Crain-Maling Foundation Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition Finals STRINGS
Presented by the League of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association and the Negaunee Music Institute at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, January 21, 2023, at 2:00
Civic Orchestra of Chicago
Andrew Grams CONDUCTOR
FINALISTS
Aiden Yu VIOLIN
Jan Vargas Nedvetsky CELLO
Esme Arias-Kim VIOLIN
Henry Auxenfans VIOLIN
WELCOME
William Ward President of the League of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association PERFORMANCE
khachaturian
haydn
chausson
tchaikovsky
Violin Concerto in D Minor Allegro con fermezza
AIDEN YU
Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major, Hob. VIIb:2 Allegro moderato
JAN VARGAS NEDVETSKY
Poème for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 25 ESME ARIAS-KIM
Violin Concerto in D Major Allegro moderato HENRY AUXENFANS
INTERVIEW WITH FINALISTS
Robbie Ellis WFMT Producer and Presenter
PRESENTATION OF AWARDS
Elizabeth Stein Chair of Judge Coordination
Aiden Yu VIOLIN
Jan Vargas Nedvetsky CELLO
Aiden Yu is in eighth grade at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. He is currently studying with Davis King and Almita Vamos from the Music Institute of Chicago as well as with Julimar Gonzalez.
Aiden has won first place in numerous violin competitions, including the Charleston International 2022 Contemporary Music Competition, 2022 International Competition “Villafranca VR City” in Verona, 2022 Quebec Competition, 2022 Mimas Music Festival Competition (island of Procida, Italy), 2020 and 2022 Society of American Musicians Competitions (intermediate and junior divisions), 2020 and 2021 concerto competitions of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, 2021 Vivo International Competition, 2019 and 2021 Cremona International Competition for Strings (intermediate and junior divisions), 2021 Houston International Competition, 2020 DePaul Concerto Competition, 2019 Music Competition in Honor of Confucius, and the 2019 International Music Competition Brussels “Grand Prize Virtuoso.” He is also a laureate of the Enkor Competition, Walgreens Concerto Competition, Sejong Competition, and Singapore International Competition.
Cellist Jan Vargas Nedvetsky is a Merit Scholarship Fellow at the Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago. He studies cello performance with Hans Jorgen Jensen and Oleksa Mycyk. Jan previously studied with Gilda Barston, Horacio Contreras, Vladimir Perline, and JiHee Kim, and has participated in master classes with Richard Aaron, Richard Hirschl, John Sharp, Brandon Vamos, and Jens Peter Mainz. His important mentors are Jerome Pernoo and Ivan Karizna.
As a solo and chamber performer, Jan has won numerous awards in competitions and soloed with orchestras in the United States and Europe. Most recently Jan was selected as a semi-finalist in the 2023 Sphinx Competition and was awarded first prize in the 2022 Society of the American Musicians Competition. With his chamber groups, Jan won the grand prize at the 2020 Chicago International Music Competition in addition to awards in the St. Paul, Barnett, Fischoff, and Chicago National Chamber Music competitions, and performed in the master class for CSO Mead Composer-in-Residence Jessie Montgomery at Symphony Center. In September of 2022, Jan soloed with Oistrakh Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mina Zikri and attended cello master classes at the Kronberg Academy in Germany.
Esme Arias-Kim VIOLIN
Seventeen-year-old Esme Arias-Kim made her solo debut with orchestra with the Oistrakh Symphony at the age of ten in addition to being featured on WFMT’s Introductions and NPR’s From the Top. Since then, she has continued to appear as a soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic, Fairbanks Symphony, Sinfonia da Camera (ChampaignUrbana), Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Midwest Young Artist Conservatory, Fox Valley, Chicago Arts, Ottawa Chamber, Lincolnwood Chamber, Accademia d’Archi G.G. “Arrigoni,” and Civic orchestras. She has presented solo recitals at the Peninsula Music Festival, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Chicago Cultural Center, 92nd Street Y in New York, Musikferien am Starnberger See (Germany), and Palácio Foz (Portugal). Her upcoming concerto performances include those with the New Philharmonic, Northwest Indiana Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Southern California Philharmonic, and the Chicago Arts Orchestra.
Esme has received first-place awards at the Walgreens National, International Young Artist, Arthur D. Montzka, Fox Valley, Sphinx, Enkor International, New York International Artist Association, Sejong Music, Music Festival in Honor of Confucius, DePaul Concerto Festival, and Illinois Music Teachers National Music Association competitions, and most recently at the American String Teachers Association National Solo, Musicians Club of Women, Minnesota Orchestra, and Southern California Philharmonic Concerto competitions.
Esme is currently studying with Robert Lipsett. Previous teachers include Almita Vamos and Betty Haag-Kuhnke. She also has participated in master classes with Hilary Hahn, Midori Goto, Julia Fischer, Ian Swensen, Vadim Gluzman, Kirill Troussov, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Paul Huang, Grigory Kalinovsky, Mihaela Martin, and Ilya Kaler.
Esme is performing on a violin by Alfredo Contino from 1920, courtesy of Guarneri Hall NFP and Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins, Chicago.
Henry Auxenfans VIOLIN
Fifteen-year-old violinist Henry Auxenfans has been honored with multiple regional, national, and international prizes, including the 2023 YoungArts National Competition; first prize at the 2022 “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band Concerto Competition, the New York International Artists Association, Lakeview Symphony Young Artists Competition, American Protégé International, and Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO); and second prize at the Arthur Grumiaux International Competition.
As a result, Henry has soloed with several orchestras, such as the United States Marine Chamber Orchestra, Lakeview Symphony, CYSO, and more. At age ten, he made his Carnegie Hall debut followed by his orchestral debut at Northwestern University’s Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. In the past several seasons, Henry has served as the concertmaster of CYSO, performing extensive solos in Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben during a recent November concert while serving in this role.
Henry has been featured by NPR’s From the Top and WFMT 98.7 FM’s Introductions multiple times. He has performed the national anthem solo twice at United Center for the Chicago Bulls. Currently a student of Frank Almond, Henry is also a student of Noah Bendix-Balgley and Nikki Chooi during the summer. His chamber coaches are Larry Neuman, Qing Hou, and Hsing-Huei Huang. He is a sophomore at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and plays on a ca. 1625 Brothers Amati, generously on loan from Carl Becker & Son.
Andrew Grams CONDUCTOR
With a unique combination of intensity, enthusiasm, and technical clarity, American conductor
Andrew Grams has steadily built a reputation for his dynamic concerts, audience rapport, and long-term orchestra building.
The winner of 2015 Conductor of the Year honors from the Illinois Council of Orchestras, Grams has led ensembles throughout the United States, including the Chicago and National symphony orchestras; the Detroit, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Dallas, and Houston symphonies; and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Grams became music director of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra after an international search in 2013, and recently concluded his tenure there after eight seasons. His charismatic conducting and easy accessibility made him a favorite of Elgin audiences.
A frequent traveler, Grams has worked extensively with orchestras abroad, including the symphony orchestras of Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver; the Orchestre National de France; Hong Kong Philharmonic; BBC Symphony Orchestra in London; the symphony orchestras of Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, Australia; the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra; the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra; and Het Residentie Orchestra in The Hague, Netherlands. He has led multiple performances of the New York City Ballet presentation of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker and the first performances of a new production of The Nutcracker for the Norwegian National Ballet.
Also an educator, Grams has worked with orchestras at institutions such as the Curtis Institute of Music, the Cleveland Institute of Music, Indiana University, Roosevelt University, the National Orchestral Institute at the University of Maryland, and the Amsterdam Conservatory.
BY MASATAKA SUEMITSU, TYLER COREBorn in Severn, Maryland, Grams began studying the violin when he was eight years old. In 1999, he received a conducting degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Otto-Werner Mueller. He was selected to spend the summer of 2003 studying with David Zinman, Murry Sidlin, and Michael Stern at the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen; he returned to that program in 2004. Grams served as assistant conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra from 2004 to 2007, under Music Director Franz Welser-Möst, and has since returned for several engagements.
An accomplished violinist, Grams was a member of the New York City Ballet Orchestra from 1998 to 2004, serving as acting associate principal second violin in 2002 and 2004. Additionally, he has performed with ensembles such as the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Brooklyn Philharmonic, and the New Jersey Symphony.
Robbie Ellis WFMT Producer and Presenter
Robbie Ellis is a broadcaster, composer, music director, and comedy song maker. He works at WFMT as the host on Sunday afternoons and as the producer and presenter of Introductions, a weekly show that profiles local precollege musicians. He started in classical radio at RNZ Concert in Wellington, New Zealand. In addition, Ellis has worked as an event host for the International Music Foundation, Cedille Records, and the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra, and has been a teaching artist with Chicago Opera Theater, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Second City, with which he has also toured on land and sea as a music director.
robbieellis.net
Civic Orchestra of Chicago
Since 1919, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago has been one of the nation’s premier orchestral training programs for emerging professionals. Benefiting from a unique alliance with the world-renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Civic members refine their skills under the guidance of musicians of the CSO, Zell Music
Civic Orchestra of Chicago
Ken-David Masur Principal Conductor
Director Riccardo Muti and Principal Conductor Ken-David Masur, as well as numerous guest artists who visit Symphony Center each season. The Civic Orchestra is a signature program of the Negaunee Music Institute at the CSO. The Negaunee Music Institute shares the extraordinary musical resources of the CSO, creating connections to music for individuals and communities in Chicago and across the world.
The Robert Kohl and Clark Pellett Principal Conductor Chair
violins
Jesus Linarez
Kristian Brusubardis
Janani Sivakumar Crystal Qi Sungjoo Kang Marian Antonette Mayuga* Diane Yang* Hee Woo Seo Hsuan Chen Shin Lan Kenichi Kiyama Hee Yeon Kim* Liya Ma
Robbie Herbst
Matthew Weinberg Ran Huo Annie Pham
Subin Shin
Dylan Marshall Feldpausch* Laura Schafer
Kimberly Bill Grace Walker
Valentina Guillen Menesello Emily Nardo
Nelson Mendoza Hernandez*
violas
Pedro Mendez Stephanie Block Aditi Prakash Derrick Ware
Carlos Lozano Sanchez Amanda Kellman Kunjing Dai
Teddy Schenkman* Larissa Mapua Siyang Calvin Dai
* Civic Orchestra Fellow
cellos
Lidanys Graterol Francisco Malespin* Jaime An Annamarie Wellems Abigail Monroe Lindsey Sharpe* Charlotte Ullman Haley Slaugh basses Victor Stahoviak Bennett Norris Caleb Edwards Nate Beaver Benjamin Foerster Jake Platt flutes Aalia Hanif Katarina Ignatovich Priya Fink
oboes Andrew Port* James Jihyun Kim Kyung Yeon Hong
clarinets Irina Chang Antonio Garrasi
bassoons Liam Jackson Seo Young (Michelle) Min
horns Jacob Medina Michael Stevens Nelson Yovera Perez Luoxian He trumpets Isaac Hopkins Ismael Cañizares Ortega Joshua Harris trombones Felix Regalado Hugo Saavedra Arciniegas* bass trombone Alexander Mullins tuba Nick Collins timpani David Miller percussion Charley Gillette Thaddeus Chung Dylan Brule harp Natalie Man librarian Anna Thompson
Emily Chen VIOLIN
Bianca Ciubancan VIOLIN
Kaylee Kim VIOLIN
Lauren Kim VIOLIN
judges
PRELIMINARY ROUND: DECEMBER 10, 2022
Maurice Neuman CELLO
Bea Sjostrom VIOLIN
Joshua Wolford VIOLIN
Brian Snow Cello Professor, Bowling Green State University
Catharine Carroll Lees Viola Professor, Chairman of String Department, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
Timothy Lees Violin Professor, Sarasota Festival Faculty and Interlochen Center for the Arts
FINAL ROUND: JANUARY 21, 2023
Wen-Lei Gu Violin Professor, Lawrence University
Charles Gray Viola Professor, St. Olaf’s College
William Grubb Cello Professor, Butler University
former winners of the young artists competition
1999 Stephanie Jeong VIOLIN
2000 Tereza Lee PIANO
2001 Gregory B. Walker-Oliver MARIMBA
2002 Lydia S. Hong VIOLIN
2003 Rachel Kuodo PIANO
2004 Yi Wei MARIMBA
2005 Susie Kim VIOLIN
2006 Christine Yoon PIANO
2007 Matthew Wright FLUTE
2008 Gabriel Cabezas CELLO
2009 Adam Kim PIANO
2010 Marcelina Suchocka MARIMBA
2011 Johannes Gray CELLO
2012 Kyle Jannak-Huang PIANO
2013 Torin Bakke CLARINET
2014 Gallia Kastner VIOLIN
2015 Kimberly Han PIANO
2016 Gregory Phifer MARIMBA
2017 Maya Anjali Buchanan VIOLIN
2018 Yerin Yang PIANO
2019 Rosie Wang FLUTE
2020 Isabella Brown VIOLIN
2022 Noah Kim PIANO
We are grateful to the Crain-Maling Foundation as our title sponsor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition. Special thanks goes to Dr. Michael S. Maling, Chair & CEO, for his enduring support and continued generosity. Founded in 2007, the Crain-Maling Foundation supports innovation in education
and spiritual development, sponsorship of cultural events and advances in medical research.
Dr. Michael Maling Chair and CEO Mrs. Marissa Iancu Co-President and Secretary Mrs. Elise Williams Co-President and Treasurer
Special thanks:
Beginning in 1920, young performers were selected by Frederick Stock, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s second music director and founder of the Civic Orchestra, to appear as soloists with the Orchestra. Violinist Anita Malkin was the first youth soloist.
In 1967, the Louis Sudler Foundation established annual awards to be given at a competition sponsored by The Women’s Association of the CSOA. The young performers competed for prizes and the opportunity to perform with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
In 1975, the competition was divided into two categories: a senior division and a junior division (for ages fifteen years and younger). The name was changed in 1985 to the Illinois Young Performers Competition. These competitions were televised and sponsored by WTTW public television and Illinois Bell. The first televised competition was held May 8, 1985. After the 1993–94 season, the competition was discontinued.
crain-maling foundation cso young artists
competition committee
William Ward President of the League of the CSOA
Earle Cromer Competition Co-Chair
Christine Uhlig Competition Co-Chair
Nancy Friedman Camp Scholarship Chair
Elizabeth Stein Chair of Judge Coordination
Competitions were re-established during the 1998–99 season and renamed the Youth Auditions, and have been supported by Beatrice G. Crain and Dr. Michael S. Maling since that time. They were presented by The Women’s Association of the CSOA, which has since been reorganized as the League of the CSOA. The first auditions were held for string players between the ages of twelve and fourteen. The next year, the auditions were offered for woodwinds, brass, and percussion, which opened the competition to young musicians representing every instrument in the orchestra.
During the 2016–17 season, the CSO Youth Auditions were re-named the Crain-Maling Foundation Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition. The Competition continues to be offered annually on a threeyear instrumentation cycle, featuring strings, woodwinds/brass/percussion, and piano.
negaunee music institute at the chicago symphony orchestra
Jonathan McCormick Director, Education & the Negaunee Music Institute
Katy Clusen Senior Manager, School & Family Programs
Antonio Padilla Denis Manager, Civic Orchestra of Chicago
Rachael Cohen Coordinator, Institute Programs
Emory Freeman Operations Coordinator, Civic Orchestra of Chicago
Autumn Stolle Institute Programs Assistant
Anna Thompson Librarian, Civic Orchestra of Chicago
league of the chicago symphony orchestra association
The mission of the League is to promote appreciation of symphony music, to encourage a commitment to music education, and to raise funds for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
history of the crain-maling foundation chicago symphony orchestra young artists competition