CLASS OF 2027
Claire Chang | PIANO
Claire Chang is a junior at Henry M. Gunn High School and started piano at 5. She is currently studying with Stanford Professor Elizabeth Schumann. She will also be joining Young Chamber Musicians this fall. She has achieved numerous awards throughout her early career. In 2024, she earned first place in the Pacific Musical Society & Foundation Competition and was named a Laureate with a scholarship 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 first place in several other competitions, including ENKOR, USIMC, USOMC and she has been a top prizewinner in the San Francisco International Piano Competition, the International Grande Music Competition and the LA International Liszt Competition, where she received the Best Performance Award. Claire has performed in masterclasses with renowned pianists such as Marc-André Hamelin, Garrick Ohlsson, Ursula Oppens, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Angela Cheng, Jon Nakamatsu, Joseph Patrick, and Sharon Mann. During the summer of 2024, she joined the Music@Menlo festival as a young performer and took part in a masterclass at the San Francisco International Piano Festival. In 2025, she participated in the Southeastern Piano Festival and the Vivace International Music 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 an 11th 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 has placed in USIMC, SVMC, and SFIMC and attended California All State 2023 and 2024. She has also attended the California Honor Symphony Orchestra in 2023 and 2024. 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 junior and an Honors Fellow at Valley Christian High School. He began studying
cello at age seven and currently studies with Jonathan Koh. Aiden is a winner of the 2025
National YoungArts Award and the California Youth Symphony Young Artist Competition. He
will perform as a soloist with the CYS Senior Orchestra during the 2025-2026 season and with the Diablo Valley College Philharmonic Orchestra. Aiden has received top prizes in numerous other competitions, including the Cal ASTA San Francisco Solo Competition, the Burlingame Music Club Young Musicians Competition, the KAMSA Competition, and USOMC. As an avid chamber musician, he participates in the Young Chamber Musicians program, and his trio has won first prizes at the US International Music Competition and the Santa Cruz Baroque Youth Chamber Music Competition. Aiden also serves as the co-principal cellist of the CYS Senior Orchestra. He has attended numerous summer programs, including the Music@Menlo Chamber
Music Institute Young Performers program in 2024 and 2025, Chamber Music Northwest Young Artist Institute with full scholarships for both programs, and the Heifetz International Music
Institute in 2022 and 2023. Aiden has performed in master classes and studied with David Finckel, Dmitri Atapine, Brinton Smith, David Geber, Jonathan Swensen, Soovin Kim, Stella Chen, Richard Lin, Paul Huang, Kristen Lee, and the Aris Quartet.
Nathan Kim | VIOLA
Nathan Kim (viola) is a junior 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, 2024, and 2025. Nathan started his musical journey with piano at age seven and has completed the MTAC Certificate of Merit program’s advanced level. He has also won second place in the USIOMC for viola. Outside of music, he does competitive swimming with Santa Clara Swim Club.
Esther Moon | Clarinet
Esther Moon is a junior at Branham High School and has been playing the clarinet since 7th grade. She plays in her school’s Wind Ensemble and Marching Band and serves as principal clarinetist of the Senior Orchestra in the California Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Esther was selected for the California All-State Honor Band in 2025 and the Santa Clara County Honor Band in both 2024 and 2025. She has won first-place awards in the SF International Innovative Music Competition, the US International Open Music Competition, the US International Open Music Chamber Ensemble, and the Charleston International Music Competition. Outside of music, Esther enjoys crocheting and spending time with her friends and family.
Kaitlyn Yoon | Cello
Kaitlyn Yoon is currently a junior 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, Kaitlyn has placed second in the 2025 Charleston Winter Music Competition. She has also participated in both KAMSA’s 2024 and 2025 Youth Orchestra as well as the 2025 All-State Symphony Orchestra. Kaitlyn was previously the principal cellist in CYS’ Associate Orchestra for the 2024-2025 year and is currently part of their Senior Orchestra. Prior, she has been a member of PACO’s orchestra. Besides music, she enjoys reading in her free time.