Student Accomplishments 2025–26

April 2026 

Both Emmet Althoen, piano, and Ishaan Natarajan, percussion, were chosen grand prize finalists of the Contemporary Instrumental category in this year’s Spotlight Awards from The Music Center. Also, vocalist Lilia Cerna was named grand prize finalist in the Non-Classical Voice category. Each grand prize finalist receives a $5,000 scholarship and will perform in the May 16 Annual Spotlight Grand Finale.  

As an honorable mention award winner in the Contemporary Instrumental category of the Spotlight Awards from The Music Center, pianist Colton Checchi receives a $1,000 scholarship. 

Violinists Lena Kim and Rachel Won were selected for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States (NYO-USA), part of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute. 

Community School students continue to rack up honors from the California Association of Professional Music Teachers competitions:  

• • Category A: Mark Ergenic, piano, won first place in the Contemporary Competition. 

• • Category B: Rivenka Tomasian, piano, finished in third place for the Contemporary Competition; and pianists Cincy Yi, Charles You, and lina Toyna each received an honorable mention distinction. Evan Zhang, piano, earned an honorable mention in the Concerto Competition. 

• • Category D: Nathan Baham, piano, was awarded third place in the Contemporary Competition. 

Pianist Ming Chun (Denver) Ng, earned first place in the 2026 Charleston International Piano Competition, Piano Category. He also placed second in the Junior Category of the American Protégé International Piano & Strings Competition 2026.  

The following violinists were named winners in the Music Teachers Association of California, South Region Intermediate Strings competition: Aaron Ho, Isabella Zhou, and Renee Zhu. 

Andrew Peng, violin, placed first in the Bellflower Concerto Competition. 

Double bassist Noah LaPorte earned second place in the Pasadena Arts Showcase House for the Arts Instrumental Competition. 

Lucas Lee, cello, was accepted into the National Youth Orchestra 2 (NYO2) for the upcoming summer.  

Dalia Gonzalez, trombone, has been accepted into the Music Academy of the West, High School Intensive. 

Isaac Fujikawa, piano, soloed with the Harvard Westlake Orchestra in the third movement of Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 2. 

Diya Schievink, voice, has been nominated for a Jimmy Award for Best Actress by the Jerry Herman Foundation. 

Both Narayan Neti, piano, and Daniel Liao, piano, received medals at the Southern California Junior Bach Festival, MTAC-OCW (Orange Coast Cities) Branch 

Kayla Kim, viola, was selected grand prize winner of the ENKOR International Music Competition, Strings 11th Edition. 

March 2026 

Community School students performed exceptionally well at The Music Center’s 2026 Spotlight Awards: 

• • In the Classical Instrument category, Noah Choi, cello, Simon Yao, piano, and Sophia Yoo, cello, each were named semifinalists. 
  • Lev Sakae Taira, violin, was awarded a semifinalist position in the Classical Voice category. 
  • Pianists Emmet Althoen, Colton Checchi, and Charlie Cohn along with Miri Izenberg, trumpet, Ishaan Natarajan, percussion, and Mateo Rodriguez, guitar, were all named semifinalists for the Contemporary Instrumental category. 
  • Vocalists Lilia Cerna and Dilan Patton earned semifinalist standing in the Non-Classical Voice category. 
  • The following students received Merit Awards in the Classical Instrument category: Ninah Chan, cello,  Arlan Khakimianov, violin, Landon Kroon, piano, Lev Sakae Taira, violin, and Ryan Yang, cello. 

Aaron Ko, piano, earned first place in Category C for the California Association of Professional Music Teachers Honors Competition and will compete in the state finals this month. 

Ming Chun (Denver) Ng, piano, placed first with Special Mention in the International Classical Music Stars Competition. 

Violinist Liam Thomas won the California State University-San Bernardino Young Artist Competition and will perform with the orchestra this month. 

Iris Xiong, piano, earned first place in the California Association of Professional Music Teachers Concerto Competition, Level C. Iris will compete in state finals in March.  

Isaac Fujikawa, piano, earned second place in the California Association of Professional Music Teachers Concerto Competition, Level C.  

Pianist Evan Zhang, secured first place in the California Association of Professional Music Teachers, Level B and will compete in the state finals.  

Naomi Jones, violin, was named winner of the Pasadena Community Orchestra Young Artist Competition.  

Atticus Sullivan, double bass, won first place first place in the Optimist Competition. 

Pianists Ming Chun (Denver) Ng, Micah Lee, and Anna Liao were awarded first prize in the Umbra Talent Music Competition. 

Trio D’Amici—Liam Thomas, violin; Ailis Nguyen, piano; and Abraham Kim, cello—was selected as a semifinalist in the 2026 Coltman Competition. 

February 2026 

Vivienne Harutyunyan, piano, won the Elite International Music Competition and performed in the Winners Recital at Carnegie Hall. 

Juliette Santos was named winner of the YoungArts Competition in the Voice/Popular category. 

At the Etude Festival for the Music Teachers’ Association of California competition, Los Angeles County Branch Bram Ziomek, piano, placed third; Ethan Cheung, piano, placed fourth; and Isabelle Lu, piano, earned honorable mention. 

Pianist William Hadi received an honorable mention accolade at the California Association of Professional Music Teachers 2025 Piano Festival, level 10. Additionally, Mason Jeong, flute, earned first place in the Southwest Division of the California Association of Professional Music Teachers and advances as one of the top six  national finalists.  

Ellie Kim, flute, won the Winter Benefit Recital at the Southwestern Youth Music Festival. 

Natalie Kim, voice, has been accepted to the 2026 Winter Intensive at BroadwayEvolved in New York City.  

Farrah Li, double bass, was named a finalist in the Charleston International Music Competition. 

Violinist Andrew Peng earned first prize at the Bellagrande International Music Competition. 

Jiyu Lee, violin, was a winner in the Classical Music category for the YoungArts Competition.  

Alani Gibson, piano, won at the Romantic Festival for the Music Teachers’ Association of California, Orange County West Branch.  

The following students have been named ensemble members for the Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association: All-Southern Band-High School Honor Symphonic: Ryu Hosono, tenor saxophone; Leander “Leo” Rajan, trombone/euphonium; Leon Liu, clarinet; Charlotte King, flute; Mark Shin, clarinet; and Sean Sungwon Lim, clarinet/oboe. All-Southern Orchestra-Honor Symphony Orchestra: Joshua Gallup, percussion and Mason Jeong, flute. Ameyaa Deo-Dixit, viola, was appointed to the Orchestra, and  Seowoo Kim, cello, and Philip Ryu, trumpet, made the Junior High School Orchestra. All-Southern Jazz-Junior High School Symphonic: Reza Jehan, trombone; Walker Cichuniec, trumpet; and Chloe O’Brien, trumpet. 

The California Band Directors Association named the following students to its All-State Band-Honor Band: Ryu Hosono, tenor saxophone; Charlotte King, flute; Mark Shin, clarinet; Juliette “Iggy” Im, flute; Sean Sungwon Lim, clarinet/oboe; and Leon Liu, clarinet. 

The following have been selected for the California Orchestra Directors Association All-State Orchestra-Full Orchestra: Tiffany Yang, viola; Halyn Kim, violin; Alden Lee, viola; Seowoo Kim, cello; Gia Shin, violin; Stephanie Zhou, oboe; Rachel Kim, viola; Yena Oh, violin; Daniel Kim, violin. 

Mason Jeong, flute, has been named to the Honor Wind Symphony for the Festival of the Winds at Cal Poly Pomona. 

Both Mason Jeong, flute, and Nora Stone, tuba, have been selected for the California Music Educators Association All-State Band-Junior High Symphonic Band. 

January 2026

Violinist Liam Thomas was awarded first place in the Parness Concerto Competition. He also was a semifinalist in the SPHINX Competition in Detroit, Michigan.

Several Community School students were named winners at the Music Teachers’ Association of California-Glendale Branch: Violinists Aaron Ho, Isabella Zhou, Emily Wang, and Renee Zhu; pianists Iris Xiong, Alvin Chen, and Evynne Chang.

Adorlee Nicolas, violin, earned first place in the Old Professional Category in Strings at the Barum International Competition. Elli Nicolas, violin, also placed second in the same category.

Both Jett Shin, piano, and Joshua Gatus, piano, placed first in the International Autumn Grand Competition at the International Association of Professional Music Teachers competition. Pianists Iris Xiong and Aaron Ho were named first place winners in the Virtuoso Category, and Alvin Chen, Trevin Ching, and Alexander Si each earned a first place finish.

Richard Liu, piano, received a second place honor and Evan Zhang, piano, earned third place at the International Association of Professional Music Teachers competition.

Iris Xiong, piano, received Contemporary of Liszt award from the American Liszt Society.

Tiffany Yang, viola, has been named to the California Orchestra Directors Association Junior High All-State String Orchestra.

Mason Jeong, flute, Leander Rajan, trombone, Dalia Gonzalez, trombone, and Nadav Brandes, percussion, will be performing works by Frank Tichelli at the Festival of Winds at Cal Poly Pomona.

December 2025

Mason Jeong, flute, was named winner of the California State Music Teachers National Association Competition in Junior Woodwinds Division. 

Angel Espadas, piano, earned first place in the Satori Music Competition 2025.  

Ailis Nguyen, piano, and Ashley Li, violin, each received a silver prize for the Southern California Bach Festival. Additionally, Arlan Khakimianov , violin, garnered a silver prize in Category XVIII.  

Also at the Southern California Bach Festival, Reese Fujikawa, piano, won a bronze prize. 

Pianist David Mnatsakanyan took second place in the Iba-Tenorio Competition.  

November 2025

Kai Canton, piano, received first place in the Professional Young Artist B Category of the Pacific Stars International Piano competition.

Pianist Leo Zhang was awarded first place in the Satoria Music Competition.

Kevin Li, piano, placed first in the 34th United States Open Music Competition 2025 – Los Angeles, which qualifies him to progress to the grand final in San Francisco.

Pianist Melody Wong received first prize in the California Youth Music Competition.

October 2025 

Joshua Gatus, piano, received first place in the Satori Music Competition 2025 for Piano Qualified. Additionally, Emmanuel Ree, piano, was awarded second place for Piano Qualified and pianists Veronica Hofer and Sharon Shin landed in third place for the same category.  

Yilin “Ryan” Wang, piano, secured second place at the Satori Music Competition in the Prodigy Solo Category. 

Valentina Nguyen, piano, placed second for the QS 2 category of the Satori Music Competition. 

Pianist Jemma Ree was awarded second place for the Piano Junior Qualified category at the Satori Music Competition. 

Pianists Aaron Ko, Alvin Yi, and Iris Xiong received first place at the Southwestern Youth Music Festival. Aaron Ko also earned a second-place honor and Evynne Chang, piano, finished in third place. 

Both Issac Fujikawa, piano, and Iris Xiong, piano, were prizewinners at the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Andrew Peng, violin, placed first in the 2025 Miclot International Music Competition, the 2025 Virtuoso Music Competition, and the 2025 Global Philharmonic Music Competition’s Junior Division. 

Arlan Khakimianov, violin, was named winner of the Southern California Bach Festival. Arlan also was accepted to the Interlochen Arts Camp for high school orchestra, violin intensive, classical vocal intensive, and vocal & opera. 

September 2025

Ailis Nguyen, piano, earned first-place finishes for the Piano Open Chopin Longer Works and Shorter Works categories in the Southwestern Youth Music Festival. She also secured second place for the Piano Open Baroque category.

Pianists Nathan Baham and Raymond Kai each won second place for the Piano Open Complete Classical Works category at the Southwestern Youth Music Festival.

Raymond Kai, piano, placed second for the Piano Open Baroque category at the Southwestern Youth Music Festival.

Ellie Chen, piano, received third place for the Piano Open Solo category at the Southwestern Youth Music Festival.

Caden Guo, piano, took fourth place in the Piano Open Baroque category at the Southwestern Youth Music Festival.

Cellists Caleb Lee, Ozzie Pringle, and Eamon Quinian, each earned third place for the Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest and Festival.

Cellists Caleb Lee and Ozzie Pringle both placed first in the Chamber Category for the Bach International Music Competition.

Caleb Lee, cello, was named winner of the Los Angeles Violoncello Society’s 2025 8th Annual Scholarship Competition.

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