This year, CMPI welcomes 18 new fellows, including 10 wind and brass players and 8 string players. They range in age from 11 to 17 and live throughout the Chicago area, including one student from Indiana.
Please give a warm welcome to our new fellows!
Aadarsh Parameswaran
Aadarsh Parameswaran, an 11th grade bassoonist, has had an interesting pathway to the bassoon. He started in 5th grade with the clarinet, picked up saxophone in 7th grade, and then switched to bassoon his freshman year of high school. He has performed with the Midwest Philharmonic Orchestra and is now a member of the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory.
Angelo Acosta
Angelo Acosta, a 7th grade French horn player, is from Cicero, Illinois.
Caliel Mosley
Caliel Mosley, an 11th grade clarinetist, has played the instrument for 5 years. He’s currently the principal clarinet of his high school's advanced wind ensemble and advanced symphony. He is a new member of the Northwest Indiana Youth Symphony Orchestra and studies under the tutelage of CSO members John Yeh and Teresa Reilly. He was a prize winner in the South Shore Arts Youth Arts Awards and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra's Young People's Competition. He is a student at the Merit School of Music, where he plays in the Wind Symphony.
Carmen Merino
Carmen Merino, a 12th grade flutist, started flute in 4th grade and returned to it in 8th grade after a break. She is a student at the Merit School of Music.
Elyshia Rajput
Elyshia Rajput, a 6th grade cellist, started playing cello when she was 9 after watching Brooklyn Duo on YouTube. She’s now in Suzuki Book 3 and plays in her school orchestra.
Fabian Perez
Fabian Perez, an 11th grade bassoonist, started bassoon his freshman year and has joined his school’s symphonic band, orchestra winds, and jazz band. He participated in district honors orchestra and studies at the Merit School of Music.
Gabriel Martinez
Gabriel Martinez, a 10th grade violinist, is a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras along with participating in his school orchestra. Outside of music he enjoys running with his friends and spending time with his family.
George Wang
George Wang, a 6th grade violinist, is a Merit Scholarship recipient at the Music Institute of Chicago, where he studies violin under Davis King. George began playing violin at age two and has since earned top honors in prestigious competitions such as the Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest Concerto Competition, Sejong Music Competition, Society of American Musicians Competition, IMA Annual Violin Bach Competition, and the Music Festival in Honor of Confucius. He enjoys performing violin duets with his sister Xiruo and holds the title of Junior Affiliate Artist at Guarneri Hall. He also performs with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Ivan Calderon
Ivan Calderon, a 10th grade trumpet player, is involved in many facets of the music program at Conant High School, such as Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Chamber Choir, and Pit Orchestra. Outside of school, he also explores different styles of music, and is involved in Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, IHSTF All-State Pit, and Merit School of Music.
Itzel Sotelo
Itzel Sotelo, an 11th grade flutist, is a student at the Merit School of Music. Her biggest dream is to play in a pit orchestra for a major ballet company, blending into the sound that helps bring dance to life.
Jared Sanchez
Jared Sanchez, an 11th grade trumpet player, has performed with orchestras, chamber groups, and as a soloist. He likes to play classical music and Latin Jazz and is a student at the Merit School of Music.
Jorge Cruz-Hernandez
Jorge Cruz-Hernandez, a 12th grade bassoonist, started playing his freshman year with Andrew Marlin. Jorge was selected for NPR’s From The Top and was awarded the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. He has also participated in many double reed workshops, including MYAC's Chicago Double Reed Festival, UIUC’s Regional Double Reed Day, and Andrew Marlin’s Summer Bassoon Workshop. He has performed in masterclasses for some of the world’s best bassoonists, including Ben Roidl-Ward, Keith Sweger, Jim Rodgers, Miles Maner, Elise Wagner, and Benjamin Coelho.
Myles Bass
Myles Bass, a 6th grade violinist, performs with the Living Word Youth Orchestra and is also a member of Timeless Gifts, where he develops both artistry and leadership. He opened for the Chicago Bulls Kids Nation and was a guest of Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown at the Historic Westside Legacy Park Induction Ceremony in North Las Vegas, where he performed in celebration of the city’s cultural heritage.
Neveya McCullough
Neveya McCullough, a 7th grade clarinetist, is in the Sistema Ravinia program, likes to write, and is in leadership programs like National Junior Honors Society and Towers of Excellence. She also likes to sing and cook.
Romina Turpo
Romina Turpo, a 6th grade violinist, likes to read in addition to playing the violin.
Tentana Kahar
Tentana Kahar, a 6th grade violinist, began playing the violin at six and a half under the guidance of Mr. Davis King. Since 2021, she has been a committed member and concertmaster of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Tentana has won top prizes in several prestigious competitions, including the Illinois Bach Competition, Sejong Music Competition, Cremona International Music Academy Competition, and the DePaul Concerto Competition. In 2025, Tentana performed Bach’s Double Concerto as a soloist alongside renowned violinist Midori Goto, and performed as a soloist with the Academy Orchestra in Cremona, Italy.
Victoria Rodriguez
Victoria Rodriguez, a 6th grade violinist from Mexico, studies under the tutelage of J. Andrew Miller. She began learning violin at the age of five. Through the South Side Suzuki Cooperative, Victoria has performed in a variety of venues and was selected to participate in the South Side Suzuki Annual Honors Recital in both 2021 and 2022. She was recognized as the top performer in her cohort during the 2022–23 academic year. Currently, Victoria is a member of the South Side Suzuki Choir class and CYSO Preparatory Strings.
Zapre Benson Norwood
Zapre Benson Norwood, a 7th grade violist, joined Sistema Ravinia 4-5 years ago. She’s played several solos at school events on different occasions and worked with the instructor Miki Yuasa over the summer. She also had the opportunity to participate in a private master class at Ravinia with Midori Gōto.
Images
New student images