On January 30, 11 finalists of Oregon Mozart Players' 2022 Young Soloist Competition will take the stage to compete for cash prizes and the chance to perform as a soloist with the ensemble in April. The young musicians, ranging from 12-16 years old, will perform their musical selections live with piano accompaniment. First and second place winners will be chosen from both the junior and senior divisions with the first place winners earning the opportunity to appear with OMP later this season. Join us at 2:00pm on Sunday, January 30, at Beall Hall (961 E. 18th Ave., Eugene) to witness the next generation of Oregon musicians.
Audience admission is free, but advance ticket reservations are required to attend.
JUNIOR division
Jason Han, 12
Instrument: Cello
Performing: Franz Joseph Haydn, Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major
Jason Han is a 12-year-old cellist from Corvallis, Oregon. He has been playing the cello and piano for six years. Jason began Cello lessons at the age of six and currently studies with Ms. Marilyn de Oliveira. He has won and performed several piano festivals at the Oregon Music Teachers Association. Jason currently serves as the Principal of the Junior Honor Symphony in Corvallis.
What do you do when you're not practicing?
I listen to Mischa Maisky and Yo-Yo Ma.
What is your favorite place to visit?
I love to visit Korea and interact with my friends and cousins.
If you were stranded on a desert island, which composer or piece of music would you bring?
Camille Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 33
What is one thing we would never guess about you?
I am bilingual in Korean and English.
Where would someone most likely find you on a rainy Sunday afternoon?
Probably playing cello or playing video games
Kate Seojeong Huh, 13
Instrument: Clarinet
Performing: Carl Maria von Weber, Concertino in E-flat Major
Hello! My name is Seojeong Huh, but Kate for short. I am 13 years old and have played the clarinet for four years. Some things that I enjoy doing in my free time are drawing and listening to music. I first started to play the clarinet in 4th grade, when my mom suggested I try playing an instrument because it would be a good experience for me. At first, I remember I used to have a hard time playing the clarinet, and it was very hard for me to understand the music. But after practicing for over a year, I’ve realized that playing an instrument really has benefited my life, and has improved multiple skills that I would never be able to find if I didn’t play the clarinet. I’m very grateful for being able to play in this competition, and I will make sure I will give you the best performance in my capability!
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
To breathe underwater, I’m a swimmer so I think that breathing underwater would be a very useful skill in my life.
What is your favorite place to visit?
I like to visit the Bethany Library because I enjoy reading comics there.
Where would someone most likely find you on a rainy Sunday afternoon?
When it's rainy, I like to go to bed and listen to the sounds of raindrops.
What is your least favorite school subject?
Science! Although it is a very important subject in school, I have a hard time understanding and rememorizing all the facts.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“You can’t buy euphoria”
Kristen Kim, 12
Instrument: Cello
Performing: Camille Saint-Saëns, Cello Concerto in A minor, Mvt. 3
Kristen Kim is a 12-year-old cellist in Portland, Oregon. She started playing cello at age of six, and currently studying with Hyun-Jin Kim. Kristen was the winner in the 2021 Oregon MTNA Junior String Competition, 2nd prize in the 2020 Enkor international strings competition, and first prize in Rising Star of the 2020 Canadian International Music Competition. She was also selected to be part of masterclasses with the Calder Quartet and Ilmari Hopkins. She has also had the opportunity to perform in ASTA Honors Recital in 2020 and 2021. Kristen enjoys experiences as part of the Portland Youth Philharmonic and the Appassionato Chamber Ensemble. Outside of her musical life, she loves to read, paint, and travel with her family.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
I would have the superpower to heal or cure anyone, so that I could cure people who have Covid.
What is your favorite place to visit?
My favorite place to visit is South Korea because there are many good places to eat there.
What is your least favorite school subject?
My least favorite school subject is math, because it is boring and hard.
Describe your favorite outfit.
Anything that is comfortable.
If you could have an extra hour of free time every day, how would you use it?
I would read for half the time, and sleep for the other half.
Shuhan Li, 13
Instrument: Piano
Performing: Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major Op. 15, Mvt. 1
Shuhan Li is a thirteen-year-old pianist from Eugene, Oregon. She has been playing piano for more than eight years and has a passion for music. She has won many piano competitions, including Silver Medal in the 2019 Seattle International Piano Virtuoso Festival, Gold Medal in the 2018 Seattle International Piano Classical Viennese Festival, Gold Medal in the 2017 Seattle International Piano Bach Festival, and several gold awards from Oregon Music Teachers Association festivals. Shuhan has participated in a masterclass with Dr. Oksana Ezhokina during the 2019 OMTA State Conference and a Portland Piano International master class with Xiaohui Yang in 2018. Her piano teacher is Eunhye Grace Choi and previously Monica Ohuchi Bunch.
When she’s not practicing piano, Shuhan enjoys listening to music. She has always had a passion for all forms of art, whether it may be the performance arts or the standard little doodles on notebook paper. She could also be reading, learning the languages on her bucket list (German, Spanish, Korean, French, Russian, or American Sign Language), or doing research on businesses. Shuhan is very passionate about debate and currently is debating in Varsity Debate for Middle School.
If you could only eat one dessert for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Ice cream. It’s honestly the only dessert I do eat. Any other dessert is too sweet for my liking (I do not have a sweet tooth). I suppose I won’t be too affected by it.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Telekinesis for sure. You can do almost anything with telekinesis, especially if you get skilled enough at it. You could fly, you could create things out of thin air, and you could control what other people do, amongst many other capabilities. My favorite one is I can carry things around without actually carrying things. That would make going through school a lot easier. And with telekinesis, I could be multitasking easily.
What famous person would you most like to have dinner with?
Any Marvel actor, especially Sebastian Stan or Elizabeth Olsen. They just seem like such nice and genuine people. I’d also love to have dinner with any pianist for practicing tips and just suggestions and motivation!
What is your spirit animal?
My spirit animal is the elephant, which also happens to be my favorite animal. They’re very sweet. I met one once when I was three years old, but sadly, he passed away in 2020.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
This piece of advice wasn’t given straight to my face, but it would be a quote from Ken Poirot. “Today is the opportunity to build the tomorrow you want.” It inspires me to try my best each day to have the best tomorrow.
What’s your favorite family tradition?
I love that on Chinese New Year we always eat fresh dumplings and call all our relatives while watching the Spring Gala on TV. It’s very fun to celebrate the Lunar New Year with my entire family while doing something we all enjoy!
Andy Shin, 12
Instrument: Cello
Performing: Franz Joseph Haydn, Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Mvt. 1
Andy Shin is a seventh-grader at BASE (The Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering). He started cello at age nine and has been playing for almost three years. Previously, he has been a member at MYS (Metropolitan Youth Symphony), and is currently playing in the Portland Youth Conservatory Orchestra. Andy has participated in a number of festivals such as the Festival of Ribbons and the OMTA Baroque Festival. He has also been a participant in a masterclass with Peter Prosser at Mannes School of Music in New York City. Currently, he is studying with Maria Shim. Outside of music, Andy likes engineering and has won the Lego Robotics FLL (First Lego League) Project Competition in 2019-2020. He loves to cook, bake, and hang out with friends.
If you could only eat one dessert for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Macaron
What’s on your bucket list?
Traveling to Alaska
Who is your favorite musician?
Pablo Casals
What is your favorite place to visit?
Korea
Where is the most wonderful place you’ve ever been?
Banff in Canada
What is your most used emoji?
Smiley face
Complete the sentence “I wish everyone could…”
Enjoy Music
If you could have an extra hour of free time every day, how would you use it?
Bake a cake
SENIOR CATEGORY
Joseph Baik, 16
Instrument: Clarinet
Performing: Carl Maria Von Weber, Clarinet Concerto in F minor, Op.73, Mvt. 1
Joseph Baik is a sophomore currently attending Sunset Highschool in Beaverton, Oregon. He has been playing clarinet since the 4th grade and since then has won the MTNA Junior Woodwind State Competition in years 2018-19 as well as becoming alternate winner for the regional competition in 2019. As a freshman in 2020, he won his first MTNA Senior State Woodwind Competition. In 2021, he won first prize in the 2021 Bellagrande International and in 2022, has won the first prize for Golden Classical Music Competition as well as a Platinum award in the Canadian International Competition. Besides clarinet, he is also passionate about competitive swimming and enjoys being part of the varsity swim team at Sunset High School.
What is your least favorite school subject?
Math, although its a subject I excel in, I feel like it still makes no sense at all
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
When you feel shy, act like you are talking through your forehead. It helps make sure you aren’t mumbling
If you could have an extra hour of free time every day, how would you use it?
I would sleep in so I can feel better in school and hopefully grow taller
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
To freeze time so I could have more time to do everyday things
What is your most used emoji?
The smile emoji. It can come with so many different meanings.
Derek Choi, 15
Instrument: Violin
Performing: Samuel Barber, Violin Concerto Mvt. 1
Derek is a sophomore at the Catlin Gabel School and has been playing violin since he was eight. In 2018, he was a winner of the OMTA Trula Whelan Concerto Competition and a finalist of the Oregon Mozart Players Young Soloist competition and the Oregon Asta Solo Competition. In 2021, he was a First Prize Winner of the American Protégé Music Talent Competition and the Grand Metropolitan International Music Competition. He was a finalist of the 27th MetroArts Young Artists Debut, a Third Prize winner of the International Grand Music Competition, an Honorable Mention of the MTNA Senior Division State Competition, and a performer in the Oregon ASTA Honors Recital. He was awarded scholarships by the Monday Musical Club of Portland and the OMTA Jeanette Scott Briggs High School Strings Scholarship and performed in masterclasses with the Mivos Quartet in 2019 and with Juliette Kang of the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2021.
Derek has been a member of the Portland Youth Philharmonic for six seasons. He was selected to play in the 2021 and 2022 OMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra, the 2021 Philadelphia International Music Festival Senior Orchestra, and the 2022 Honors Performance Series String Orchestra at the Carnegie Hall. He has played in the Chamber Music Camp of Portland at the University of Portland, the Portland Summer Ensembles at Marylhurst University, and the Haystack Chamber Music Camp at Portland State University. Derek also volunteers at Project Prelude, a nonprofit organization teaching music to elementary schoolers.
Ellie Kim, 15
Instrument: Violin
Performing: Camille Saint Saëns, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso
Ellie Kim is a 15-year-old violinist from Portland, Oregon. She started playing violin at the age of five and is currently studying with Carol Sindell. In 2017, 2018, and 2019 she has performed as a part of the ASTA Honor Recital, and participated in a masterclass with Yolanda Bruno in 2020. As for competitions, she has won first prize in Young Artist of the 2020 Canadian International Music Competition, and second prize in the 2020 American Protege Strings Competition. In 2021, she was awarded one of two $1,500 prizes awarded by Monday Musical Club for the 2nd highest score among instrumentalists and was also awarded the OMTA Instrumental Scholarship. She has studied with Klaudia Szlachta, Miguel Pérez-Espejo Cárdenas, and Hsin-Lin Tsai at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute during the summer of 2021, participating in the Violin Workshop and Young Artist Orchestra. Ellie is also a participant of the Portland Youth Philharmonic. She loves expressing herself through music, and enjoys exploring varieties of styles as she learns to become a more artistic musician.
What famous person would you most like to have dinner with?
Michelle Obama
What’s on your bucket list?
Dinner with Michelle Obama
What is your most used emoji?
Heart-faced emoji
Describe your favorite outfit.
A black leather shirt jacket, black knit tank top, wide leg jeans, Nike high tops, and layered necklaces.
Complete the sentence “I wish everyone could...”
Be nice
Kaellan Lee, 15
Instrument: Cello
Performing: Franz Joseph Haydn, Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major, Mvt. 1
Kaellan Lee is currently a junior at South Eugene High School in Eugene, Oregon. He started playing the cello at age 5 with Community Music Institute at the University of Oregon, and for the past 10 years, with Ms. Eun-Ju Lee in Eugene. He is a Co-Principal in the Youth Symphony of Eugene-Springfield Youth Orchestra (ESYO). He attended the String Quartet Academy of Delgani String Quartet for two summers and virtual master class with Dr. Steven Pologe during the Flight Path of the UO SAIL program in 2020. Kaellan volunteered at the Cascade Manor retirement home and performed at community events with fellow volunteer musicians of the Ambassador Musician Program (AMP) of ESYO. Kaellan enjoys playing the guitar, playing tennis, cooking ramens, and hanging out with friends playing video games.
If you could only eat one dessert for the rest of your life, what would it be?
If I could only eat one dessert for the rest of my life, I would want to eat cookies-and-cream-flavored ice cream cake because I really like cookies-and-cream-flavored ice cream. I have a memory of eating ice cream cake at a friend’s birthday party when I was a second grader, and that was the first time I ever had one. It has been my favorite dessert ever since.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
My superpower would be ability to create things out of thin air in moment when it is necessary. I could use my superpower to help people that have certain needs such as clothes when it is cold out there, cars for people who need to go to work, and homes when a family need a place to stay.
What is your least favorite school subject?
My least favorite school subject is probably Health. The curriculum doesn’t have a whole lot of material that it covers, so I have learned the same things in the Health classes I have taken.
Complete the sentence “I wish everyone could…”
I wish everyone could have a long, healthy, and peaceful life without COVID.
What’s your favorite family tradition?
My favorite family tradition is eating rice cake soup on New Year’s Day.
Sarah Lee, 15
Instrument: Cello
Performing: Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Pezzo Capriccioso
Sarah Lee, age 15, is a freshman at Westview High School. She began playing cello at the age of 8 and currently studies cello with Hyun-Jin Kim. Sarah joined the Portland Youth Philharmonic Association since 2017 where she currently is a member of Portland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. She is also a member of the Chamber Ensemble APPASSIONATO led by Lyndon Lawless. As an active soloist, she got first prize at Best Bach Performance and the Music of Europe of Great Composers Competition 2021 and won the Platinum Absolute Prize at the Grand Metropolitan International Music Competition 2021. Besides those, she has participated in and won numerous music competitions such as the Glory International Music Competition, American Protégé International Piano and String Competition, Enkor International Music Competition, and the Bellagrande International Music Competition. Also, she has received an Honorable Mention in Junior Division at Eugene Symphony Guild Young Artist Competition 2021 and was selected to play for the 2021 Oregon ASTA Honors Recital. She has participated in several music camps such as the Philadelphia International Music Camp Festival, studying with Hai Ye-Ni, the Chamber Music Camp of Portland, International Cello Institute Camp and the Vivace Music Festival. Sarah has also participated in masterclasses taught by Diane Chaplin, Priscilla Lee, Hannah Roberts, Bonnie Thron, Steven Doane, Rosemary Elliott, and Antonio Meneses. Besides playing cello, Sarah enjoys playing piano, soccer, skiing, reading, and hanging out with her friends.
If you could only eat one dessert for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Ice cream
What’s on your bucket list?
Travel Europe
Who is your favorite musician?
Antonio Meneses
If you could have any superpower what would it be?
Teleportation, as there would be more opportunities to go to places that I want to go to.
What’s your favorite family tradition?
Decorating the house for Christmas, and watching the Nutcracker.
Loni yin, 16
Instrument: Cello
Performing: Joseph Popper, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 68
Loni Yin has been playing cello for a little over five years. Since the beginning, she has been in multiple ensembles, including the Portland Youth Philharmonic, PYP's Camerata, and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony. She has also played in many chamber groups, including one where she won 2nd in the OMTA Ensemble Festival, and another, where her group received top marks in the LCRMEA Solo & Ensemble festival, with both a quartet and a violin/piano trio. Loni won 2nd in the American Protégé International Piano & Strings competition’s intermediate division, with a winner's recital at Carnegie Hall in March of 2022. She also received a 3rd place plaque in the Opus National Music competition’s Senior division, qualifying her for Nationals in March. Last year, Loni was a winner of the Stulberg International String Competition, winning a master class with world-renowned cellist Sara Sant'Ambrogio. In December, Loni received gold in the Trinity International Music Competition. She was also a finalist of the Oregon ASTA competition, and ended with a 3rd place award. Besides cello, Loni enjoys reading, listening to music, playing tennis, and hanging out with her friends.
If you could only eat one dessert for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Crème brûlée
What is your favorite musical memory?
Winning my first cello competition in my teachers cello studio
What is your favorite place to visit?
Taiwan, because of my family and the food
Where would someone most likely find you on a rainy Sunday afternoon?
I'll be in a coffee shop listening to music and reading or doing homework
What is one cool feature you would like to have in your dream house?
Lighted pool with Jacuzzi or movie theater
If you could travel back in time, what year would you most like to visit?
I would like to time travel back to the 1850s in London because women's fashion back then was super cool