CMPI is delighted to welcome 19 new fellows in 2024, as well as welcome back one fellow who took some time off. This year, CMPI has 12 new string players, including 3 violinists, 2 violists, and 7 cellists. The remaining students include 6 wind players and 2 brass players, with 3 flute players, 1 clarinetist, 1 oboist, 1 bassoonist, 1 french horn player, and 1 trombonist. 8 students are in middle school while the remaining 12 are in high school.
Here is some information about these wonderful new musicians!
Adam El Yakine
Adam El Yakine, violin, is an eighth grader who studies with Wojciech Niewrzoł of the Paderewski Symphony Orchestra in Chicago. He participates in his school’s orchestra and Wieniawski Strings. He is a winner at the annual IMA competition and has achieved first division in his district’s Solo and Ensemble contest on violin and double bass.
Amare'David Agboyi
Amare'David Agboyi, viola, is a tenth grader who participates in programs at the Merit School of Music, ChiArts, and the Chicago Arts and Music Project.
Anthony Coria
Anthony Coria, bassoon, is a freshman at Intrinsic High School in Chicago. He began playing the bassoon at the age of thirteen at school and performs with the Concert Band at the Merit School of Music. His current music teacher is Galina Kiep.
Bryan Herrera
Bryan Herrera, French horn, is a seventh grader who started playing French horn towards the end of fifth grade after playing alto sax. His private teacher is Renée Vogen. He has participated in ILMEA and been in marching and concert bands over the last three summers.
Delia Mendoza
Delia Mendoza, flute, is an eighth grader who participates in the Merit School of Music and ChiArts.
Desi Johnson
Desi Johnson, cello, is a seventh grader who studies at the Sistema Ravinia program.
Diego Dahle
Diego Dahle, cello, is a senior who began playing the cello at the age of nine and studies with Richard Hirschl. He is a member of several musical organizations including the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.
He plays in a string quartet at MYAC and was a prizewinner in the Walgreens Concerto Competition.
Emily Perez-Ojeda
Emily Perez-Ojeda, clarinet, is a junior at the Chicago High School for the Arts. She has been playing clarinet for six years and performs with the Merit School of Music Wind Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestra. She studies with Anna Najoom.
Ezrael Lukman
Ezrael Lukman, cello, is a junior who began playing the cello at the age of four and is now studying under Paula Kosower at the Northwestern University Music Academy. He has played with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, the Portland Youth Philharmonic, and the Eugene Springfield Youth Orchestra, and is currently in the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Symphony Orchestra.
Gabriella Joew
Gabriella Joew, flute, is a seventh grader at Whitney Young and is now a member of CYSO. She studies with Hideko Amano. In 2023 she won the elementary division of the Chicago Flute Club competition.
Israel Fernandez
Israel Fernandez, cello, is a sixth grader who studies with Martine Benmann. He plays in Preparatory Strings in CYSO.
Jan Nedvetsky
Jan Nedvetsky, cello, returns to CMPI as a senior. A student of Hans Jensen, he is also a fellow of the Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago, a Liechtenstein Music Academy scholarship holder, a From the Top fellow, Young Arts Winner with Distinction, and a 2024 Gstaad Menuhin String Academy participant. He’s been a laureate of numerous competitions and soloed with multiple orchestras.
Jazmyn Irons
Jazmyn Irons, flute, is a junior at Whitney Young Magnet High School. She has been playing the flute since the age of nine and is a member of the Wind Symphony and the Philharmonic Orchestra at the Merit School of Music. She is also in the Purple Hippopotami flute quartet. She studies with Eric Leise.
Kevin Soto
Kevin Soto, cello, is in tenth grade. He participates in People’s Music School and the Chicago Metamorphosis Orchestra Project.
Lily Yoshihara
Lily Yoshihara, violin, is a senior who studies with Taka Matsunaga and Bernardo Arias at the Midwest Conservatory of Music, where she serves as Concertmaster of the Midwest Philharmonic Orchestra. Lily has participated in ILMEA District and All-State Orchestras. She has received awards in the Musical Festival in Honor of Confucius, DePaul Concerto Festival, and won the Birch Creek Clampitt Concerto Competition.
Raven McAdams
Raven McAdams, trombone, is a sixth grader who has played for two years. She participates in the Sistema Ravinia program.
Samuel Alvarez
Samuel Alvarez, cello, is a sophomore who studies under Hope Shepherd. He participates in the Merit School of Music’s Philharmonic Orchestra and has recently been accepted to the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Symphony Orchestra.
Tiffany Kim
Tiffany Kim, oboe, is a junior who attends Northside College Prep. She has been playing oboe for two to three years and is a student at the Music Institute of Chicago.
Victoria Garcia Ruiz
Victoria Garcia Ruiz, viola, is a ninth grader who was the principal violist in the Concert Orchestra at MYAC last year. This year she is in MYAC's Symphony Orchestra. She is also in a piano trio as a pianist.
Xiruo Wang
Xiruo Wang, violin, is a seventh grader at Whitney Young and is a Merit Scholarship recipient at the Music Institute of Chicago where she studies with Davis King. She has won top prizes including the DePaul Concerto Festival, Walgreens Concerto Competition, Sejong, Society of American Musicians, IMA Annual Violin Bach Competition, and Music Festival in Honor of Confucius.
Images
New student images