Elizabeth Miles, age 12
Parkland, FL
Elizabeth has studied violin 7 years with teacher Tina Raimondi.
Hannah Newman, age 6
West Chester, PA
Hannah’s piano teacher is Diane Umile.
Nicole Lime, age 13
Bossier City, LA
Magali Toy, age 12
Toronto, ON
Magali studies cello with Susan Gagnon.
Amy Zhang and Noelle Perrin.
Amy Zhang, student of Noelle Perrin, won 1st prize in the New Jersey Music Teachers Association Young Artist Competition in November, 2007.
Allison Hawkins.
Allison Hawkins, student of Wendy Stern, won 2nd prize in the MTNA Senior Performance Competition in November, 2007. Allison also won the Thurnauer School of Music Concerto Competition and performed the Fantaisie by Georges Hue with the Thurnauer Symphony Orchestra on January 30, 2008.
Melissa Aleles, Wendy Stern, Esther Song, Michelle Phillippi, and Noelle Perrin.
Esther Song, student of Noelle Perrin, won the ages 8 and under category of the New York Flute Club Young Musicians Competition on March 16, 2008.
Michelle Phillippi, student of Noelle Perrin, won the 9-11 age category of the New York Flute Club Young Musicians Competition on March 16, 2008.
Melissa Aleles, student of Wendy Stern, won the 12-14 age category of the New York Flute Club Young Musicians Competition on March 16, 2008.
Design the cover for next year’s Minijournal! Submissions are due by January 1, 2008.
Shannon Bouchard, a student of Kelly Williamson, performed the Hue Fantaisie with the Westmount Youth Orchestra (Montréal) this May, having won their concerto competition in February 2006. She will be playing it again on their tour to Germany this summer. Shannon has been Kelly’s student for the past ten years, and will be attending the Montreal Suzuki Institute for the 12th time this summer.
16-year-old flutist Helen McGarr, a student of Laurel Ann Maurer, is the MTNA 2007 National Champion in Senior Winds. She was also the MTNA 2006 National Champion in Junior Winds. This spring she also won the Stillman Kelley National Competition. Helen began her studies with Laurel Ann Maurer at the age of 6. She has performed in numerous masterclasses including the 2006 SAA Conference with Bonita Boyd. Helen has been saving her competition money and recently bought a really cute blue Volkswagon beetle for her 16th birthday!
In May 2007, students from Susan Friendlander’s 3rd St Music School Settlement in New York City performed in the Suzuki ‘Stravaganza (it was officially called the String ‘Stravaganza, but Susan’s influence has resulted in the improved name). The ensemble of students and audience filled Historic St. Mark’s Church to the rafters. During the playdown flutes joined cellos playing Long Long Ago and joined the violins performing Minuets 14 and 16. On their own the flutists played a rousing Scherzino and Mary in snake formation. The grand finale was the entire ensemble; flutes, violins, violas, celli, and basses, about 170 strong, playing Twinkles in A major. Wow! What a tremendous sound!
A big thank you to everybody who participated in the 2007 Minijournal cover design contest.
Aislinn Ozwa Burns, age 9
Sunnyvale, CA
Aislinn has been studying violin since age two, with Cathryn Lee.
Eliza Block, age 11
Tacoma, WA
Eliza has been studying piano for eight years and violin for one year.
Julius Buonanno, age 7
Sunnyvale, CA
Julius studies with Suzuki cello teacher Barbara Wampner.
Sophie Porterfield, age 8
Portland, OR
Sophie studies with Laurita Jauregui de Campero.
Student submissions are requested for the 2007 Suzuki Minijournal Story Contest. Entries are due by April 15th, 2007.
Shannon Bouchard won the WYO’s concerto competition in February (competing against thirteen other performers on violin, cello, piano, flute, and clarinet). As preparation, Shannon and Kelly performed an evening concert at Place Kensington including works by Hue, Bolling, Doppler, Ravel, Bach/Gounod, Bloch, and Clarke.
Arielle Lewis Weigens was soloist with orchestra for the Sounds of Hope benefit concert at Oscar Peterson Concert Hall on April 1st.
Noémie Tito and Emilie Hoblyn won prizes in the Lakeshore Chamber Music Society’s student competition. Noémie was awarded the Junior Woodwind Solo prize, and Noémie and Emilie were awarded (together) the Ensemble prize.
Kelly Williamson’s studio was represented at the St. Columba’s “Kids Helping Kids” benefit concert (May 7th) by Noémie, Emilie, and Kaitlin Simpson. Kaitlin performed a solo, and Noémie and Emilie reprised their competition duet. Money raised went to AIDS orphans in Malawi.
Lia Adams Troy performed as part of the Honors flute choir at the SAA conference in Minneapolis.
Orah Chasen received a scholarship to KlezKanada music camp.
Book grads:
Congratulations! Two Utah flute students won the National MTNA Woodwinds Competition Finals in Austin: Helen McGarr, student of Laurel Ann Maurer, won the Junior Division; Gabriella Roderer, student of Cindy Henderson, won the Senior Division.
Seven current students, two alumni, and two parents participated in the Voices for Hospices world-wide concert event on October 8th. Kelly Williamson’s studio contributed the Doppler Andante for two flutes and piano, a movement from a concerto for five flutes by Boismortier, “In Dreams” from the Lord of the Rings, and was asked to open the concert with Dawn Carol, played in the dark, with volunteers holding candles beside each flutist.
Arnaud Simard Chabot, aged 6, played in four different concerts this December, including his studio concert, two performances of Leopold Mozart’s Toy Symphony with I Musici, and he was one of two flutists in his school’s band for a school fund-raising concert.
Caroline Csabai played for her class at school again this term. She also did something very special: she cut her beautiful long hair to be able to donate it to make a wig for a child undergoing treatment for cancer.
Shannon Bouchard and Arielle Lewis Weigens performed Gary Schocker’s Tapestry Sonata, which was likely a Montreal premiere—the piece was written in 2004 and has not yet been recorded (except by the Trio Electric Schockers, composed of Shannon and Arielle, and Vermont pianist Tim Woos.) The trio received a letter of congratulation from the composer.