Senior Division Finalist, Cello, 15
Cello Concerto in E Minor, Mvt. 4
E. Elgar
Annie Rhew is a ninth grader at Westview High School. Annie began playing cello at age 8 with Teacher Hyun-Jin Kim. After just one and half year of learning, she won first place in the Oregon Cello Society’s Scholarship Competition in the junior division and was named the "Student with the Most Potential".
In this school year, Annie became the Young Artist Winner with the Jewish Community Orchestra and have performed her solo piece at their Showcase Concert. In addition, she was the principal cellist with the OMEA All-State Honors Orchestra, accepted into the All-Northwest NAfME Orchestra, and was the first place winner of the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition. Previously, Annie won first place in the Prodigy International Music Competition, Gold Award in the Trinity International Competition, first prize in the New York Laureate International Competition, second place in the OPUS Competition and third place in the NFMC Mary Cox Award, where she earned $1000 in scholarship. She has was a finalist in the Oregon ASTA Competition and played in the Honors Recital.
Annie had the honor of participating in master classes with Amit Peled, Natasha Brofsky, Steve Doane, Rosemary Elliot, Hannah Roberts, Astrid Schween, Zachary Preucil, and Jeffrey Butler. She attended music camps with the Vivace Music Foundation and the International Cello Institute.
Annie is in her sixth year with the Portland Youth Philharmonic and is in the top Philharmonic Orchestra. Besides cello, Annie's interests include fine art, jazz music, reading, taekwondo, and Pokémon.
If you could only eat one dessert for the rest of your life, what would it be? It would probably be 붕어빵 (Bungeoppang), a fish-shaped bread filled with sweet red beans. The reason being that the red bean isn’t too sweet, and the shape itself is so fun to eat. There is even a little character analysis based on what part of the bread you eat first: head, tail, stomach, etc.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Telekinesis because it is such a convenient superpower. I won’t have to carry anything and I won't even have to walk. I would even be able to carry my cello case without my shoulders or arms hurting.
If you were stranded on a deserted island, which composer or piece of music would you bring? Probably Mozart’s Lacrimosa because the tone of the music is exactly how I would feel if I were stranded on a deserted island. Hopefully I’ll be able to survive.
What is one cool feature you would like to have in your dream house? I would say a refrigerator with lots and lots of fruit. I really like fruit, especially tropical ones. It doesn’t matter to me what size of a home I have, as long as I have this appliance.
What’s your favorite family tradition? Every couple of years, my family visits Hawaii. I really love this tradition because I love the culture there, and I love that the fruit always tastes better. The US mainland's fruit just doesn’t cut it for me.
What is your favorite musical memory? My favorite musical memory would have to be when I did my first good recording of my Elgar Concerto in E Minor 4th movement. I really loved the sensation of my arms becoming sore and being all sweaty because, in the end, it was really rewarding.