Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra
Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra
Seniors - 2023
Congratulations to the 20 graduating seniors in the 2023 Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra! We wish them all the best!
Madison Austin
Arianna Brodwin-Sipols
Reid Canham
Rishov Datta
Peter Foley
Gillian Gates
Jeslyn Han
Calvin Ho
Melody Kruchten
Anneliese Leinenbach
David Lynch
Cailtyn Marcello
Katelyn Margut
Rusquel Ramirez
Sophia Sharp
Tamsin Spiller
Neil Stringer
Annaliese White
Grace Woodworth
Jenny Zhao
Casey Springstead Director, Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra
HYSO Class of 2023:
As we bring this season to a close, I want to share my sincere admiration for you all. You have brought poise, kindness, stellar musicianship, and a wonderful sense of community and collaboration to our orchestra. Our younger members have you all to thank for being such superb role models and mentors. Thank you so much for your years of service to HYSO.
Whether you decide to pursue music in your posthigh school years or not, I hope you will take your experiences in HYSO as well as those with your school and lesson teachers and pass along your love for music to anyone you can. The world needs advocates for music and the arts, and it starts with those who value their own musical journey as young people.
I wish you all peace, health, happiness, and tremendous success. Congratulations, HYSO Class of 2023!
Most fondly,
Madison Austin
HYSO - 1 year
Instrument - Violin
Future plans - I will be taking a gap year for now and will continue to work at Wegmans. I am hoping to major in English at Grove City College starting in 2024. No matter what the next couple of years bring, I know I will always be working on my music and pursuing my lifelong dream of becoming a novelist!
HYSO has been such a lovely experience for me. I am so honored to get to be a part of such a fantastic group and to get to work with so many talented musicians. There is nothing so beautiful and powerful to me as being immersed in such a wonderful orchestra. I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time in HYSO, and I am so grateful for having had this opportunity. HYSO has truly changed my life!
Arianna Brodwin-Sipols
HYSO - 2 years
Instrument - Cello
Future plans - I plan on attending University of Rochester, majoring in Biology!
My favorite HYSO memory was sitting in a lobby area in the hotel on our first night in Leipzig and just talking with my friends and getting to know other musicians.
Reid Canham
HYSO - 4 years
Instrument - Oboe
Future plans - I plan on attending Ithaca College and majoring in Oboe Performance and Music Education
My favorite memory was when Lina’s sunglasses fell off her head on a rollercoaster in Halle on the tour last year and someone stole them and a bunch of HYSO members somehow confronted her and got the sunglasses back. A very funny moment for me. However, the best moment was also being on the Germany and Czech Republic Tour and making lifetime memories and great friendships.
Rishov Datta
HYSO - 3 years
Instrument - Viola
Future plans - Biochemistry major at Queen’s University, Canada
My favorite memory was walking on stage in Smetana Hall and seeing over 500 people in the audience while on the 2022 Germany and Czech Republic tour.
Peter Foley
HYSO - 5 years
Instrument - Double Bass
Future plans - Dual Degree Program at Eastman School of Music—Double Bass
Jazz Performance and University of Rochester—Biology
My Favorite memory: Every Saturday morning playing 2-1/2 hours of incredible music
HYSO - 2 years
Instrument - Violin
Future plans - Nazareth University with a major in music education
One of my favorite memories from being in this amazing group was going on the Germany and Czech Republic Tour in 2022. That was such a surreal experience. Getting to play our music in the beautiful historic buildings was a remarkable and delightful experience that I will never forget.
Gillian Gates
Jeslyn Han
HYSO - 4 years
Instrument - Violin
Future plans - University of Michigan School of Nursing
My favorite memory of HYSO is the Germany/Czech Republic tour. I made so many friends, and got closer to the ones I already had. It was amazing to see the history in where we toured, and the beauty of the churches we performed in. I will never forget those two weeks.
HYSO - 2 years
Instrument - Violin
Future plans - Study Chemical Engineering at Penn State and potentially study abroad.
Some of my favorite memories were accompanying concerto soloists for concerts; I learned to appreciate the privilege of playing in an orchestra with such talented musicians!
Calvin Ho
Melody Kruchten
HYSO - 4 years
Instrument - Violin
Future plans - : I will be joining Roberts Wesleyan’s Orchestra and majoring in Business so that I can one day become an event planner.
My favorite memory was when we performed the 3rd & 4th movement of Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4.
Anneliese Leinenbach
HYSO - 1 year
Instrument - Viola
Future plans - I am going to attend Nazareth University and I will be majoring in music therapy. I’m excited to use music to treat patients and help improve their quality of life.
My favorite memories are the small funny moments in rehearsal, like when one person raises their hand to point to another person raising their hand to point to the person raising their hand who actually has a question, or Mr. Springstead’s jokes.
David Lynch
HYSO - 1 year
Instrument - Trombone
Future plans - Studying trombone performance and music education at SUNY Fredonia
My favorite memories are playing Pines of Rome and anything by Tchaikovsky.
Caitlyn Marcello
HYSO - 1 year
Instrument - Flute
Future plans - Attending University of Rochester to study neuroscience in hopes of being a future surgeon
My favorite memory is my first concert with the orchestra because it was such an amazing experience!
Katelyn Margut
HYSO - 1 year
Instrument - Bassoon
Future plans - Music Education at SUNY Fredonia
My favorite memory is being able to make music with people just as passionate about it as I.
Rusquel Ramirez
HYSO - 2 years
Instrument - Violin
Future plans - 2+2 RIT Transfer program at MCC
My favorite memory is getting to tour around Germany and the Czech Republic and getting to take beautiful pictures.
Sophia Sharp
HYSO - 2 years
Instrument - Violin
Future plans - Roberts Wesleyan University to major in music therapy
My favorite memories are from the first rehearsals with new music. It’s always a challenge to play new music, especially when Mr. Springstead conducts at concert tempo, and all of us are united in our struggle to keep up. Afterwards we’d have dinner together and catch up with friends. Concerts are always fun, and it’s great to see how we’ve grown as a group and as individual musicians.
Tamsin Spiller
HYSO - 3 years
Instrument - Trumpet
Future plans - University of Toronto for trumpet performance
My favorite memory is performing during the tour in Germany and the Czech Republic, and especially the high-spirited group energy after each of those concerts.
HYSO - 3 years
Instrument - Cello
Future plans - In the fall I will be attending Brown University with a concentration in both neuroscience and biophysics with a minor in music performance. My goal is to one day be a Neurosurgeon as well as performing in a medical orchestra.
My favorite memory of HYSO is going on our trip to Germany and the Czech Republic and performing in Smetana Hall in Prague. The joy that I found in playing and sharing my music with others during that trip, and the bonding that I gained with my friends, is one of my most cherished memories. I loved the novelty of all the different countries as well!
Neil Stringer
Annaliese White
HYSO - 4 years
Instrument - Double Bass
Future plans - Eastman School of Music, majoring in Double Bass performance
My favorite memory is going on tour and eating dinner in a large group, talking with people from other sections that I hadn’t spoken with before. I really enjoyed the camaraderie that going on tour gave us.
HYSO - 3 years
Instrument - Violin
Future plans - I will be attending Brigham Young University in the fall and majoring in Psychology
My favorite memory of HYSO was when we first stepped off the bus in Berlin, and were awed by the beauty of the city and the excitement that we were actually in Europe! It was an incredible experience to be immersed in this culture and perform for people who so deeply appreciate music. I am forever grateful for the memories and friendships that this orchestra has allowed me to create :)
Grace Woodworth
Jenny Zhao
HYSO - 2 years
Instrument - Flute
Future plans - I plan on attending Boston College majoring in biochemistry
My favorite memory was going on tour to Germany and the Czech Republic and making new friends.
HYSO Seniors Join the Hochstein Alumni Orchestra! Visit our website at: hochstein.org/Ensembles/Orchestras/Hochstein-Alumni-Orchestra for the information you will need to join us. We hope to see you back in the Hall! Stay in touch.