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ORCHESTRA

The American Youth Symphony provides landmark Fellowships to musicians in high school through doctoral programs to prepare them for leadership in 21st Century orchestras and ensembles. Musicians receive in-depth exposure to the varied styles of symphonic music being performed today by professional orchestras, from classical masterworks to world premieres and innovative film scores. Competitively selected, Fellows receive a tuition-free scholarship, per-concert stipends, perform at renowned venues such as Royce Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall, and work alongside world-class guest artists such as Daníel Bjarnason, Anna Clyne, Sarah Chang, Johannes Moser, John Williams, David Newman, Alan Silvestri, Charles Fox, and Lera Auerbach. Designed to challenge, nurture, and inspire, the American Youth Symphony is a musical laboratory where Fellows not only master their parts and develop a deep understanding of musical scores, but also explore their role as musician citizens within their community. At the American Youth Symphony, we aim to create leaders, innovative thinkers, and articulate communicators for the 21st century and beyond.

Read more about the history and mission of the American Youth Symphony >
How to audition for the American Youth Symphony >

2023/24 Orchestra

FIRST VIOLIN

Veronika Manchur, Concertmaster, The David Frisina Concertmaster LAPO 1943-1978 Concertmaster Chair
Matthew Chang, Assistant Concertmaster, The Theodore J. Slavin & Marsha Calig Assistant Concertmaster Chair

Janice Hu*
Jasmine Li*
Marena Miki*
Sam Lorenzini
Luna Suzuki
Zi Yang Low*
Cole Perez*
Michelle Sheehy*
Michael Freed
Nathan Nguyen*
Celeste Peña*
Sean Takada
Honor Frisco

 

SECOND VIOLIN

Alison Mills, Principal, The Anika Lorber Principal Second Violin Chair
Agatha Blevin, Assistant Principal
Justin Pham*
Isaac Visoutsy*
Arielle Kasyanova*
Ashley Kim
Simone Maura*
Crystaline Tran*
Sarah Schmainda*
Alexa Lee
Joe Buzzelli
Namiah Miller
Dominic Guevara*
Isolde Fair

 

VIOLA

Daisy Swanson, Principal
Jonathan Burns, Assistant Principal, The Flinkman-Marandy Assistant Principal Viola Chair
Leonardo Santi
Charlotte Goode
Eleanor Hammersly*
Taichiroh Kanauchi*
Kerry Walther
Sogol Aliabadi*
Joshua Allen**

 

CELLO

En-Chun Lin*, Principal
Raymond Newell, Assistant Principal, The Sheila Krasnoff Assistant Principal Cello Chair
Amy Jong
Natalie Kwok*
Evan Heidebrink*
Irene Choung
Ashley Ryoo*
Angela Marvin
Candice Oh*
Naohiro Nadahara*

 

BASS

Nathan Eskridge*, Principal Bass, The Sidney Stern Memorial Trust Principal Bass Chair
Skyler Lee*, Assistant Principal Bass, The Bradley & Stephanie Penenberg Bass Chair
Wyatt Wireman
Josia Sulaiman*
Brian Slack
Moses Aubrey
Zachary Hauser*
Lucas de Almeida

 

FLUTE

Sierra Schmeltzer, Principal, The Janneke Straub Principal Flute Chair
Danielle Kim, The Johnny Rotella Flute Chair

 

PICCOLO

Jennifer Jo, The Johnny Rotella Piccolo Chair

 

OBOE

Noah Breneman, Principal
Evan Sanchez

 

ENGLISH HORN

Kim Foskett, The Benny & Liliana Brittan English Horn Chair

 

CLARINET

Alexander Parlee*, Principal, The Steven Linder & Michael Hanel Principal Clarinet Chair
Daniel Hernandez*

 

E-FLAT CLARINET

Insoo Oh, The Helgard Field Clarinet Chair

 

BASS CLARINET

Julian Rymar*

 

BASSOON

Anne Ranzani, Principal, The Peter Mandell & Sarah Coade Mandell Principal Bassoon Chair
Miles Mateus*

CONTRABASSOON

Taki Salameh*

 

HORN

Gabriella Sá, Principal, The Vincent DeRosa Principal Horn Chair****
Emma Lumsden*, Assistant Principal
Alana Yee*
Esther Myers*
Rachel O’Connor

 

TRUMPET

Emma Breen, Principal, The Sue & Larry Hochberg Principal Trumpet Chair
Troy Sargent, The Christy & George Short Trumpet Chair
Ben Gunnarson*

 

TROMBONE

Gracie Potter, Principal, Beverly Hills/Greater Los Angeles Association of REALTORS®
& The Rufo Family Trombone Chair

Raphael Angelo Yap

 

BASS TROMBONE

Charles Johnson*, The Gretchen & Randy Newman Bass Trombone Chair

 

TUBA

Errol Rhoden, The Helgard Field Tuba Chair***

 

TIMPANI

Preston Spisak Principal, The Annie Gross Principal Timpani Chair

 

PERCUSSION

The Marilyn Ziering Percussion Section
Leigh Wilson*, Principal
Austin Cernosek
Cash Langi*

 

HARP

Joylynn Lee*, The Dretzka Family Harp Chair

 

PIANO

Austin Ho, The Henry Brittan and Maxwell Siemons Piano Chair

 

 

*Denotes new member for 2023/24 Season
**In Memory of Richard Rintoul
***In Honor of Helgard Field
****In Honor of Vincent DeRos