I applaud J. Thomas Hurvis on receiving the Cultural Visionary Award for Chicago and warmly wish much success to the Music Institute of Chicago and its Gala.
The John D. and Alexandra C. Nichols Family Foundation
Welcome to the Music Institute of Chicago’s Annual Gala!
As Co-Chairs, we are delighted to welcome you to this event. Tonight, we celebrate the power of music and support the Music Institute’s mission to enrich lives through music education.
We honor three individuals who embody this mission:
• Internationally-acclaimed clarinetist, saxophonist, and composer
Paquito D’Rivera, recipient of the David and Dorothy Dushkin Award
• Esteemed violinist and dedicated Music Institute faculty member
Sang Mee Lee, recipient of the Richard D. Colburn Award for Teaching Excellence
• Celebrated business and community leader
J. Thomas Hurvis, recipient of the Cultural Visionary Award
These honorees are recognized for their contributions to music, dedication to education, and belief in the transformative power of the arts. Their leadership and support inspire us all.
For nearly a century, the Music Institute has nurtured talent, enriched lives, and promoted a love of music for students of all ages. Our faculty, programming, and commitment to excellence have touched thousands of lives.
Tonight’s Gala celebrates our passionate students, dedicated faculty, generous supporters, and esteemed honorees. Thank you for being here and supporting the Music Institute’s work. Together, we are building a brighter future shaped by creativity, compassion, and a love of music.
With gratitude and joy,
Alexandra C. Nichols
Timothy Patenode Scott Verschoor Co-Chair Co-Chair Co-Chair
RECEPTION MUSIC
RECEPTION MUSIC ON GRAND STAIRCASE
Matthew and Madeleine Kim, violins
Students of Sang Mee Lee
TRADITIONAL CUBAN MUSIC PROCESSION
Victor Garcia, trumpet • Richard Peña, guitar
Freddy Quintero, bass • Javier Quintana-Ocasio, percussion
Everyone Deserves Music.
The Music Institute of Chicago is a nonprofit organization committed to making high-quality music education accessible to all.
We keep tuition as low as possible to remove financial barriers and invite those who can give more to help others take part.
This reflects our core belief:
MUSIC TRANSFORMS LIVES
Everyone should have the chance to experience its power.
PROGRAM
WELCOME
Gala Co-Chairs
Alexandra C. Nichols • Scott Verschoor • Timothy Patenode
TRIBUTE TO DR. MARK GEORGE, MIC PRESIDENT EMERITUS
Scott Verschoor, Board Chair and Gala Emcee
PERFORMANCE
Introduction by Scott Verschoor
Por Una Cabeza Carlos Gardel (1890-1935)
Cello Octet
Descant – Jan Vargas Nedvetsky • Cello I – Amelia Zitoun and Serge Kalinovsky
Cello II – Simon Updegraff and Bianca d’Avila do Prado
Cello III – Katarina Kenney • Cello IV – Stefan Kartman and Gabi Raviv
DINNER
Dinner music
Fred Simon, piano
REMARKS
Scott Verschoor
PERFORMANCE
Introduction by Sang Mee Lee, String Department Chair
String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 73 Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) III. Allegro non troppo
Passacaglia for Violin and Viola (after George Frideric Handel) Johan Halvorsen (1869-1931)
Neena Agrawal, viola • Sameer Agrawal, violin
PRESENTATION OF THE RICHARD D. COLBURN AWARD FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE
Tribute by Neena and Sameer Agrawal
Sang Mee Lee, Music Institute of Chicago
String Department Chair and violin/viola faculty
PERFORMANCE
Introduced by Matthew Hagle, Musicianship Program Director and piano faculty
Jardins sous la pluie (Gardens in the Rain)
Eric Wang, piano
Claude Debussy (1862–1918)
PRESENTATION OF THE CULTURAL VISIONARY AWARD FOR CHICAGO
Introduction and tribute by Scott Verschoor and Alexandra C. Nichols
J . Thomas Hurvis
Celebrated business leader and philanthropist
PERFORMANCE
Introduction by Rodolfo Vieira, Academy Chamber Music faculty
String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, Op. 80
I. Allegro assai vivace
Caspian String Quartet
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Lily Sullivan, violin • Tristan Zhu, violin • Vivian Van de Sype Cucu, viola
Jan Vargas Nedvetsky, cello
PRESENTATION OF THE DUSHKIN AWARD
Introduction and tribute by Scott Verschoor
Paquitio D’Rivera
Grammy award-winning saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer
PERFORMANCE
Paquito D’Rivera, clarinet • Fareed Haque, guitar
CLOSING REMARKS
Alexandra C. Nichols • Scott Verschoor • Timothy Patenode
PAQUITO D’RIVERA
Cuban saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer Paquito D’Rivera is an award-winning musician who is equally curious, imaginative, and virtuosic as a performer and composer. Known for his irrepressible sense of humor and unruly, unpretentious personality, he embodies brilliance, fun and ease. D’Rivera is the recipient of five Grammy’s, nine Latin Grammy’s, and The Academy Trustees Award.
Born in Havana, Cuba, the son of a classical saxophone player, D’Rivera took his first lessons from his father. By ten, he was performing with The National Theater Orchestra. He studied at the Havana Conservatory of Music, and, at 17, he was a featured soloist with the Cuban National Symphony. In his early career, D’Rivera was a charter member of the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna and played clarinet and saxophone with the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra. In the early 1970’s, he became a charter member and co-director of Irakere. Discovered by Dizzy Gillespie on a visit to Cuba, Irakere debuted in the United States at Carnegie Hall as part of the Newport Jazz Festival in 1978. A self-titled debut recording featuring songs from this performance earned Irakere a Grammy the following year.
D’Rivera moved to the United States in 1980, where his first albums as a leader, Paquito Blowin’ (1981) and Mariel (1982) made him a favorite among audiences and critics. In 1988, he became a charter member and co-conductor of The United Nation Orchestra: a 15-piece ensemble organized by Gillespie.
As a classical musician D’Rivera has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Warsaw Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra, La Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería, the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, and the Baltimore Symphony, among many others.
D’Rivera has recorded more than 40 albums. Collaborators include Yo-Yo Ma, The Turtle Island Quartet, WDR Big Band, The American Saxophone Quartet, Quinteto Cimarrón, Imani Winds, The Buenos Aires String Quartet, and Barcelona Clarinet Players whose 2022 album Fantasías Barcelónicas: Tribute to Paquito D’Rivera celebrated his music.
While steadfastly highlighting Ibero American music, D’Rivera has created, championed, and promoted a broad range of classical compositions, including his three chamber works recorded live in-concert with cellist Yo-Yo Ma in September 2003. Merengue, a piece from that performance, earned D’Rivera a Grammy for “Best Instrumental Composition.”
In 2007, D’Rivera was made a Rockefeller Fellow and his work as a composer was recognized with a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship in music composition. He was appointed ComposerIn-Residence at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s that same year.
His numerous commissions include works for Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Library of Congress, National Symphony Orchestra, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, the Turtle Island String Quartet, the Opus 21 ensemble, the Ying Quartet, Imani Winds, the International Double Reed Society, Syracuse University, Gerald Danovitch Saxophone Quartet, and the Grant Park Music Festival. His compositions premiered at the San Diego Symphony, the North Texas Wind Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, and Michigan State University where his African Tales for clarinet/bass clarinet and violoncello was nominated for best composition at the 2023 Grammys.
D’ Rivera is the author of books including: My Sax Life (Northwestern University Press), Oh, La Habana (MTeditores, Barcelona), Ser o No Ser, (Ediciones Universal) and Letter to Yeyito (Restless Books). He has also served as Artistic Director of jazz programming at the New Jersey Chamber Music Society. He previously served as Artistic Advisor to the DC Jazz Festival in Washington, DC., among others. Since 1996, he has served as the Artistic Director of the Festival Internacional de Jazz de Punta Del Este, Uruguay.
His numerous honors include the NEA Jazz Masters Award 2005; The National Medal of the Arts 2005; The Living Jazz Legend Award from the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C., 2007; Frankfuter Musik Prize; and Miembro Honorifico de la Universidad de Alcalá de Henares. He is the recipient of honorary doctorates from University of Pennsylvania, Berklee School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and City University of New York, among others.
DUSHKIN AWARD
The Dushkin Award was established in 1985 to honor the memory of the Music Institute's founders, Dorothy and David Dushkin. This internationally recognized award has been presented to some of the most revered and accomplished musical artists and composers of our time, all of whom have a deeply rooted passion for music education.
PAST RECIPIENTS
2024 Marcus Roberts
2023 Marin Alsop
2022 Hilary Hahn
2021 Zubin Mehta
2020 Evgeny Kissin
2019 Wynton Marsalis
2018 Pinchas Zukerman
2017 Rachel Barton Pine
2016 Joshua Bell
2015 Deborah Rutter
2014 André Previn
2012 Stephen Sondheim
2011 Riccardo Muti
2010 Yo-Yo Ma
2009 James Conlon
2008 Steve Robinson & Bill McGlaughlin
2007 Leon Fleisher
2006 Midori
2005 William Mason
2004 Renée Fleming
2003 Sir Andrew Davis
2002 Mstislav Rostropovich
J. THOMAS HURVIS
The Cultural Visionary Award for Chicago recognizes individuals who make an indelible impact on the community through their philanthropic, civic, and cultural leadership.
J. Thomas (Tom) Hurvis is a visionary philanthropist whose passion for education and the arts has transformed countless lives. His deep belief in the power of music to inspire, uplift, and shape futures makes him one of the Music Institute of Chicago’s most extraordinary champions.
Tom’s involvement with the Music Institute of Chicago dates back to 2003, when his family generously donated a Steinway piano to MIC, which has been used to support Music Institute programming. Tom’s generosity has opened doors for aspiring musicians, ensuring that talent— not financial means—determines a student’s access to world-class training. He empowers young artists to pursue their dreams, fostering the next generation of musicians and leaders. His commitment extends beyond financial support; he is a true advocate, recognizing that music has the power to build discipline, confidence, and resilience in every student who walks through MIC’s doors.
As co-founder of Old World Industries, Tom built a legacy of innovation and leadership in business, but his greatest impact is in the lives he has changed through philanthropy. A steadfast supporter of increasing economic opportunity, Tom has redefined excellence in automotive education by establishing the Al Hurvis/PEAK Transportation Center at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Tom also is dedicated to ensuring bright futures through youth mentoring, connecting communities to nature, preventing neighborhood violence, and advancing healthcare and scientific research. Tom is a herder of ideas and people (a 2-legged border collie!) and is passionate about collaborating, connecting, and keeping an eye on the whole team.
Through his vision, generosity, and unwavering belief in the power of education and the arts, Tom Hurvis is creating a future where every student—regardless of background—has the opportunity to thrive. MIC is deeply grateful for his leadership, advocacy, and the enduring impact of his support.
CULTURAL VISIONARY AWARD
The Cultural Visionary Award for Chicago celebrates individuals who possess attributes used to advance the civic and cultural presence of our great city, including a commitment to improving the quality of life for all citizens, advancing a strong spirit of philanthropy, and preparing succeeding generations to continue Chicago's rich legacy of civic and cultural pride.
PAST RECIPIENTS
2025 John and Fran Edwardson
2023 Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel and John H. Krehbiel, Jr.
2022 Nancy and Scott Santi
2021 Linda and Bill Gantz
2020 Helen Zell
2019 Caryn and King Harris
2018 Frederick H. Waddell
2017 Susan and Richard Kiphart
2016 Lois M. and Harrison I. Steans
2015 Mary B. Galvin
2014 Alexandra and John Nichols
2013 Jim and Kay Mabie
2012 Marilynn B. Alsdorf
2011 Sandra and Jack Guthman
2010 John H. Bryan, Joan W. Harris and Cindy Pritzker
We believe in the power of partnership and the impact of giving back. We’re dedicated to fostering strong relationships and supporting those who make the community a better place to live and work.
SANG MEE LEE
Chicago native Sang Mee Lee is an acclaimed performer and teacher. She has performed in concert halls around the world including Berlin Philharmonie, Alice Tully Hall, and Chicago’s Symphony Center. She has performed extensively in the United States as well as Europe and Asia, both in recital and solo with orchestra, including appearances with the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, Korean Broadcasting Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra among others. She has collaborated with such luminaries as Erich Leinsdorf, Sir Yehudi
Mstislav Rostropovich and Isang Yun. In media, Sang Mee has appeared on Good Morning America, WTTW Chicago, CBS This Morning, Chicago’s WFMT and Newsweek Korea.
In her performing life, Sang Mee has won many awards including top prizes at the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition, Leopold Mozart International Violin Competition, Irving M. Klein International String Competition, and the Stulberg International String Competition among many other scholarship awards. Sang Mee is also a frequent chamber musician and has appeared at many of the world’s top music festivals including Aspen Music Festival, Blossom Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival and Ravinia. She regularly collaborates with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, Seattle and St. Louis Symphonies and many more, and is a roster member of International Chamber Artists of Chicago.
Sang Mee’s students are often invited to compete at international competitions such as Johansen International Competition, Cooper International Competition, and Sendai International Music Competition. Many of her students are frequent prizewinners in local and national events including International Young Artist Concerto Competition, St.Paul String Quartet Competition and Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Sang Mee’s students have been accepted into elite music programs in the country and attended top schools including New England Conservatory, The Juilliard School, San Francisco Conservatory, Curtis Institute, Colburn School, Harvard University, Yale University and Stanford University.
Sang Mee studied at The Juilliard School under renowned pedagogue Dorothy DeLay and counts among her teachers and mentors Almita and Roland Vamos, Felix Galimir, Samuel Sanders, Kyung-Wha Chung, Hyo Kang, Masao Kawasaki and Victor Aitay. She is a Cedille Records artist and has released two recordings of world premiers of Beethoven trios and chamber works of Chicago composer Mischa Zupko.
Sang Mee has been on faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago since 2000 where she also serves as chair of the strings department. She is a private teacher, chamber coach and administrator. She is also Chamber Music Director at Center Stage Strings, a competitive summer music program for young string players. Sang Mee is also an honorary member of the International Music Fraternity Delta Omicron and plays on a rare 1739 Carlo Bergonzi violin on generous private loan.
RICHARD D. COLBURN AWARD FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE
The Richard D. Colburn Award for Teaching Excellence is presented to faculty members of the Music Institute of Chicago who exemplify the high standard of excellence set by Richard D. Colburn in his many musical endeavors. The Music Institute values great teaching above all and takes pride in its faculty's ability to teach not only art and technique but to create a forum for joyful playing and collaboration with other musicians. We applaud our faculty for sharing their gifts with the wider community.
PAST RECIPIENTS
2024 Erica Anderson
2023 Barbara Ann Martin
2022 Dr. Tanya L. Carey
2021 Nina and Daniel Wallenberg
2020 Arlene and Abraham Stokman
2019 Susan Charles
2018 Stanley Davis
2017 Elaine Felder
2016 Almita and Roland Vamos
2015 Gilda Barston
2014 Claire Aebersold Neiweem and Ralph Neiweem
2025 GALA DONORS
Special thanks to the following friends who sponsored tables or made leadership contributions in support of the Music Institute of Chicago’s mission. The extraordinary success of this evening would not have been possible without their remarkable generosity.
GRAND BENEFACTOR
John D. and Alexandra* C. Nichols Family Foundation
BENEFACTOR
Edwardson Family Foundation
Tom Hurvis and Ann Andersen ITW
Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan
Scott* and Areta Verschoor, KPMG
CHAMPION
Cathy and Bill Osborn
PATRON
BMO Bank
Carlos R. Cardenas* and Wintrust Commercial Banking
The Crown Family
Linda and Wilbur Gantz
GCM Grosvenor
Hans* and Denitta Germann and Jackson National Life Insurance
Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel & John H. Krehbiel, Jr.
The Gross Family Fund
Dan* and Yoo Mi Hahn
Harris Family Foundation
Courtney Holohan* and Wesley Mueller
Shiraz* and Vijay Kotte
Jim and Kay* Mabie Family
Sylvia Neil and Dan Fischel
Brenna and John D. Nichols III
Northern Trust
Renée Parquette*
Timothy Patenode* and Judy Royal
Vikram K. Raghavan* and Shruthi Atmaram
Scott and Nancy Santi
Barbara* and Peter Sereda
Barbara Speer and Christopher Noon
Liz Stiffel
Lee Anne* and Richard Stoddart
Jim Stone*
Dr. Axel Vargas & Dr. Yana Nedvetsky*
Kendra and Thys Wallace
Miles D. White
Zhu Family Fund*
CONTRIBUTOR
Rachel Barton° Pine and Gregory Pine
Paul* and Katie Brourman
Thomas and Patricia Gahlon
Fig Media
Jane Irwin
Susie Kiphart
Swati & Siddharth (Bobby) Mehta
Segal Family Foundation
Ross* and Emily Parker Updegraff
Florian* Zettelmeyer and Meghan Busse
Karen and Zalman* Usiskin
Catherine M. and Frederick° H. Waddel
Audra Wilson*
Audrey Weaver
MIC Trustee
MIC Life Trustee
Listing as of May 2, 2025
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Special thanks to the following donors who made gifts in honor or in memory of our honorees, trustees, faculty or staff.
Phyllis Adams
Lori Oster
GIFTS IN HONOR
Dr. Marie Alatalo
Abby Sivan & Milt Harris
Joan H. Lefkow
Jennifer McCarthy Bienemann
Barry & Jean Ann McCarthy
Timothy Cook
Karen Goodgold
Paquito D’Rivera
Segal Family Foundation
Elaine Felder
Boris Duchovny
Avi Friedlander
Ross and Emily Parker Updegraff
Mark George
The Gross Family Fund
David and Marion Hanold
Robert Hohf
Jane Irwin
J. Thomas Hurvis
BMO Harris Bank
Susie Kiphart
Segal Family Foundation
Davis King
Rachel Barton Pine and Gregory Pine
Sang Mee Lee
Segal Family Foundation
Drs. Merle & Sam Mindel
Luke Berryman
Alexandra C. Nichols
Susan Bowey
Liz Stiffel
Kate (Kaoru) Nir
Alexandra, Ashley & Harry Zhu
Timothy Patenode
Brian and Janet Hoffman
GIFTS IN MEMORY
Yasuko Joichi
Melissa Arbetter
Abraham Stokman
Jill Goldsmith
George M. Williams
Dr. Barbara Wright-Pryor
We are Emerging Artists Chicago. Through music, we find passion and purpose. Through community, we find inspiration and strength.
To make music is to tell a story. Emerging Artists Chicago is proud to support the Music Institute of Chicago, where those stories come to life.
Mio Nakamura
Artistic Director
John Fife Founder
MUSIC INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
The Music Institute of Chicago (MIC) was founded in 1931 by Dorothy and David Dushkin, who believed that quality music education should be accessible to all. Renowned for its first-rate faculty and a fundamental drive to ensure equitable access to music, MIC provides high-quality music education, world-class performances, and countless moments of inspiration for the community.
Each year, MIC offers personalized music instruction to nearly 2,000 students of all ages, levels of experience, and financial means, across eight campus locations in Chicago, Downers Grove, Evanston, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Wheaton, and Winnetka. MIC shares music experiences with a broader public through its schools and community service programs that bring arts curriculum integration, professional development, and performance and engagement opportunities to
Nichols Concert Hall, MIC’s state-of-the-art, 550-seat performance space headquartered in Evanston, is a highly accessible resource for students and faculty, and engages more than 10,000 individuals annually through master classes, recording sessions, recitals, community gatherings, and performances.
Through all its endeavors, the Music Institute of Chicago is dedicated to leading people toward a lifelong engagement with music through unparalleled teaching, exceptional performances, and valuable service activities.
Guest artist Paquito D’Rivera at Nichols Concert Hall
THE ACADEMY
The Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago, led by Director James Setapen and Executive Director Sue Polutnik, is a nationally recognized training center for gifted pre-college pianists and string players that provides a comprehensive music education for students who aspire to be professional musicians.
Located at the Music Institute’s Evanston campus and in the beautiful Nichols Concert Hall, the Academy is a musical community of faculty, staff, and students who come together each Saturday, September through May, for an intensive 30-week program.
The Academy program includes private instruction, chamber music, orchestra, music theory, master classes, and a variety of performance opportunities. All Academy students are introduced to a broad range of teaching styles, like-minded peers, and artist faculty. A hallmark of the Academy is the frequent master classes, when the student body gathers with acclaimed artists and pedagogues who share their experience and knowledge, creating an unparalleled educational experience.
Because of the Academy’s small size (approximately 30 young musicians ages 13 to 19), the program provides each student individual attention and unparalleled support while nurturing and inspiring musical growth and fostering life-long friendships.
The Academy’s robust chamber music program has resulted in numerous national competition gold, silver, and bronze medals since its inception in 2006. Academy students are national and international medal winners who matriculate to the nation’s top conservatories and universities.
PERFORMERS GRAND STAIRCASE
PERFORMERS
MATTHEW KIM, 17, is a Negaunee Foundation Merit Scholarship Fellow at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy, a pre-conservatory program for advanced high school musicians. He studies violin with Sang-Mee Lee.
Some of his violin accolades include winning First Prize in Annual State Olympic Music Competition hosted by Illinois Music Association in 2021, 2022 and 2024; Second Prize in 2018; a merit scholarship to Chicago Chamber Music Festival in 2019; Second Prize in Junior Division of 2022 Society of American Musicians Violin Competition; and Third Prizes in American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competitions in 2018 and 2022. Additionally, he received an MIC Merit Scholarship Award for 2024-2025. He has played with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra from 2015-2023 and served as a concertmaster in Debut and Concert Orchestra.
Matthew has taken master classes with Simon James, Desirée Ruhstrat, and Ching-Yi Lin. Matthew is a junior at Whitney Young Magnet High School. In his free time, he likes to play basketball and hang out with friends.
MADELEINE KIM, 13, started playing the violin at age four. She currently studies with MIC faculty member Sang Mee Lee. She is an eighth grader at Whitney M. Young Academic Center where she plays first violin in the top school orchestra. She has also served as concertmaster in CYSO’s Concert Orchestra. She was one of the youngest members of the Virtuosi Strings at Northwestern University’s String Academy. In addition to her regular violin lessons, she has taken Baroque violin from Rachel Barton-Pine.
Some of her achievements include first place in the Illinois Music Association State Olympic Competition and finalist in the primary division for the 2020 Sejong Music Competition. Madeleine is also an accomplished pianist and has won gold medals in CAMTA sonatina/sonata competitions in 2021 and 2022 and honorable mention in the Society of American Musicians Competition in 2022.
Madeleine lives in Chicago and enjoys reading, rock climbing, baking, and playing chess in her free time.
VICTOR GARCIA AND TRADITIONAL CUBAN
MUSIC PROCESSIONAL
Victor Garcia • trumpet
Freddy Quintero • bass
Richard Peña • guitar
Javier Quintana-Ocasio • percussion
VICTOR GARCIA, called “one of the most exciting young musicians” by critic Neil Tesser and an “ebullient soloist offering a formidable technique and a radiantly polished tone,” by the Chicago Tribune’s Howard Reich, is as versatile as he is creative. In addition to trumpet, Garcia sings, plays percussion, and writes and arranges. He’s held professional positions at Roosevelt University, Loyola University and the University of Illinois in Chicago.
Garcia has performed with many musical legends including: Aretha Franklin, Arturo Sandoval, Spoon, Monty Alexander, Wynton Marsalis, Victor Manuelle, Nicholas Payton, La India, the Temptations, Steve Turre, BeBe Winans, Tito Puente, Jr., Paquito d’Rivera, Christian McBride, Randy Brecker, Branford Marsalis, The Isley Brothers, and Dr. John. He released his debut album, The Grind/The Groove, in 2018 and has been part of dozens of other recordings, including three Grammy-nominated albums.
RICHARD PEÑA, a Puerto Rican guitarist, blends Afro-Caribbean traditions with the vibrant energy of jazz and bebop, showcasing his distinct guitar sound. He has earned prestigious accolades like Youth Jazz Ambassador (2015, Amigos del Jazz Humacao Association) and “Best Guitarist” (2015, Escuela Libre de Música San Juan). Peña has recorded four award-winning albums, recognized by the Fox Music USA Latin Music Awards, the 18th Independent Music Awards, and the National Foundation for Popular Culture’s “Best 20 Albums of 2019.” He has also received grants from the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña and the National Endowment for the Arts. Peña has performed worldwide with prominent figures such as Latin Grammy winners Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Dafnis Prieto, and singers Carlos Vives and Víctor Manuelle. As an educator, he engages over 260k followers and 2,000+ Patreon members, sharing 500+ lessons, ebooks, and masterclasses to inspire musicians globally.
FREDDY QUINTERO was born in Punto Fijo, Venezuela and started his musical journey at age twelve through the El Sistema program in his hometown. He moved to Chicago in 2015 and since then has volunteered at the People’s Music School and collaborated with Uniting Voices Chicago. Freddy has shared the stage with numerous artists and ensembles across a variety of musical genres including the Chicago Philharmonic, Northwest Chicago Symphony, Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble, and Caribe Project. In addition, he has worked with Salsa artists Tony Vega, Maelo Ruiz, DLG & Huey Dunbar, Michael Stuart, Tito Allen, Moncho Rivera, Tito Nieves, Andy Montañez, Jose Alberto “El Canario,” Tito Puente Jr., pianist Chuchito Valdes, Grammy-winner singer 123 Andres, blues legend Buddy Guy, and many more.
Freddy has participated in major theater productions including the Jeff Award-winning production “Evolution of a Sonero” at UrbanTheater Company; “Zulema” in collaboration with Grammy-nominated Sones de Mexico Ensemble at Goodman Theatre; “La Gran Tirana” at Aguijon Theater;and most recently, “A Taste of Soul” at Black Ensemble Theater. In 2020, Quintero was a winner in the Northeastern Illinois University’s “Elyse J. Mach Concerto Competition” and performed as a soloist with the NEIU Orchestra.
Freddy Quintero is currently touring with Chicago blues artists Joanna Connor and Ivan Singh. Since 2024, Quintero has held an endorsement with legendary bass company Lakland Guitars from Chicago, USA.
JAVIER QUINTANA OCASIO is a Chicagoborn freelance percussionist and graduate of the Chicago High School for the Arts. He has performed at notable Chicago events like the Chicago Jazz Fest, Hyde Park Jazz Festival, and Chicago Summer Dance. He has served as a lead percussionist in various perofrmances at venues across the city, showcasing his talents with groups including the Micah Collier Group Proximity, Alejandro Salazar & The Afro Cuban Exchange, and Flaco Navaja & the Razor Blades. He has also collaborated with renowned artists like Paoli Mejias and Pedrito Martinez. Recently featured on Roy McGrath’s latest album, Menjunje, Javier’s music is deeply inspired by his Puerto Rican heritage and his father, Frankie Ocasio—a world-renowned percussionist with over 30 years of experience. Javier’s passion for percussion continues to shine through his diverse performances, reflecting his rich cultural roots and commitment to artistic excellence.
CELLO OCTET
Tonight’s cello octet, performing the famous tango, Por Una Cabeza, is comprised of current Academy cello students, Academy alumni, and faculty.
Bianca d’Avila Do Prado
Community Music School faculty
Stefan Kartman
Academy faculty and chamber music coach
Serge Kalinovsky and Amelia Zitoun
Academy alumni
Katarina Kenney, Jan Vargas Nedvetsky, Gabi Raviv, Simon Updegraff
Current Academy cellists
BIANCA D’AVILA DO PRADO, Brazilian cellist, pedagogue, and composer, is cello faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago and an online instructor for the University of Idaho Preparatory Division. She is also the coordinator of the MIC Third Coast Suzuki Strings in Evanston, a tuition-free bilingual Suzuki cello program for the community.
Prado holds a Master of Music in Cello Performance and String Pedagogy from Illinois State University. At ISU, she completed her cello studies under Dr. Adriana Ransom and Dr. Cora Swenson-Lee and worked as a graduate assistant for the ISU String project and held the Principal Cello position with the ISU Symphony. She recently completed her Suzuki Teacher Training in all 10 units plus supplemental courses, and continues her cello and pedagogy studies as part of Dr. Tanya Carey’s studio.
Prado was nominated for the "Distinguished Young Teacher" award by the Suzuki Association of the Americas and was recognized alongside other Suzuki teachers at the 2024 SAA/ASTA Conference in Kentucky. She was also awarded Music Institute of Chicago “Teacher of Note” in 2023.
Prado actively works to make Latin-American music for strings more accessible and performed in the United States. She had her articles “Teaching Diversity: Four Brazilian Pieces for String Orchestra” published in the Scroll Magazine in 2021 and “Viajando Pelo Brasil I, Suite for Strings: A Fun way to Explore the Richness of Brazilian Culture and Music” published in the American String Teacher Magazine in 2022. Another article titled “Setting Habits for Success: How Being a Suzuki Student Can Transform Your Child’s Brain” was published in the American Suzuki Journal in November 2021.
Prado’s composition “Brazilian Habanera” for strings was published as part of the book Mosaic: A Collection of String Music by Black and Latino Composers. She was commissioned by the 2023 Cello Teaching Repertoire Consortium to write Suite Pequenina, an intermediate cello suite in five movements, featuring Latin-American rhythms and styles. She was also selected to be part of the New Canon Project’s first cohort, where she was mentored by composer Nicolas Repetto and commissioned to write Valsa para Sofia for strings. Her most recent publications include Resonance: A Multicultural Cello Method and 25 Duetos Latino Americanos for Strings, recently released at the 2025 ASTA Conference in Atlanta.
SERGE KALINOVSKY is currently a freshman at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, studying cello with Clive Greensmith. Hailing from Bloomington, IN, he was a longtime student of Susan Moses at IU String Academy, and also studied with Richard Aaron and Brandon Vamos during his senior year of high school. For the last three years of his precollege studies, Serge was a Merit Scholarship Fellow at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy.
In past summers, Serge participated in the Morningside Bridge Program at NEC, Pinchas Zukerman’s Young Artists Program in Canada, Indiana University Summer String Academy, Heifetz International Music Institute, Chamber Music Northwest Young Artists Institute, and Music@Menlo Young Performers Program. In Spring 2022, he performed the first movement of Victor Herbert’s Cello Concerto No. 2 with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. As part of the Heifetz Ensemble in Residence (HEIR) program, he performed in several concerts in Virginia, including playing the Dvorak Piano Quintet No. 2 with famed violinist and pedagogue Ani Kavafian.
Serge has been a First Prize winner of the 2020 Indianapolis Symphony Maurer Young Musicians Contest, First Prize winner of the 2021 Philadelphia International Music Festival Competition, a winner in the 2023 DePaul Concerto Festival, winner of the Senior Division of the Orchestra Indiana Patricia Tretick Young Artist Competition, joint third prize winner at the 2023 Ronald Sachs International Competition, and tied for runner-up at the 2023 International Young Artist Concerto Competition. Serge is also an avid chamber music player.
In 2021-22, he was a member of the Peresson Quartet, which won the Grand Prize at the St. Paul String Quartet Competition and Third Prize at the Fischoff Competition, Junior Division in 2022. During the 2022-2023 season, he was a member of the Goya Piano Trio, which won first prizes at the Rembrandt Chamber Music Competition, Barnett Chamber Music Competition, and Chicago National Chamber Music Competition.
STEFAN KARTMAN currently serves as Professor of Cello and Chamber Music at the University of WisconsinMilwaukee where he teaches cello and chairs the string area. Dr. Kartman also teaches string pedagogy, teaches privately, and is currently Principal Cello in the Festival City Symphony.
In addition to solo performance, he has performed to critical acclaim as cellist of Trio Antigo, the Kneisel Trio and the Florestan Duo, giving performances and masterclasses in conservatories of music and institutions of higher education worldwide including the Cleveland Insti tute of Music, the China Conservatory of Music and the Xiamen Conservatory of Music, and the D’Albaco Conservatory of Music, among many others.
An avid chamber music enthusiast, Dr. Kartman has served on the faculties of the Vianden Chamber Music Festival in Luxembourgh, the Madeline Island Chamber Music Camp, and the Garth Newel Chamber Music Festival, among many others. His early training in chamber music was with his father, Myron Kartman of the Antioch String Quartet and during his formal training as a chamber musician, he studied with members of the Guarneri and Juilliard String Quartets and the Beaux Arts Trio.
Stefan Kartman received degrees from Northwestern University, The Juilliard School of Music, and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Rutgers University. He has been teaching assistant to Harvey Shapiro and Zara Nelsova of the Juilliard School and proudly acknowledges the pedagogical heritage of his teachers Shapiro, Nelsova, and Bernard Greenhouse.
KATARINA KENNEY, 16, is a Richard D. Colburn Scholarship for Artistic Excellence Fellow at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, a pre-conservatory program for advanced high school musicians. She currently studies cello with Cornelia Watkins.
Katarina made her solo orchestral debut at the age of 13 in a side-by-side performance with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and WYSO Philharmonia, and has since performed with the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, Middleton Community Orchestra, Madison Symphony Orchestra, and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Katarina was a finalist in the 2025 Milwaukee Symphony Stars of Tomorrow Competition, first prize winner of the 2024 Madison Symphony Bolz Final Forte Competition, 2024 Middleton Community Orchestra Young Artist Competition, 2023 and 2022 WYSO Youth Competitions, 2022 Madison Symphony Orchestra Fall Youth Competition, and second prize junior division winner of the 2022 Center Stage Strings Young Artist Solo Competition.
As a member of the Elysian Quartet, she won the gold medal, BIPOC performance award, and audience prize at the 2024 Saint Paul String Quartet Competition(SPSQC), received high honors at the 2024 Rembrandt Chamber Competition, and was a quarterfinalist in the 2024 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Katarina also won the silver medal and the BIPOC performance award in the 2023 SPSQC as a member of the Pondrom Quartet, and received honorable mention at the 2023 Chicago National Chamber Music Competition.
Katarina has had the honor of playing in masterclasses for Sterling Elliott, Mark Kosower, Richard Aaron, Hannah Roberts, Astrid Schween, and Clive Greensmith, among others. As a chamber musician and soloist, she has been featured on PBS Wisconsin, Wisconsin Public Radio, WPR’s Midday Show, and Chicago’s WFMT Introductions. In addition, she is in her eighth season with the Madison Youth Choirs, and will be attending the Yellow Barn Young Artists Program and Domaine Forget de Charlevoix International Music and Dance Academy this summer.
Cellist
JAN VARGAS NEDVETSKY
, 18, is a Richard D. Colburn Scholarship for Artistic Excellence Fellow at the Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago, and a scholarship holder at the International Academy of Music in Liechtenstein where he takes part in the intensive music weeks and activities. In 2024, Jan was named a YoungArts Winner with Distinction in Cello Performance, the highest honor of the National YoungArts Foundation.
Over the past several seasons, Jan has been invited to perform numerous recitals across the United States and Europe. Recent highlights include performances in Gstaad, Switzerland; Vaduz, Liechtenstein; Miami, Florida; Salmon, Idaho; Bend, Oregon; Cleveland, Ohio; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; St Paul, Minnesota; and Chicago, Illinois. Engagements this year included the Dvorak Cello Concerto with Northbrook Symphony Orchestra conducted by maestro Mina Zikri and an appearance on the From the Top radio program.
Jan studies cello performance with Hans Jørgen Jensen and Oleksa Mycyk at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy. Previously, Jan studied with Gilda Barston, Vladimir Perline, and Horacio Contreras, and received invaluable support from Ivan Karizna, Sihao He, Jihee Kim, and Sydney Lee. Jan performed in masterclasses with Jens Peter Maintz, Ivan Monighetti, Richard Aaron, Clive Greensmith, Jerome Pernoo, Lluis Claret, John Sharp, Richard Hirschl, Brandon Vamos, and Edward Arron.
As a solo and chamber performer Jan has won numerous awards in competitions and soloed with orchestras in the US and Europe. In 2023, Jan made a solo debut at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Hall with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago as a prize winner of the 2023 Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition. Additionally, Jan won First Prize in the 2023 Central Oregon Concerto Competition, 2023 Lakeview Orchestra Concerto Competition, 2022
Society of the American Musicians Competition, 2022 Chicago Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition, and 2021 Chicago International Music Competition. He also received multiple awards in the Walgreens National Concerto Competition and DePaul National Concerto Festival, and was a finalist in the 2024 United States Marine Band Concerto Competition and 2024 Sphinx Competition.
With his chamber groups (string quartets and piano trios) Jan was a winner in 2021, 2022 and 2023 St Paul National String Quartet Competition, 2020 Chicago International Music Competition, 2019 and 2022 Barnett competition. He was also a semi-finalist in four consecutive Fischoff National Chamber Music Competitions. He has beens coached in chamber music masterclasses by Menahem Pressler, Ivri Gitlis, Mathias Tacke, Sang Mee Lee, Paul Zafer, and Cuarteto Latinoamericano, Leipzig, Talich and Prazak string quartets.
Jan is a founding member of Musicians for Hope, an organization raising funds and creating opportunities for music education in Chicago-area public schools. Jan regularly performs in senior homes, public schools, and community events. Since age nine Jan has performed in a Kol Nidrei service at the Congregation Sukkat Shalom in Wilmette. Jan is a twelth grader at the North Atlantic Regional High School. In addition to performing and composing music, Jan pursues advanced studies in government and economics.
Gabi Raviv, 16, is a cello student of Academy faculty member Tanya Carey, and, Hans Jørgen Jensen, Professor of Cello at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University. Gabi is also an active Academy chamber musician.
Gabi recently won the DePaul Concerto Competition, duo strings division, and the Music Teachers National Association, Illinois Senior Strings Competition. Other awards include the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, multiple DePaul Concerto Festivals, the MTNA Illinois Junior String Division, the International Grande Competition, multiple Society of American Musicians Competitions, and multiple Chinese Fine Arts Society Music Festivals.
Gabi played with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra for three years, most recently as a principal in the cello section. Together with his brother, Eytan, Gabi frequently performs as a rock, pop, and heavy metal cello duo. Some of their most recent appearances include pre-andhalf-halftime shows for Northwestern Wildcats basketball and the Chicago Blackhawks.
SIMON UPDEGRAFF, 18, is a Negaunee Foundation
Merit Scholarship Fellow at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy, a pre-conservatory program for advanced high school musicians. He began Suzuki cello lessons at age four and studies with Avi Friedlander.
Simon is a winner of the Chicago Chamber Music Festival Concerto Competition and has soloed with the Northeastern Illinois University Orchestra. He is a First Place winner of the primary, junior, and intermediate division cello competitions of the Society of American Musicians and received Honorable Mention in the 2023 Walgreens National Concerto Competition. He was selected for the 2023 Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) all-state honors orchestra and was the 2025 ILMEA all-state honors orchestra principal cellist.
Simon was featured in a live solo performance on WFMT Chicago’s Introductions in 2023 and is a From the Top finalist. He has performed in the Young Steinway Concert series at the Skokie Public Library. As a chamber musician, he was a semifinalist at the 2024 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition with Trioscuro.
Simon is a senior at New Trier High School where he is a National Merit Finalist. He won the school’s 2024 concerto competition and is a member of the Symphony Orchestra. He is the captain of New Trier’s Varsity Scholastic Bowl Team and founded the school’s Classical Music Club. In Fall 2025 he will attend the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University as a Wells Scholar, studying cello performance with Eric Kim.
AMELIA ZITOUN is currently a student at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, studying cello with Clive Greensmith. Prior to studying with Mr. Greensmith, Amelia, from Shorewood, WI, studied with Hans Jørgen Jensen and Horacio Contreras. Before attending Colburn, she was a Merit Scholarship Fellow at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy for five years.
Most recently, Amelia won Second Prize at the 2024 Klein International String Competition. Last spring, she also was chosen as a finalist in the 2024 Concert Artists Guild competition. Amelia is the Gold Medal prize winner of the 2023 Stulberg International String Competition. Amelia is also the winner of the 2023 Walgreens National Concerto Competition, the 2023 Bolz Final Forte Competition, the 2022 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s Stars of Tomorrow Competition, and the 2021 and 2023 Schubert Club Competition, among others. As a chamber musician, she won the Silver Medal at the 2023 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the Gold Medal and Haydn Prize at the 2023 St. Paul String Quartet Competition.
As a soloist, Amelia has performed with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and the Madison Symphony Orchestra, among others. Earlier this year, she was a musician of the Rancho La Puerta Chamber Music Festival. Later in May, she will perform with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra.
Amelia has attended the Perlman Music Program for the past two summers. She will attend the Heifetz International Music Institute’s Chamber Music Seminar this summer.
FRED SIMON, PIANO
Fred Simon is an American pianist and composer. He has been making music for more than forty years, composing for records, live performance, film, dance, and television, with instrumentation ranging from solo piano to symphonic orchestra. Since childhood he has been convinced that he is a singer/songwriter trapped in the body of someone who can’t sing.
Simon first gained recognition with Simon & Bard, the jazz fusion group he founded in Chicago with composer and reed player Michael Bard, which featured bassist Steve Rodby and drummer Paul Wertico, both of whom went on to join the Pat Metheny Group. Fred has recorded and/or performed with Ralph Towner, Paul McCandless, Larry Coryell, Lyle Mays, Iain Matthews, Jerry Goodman, Bonnie Herman, Kurt Elling, Megon McDonough, Fareed Haque, The Stan Kenton Orchestra, and fellow MIC faulty member David Onderdonk, as well as others.
Fred has recorded and/or performed with Ralph Towner (founding member of Oregon), Paul McCandless (founding member of Oregon), Larry Coryell, Lyle Mays, Iain Matthews (founding member of Fairport Convention), Jerry Goodman (Mahavishnu Orchestra violinist), Steve Rodby and Paul Wertico (both with Pat Metheny Group), Bonnie Herman (Singers Unlimited), Kurt Elling, Fareed Haque, David Onderdonk, The Stan Kenton Orchestra, and many others.
Vermillion String Quartet
The Vermillion String Quartet, coached by Music Institute of Chicago String Department Chair and Academy faculty member Sang Mee Lee, is comprised of violinists EMILY CHEN and MAGDALENA MASUR, violist BRAYDEN WU, and cellist GABI RAVIV. All four students are Merit Scholarship Fellows at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy. The word “Vermillion” is of French origin. Relating to the color, it represents the passion, energy, and excitement the group hopes to bring to audiences. The group recently performed on the Pilgrim Chamber Players Rising Stars Concert, the Skinner North School Gala, and has advanced to the live quarterfinal round of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, held at Notre Dame each May.
Violinist EMILY CHEN, 16, is a Rachel Barton Pine Violin Chair Merit Scholarship Fellow at the Academy and and studies with faculty members Injoo Choi and Almita Vamos. She is the Grand Prize Winner of the Chicago International Music Competition (2024), Winner of the DePaul National Concerto Competition (2023), and the Junior String Winner of the Walgreens National Concerto Competition (2022). In 2024, her string quartet, Quartet Meraviglia, won the Bronze Medal at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Emily has also had the honor of playing in masterclasses for James Ehnes, Mihaela Martin, Jinjoo Cho, Benjamin Beilman, David Taylor, and many more.
Violinist MAGDALENA MASUR, 16, a Negaunee Foundation Merit Scholarship Fellow at the Academy, is an eleventh grader who commutes each week from the Milwaukee area. She won the Racine Symphony Orchestra Young Artist competition in February 2024, and the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) Concerto Competition. Magdalena also
serves as one of the concertmasters in the MYSO Senior Symphony, and has played in a piano trio as part of the Advanced Chamber Music Institute at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music for the past three years. Magdalena currently studies violin with Alexander Mandl.
Violist BRAYDEN WU, 16, studies with faculty member Sang Mee Lee and is a Negaunee Merit Scholarship Fellow at the Academy. He has previously been a member of the Midwest Young Artists and Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra programs, and has been accepted to the top orchestras. Additionally, he has served as principal violist for the Illinois Music Education Association All-District and All-State Orchestras, and has been selected for the Honors Orchestra. He has received awards from the DePaul National Concerto Competition, the Society of American Musicians Competition, the New Trier Fine Arts Association Scholarships, and the MIC Merit Scholarship Young Artist of Tomorrow program. Brayden has performed in masterclasses with Davis King and Eric Nowlin, and attended Center Stage Strings this past summer at the University of Michigan.
GABI RAVI, cello (see bio - Cello Octet)
NEENA AND SAMEER AGRAWAL, VIOLA AND VIOLIN DUO
SAMEER AGRAWAL is a violinist studying with Midori Goto at the Curtis Institute of Music, where he holds the Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation Fellowship. Sameer previously was a Merit Scholarship Fellow at the Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago, studying with Sang Mee Lee, and an inaugural fellow of the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative.
This spring, Sameer will be competing in the Sendai International Competition. In 2022, he was awarded Second Prize in the Cooper International Competition, was a semifinalist in the Johansen International Competition, and was named a National YoungArts winner. Other prizes include the DePaul Concerto Festival, Walgreens Concerto Competition, Society of American Musicians, Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest Competition, Center Stage Strings Competitions, Sejong Competition, and Music Festival in Honor of Confucius.
Sameer made his solo debut with the Northeastern Illinois University Orchestra and has also appeared with other orchestras, including the Canton Symphony Orchestra, Oistrakh Symphony
Orchestra of Chicago, the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest, MIC Academy Chamber Orchestra, and Northside College Prep Chamber Strings.
He has appeared multiple times on WFMT, including a live recital, and was spotlighted on From the Top’s Daily Joy. Sameer is an active recitalist in the Philadelphia area and has also performed recitals for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Salon Series, Center Stage Strings, and the Young Steinway Concert Series.
Sameer has participated in masterclasses with Hilary Hahn, Mihaela Martin, Riccardo Muti, Donald Weilerstein, Robert Lipsett, Ani Kavafian, Daniel Phillips, Danielle Belen, Stella Chen, and Sibbi Bernhardssohn.
This summer, Sameer will be a fellow at the Ravinia Steans Music Institute. Past summer studies include Center Stage Strings and Encore Chamber Music Institute.
Sameer performs on a violin by Paul Blanchard, 1884, courtesy of Guarneri Hall NFP and Darnton & Hersh Fine Violins, Chicago.
NEENA AGRAWAL, 15, is a Negaunee Merit Scholarship Fellow at the Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago, a pre-conservatory program for advanced high school musicians. She studies viola with Sang Mee Lee and Peter Slowik. She is also a fellow of the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative, a scholarship organization for classical musicians from underrepresented backgrounds.
Neena recently made her solo debut with the Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest after winning their concerto competition and was also a finalist in the 2024 American Viola Society Competition. Recent solo performances include a recital for the Young Steinway Concert series, and solo appearances on MIC’s Martin Luther King Day Celebration, Reena Esmail Showcase Concert, Young Artist Recital, and the Thirsty Ears Classical Music Festival.
This summer she will be attending Music@Menlo and has also attended Center Stage Strings, Ascent Chamber Music Festival, Oberlin Viola Workshop, and the Chicago Chamber Music Festival.
Neena has participated in masterclasses and lessons with Antoine Tamestit, Tatjana Masurenko, Daniel Phillips, Marko Dreher, Sixto Franco, Rachel Barton Pine, Mari Sato, the Formosa and
Catalyst Quartets, Masumi Per Rostad, Paul Laraia, Caroline Coade, Rictor Norin, Emad Zolfaghari, and Eric Nowlin.
An avid chamber musician, Neena currently plays in the Porphyrion string quartet. They received the Bronze Medal at the 2025 St. Paul String Quartet Competition and have recently performed with the Orion Ensemble, as well as a masterclass with the Pacifica Quartet.
Neena served as principal viola of the 2024 National Equity Arc Orchestra and was selected to participate in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s 2023 and 2025 Youth in Music orchestras. Neena currently performs with the Academy Chamber Orchestra as rotating principal and Northside College Prep’s Chamber Strings as principal.
ERIC WANG, PIANO
ERIC WANG is an eighth grader at Wilmette Junior High School and a Merit Scholar at the Music Institute of Chicago, where he studies piano with Dr. Matthew Hagle. A highly accomplished young pianist, Eric has won top prizes in many local, national, and international competitions. Recently, he won the 2024-2025 MTNA Illinois State Piano Competition (Junior Division) and was named Alternate (Second Place) in the MTNA East Central Division Competition. He is also a two-time winner of the Walgreens National Concerto Competition, as well as a first-place winner in the Carmel Klavier International Competition, Society of American Musicians Competition, and Bach with a View International Competition. Additionally, he has earned prizes in the Franz Schubert International Competition, Steinway Piano Competition, ISMTA Competition, and DePaul Concerto Competition, among others.
Eric made his orchestral debut with the Chicago Arts Orchestra, performing as a soloist in both 2022 and 2023. In June 2024, he was featured in the Young Steinway Concert Series at the Skokie Public Library. He has also participated in masterclasses with renowned pianists and composers, including Alan Chow, Norman Krieger, Reena Esmail, Silvia Wang, Marta Aznavoorian, Geoff Deuce, Daniel Pesca, and Svetlana Belsky.
Beyond his achievements as a soloist, Eric is an avid chamber musician and co-founder of Music Ambassadors, a community outreach program that brings free live concerts to senior communities. Since its launch in summer 2022, Eric and his fellow musicians have performed twenty-eight free concerts across six senior communities in the North Shore and Chicago area.
In addition to piano, Eric plays the viola and enjoys golf.
CASPIAN STRING QUARTET
The Caspian String Quartet, coached by Rodolfo Vieira, is composed of Merit Scholarship Fellows at the Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago, a pre-conservatory program for advanced high school musicians. Members of the quartet are LILY SULLIVAN and TRISTAN ZHU , violins, VIVIAN VAN DE SYPE CUCU , viola, and JAN VARGAS NEDVETSKY , cello. Caspian means miraculous or dazzling in Latin – the feelings the group hopes their music will evoke for audiences.
The ensemble has had a rewarding and successful spring season, winning the 2025 Rembrandt Chamber Musicians Annual High School Chamber Music Competition, the 2025 Chicago National Chamber Music Competition (Open Division, Overall Winner and Strings and Piano Category Winner), advancing to the finals at the 12th Annual Coltman Competition at The University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music, winning the Silver Medal and BIPOC Prize at the St. Paul National String Quartet Competition in St. Paul, Minnesota, and advancing to the quarterfinals of the upcoming Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in South Bend, Indiana. The Caspian String Quartet has also been featured in chamber music concerts and master classes at the Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago.
As solo performers, members of the Caspian String Quartet have had many individual achievements. The four seniors are now preparing for prestigious music programs across the country and working to fulfill their musical ambitions. Tristan, Lily, Vivian, and Jan are deeply grateful for the opportunity to share their music.
LILY SULLIVAN, 17, is a Negaunee Foundation Merit Scholarship Fellow at the MIC Academy. She studies violin with Grigory Kalinovsky. Lily made her solo orchestral debut at age seven, and has performed with orchestras such as the Ann Arbor and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestras.
Lily was named the Third Prize winner at the 10th International Louis Spohr Competition for Young Violinists and the First Place Winner of the 2023 Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Maurer Young Musicians Contest. She was a semifinalist of the Kloster Schöntal and Johansen International Competitions, and the Third Prize winner of the Ronald Sachs International Competition. Lily is currently represented as a Rising Star by Pura Musica Artists Agency.
Lily has been featured on radio programs such as NPR’s From the Top and WFMT’s Introductions. She has appeared as a soloist with orchestras such as the Ann Arbor and Indianapolis Symphonies and attended festivals such as the Heifetz International Music Institute, Music@ Menlo Young Performers Program, and the Yellow Barn Young Artists Program.
TRISTAN ZHU, 18, is the Vamos Violin and Viola Merit Scholarship Fellow at the MIC Academy studying under Almita Vamos and Davis King. An avid chamber musician, his groups have won the Silver Medal at the 2023 Fischoff National Chamber Music Junior Competition, Gold Medal and Best Haydn Performance at the 2023 Saint Paul String Quartet Junior Competition, Grand Prize and String/Piano Division Prize at the 2024 Barnett Chamber Music Competition, Grand Prize and String/Piano Division Prize at the 2025 MYA Chicago National Chamber Music Competition, and First Prize at the 2025 Rembrandt Chamber Musicians High School Chamber Music Competition.
As a soloist, Tristan was a winner of the 2025 YoungArts National Competition in Classical Music/Violin and placed second at the National Finals of the 2024-2025 MTNA Senior Strings Competition after winning the Illinois State and East Central Divisions. In 2023, he won first prize at the DePaul Concerto Festival, DuPage Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artists Auditions, and West Suburban Symphony’s Solo Contest. As an orchestral musician, Tristan performed with the Grammy-nominated CYSO Symphony Orchestra as Principal Second Violin for two years.
Vivian Van de Sype Cucu, 18, the Richard D. Colburn Scholarship for Artistic Excellence Fellow, studies viola with Davis King. Vivian made her solo debut with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) at age eleven as a 2019 Concerto Competition Winner. In 2025, Vivan won Second Place in The Final Forte of the Bolz Competition in WI and was a finalist in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s Stars of Tomorrow Competition.
Vivian was a member of MYSO for seven years and served as Principal Violist for the Senior Symphony. She has taken honors at Wisconsin School Music Associations’ (WSMA) four times and served as Principal Violist in the WSMA State Orchestra. As a member of the Elysian String Quartet, she won the Gold Medal and BIPOC Prize in the 2024 St. Paul String Quartet
Competition. Vivian is also a co-founder of the non-profit organization Musicians for Hope (MFH), which strives to foster a love for music and nurture academic growth. MFH has raised over $30,000 to support underfunded music programs in schools. Vivian has attended several summer music programs, including the Heifetz International Music Institute (Senior Division), Bowdoin International Music Festival, Astona International Music Academy, and Interlochen Center for the Arts (2017-2022).
JAN VARGAS NEDVETSKY, cello, (see bio - Cello Octet)
FAREED HAQUE, GUITAR
FAREED HAQUE is a guitar virtuoso known for blending classical and jazz traditions in his music. Born to a Pakistani father and Chilean mother in 1963, he was exposed to various musical styles early on. His talent was honed at North Texas State University and Northwestern University. Haque’s career took off after joining Howard Levy’s Chevere and later, Paquito D’Rivera’s ensemble, with whom he toured and recorded extensively.
His versatility led him to work with Sting and record two albums on Pangaea. He also made notable appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival. At Bluenote Records, Haque released three albums, collaborated with numerous jazz greats, and performed classical recitals, highlighting his diverse range.
Joining Joe Zawinul’s Syndicate brought him back to his Jazz/Rock roots. In 2001, he co-founded the jam band Garaj Mahal and later, MathGames, exploring electronic music and the Moog Guitar. His compositions, including a double concerto premiered by The Chicago Sinfonietta, and his Gamelan Concerto, showcase his compositional talent.
Haque has received multiple accolades, including “Best World Guitarist” by Guitar Player Magazine in 2009. His recent work includes performances with jazz and classical ensembles and the release of several albums like Out of Nowhere and Trance Hypothesis. He continues to direct jazz festivals, perform worldwide, and teach, with recent projects featuring global artists and a renewed partnership with Goran Ivanovic. After a long tenure at Northern Illinois University, Haque is focusing on touring and recording, reflecting his enduring passion for music.
SPECIAL THANKS
The Music Institute of Chicago gratefully acknowledges:
Gala Co-Chairs: Chair Emerita Alexandra C. Nichols, Treasurer Timothy Patenode and Chair Scott Verschoor for their exceptional leadership to help make this evening possible.
John and Fran Edwardson for their generosity and ambassadorship on behalf of the Music Institute of Chicago as Honorary Chairs.
Gavin English, President of the Americas, Steinway and Sons, and Benjamin Salisbury, DMA, Sr. Manager, Concert & Artist (C&A) Department, Steinway and Sons, for loaning the beautiful Steinway concert grand piano for this evening’s performance.
William Harris Lee & Company for their continued generosity in providing quality violas to students in the Academy program as well as violins, violas, and cellos to MIC’s Third Coast Suzuki Strings program in Chicago and Evanston.
MIC Trustee Paul Brourman for the generous in-kind donation of one of his beautiful paintings.
Fig Media, Inc. for their help capturing this inspiring event on film.
PJH & Associates, Inc. for their assistance in planning and organizing this year’s Gala.
