Buffalo Grove Violist Bella Kim, To Perform Winning Solo from Walgreens National Concerto Competition
Bella Kim, of Buffalo Grove and a junior at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, will perform her winning viola solo at the "Walgreens Winners Recital" at 5 p.m. on January 19 at Bennett Gordon Hall at Ravinia in Highland Park, IL. The concert is free and open to the public.
Bella is the First Place winner in the Early Music category in the Senior MYAC Division of the Walgreens National Concerto Competition, which was hosted by Midwest Young Artists Conservatory on Dec. 28-30, 2019. Bella is currently Principal Violist in MYAC's top-level Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Allan Dennis.
The Walgreens National Concerto Competition is held annually at the end of December and is generously sponsored by Walgreens. Bella competed with over 200 young musicians from across the U.S. in the competition which includes categories ranging from strings, piano, voice, winds, brass, and percussion.
Bella is a junior at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois and currently studies viola with Desirée Ruhstrat. Bella is the principal violist in the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory's symphony orchestra, where she is also a part of a string quartet. She was the principal violist under Paul Bryan and a concerto competition finalist at Curtis Institute 2019 Summerfest. Along with receiving honors in the Society of American Musicians and Walgreens National concerto competitions, Bella was featured in the spotlight program with the Chicago Philharmonic. Additionally, she was a part of the state honors orchestra at IMEC last year. She has performed in masterclasses with Roberto Díaz, Shmuel Ashkenasi, the Cavani Quartet, and the Avalon Quartet.
Bella enjoys being a part of the Young Music Scholars program at Midwest Young Artists Conservatory where she guides violin and viola students from underserved communities. She is passionate about giving back to the community using her own musical studies. Bella is also involved with music at her school, where she is in Tri-M music honors society and serves as an executive Strings Board member. In her free time, Bella enjoys sculpting, reading about biology and binge-watching Disney movies.
About MYAC:
Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (MYAC) is the largest youth music ensemble program in the midwest and was founded in 1993 by Dr. Allan Dennis. MYAC serves over 900 young musicians of all ages and levels from 84 cities throughout Chicagoland and beyond with 8 orchestras, 60+ chamber music ensembles, 8 jazz bands and combos, 4 vocal ensembles, music theory and composition classes, early childhood music classes, and summer music camps. MYAC hosts the Walgreens National Concerto Competition and the Midwest National Chamber Music Competition, as well as 3 instrumental festivals and master classes that are open to the public throughout the year. MYAC students perform several major concerts each year in prestigious Chicago-area venues, and even tour abroad. As a national leader in youth music education, MYAC graduates are frequently accepted at the most selective conservatories and colleges worldwide. Families interested in participating for the 2020-21 MYAC season can visit mya.org for placement audition information. For tickets to MYAC concerts and events, or more information about our programs visit mya.org or call (847) 926-9898.