CLASS OF 2027
Claire Chang | PIANO
Claire Chang is a sophomore at Henry M. Gunn High School. She is currently studying with Professor Elizabeth Schumann. Claire began learning piano at the age of 5 and has achieved numerous awards throughout her early career. She won first place in the 2024 Pacific Musical Society & Foundation Competition and was named a Laureate in the 2023 Ross McKee Foundation Piano Competition. In 2022, she was a finalist in the Ettlingen International Piano Competition in Germany. Claire has also won 1st place in several other competitions, including ENKOR, USIMC, and USOMC. Additionally, she was a top prizewinner in the Artciál International Piano Competition, the International Grande Music Competition, the LA International Liszt Competition, where she received the Best Performance Award for the Paganini Etude, and the LA Young Musician International Competition. Claire has performed in masterclasses with renowned pianists such as Garrick Ohlsson, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Sharon Mann, Jon Nakamatsu and HieYon Choi. She also has performed for the 2024 San Francisco International Piano Festival. Claire is passionate about chamber music and has been an active chamber musician. She participated in chamber music under SFCM. In the summer of 2024, she took part in the Music@Menlo festival.
Nathan Cho | Double Bass
Nathan Cho is currently a sophomore at Prosect High School. He has studied double bass with Bruce Moyer for more than 3 years. He has been a member of the San José Youth Chamber Orchestra since 2023. Nathan began playing double bass around the age of 12 and since then has participated in the CODA All State Honor Orchestra in 2023. He also volunteers as the double bassist for the Zion Choir at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church. Outside of playing music, Nathan enjoys listening to music and collecting vinyls.
Sherlynn Jin | VIolin
Sherlynn is a 10th grader at Lynbrook High School. She has been playing the violin since she was 8 years old, and is currently studying under Jinny Lee. She won 2nd place in USIMC and attended California All State 2023 and 2024. She has also attended the California Honor Symphony Orchestra in 2023. Now, Sherlynn is a violinist for California Youth Symphony Senior Orchestra.
Besides violin, she has participated in the Blue Hills band as a flautist for three years.
Outside of playing music, she enjoys swimming and listening to music.
Aiden Kim | Cello
Aiden Kim is a sophomore and Honors Fellow in the Conservatory of the Arts at Valley Christian High School. He began studying cello at age seven and currently studies with Jonathan Koh. Aiden was the winner of the 2024 DVC/HNU Young Artist String Competition and will perform solo with the DVC Philharmonic Orchestra in Spring 2025. He has also won first prizes in the 2020 and 2024 KAMSA Competition, second prizes at the Cal ASTA San Francisco Solo Competition, the Burlingame Music Club Young Musicians Competition, and USOMC. Additionally, his piano trio won first prizes at the USIMC and the Santa Cruz Baroque Youth Chamber Music Competition, and he was invited to perform at the Junior Bach Festival in 2022 and 2024. Aiden is the assistant principal cellist for the CYS Senior Orchestra and participates in the Young Chamber Musicians (YCM) program. He attended summer programs, including the Music@Menlo Chamber Music Festival in 2024 and the Heifetz International Music Institute in 2022 and 2023. He has performed in master classes and studied with David Finckel, Brinton Smith, Dmitri Atapine, David Geber, and Andrew Mark. Aiden enjoys sharing his music with the community and senior living homes.
Nathan Kim | VIOLA
Nathan Kim (viola) is a sophomore at the King’s Academy. He studies viola with Minji Kim. He is an assistant principal violist of the Golden State Youth Orchestra’s Senior Symphony. He volunteered as a mentor of the GSYO Summer Conservatory program for younger string students in 2023 and 2024. Nathan started his musical journey with piano at age seven and has completed the MTAC Certificate of Merit program’s advanced level. Outside of music, he does competitive swimming with Santa Clara Swim Club.
Esther Moon | Clarinet
Esther Moon is a sophomore at Branham High School and plays the clarinet. She played in the All-State Honor Band and the Santa Clara County Honor Band, both twice. She is also the second clarinet principal in the CPYO Senior Orchestra. Esther has placed first in the San Francisco International Music Competition, the US International Open Music Competition, the US International Open Music Chamber Ensemble, and second in the Charleston International Music Competition. Outside of music, Esther likes to crochet and spend time with her loved ones.
Kaitlyn Yoon | Cello
Kaitlyn Yoon is currently a sophomore at Mountain View High School. She has been playing the cello since the age of eight and currently studies under Bobae Lee. Kaitlyn has received an award from the Silicon Valley Music Competition 2022 and the 2024 competition. In addition to being selected for the Junior Bach Festival of 2022. She has also participated in KAMSA’s 2024 Youth Orchestra. Kaitlyn is currently a cellist of California Youth Symphony’s Associate Orchestra. Prior, she has been a member of PACO’s orchestra. Besides music, she competes in taekwondo competitively and enjoys reading.