiple principal roles. In addition, Elaine has performed at venues such as the Ward Recital Hall at the Catholic University of America, the National Building Museum, and the Embassy of Hungary in Washington, D.C.

Kennedy Center Education

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Generous support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Bank of America; Capital One; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Carnegie Corporation of New York; The Ednah Root Foundation; Harman Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The Kiplinger Foundation; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; The Markow Totevy Foundation; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives;

Prince Charitable Trusts; Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; Volkswagen Group of America; Jackie Washington; GRoW @ Annenberg and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and Family; Wells Fargo; and generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts..

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