Local teen musicians to share the spotlight at Midwest Young Artists Conservatory Feb. 1

NPR's "From the Top with Host Christopher O'Riley," the pre-eminent showcase for young musicians heard weekly on more than 220 stations nationwide, will record a radio broadcast for a private audience at Midwest Young Artists Conservatory in Fort Sheridan on Feb. 1.

The popular NPR radio program features the amazing performances and captivating personal stories of extraordinary young classical musicians from across the country. The episode will broadcast by podcast the week of Feb. 26 (fromthetop.org/podcast).

Hosted by Christopher O'Riley, the recording event will include an entertaining mix of interviews, personal stories, and performances showcasing inspiring young musicians from Chicago and the North Shore.

This episode of "From the Top" will feature the following local teen musicians:

Trio Arcalima from the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory performing III. Recitativo - Rondo: Allegro vivo from Piano Trio in C Major by Gaspar Cassadó. The trio features: Kimberly "Kimie" Han (piano), 16, from Lake Forest and a junior at Lake Forest High School; Rebecca Moy (violin), 17, from Naperville; Haddon Key (cello), 18, from Lincolnshire and a senior at Stevenson High School.

Seven members of the Percussion Scholarship Group from Chicago, coached by Patsy Dash and Douglas Waddell performing Catching Shadows by Ivan Trevino. The ensemble features: Angelica Lorenzo, 16, Loyola Academy College Prep; Allen Dai, 17, Whitney M. Young Magnet High School; Bella Villasenor, 17, Lincoln Park High School; Sean C. Edwards, 16, Lindblom Math and Science Academy (From the Top Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award Recipient); Sui Lin Tam, 17, Whitney M. Young Magnet High School; Avi Gotskind, 15, Jones College Prep; Gregory Phifer, 16, Lincoln Park High School.

George Dalianis (piano), 17, from Park Ridge, a junior at Maine South High School performing Chopin Nocturne in C minor - Op. 48, No. 1.

Ria Honda (violin), 17, from Wilmette, Illinois, a senior at New Trier High School performing Carmen Fantasy by Franz Waxman.

William Tan (cello), 13, from Hinsdale, a seventh grader at The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools performing Chopin Nocturne in C minor - Op. 48, No. 1.

This program will broadcast on stations nationwide and by podcast the week of Feb. 26, 2018. To download and subscribe to the podcast, please visit www.fromthetop.org/podcast.

About From the Top

From the Top is America's largest national platform celebrating the stories, talents, and character of classically-trained young musicians. Through live events, NPR and YouTube broadcasts, scholarships, and leadership programs, From the Top empowers these extraordinary young people to engage and inspire music lovers of all ages.

Support for From the Top's radio program is made possible through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. It is also supported through the generous contributions of individuals and institutions as well as public radio stations. From the Top's founding partners are New England Conservatory and WGBH.

"From the Top" is an independent nonprofit organization proudly based in Boston's vibrant cultural district. Learn more at fromthetop.org.

About Midwest Young Artists Conservatory

Founded in 1993, Midwest Young Artists Conservatory is a full-curriculum pro-college music school which has garnered a reputation among professional musicians and educators as a place for students to enjoy and nurture their passion for classical and jazz music. MYAC offers a wide variety of educational music programs from early childhood music and movement, to elementary school choral and entry level orchestral groups, to advanced orchestra, chamber music, choral, jazz, music theory, and music composition programs.

For further information, please call (847) 926-9898 or visit mya.org.

YOUNG ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

• Trio Arcalima from the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory features: Kimberly "Kimie" Han (piano), 16, from Lake Forest, a junior at Lake Forest High School; Rebecca Moy (violin), 17, from Naperville; and Haddon Key (cello), 18, from Lincolnshire, a senior at Stevenson High School.

• George Dalianis (piano), 17, hails from Park Ridge, Illinois and is a junior at Maine South High School. He studies piano with Katherine K. Lee at the Music Institute of Chicago. He is also a pianist and percussionist with the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (MYAC) Symphony Orchestra, with whom he performed the Grieg Concerto in A Minor. George recently won the Walgreens National Concerto Competition. One of his favorite musical experiences was participating in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition with his piano trio last year, the Orion Trio. Outside of music, George writes for his school newspaper on current events, founded a local chapter of Junior State of America, and likes playing and watching soccer.

• Ria Honda (violin), 17, lives in Wilmette, Illinois where she is a senior at New Trier High School. She studies violin Academy at the Music Institute of Chicago with Almita Vamos. She competed in the Menuhin International Competition in 2016, won the M-Prize competition, and earned the Silver medal at the Fischoff Chamber Music competition with her quartet, the Astera String Quartet. She has also spent five summers at Meadowmount. Outside of music, Ria enjoys cooking, traveling, and trying new foods.

• The Percussion Scholarship Group from Chicago, Illinois is coached by Patsy Dash and Douglas Waddell and comprised of seven percussionists from all over Chicago. They are: Angelica Lorenzo, 16 (Loyola Academy College Prep); Allen Dai, 17 (Whitney M. Young Magnet High School); Bella Villasenor, 17 (Lincoln Park High School); Sui Lin Tam, 17 (Whitney M. Young Magnet High School); Avi Gotskind, 15 (Jones College Prep); Gregory Phifer, 16 (Lincoln Park High School) and Sean C. Edwards, 16 (Lindblom Math and Science Academy). Sean is a recipient of From the Top's Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award.

• William Tan (cello), 13, is from Hinsdale, Illinois and is a seventh grader at The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. He is a student of Hans Jensen at the Northwestern University School of Music. William has participated in young artist programs at Music@Menlo and Meadowmount, and received an honorable mention at the Walgreens National Concerto Competition. He has also volunteered at Chicago's Garfield Park Music Program. He is a voracious reader, enjoys playing chess, and soccer player, and loves soup dumplings at Din Tai Fung.