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Music in Schools Initiative

Young Artists Solo Showcase announces participants, winners

2015 MISI Solo Competition Winners

The Music in Schools Initiative proudly announces the participants and winners of the 2015 Yale/New Haven Young Artists Solo Showcase, which took place May 19–21 from 6 to 8 pm in Morse Recital Hall.

The showcase, a collaboration between the Yale School of Music and the New Haven Public Schools, offers top-performing young students the chance to perform on the YSM stage in front of their peers, families, and community members, as representatives of their schools. The participants were selected by their school music teachers and perform with accompaniment from a Yale School of Music pianist.

Each of the three age groups performed on a different night: 9th–12th grades on Tuesday, May 19; 7th–8th grades on Wednesday, May 20; and 4th–6th grades on Thursday, May 21. The two younger age groups include students who play percussion, string, brass, and woodwind instruments. The high school level of the Showcase includes voice students as well as instrumentalists.

In addition to representing their schools, the 9th–12th grade students were adjudicated by a panel of local music professionals, and the top performers were awarded prizes, including tickets for their family to attend a Yale School of Music performance. Winners and participants for the 9th-12th grade level are:

1st Prize: Christopher Serrano, electric guitar — Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School
2nd Prize: Yza Roque, violin — Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School
3rd Prize: Michael Gritzbach, clarinet — Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School
Emily Adji, violin — Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School
Mairead Brennan, flute — Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School
Leijem Chang, flute — Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School
Tahnele Everett, violin — Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School
Sofia Galvan, viola — Wilbur Cross High School
Rose Greenspun, voice — High School in the Community
Sophia Minardi, violin — Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School
Noel Mitchell, violin — Wilbur Cross High School
Brianny Perez — Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School
Joseline Tlacomulco, clarinet — Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School
Cassandra Tortal, percussion — Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School
Lauren Wezenter, flute — Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School
Samyah Wilson, voice — High School in the Community

Judges: William Boughton, New Haven Symphony Orchestra; Melvin Chen, YSM; William Purvis, YSM

The participants in the 7th–8th grade level were:

Audrey Adji, cello — Davis Street Arts & Academics School
Leilani Ayala, flute — Celentano Museum Academy
Jordan Brown, violin — Wexler-Grant School
Cesar Castanon, clarinet — Fair Haven School
Brianna Chance, flute — John S. Martinez School
Marnielle Charles, viola — Ross Woodward Classical Studies School
Alicia Ernstberger, cello — John C. Daniels School of International Communication
Elliot Faulkner, saxophone — Edgewood School
Sung Shil Johnson, saxophone — Edgewood School
Jonathan Kim, clarinet — Bishop Woods School
Skyler Lyu, flute — Worthington Hooker School
Travis Martin, saxophone — Edgewood School
Prastik Mohanraj, violin — Engineering & Science University Magnet School
Diego Padilla, trombone — John C. Daniels School of International Communication
Digna Paucay, flute — Fair Haven School
Miriam Perez, cello — Wexler-Grant School
Jose Resto, euphonium — John C. Daniels School of International Communication
Audrey Rivetta, violin — John C. Daniels School of International Communication
Christopher Zunun, violin — Hill Central School

 The participants in the 5th–6th grade level were:

Bayu Adji, recorder — Davis St Arts & Academics School
Lihame Arouna, violin — John C. Daniels School of International Communication
LizaMishel Boateng, clarinet — Bishop Woods School
Annabelle Boyd, flute — Worthington Hooker School
Alston Chen, violin — Clemente Leadership Academy
Tiffany Chum, flute — Bishop Woods School
Z'Kiiya Crawford, cello — Wexler-Grant School
Ly-Linh Criscuolo, clarinet — John C. Daniels School of International Communication
Mai-Ly Criscuolo, saxophone — John C. Daniels School of International Communication
Alec Juliano, clarinet — Celentano Museum Academy
Cortez LeGrant, trombone — Celentano Museum Academy
Isabel Melchinger, cello — John C. Daniels School of International Communication
Lesly Melendez, clarinet — John C. Daniels School of International Communication
Maboi Onivogui, flute — Celentano Museum Academy
Aixa Padilla, flute — John C. Daniels School of International Communication
Ashley Perez, violin — Ross Woodward Classical Studies School
Nicholas Rivetta, violin — John C. Daniels School of International Communication
Sina Shohajee, clarinet — Worthington Hooker School
Steven Zhang, clarinet — Worthington Hooker School