Dante de Simone
Flauta
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Nacido en Buenos Aires en 1985, comenzó sus estudios musicales con su padre el maestro Gabriel de Simone y posteriormente con el maestro Raúl Becerra. Se formó en Música de Cámara con Mónica Cosachov.

Ha participado en clases maestras con Ewan Robertson (solista de la Orquesta BBC de Escocia), Horacio Parravicini (solista de la Orquesta de Bilbao, España), Alberto Almarza (profesor en Carnegie Mellon University), Vincent Lucas (solista en la Orquesta de Paris), Muricio Freire (solista de la Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo), Christoph Huntgeburth (Flautista del grupo Akamus)

Formo parte del coro de niños del Teatro Colon, la Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil "Libertador San Martín", Sinfonietta Argerich (participando en el festival Argerich 2005), y en el 2004 ingreso como primera flauta de la Orquesta Académica del Teatro Colon donde también participo como solista.

Desde 2005 es convocado como refuerzo en las orquestas Filarmónica y Estable del Teatro Colón en Buenos Aires. En 2006 forma el dúo “de Simone-Mas” con el cual se presentó en diversas salas como la Casa de Cultura del Fondo Nacional de las Artes, Llao Llao en Bariloche entre otras. Actualmente es Solista Asistente de la Orquesta Sinfónica de Salta. En el 2008 participo como solista junto a la "Camerata Lazarte" y con la Orquesta Sinfonica de Salta. Realizó como alumno activo el curso "Primer encuentro juvenil música para todos" con la profesora Lic. Patricia Da Dalt en la Provincia de Mendoza-Argentina.

En 2009 formó parte de YOA Orquesta de las Américas durante su gira por EEUU-Canadá y en el 2010 participó en el Festival Internacional de Invierno Campos do Jordao en Brasil, participando como primera flauta en ambas ocaciones.

Matias Laborde
Percusión   
Bahía Blanca, Argentina

Egresado de la Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina. Becario del Fondo Nacional de las Artes en el año 2004. Estudió con los maestros Angel Frette y Arturo Vergara (ambos del Teatro Colón de Buenos Aires).

Formó parte del Ensamble de Percusión Patagonia, en la ciudad de General Roca, Argentina, ciudad en la cual también se desempeñó como docente en el Instituto Nacional Superior de Artes, para la Escuela de Danza Contemporánea y la Escuela de Arte Dramático. Participó de la Walzer Philarmonie Wien en su gira por China 2010-2011. Actualmente está cursando su segundo año de Master in Performance, en la Hochschule für Musik Basel, Suiza.

Magdalena Rojas
Violín
Bahía Blanca, Argentina

Inició sus estudios de violín a la edad de seis años con el maestro Luis María Rojas. Luego estudió con los maestros Leonardo Rubín y Fernando Hasaj. Desde el año 2003 integra la Orquesta Sinfónica Provincial de Bahía Blanca, actualmente se desempeña como Solista Adjunto de los primeros violines, cargo que obtuvo por concurso en noviembre de 2005.

Fue seleccionada también por el Cuarteto Beethoven de Roma, como participante activa de las Clases Magistrales de Perfeccionamiento Instrumental a cargo del Maestro Félix Ayo. Obtuvo el primer premio del Primer Concurso Nacional de Jóvenes Intérpretes “Tomas Tichauer” organizado por la Camerata Bariloche, siendo el premio interpretar un concierto de solista con dicha agrupación.

En el 2009 y 2010 participo de las giras de la YOA Orquesta de las Américas realizada en los siguientes países: Estados Unidos, Canadá, Colombia, Perú, Ecuador y Brasil en donde participaron destacados solistas y directores de talla mundial como: Carlos Miguel Prieto, Benjamin Zander, Joshua Bell, Phillip Glass, Ilya Gringolts, entre otros. Ha ganado concursos que le permitieron realizar suplencias en la Orquesta Filarmónica de Buenos Aires y la Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional.

Vinicius Frate Paranhos
Contrabajo
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Natural de Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, comenzó sus estudios musicales en el piano a los 6 años de edad. En el 2004 inició sus estudios de contrabajo con el maestro Claudio Alves con quien estudió hasta el 2008. Después continuó sus estudios con el maestro Massimo Giorgi en el Conservatorio Nacional de Santa Cecilia de Roma.

Ha tomado cursos y clases maestras con diversos maestros como: Miloslav Gajdos, Jeff Bradetich, Thierry Barbé, Sandrino Santoro, Franco Petracchi, Alberto Bocini y Giuseppe Ettorre.   Integró del 2006 al 2008 la Orquestra Sinfónica Brasileira Jovem(OSB-Jovem). Ha ganado el "Concurso Nacional de Cordas Prof Paulo Bosísio" (2007) y el "1o Concurso Nacional para Contrabaixo Sandrino Santoro"(2009).

Edvany Klebia Silva
Cello
Joao Pessoa, Brazil

Edvany Klebia Silva, originally from Joao Pessoa, Brasil, began her formal music studies in 1999 with Francieudo Torres (Brasil). She has participated in the following Brasilian orchestras: Children’s Orchestra of Paraíba, Youth Orchestra of University of Paraíba and Youth Orchestra of State of Paraíba. Edvany is a regular guest artist with many international festivals such as the V Festival Eleazar de Carvalho, 15th International Festival of Music and Colonial Brazilian Ancient Music, I Festival of Santa Catarina, II Festival de Santa Catarina, Rio International Cello Encounter XI, XII Rio International Cello Encounter, XIII International River Encauter Cello, 38th International Festival of Campos do Jordao and most recently, YOA Orchestra of Americas.

Ms. Silva is the grand prize winner of the 10th National Competition for Strings Paulo Bosisio (Class C), 11 National Competition for Strings Paulo Bosisio (Class B), the National Youth Chambers (3rd place with the Camerata Brasílica) in Brazil and can be heard on exclusive CD recordings of "Sivuca, the Poet of Sound" and "Brazilêra" with the Camerata Brasilica Chamber Orchestra. Edvany recently moved to Winnipeg to continue her studies with Dr. Minna Rose Chung at the University of Manitoba Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music.

Bruno Lourensetto, a native of Itu, Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been a member of YOA Orchestra of the Americas since 2009, during which he has performed in Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Canada and USA, including his debut at Carnegie Hall.  He also has appeared in the trumpet sections of the Louisiana Philharmonic, Mississippi Symphony, Mobile Symphony, Lyra Baroque Orchestra, and Uninorte Orchestra (Paraguay), among others.

Bruno has received several prizes, including first place at the Chicago Brass Festival and William T. Gower Competition. He was a Semifinalist of the National Trumpet Competition (USA) at the solo and ensemble divisions, and received awards such as The Most Valuable Brass Performer from the University of Southern Mississippi, and the Best Chamber Musician at the University of Sao Paulo.

Besides his orchestral activities, Bruno has been featured as a soloist in front of the USM Symphony Orchestra and the Itu Philharmonic. He was a member of the Southern Arts Brass Quintet, and is a founding member of the USP Brass Quintet, which performed in Brazil, Italy and Switzerland. Bruno taught trumpet at the Assatemec school of music for low-income children in Itu, Brazil and was the trumpet teaching assistant at the University of Southern Mississippi. Bruno Lourensetto holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Sao Paulo and Master’s from the University of Southern of Mississippi. Currently, Bruno is working on his Performance Diploma at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.

Fabio Machado
Violoncello
Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Fabio Machado was born in Natal - Rio Grande do Norte. He began his musical studies at the age of 12, studying guitar at the Music School of the Church. One year later, he began studying cello with Professor Ailson Saraiva, and then continued on to study at the School of Music of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, where he took classes with Professor Faisal Hussein (Conservatory of Geneva).

In 2002 Mr. Machado participated in the Festival Eleazar de Carvalho, attending several master classes for solo cello and chamber music. The following year, Fabio was named Solo Cello of the Festival, and in 2004 won the acclaimed 1st place prize of the Young Soloist award. In 2007 he moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil, continuing his cello studies with Professor Fabio Presgrave (Juilliard School of Music). Fabio currently studies at Sao Paulo with Professor Rodrigo Andrade (Juilliard School of Music). Fabio has played for acclaimed musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma, Clive Greensmith (Tokyo String Quartet), Juarez Johnson, Rebecca Patterson (Antares Quartet), Anatoly Krastev, Claudio Jaffe, Loercher Bernhard (Stuttgart Philharmonic), Antonio Del Claro and others.

Iniciou seus estudos musicais tocando violino aos 14 anos, na Orquestra Sinfonica da Juventude do Salvador, onde atuou como spalla, integrou a Orquestra de Câmera da UFBA. Aos 17 anos iniciou seus estudos de viola, onde integrou um quarteto de cordas.

Em 2007 passou a integrar o NEOJIBA (Núcleos Estaduais de Orquestra Juvenil e Infantil da Bahia), onde atua como monitora e 1ª viola da Orquestra Sinfonica Juvenil 2 de Julho e YOBA (Orquestra Jovem da Bahia). Em 2007/08 foi a Venezuela onde participou como estagiária no FESNOJIV (Sistema Nacional de Orquestras Juvenis e Infantis da Venezuela), em 2008 participou de um intercâmbio com Universidade  de Stavager na Noruega, onde teve aula de viola com o Wouter Raubenheimer, e de Música de Câmara com Ilmari Ropkins.

Em 2010 participou do FEMUSC (Festival de Música de Santa Catarina) onde teve masterclasses com Ori Kam (ISR), Paul Biss (EUA), Antulio Duboy (Venezuela), Peter Pas (CAN). Participou do Seminário Internacional de Música da UFBA, onde teve masterclasse com Renato Bandel (SP), tem feitos vários concertos com a
OSBA (Orquestra Sinfonica da Bahia) com grandes maestros como Christopher Warren-Green, Ricardo Castro, Domingo Hindoyan, Manoel Lopes Gomes e como músico-camerista da OSBA onde teve a oportunidade de atuar ao lado do renomado flautista Michel Bellavance (Suíça).

Tem atuado em grandes salas de Concerto  , Grande e Pequeno Teatro da Sociedade de Cultura Artítica em Jaraguá do Sul-SC, Sala São Paulo-SP, Auditório Claudio Santoro e Praça do Capivari no Festival de Inverno de Campos do Jordão-SP,Europa, Queen Elizabeth Hall em Londres e no Centro Cultural de Belém em Portugal. Atualmente tem aulas com o violista do Quarteto Vermeer Richard Young.

Brazilian double bassist Patricia Silva holds a bachelor’s degree from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil and a Master of Music degree from University of Southern Mississippi (USM), USA.  Ms. Silva has received many awards throughout her career, such as first place in: the Paulo Bosisio Strings Competition, Furnas Geracao Musical, William T. Gower Competition (first bassist to ever win this competition) and XIV Young Soloists of UFMG; Second place in: the Instrumental Music for Young Players; and Honorable Mention in: the Young Soloists of Bahia Symphony. Ms. Silva was also a semifinalist in the X Sphinx Competition, USA.

As a member of the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra, Ms. Silva has played in several venues in the U.S including Carnegie Hall. While working on her degree at the University of Southern Mississippi, Ms. Silva was responsible for its orchestra's outreach program introducing classical music to schools, nursing homes and similar facilities. She was also a cello and double bass instructor at the Hattiesburg Public Schools. 

Patricia Silva is currently working on her doctoral degree in Double Bass Performance and Pedagogy at The University of Iowa, where she is the recipient of the prestigious Iowa Performance Fellowship.
 

Eduardo Swerts
Cello
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

A native of Belo Horizonte, the Brazilian cellist Eduardo Swerts is currently studying Chamber Music at the Robert-Schumann-Hochschule in Düsseldorf, Germany. He holds an Artist Diploma and a Master of Music at the Musikhochschule Münster, and a Bachelor of Music at the State University of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Eduardo has regularly performed with orchestras in Brazil, Germany, and at the Festival delle Nazioni in Italy. As soloist, he played at the Algarve’s Festival of Music in Portugal and at the Solisten Forum in Münster, Germany, as well as the première of Rufo Herrera’s “Dos Pampa Sur” with the Ouro Preto Chamber Orchestra.

His Duo with the Japanese pianist Risa Adachi won the first prize in the last edition of the Münster Chamber Music Competition, which was then performed in Germany, Greece, and Portugal.  They also performed at the Westdeutsche Rundfunk Musikfest in 2009, which was  recorded and broadcast in Germany.

Eduardo attended masterclasses in different countries with Antonio Meneses, Maria Kliegel, Peter Bruns, Márcio Carneiro, and others.  Since 2008, he holds scholarships from the KAAD and the Yehudi Menuhin - Live Music Now. He teaches at the Musikschule des Emslandes and at the Steinfurt-Borghorst Youth Orchestra.

Priscila Vargas Pellanda
Violin
Curitiba, Brazil

Born in Curitiba, Brazil, Priscila Vargas started her violin studies with Moema Meyer in her hometown. At the age of 14 she came under the tutelage of Paulo Bosísio in Rio de Janeiro. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Performance (violin) at the age of 20 at Escola de Música e Belas Artes do Paraná (Curitiba) as a student of Marco Damm. From this institution she also has a post-degree in Chamber Music and Musical Analysis, completed with the highest marks. Since 2009 she has been a student of Thomas Füri at Musik-Akademie der Stadt Basel (Basle, Switzerland), where she is finishing her Master of Arts in Musical Performance for violin. She has also taken masterclasses with renowned violinists from Brazil and other countries, such as Igor Ozim, Régis Pasquier, Elisa Fukuda and others.

She holds prizes from well-known competitions in her home country; among them are two first prizes at Paulo Bosísio Strings Competition (Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil) and the first prize at Jovens Instrumentistas do Brasil competition (Piracicaba, SP, Brazil), where she earned the prize for the best performance of Brazilian music. Her experiences as a soloist include performances with the Symphony Orchestra of Paraná, the Symphony Orchestra of Bahia, the Chamber Orchestra of Curitiba, the Fribourg Young Orchestra and the PRO-Orchester Basel, among others. As an orchestral musician she has performed with several ensembles in Brazil, Switzerland and Germany. From 2004 to 2009 she played as assistant concertmaster in the Symphony Orchestra of Paraná and in 2009 became the concertmaster and rehearsal director of the Chamber Orchestra of Curitiba. Currently, in addition to her studies, Priscila is a member of the Orchestre Symphonique du Canton du Jura in Switzerland and plays actively as a chamber musician.

Madeleine Doyon-Robitaille
Trombone
Québec, Canada

Madeleine Doyon-Robitaille was first introduced to music in her hometown: Quebec City, Canada. She studied trombone with Andrew Clayden at the Conservatoire de Musique de Québec and is presently pursuing her studies at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal under the tutelage of Patrice Richer. Madeleine has participated in several academy orchestras including: l’Orchestre de la Francophonie Canadienne, l’orchestre Réseau des Conservatoires de Musique du Québec, National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Symphony Orchestra Academy of Pacific and Collegium Musicum Pommersfelden and has had the honor of playing with l’Orchestre Symphonique de Québec. She is the recipient of scholarships from Fondation Wilfrid Pelletier, Fondation des Anciens du Conservatoire and the Geneviève Paradis scholarship. She has had the opportunity of playing in masterclasses for Michael Mulcahy, Nick Atkinson, Alain Trudel, Ricardo Casero, Peter Sullivan, Pierre Beaudry, Gordon Wolf, Gordon Cherry and Joseph Alessi. Madeleine is also a member of the Robee’s group.

Ana Drobac
Violin
Montreal, Canada

Ana Drobac was born in Belgrade, Serbia. She came to Canada in 2003 to finish her Masters and Doctorate degrees in violin at the University of Montreal under Anne Robert. Currently Ana is a member of Orchestre Symphonique de Trois-Rivieres and Orchestre Symphonique de Laval.

In 2008-09 Ana was a member of ensemble Angele Dubeau & La Pieta. Since 2005 as a member of a Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra in Germany Ana toured in Japan, Brazil, Russia, Armenia and Lithuania under Christoph Eschenbach, Ivan Fisher, Christopher Hogwood, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Jaap van Zweden, Eiji Oue and Yutaka Sado. She was also a member of YOA Orchestra of the Americas touring Brazil and Argentina under Lorin Maazel, Kent Nagano, Prieto and Gergiev. As a concertmaster of YOA she played in Carnegie Hall.

Ana participated in many music projects, such as Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme in England and outreach programs of the Peace Music Festival in Chicago, and Neojiba, Brazil. She is participating in Panama’s Festival de Música de Panamá. Ana is a former member of St. George String orchestra in Belgrade as well as Serbian pop-icon Goran Bregovic's Orchestra for Weddings and Funerals touring Italy, Germany, France, Sweden, and Lebanon.

She studied chamber music with Amadeus String Quartet, Alban Berg Quartet and Bartok String Quartet and participated in master classes with David Takeno, Pamela Frank, Leon Spierer, Victor Danchenko, Ilya Gringolds and Julian Rachlin. She has had private lessons with Richard Roberts, Jonathan Crow, Olivier Thouin and Daren Lowe. Ana is a passionate teacher of over 30 students in an external program of Montreal Conservatory of Music as an assistant to Anne Robert.

Daniel Fuchs
Violin
Montreal, Canada

Daniel Fuchs was born in Montreal, Quebec. After playing the piano as a child, he decided he wanted to learn another instrument. He began taking violin lessons when he was eight with Jean-Ai Patrascu and soon joined a local youth orchestra. After several years of study, he joined the Montreal Youth Symphony Orchestra in 2008, and was named concertmaster the following year. The same year, he also played with the McGill Sinfonietta. In 2010 and 2011, he was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, and toured as concertmaster for Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade.

In addition to orchestral music, Daniel has performed solo with the Montreal Youth Orchestra and the West Island Youth Symphony Orchestra. Daniel completed his examinations at the McGill Conservatory of Music with high distinction, obtaining the highest mark of his year. In 2009, he was a finalist in the Canadian Music Competition. Daniel’s playing has been described as “warm and lyrical.”

Outside the world of classical music, Daniel likes to explore different musical styles including Klezmer. He is also interested in composition and hopes to compose in the future. He enjoys playing different instruments as well, such as the trumpet, the piano and the accordion.

Daniel is currently a student of Thomas Williams at Marianopolis, a Montreal branch of McGill University.

Ruža McIntyre
Violin
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Ruža McIntyre is at the beginning of a life-long journey with the violin. She was born in Canada, but began her studies in a music school in Velika Gorica, Croatia at the age of six. As a talented young violinist, she was asked to play at numerous city events and school promotions, which gave her the opportunity to perform on a monthly basis. In 2002 and 2004, she reached the nationals of the Croatian Music Competition and obtained 2nd prize on both occasions. These achievements resulted in a solo performance at concert hall Vatroslav Lisinski in Zagreb as part of a showcase concert of young musical talents, as well as a performance at Mimara Museum.

Upon her return to Canada at the age of fourteen, she began studying with Paule Prefontaine and Sylvie Rocheleau. After immediately assuming leadership roles in the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy as principal of the second violins, assistant concertmaster and concertmaster, she was awarded the Anantaraman Trophy for excellence in leadership as well as the Rich Little Scholarship. The past three summers were spent with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, taking her on a tour of Canada and the United States with conductors such as Jacques Lacombe, Alain Trudel, and Sir Andrew Davis. She is currently pursuing an Undergraduate Performance degree at McGill’s Schulich School of Music with Mark Fewer.

Sarah Steeves
Cello
Alberta, Canada

A native of Strathmore, Alberta, cellist Sarah Steeves has performed around the world in countries such as Brazil, China, New Zealand, Spain, and the United Kingdom.  She currently resides in Toronto where she is a member of Sinfonia Toronto and a doctoral student at the University of Toronto.  Highlights from her 2009-2010 included a performance in Carnegie Hall with YOA Orchestra of the Americas and the World Orchestra’s tour of China.

As a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player, Sarah has performed at the Aldeburgh, Banff, Domaine Forget, Orford, Toronto Bach, Toronto Summer Music, and Windy Mountain Music Festivals as well at Toronto's Arts & Letters Club.  She has performed with the Disney Young Musician’s Symphony Orchestra, Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Orchestra London, Sudbury Symphony Orchestra, World Orchestra, and YOA Orchestra of the Americas.

Keenly interested in contemporary music, Sarah has performed at McGill University’s MusiMars and the University of Toronto’s New Music Festivals. She has premiered new works by many young Canadian composers, including a commission of Kevin Lau’s Starsail in March 2008.   Throughout her career, Sarah has worked with many great musicians including  Valery Gergiev, Rivka Golani, Lawrence Lesser, Edgar Meyer, Aldo Parisot, Kryszstof Penderecki, Carlos Miguel Prieto, Janos Starker, and Benjamin Zander as well as the Leipzig and St. Lawrence String Quartets.

As a registered Suzuki teacher, Sarah teaches privately and at the Classical Music Conservatory.  She recently spent six weeks coaching cello students in Neojibá, a project located in Salvador, Brazil which provides musical education to underprivileged young adults.  Sarah has also maintained studios at Montreal’s McGill Conservatory and the Wychwood Music School in Toronto.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Music with Honours in Performance from the University of Toronto (2007) and a Master of Music in Performance from McGill University (2009). Sarah earned Royal Conservatory of Music Diplomas in Cello and Piano Performance in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Her principal teachers have been Brian Manker, Tom Mirhady, Tanya Prochazka, and Shauna Rolston. Sarah has received many awards and prizes including first places at the Canadian Music Competitions and the Alberta Provincial Music Festival, the Royal Conservatory of Music's Gold Medal for A.R.C.T. in Cello Performance and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Scholarship.

Leonardo Mandujano Madariaga
Timbales
Santiago, Chile

Comenzó a tocar batería a los doce años, para luego continuar sus estudios de música en la Universidad de Chile. Sus primeros profesores de percusión fueron Elena Corvalán y Ramón Hurtado, integrando así el conjunto "Rhythmus". Más tarde continúo con el profesor Patricio Hernández, obteniendo el grado de Licenciado en Artes con mención en Interpretación Musical en el año 2009. En el 2001 estudió batería, percusión popular y folclórica en Cuba.  Ese mismo año participó en el "Taller de Jazz e Improvisación” de la Universidad de Chile con Martin Joseph. Entre el 2002 y el 2008 fue músico estable de la Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional Juvenil, y del ensamble de percusión FOJI realizando conciertos en Chile y Argentina bajo la instrucción de Gerardo Salazar. Además estudió batería y jazz con Ricardo Ruiz, timbales y percusión con Miguel Zárate y asistió a clases magistrales con Timothy Adams, Mark Ford, Ney Rosauro, Claudio Estay y Leonado Soto. En el 2006 y el 2007, en Brasil, asistió al Festival Internacional de Invierno de Campos do Jordão. Allí formó parte de la orquesta dirigida por Roberto Minczuk y Débora Walkman, y participó en grupos de cámara y tomó clases con Eduardo Leandro y Rodrigo Foti. En el año 2010, en Nueva York, tomó clases privadas con Christopher Lamb (Principal Percussion New York Philharmonic).

Entre el 2007 y el 2009 se desempeñó como extra estable de percusión de la Orquesta Sinfónica de Chile, trabajando con los directores Zsolt Nagy, Michal Nesterowicz, Juan Pablo Izquierdo, Stanley DeRusha, Francisco Rettig, Eugene Tzigane, Mauricio Benini y Rodolfo Fischer. En formato quinteto de jazz, junto al violinista norteamericano Nick Kendall, realizó conciertos educacionales en el Teatro del Lago en Frutillar para el proyecto EduVida.

Durante los años 2009 y 2010 fue timbalista de la YOA Orquesta de las Américas, realizando conciertos a lo largo del continente americano. Durante las residencias tomó clases con Fernando Meza. También participó como timbalista de la YOA en los conciertos en el de Carnegie Hall en Nueva York y otros en República Dominicana. Junto a ellos ha tenido el honor de tocar bajo la dirección de grandes maestros como Valery Gergiev, Carlos Miguel Prieto, Dante Anzolini y Benjamin Zander, también de acompañar a solistas como Joshua Bell, Julian Rachlin, Ilya Gringolts, Gabriela Montero, Matt Haimovitz, Wendy Sutter, Jue Wang y Kotaro Fukuma. Leonardo ha sido seleccionado para participar con YOA durante su gira 2011 por México.

Leonardo es frecuentemente invitado a la Orquesta Filarmónica de Santiago tocando bajo la dirección de Jan Lathan-Koenig, Rani Calderón y José Luis Domínguez. También ha tocado en la Orquesta de Cámara de Chile, Orquesta Sinfónica de Chile y Orquesta de la Universidad de Santiago entre otras. Recientemente fue finalista del concurso para timbalista de la Orquesta Sinfónica de YouTube. Asiduamente se presenta junto a variadas agrupaciones en los Festivales de Música Contemporánea y ha estrenado obras en este género. Ha realizado grabaciones con la Orquesta Sinfónica de Chile, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional Juvenil, Orquesta Académica de Campos do Jordão y con la Orquesta de las Américas, también música para películas, musicales y Jazz.

Camila Morgado Garrido
Violin
Talca, Chile

Camila Morgado inició sus estudios de violín con el profesor Walter Barraza en el Instituto de artes de la ciudad de Concepción, a la edad de 11 años.
En el año 2000 ingresó a la Facultad de artes de la Universidad de Chile, y al mismo tiempo formó parte de la  Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional Juvenil llegando a ser asistente de concertino en el año 2006.

Desde el año 2005 hasta el 2007 tomó clases particulares con el maestro Sergio Prieto, y durante ese tiempo fue becada por el teatro municipal de Santiago y perteneció por dos años a la orquesta de cámara de dicho teatro, realizando diversas giras a lo largo de Chile, en las cuales se presentó como solista.
Ha participado como músico invitado en orquestas profesionales como la Orquesta Sinfónica de Chile y la Orquesta Filarmónica de Santiago. Actualmente es alumna regular del profesor Rodolfo Mellado.

Desde el año 2009 es concertino de la Camerata del Maule y desde el mismo año pertenece al elenco estable de la Orquesta Clásica Regional del Maule.

Angel Manuel Adrián Cruz Morales
Violoncello
Xalapa, Veracruz, México 

Ángel Manuel Adrián Cruz Morales nació en la ciudad de Veracruz, Veracruz, México.

Empezó sus estudios musicales a la edad de 6 años en el Centro de Iniciación Musical Infantil de la Universidad Veracruzana, a los 11 años ingresó a la Escuela Municipal de Bellas Artes del puerto de Veracruz donde tomó sus primeras clases de violoncelo con varios maestros como Teresa Aguirre y Alfredo Escobar.
Estudió la Licenciatura en Música en la Facultad de Música de la Universidad Veracruzana con el maestro de violonchelo José Arias Luna.

Ha tomado diversos cursos de perfeccionamiento con maestros como Apolonio Arias, Gabriel Arias, Javier Arias, David Schepps, Álvaro Bitrán, Jean Michelle Fonteneu y Marcio Carneiro.

Participó en el curso de perfeccionamiento de instrumento y música de cámara en la Academia de Música de Morges en Suiza en el 2007 y en el 2009.
En 2007 participó en el Festival Europeo de Música para la Juventud en Neerpelt Bélgica con la Orquesta Sinfónica Infantil Juvenil de Guadalajara donde ganaron el primer lugar con honores en la categoría de Orquesta Sinfónica.

Es miembro de la Sinfónica Juvenil del Estado de Veracruz desde el 2008 en la cual es asistente de principal de la sección de violonchelos. 

Rafael Galvan Herrera
Violin
Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

Rafael Galvan-Herrera began his violin studies at the age of 8 in Xalapa, Mexico. He has participated in different summer camps and festivals playing in master classes and coachings with the Amernet String Quartet, Shanghai String Quartet, Vermeer Quartet and violinists Zvi Zeitlin, Shmuel Ashkenazi, Teo Arias, Leon Spierer, and Eric Shumsky. He has been principal violinist of the Orquesta Sinfonica Juvenil del Estado de Veracruz (OSEJV) in Mexico as well as concertmaster with Florida Internartional University Orchestra and Montclair State University Symphony Orchestra. A very enthusiastic chamber music player, Rafael has been founding-member of the Amikoj String Quartet (Mexico) and 104 String Quartet (Miami, USA). With these ensembles he performed in different cities of Mexico, Spain, and the USA. In March 2010, Mr. Galvan-Herrera represented Montclair State University in the International Week at University of Graz, Austria. He earned his Bachelor of Music from Universidad Veracruzana where he studied with Emmanuel Arias and Juan Valentin; and a Master of Music from the Florida International University studying with Marcia Littley de Arias (violin) and Javier Arias (chamber music). Currently he is a graduate student at Montclair State University where he studies with Yi-Wen Jiang (violin) and chamber music with the Shanghai Quartet. 

Yamani Fuentes
Flauta
Mexico

Yamani comenzó sus estudios de flauta transversa a la edad de ocho años en su natal Xalapa, en el Centro de Iniciación Musical Infantil de la Universidad Veracruzana, donde continúo su licenciatura en la Facultad de Música bajo la tutela de la maestra Natalia Valderrama.  Se gradúo con honores en 2003 y recibió una beca de parte del programa de apoyo para estudios en el extranjero del FONCA y por el Trinity College of Music para estudiar una maestría en interpretación con el renombrado solista Wissam Boustany, en Londres, Inglaterra.

Con su tesis “Son jarocho: Voices of a tradition” concluyó sus estudios en el 2005 y obtuvo la medalla de oro del Trinity College of Music en interpretación.  Ha ganado del Concurso Nacional de Flauta Gildardo Mojíca en México en el 2003, el Harold Clarke Competition for Woodwind en Londres y el Albert Cooper Flute Competition en Stratford en el 2004.

En el 2007, fue invitada a participar en la 35th National Flute Association Convention en Alburquerque, Nuevo México. Yamani ha participado también en distintos festivales y concursos internacionales entre los que destacan Jean-Pierre Rampal International Flute Competition en París en el 2005, Krakow International Flute Competition en Polonia en el 2005, Nicolet Beijing International Flute Competition en China en el 2006, y el Domenico Cimarosa International  Flute Competition en Italia en el 2007.

Yamani ha sido solista con la Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa, con la Orquesta de la Escuela Nacional Preparatoria, con la Orquesta de Cámara de la Escuela Nacional de Música de la UNAM, con la Camerata Santiago de Querétaro y con la Orquesta Filarmónica del Estado de Querétaro.  A finales del, 2009 Yamani fue invitada a participar como jurado en el Concurso Nacional de Flauta Gildardo Mojíca.

Ha sido músico interino en la Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa y músico invitado en orquestas como la Orquesta de la Ópera de Bellas Artes, la Orquesta de Cámara de Bellas Artes, Milenium Sinfonieta entre otras. Actualmente es flauta principal de la Orquesta Filarmónica del Estado de Querétaro.  Se ha presentado en diversos foros como el Blackheat Hall, The Peacook Room y Stratford Town Hall, en Inglaterra, Carnegie Hall y Merkin Concert Hall en Nueva York, las salas Carlos Chávez, Ollin Yoliztli, Miguel Covarrubias y Manuel M. Ponce del Palacio de Bellas Artes en México entre otros.  Yamani ha tomado clases magistrales con Alain Marion, Aurèle Nicolet, András Adorján, William Bennett, Robert Dick, Felix Rengli, Shigenori Kudo, Patrice Bocquillon, Kirsten Spratt, Tadeo Coelho, Alberto Almarza, Keith Bragg, entre otros.

Yamani se ha interesado siempre por el arte en sus diferentes disciplinas, participando en proyectos de danza que van desde la contemporánea hasta el folklore veracruzano y odissi (danza clásica de la India). Ha formado parte de propuestas de performance integrando la danza, el teatro y la música y creó en el 2007 el grupo Tasotson con el que trabaja improvisación libre con escultura sonora. Fue también integrante del grupo Zarambeque con el que participó en la composición de sones contemporáneos.  Yamani se presenta regularmente como recitalista, y este año tiene programados varios conciertos de solista con orquestas diversas de la República. 

Benjamin Harris
Double bass
Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico 

Born in Xalapa Veracruz Mexico, 21-year-old Benjamin Samuel Harris grew up with a family of prestigious musicians.  In 2004 he started studding the double bass with Professor Carlos Villareal Elizondo.  He attended the Instituto Superior de Música Del Estado de Veracruz, where he was an honor student.

In 2007, Benjamin was granted a full scholarship to study in The Juilliard School where he participated in master classes with renowned double bassists including Klaus Trumpf, Roman Patkolo, Thomas Martin, Donald Palma, Klaus Stoll, Scott Pingel, Timothy Cobb, Jeff Bradetich, Eugene Levinson and many more. He is a recipient of the Bidu Sayao and the Miriam Klein scholarships.

As a student at Juilliard, Benjamin performs as principal double bass in the Juilliard orchestra and has worked with conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Alan Gilbert, James Levine, James Conlon, James DePriest, Jeffrey Milarsky, George Stelluto, David Atherton, Emmanuel Villaume, and others. He has shared stages with renowned artists like Lang Lang, Ann Sophie von Otter, Gregory Kunde, Matt Hamovitz, and others.

In 2008 he was soloist with the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra in his hometown as a result of winning first place in an all instrument concerto competition. He performed the Concerto in A major by Domenico Dragonetti, conducted by Eugene Kohn.

In 2009 he won 2nd place in the 12th annual Sphinx competition for strings and performed as a soloist with the Sphinx symphony orchestra in Detroit Michigan. Benjamin is the second double bassist in the history of the competition to reach the final round.

Benjamin had his solo debut performance in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie hall where he performed the Bottesini Concerto No. 2 in collaboration with pianist Julie Jordan.  In 2009 he was selected to be principal double bassist of YOA Orchestra of the Americas and was conducted by Carlos Miguel Prieto, Benjamin Zander and Jean Pascal.  Benjamin currently studies with Eugene Levinson, principal double bassist of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Felisa Hernández Salmerón
Viola
Veracruz, Mexico 

Born in Veracruz, Mexico, Felisa Hernandez-Salmerón began the violin at the age of eight at Escuela Municipal de Bellas Artes (EMBA).  After switching to the viola at age 11, Felisa showed great talent and was soon recognized among her teachers. She was principal viola at the National Youth Symphony of Mexico City from 1996-1999.  The following year she earned a technical degree in Viola Performance from EMBA and moved to Seattle, Washington were she graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Music under the instruction of Helen Callus, Kelly Farris, and Kyung Sun-Chee. She also pursued a BA in voice with various voice professors at the University of Washington such as Julian Patrick. In 2005, Felisa moved to Canada to pursue a Master in Music at the University of British Columbia with violist David Harding.  Other former professors have been Erwin Schiffer, Melia Watras and Alejandro Rey Conde Valdivia.

Felisa has attended prestigious music festivals such as Foundation Bellarte Music Academy  (Belgium), Concerto Tata (Hungary), Academie Musicale de Morges and the Strings Summer Academy (both in Switzerland), the Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific (Canada), Icicle Creek Chamber Music Institute (USA), the International Heifetz Institute (USA) and the Marrowstone Music Festival (USA).  She was also part of the staff at the XXXII International Viola Congress in 2002 and part of the teaching schools program BRATS, founded by Helen Callus.

As an orchestra player she has been a member or remplaçant of many orchestras, such as YOA Orchestra of the Americas where she did tours Europe 2006, Brazil 2006, South America 2008 and Rome 2008, Opera Chamber Orchestra (Vancouver), Northwest Sinfonietta Chamber Orchestra (Seattle), and Orquesta Juvenil “Daniel Ayala” (Mexico).   More recently Felisa has been part of the National Opera of Belgium “La Monnaie”, “De Philarmonie”(Belgium), “Assai Symphonia”(Belgium) and de Noord Nederland Orkest (Holland). Overall, she has performed as solo and orchestra player in many cities around the world such as Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, England, France, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Luxemburg, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay, and the United States.  Currently, Felisa is pursuing her second Master degree at the Conservatory of Antwerp in Belgium under the instruction of professor Leo de Neve. 

Eduardo Carlos Juárez López
Violín
Xalapa, Veracruz, México

Considered one of the most active and enthusiastic young musicians in the music community of Xalapa, Eduardo Carlos was born in the city of Altotonga, Veracruz in 1984. He graduated from the School of Music of the University of Veracruz, where he studied violin under maestros such as Ryzard Zerynger and Manuel Lozano.
During his studies, he became interested in the field of Conducting, receiving academic support from Roberto Lira and Fernando Avila, who gave him the opportunity to lead the school orchestra.

In January 2003, he was accepted by audition into the ranks of the Sinfónica Juvenil del Estado de Veracruz. As a result of their hard work and commitment as a student, he won the Seventh National Violin Competition "Hemilo Novelo," organized by UNAM in December of that year. He has participated in festivals including the Chamber Music Festival of San Miguel de Allende 2003, 2004 Instrumenta Verano 2004, and the Bay View Music Festival in Michigan USA. In 2005 he was selected to participate in the South American Tour of YOA Orchestra of the Americas. Eduardo Carlos was awarded a scholarship by the International Society of Importance of Mexican Art to continue his conducting studies with maestro Fernando Lozano, who has given him the opportunity to conduct concerts with the Symphonic Orchestra of Xalapa, of which he has been a member since 2006. Eduardo Carlos is currently director of the Youth Chamber Orchestra. He currently teaches violin at the School of Music in the University of Veracruz and is first violin of the Symphony Orchestra of Xalapa. 

Myles P. McKeown Meza
Violín
Xalapa, Veracruz, México

Nació en  la ciudad de Xalapa, Veracruz, México.  A los cinco años de edad ingresó al Centro de Iniciación Musical Infantil (CIMI) de la  Universidad Veracruzana, donde inició sus estudios de violín con la maestra Irene Ortiz Beltrán. A los nueve años de edad dio su primer concierto como solista al ganar el primer lugar en el concurso para solistas convocado por la Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa (OSX), en la categoría infantil.

Ganador del Segundo Lugar del VI Concurso Nacional de Música de Cámara, en el 2008, en el Centro Nacional de las Artes (CENART) en México D.F.

Ganador del Segundo Lugar del Concurso de Música de Cámara de la Facultad de Música de la Unversidad Veracruzana. (2007)

Formó parte de la Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil del Estado de Veracruz (OSJEV) siendo Concertino de la misma.

Ex Becario del Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes, (FONCA), y el Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (CONACULTA), con el proyecto de llevar la música de concierto, a comunidades rurales de extrema pobreza del Estado de Veracruz.

Ha sido seleccionado para participar en el Festival de San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato el Encuentro Internacional de Música de Cámara en Murcia, España, el Festival de Música Española, en Santiago de Compostela, España, y el Festival Musical Santa Catarina (FEMUSC) en Brasil, entre otros.

Ha recibido clases de Michael Bochman, Ryo Terakado, Jorge Risi, Luis Samuel Saloma, Joji Hattori, Timothy Fain,  Enrique Espín Yépez, Carlos Marrufo, Agnieszka Maklakiewicz y Manuel Lozano. Con su padre, el mtro. Timothy McKeown, ha estudiado música de cámara.

Ha sido seleccionado por la YOA en el 2005, y el 2010, y ha a recorrido gran parte de Sudamérica con ella.

En 2009 terminó su licenciatura en la Facultad de Música de la Universidad Veracruzana, donde obtuvo una titulación inmediata por promedio. 

Santiago E. Osorio
Viola
Mexico / Chicago, IL, USA

Violist Santiago E. Osorio began his musical studies on the violin at the age of three in London. In 1998 his family immigrated to the United States where he became a student of Desiree Ruhstrat in Chicago, Illinois, and continued to study with Ms. Ruhstrat at the Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago. In 2007 Mr. Osorio began concentrating on the viola. He has attended such summer programs as the Heifetz International Music Institute, the Scotia Music Festival (Halifax, NS), Instrumenta Oaxaca (Mexico), and the Accademia Musicale Chigiana (Siena, Italy), where he participated in classes with renowned violist Yuri Bashmet. In competitions, Mr. Osorio took second prize at the Music Festival in Honour of Confucius, first scholarship prize in the Highland Park Music Club competition, and third prize in the Generation Next Composition Contest in 2006.

In masterclasses, he has performed for such musicians as Ani Kavafian, Helen Callus, Roberto Diaz, Kim Kashkashian, Atar Arad, and Roger Chase, and participated in the New York String Orchestra Seminar under the direction of Jaime Laredo. An avid lover of chamber music, his coaches have included Seymour Lipkin, Rohan de Silva, Nicholas Mann, Earl Carlyss, Maria Lambros, and Michael Tree.

His compositions include four string quartets, a piano quartet and quintet, three orchestral overtures, two pieces for string orchestra, and several works in Baroque style. In 2008 he began his undergraduate studies at the Peabody Conservatory with Stephen Wyrczynski, and is currently enrolled at The Juilliard School, under the tutelage of Samuel Rhodes.

Jose Luis Ramirez Cuecuecha
Violin
Estado de Mexico, Mexico

El violinista José Luis Ramírez inicio sus estudios a la edad de ocho años al lado de su padre, el maestro Luis Ramírez, continuándolos con la maestra Natalia Gbdotetskaya en la escuela Ollin Yoliztli en la ciudad de México. Hizo su debut como solista en 1997 con la Orquesta Sinfónica de Aguascalientes. Fue galardonado en el Concurso Nacional de violín Hermilo Novelo en el DF en dos ocasiones. En el 2002 inicia sus estudios de licenciatura en la Universidad de Houston bajo la tutela de la maestra Fredell Lack, terminando su licenciatura en el 2007 y la maestría en el 2009.

A lo largo de su carrera ha tocado numerosos recitales en México y en Estados Unidos. También ha sido miembro de varios festivales como Texas Music Festival, Youth Orchestra of the Americas, Hot Springs Music Festival e Instrumenta Oaxaca, entre otros. Ha tomado clases maestras con William Preucel, Kenneth Goldsmith, Emanuel Borok, Dmitri Berlinski, Lawrence Wheeler, entre otros. Ha sido miembro de la Sinfónica de Minería, Orquesta Sinfónica Carlos Chávez en México, y es miembro de Moores School of Music Orchestras, Symphony of the Southeast Texas, Clear Lake Symphony, Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, Lake Charles Symphony, entre otras, en los Estados Unidos. Es un gran honor formar parte de la gira de la YOA Orquesta de las Américas por tercera ocasión. 

Miguel A. Vásquez López
Violoncello
Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá

Miguel was born in Panama City in 1990 to a family of musicians. He began his violin studies at an early age under his grandfather's guidance. At the age of 8, he enrolled in the ‘Escuela Juvenil de Musica’ where he studied violin with Helena de Kitras, and later cello with Eusebio Dinza.

Miguel has been invited twice to participate in the ‘Orquesta Juvenil Centroamericana’ in Costa Rica, and in the first session of the ‘Joven Orquesta y Coro de Centroamérica’. In 2008, he was selected as one of the 25 local musicians who worked with YOA Orchestra of the Americas during the Festival Alfredo De Saint-Malo with Carlos Miguel Prieto and Paquito D'Rivera.

Miguel has performed in several prestigious master classes, including those with Christoph Ingelbrink, DaXun Zhang, Keith Robinson, Pacifica String Quartet, Quiroga String Quartet, Soo Bae, Eddy Marcano, César Noguera, as well as with other Panamanian instructors. He has participated in the annual Youth Music Camp hosted by the ‘Asociación Nacional de Conciertos’. In addition to performing with the Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil Istmeña, Miguel frequently appears as a guest artist with the National Symphony of Panama. Miguel participated in the YOA tour of United States and Canada (2009), South America (2010), and performed with the same orchestra at the World Economic Forum in Carnegie Hall with Joshua Bell, Julian Rachlin, Carlos Miguel Prieto, and Valery Gergiev. He currently studies at Longy School of Music with Mihail Jojatu in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Eduardo Rios
Violín
Lima, Perú

Nació en Lima en 1995. Inició sus estudios de violín a la edad de 10 años, siguiendo el método Suzuki. En el 2007, a los 11 años, entra al Conservatorio Nacional de Música ocupando el primer puesto en el examen de admisión. Fue ahí donde comenzó a estudiar con el maestro Laszlo Benedek. Desde entonces, por 3 años consecutivos, ha obtenido el primer puesto en su categoría obteniendo muchos beneficios tales como una beca completa en un colegio particular por su habilidad musical.

Ha participado en múltiples festivales de violín como también en campamentos artísticos de verano. En el 2009 Traveling Notes (organización de intercambio  cultural) le otorgó una beca completa para recibir clases magistrales en EEUU con prestigiosos maestros (Pavel Ilyashov, Matt Kraemer, Roberto Aguirre, etc). En el 2010, participó en un festival de música barroca, fortaleciendo el campo de la música antigua con clases maestras de maestros reconocidos de Francia. Ese mismo año, participó en el Campamento de Verano POI (Premier Orchestral Institute) donde fue parte de una orquesta de cámara y también tomo clases maestras con profesores de renombre como Carmelo de los Santos y Marta Szlubowska. Obtuvo una beca para participar en el campamento de verano IAC 2010 (Interlochen Arts Camp). En este campamento, fue el concertino por dos semanas de la orquesta WYSO (World Youth Symphony Orchestra), dirigida por prestigiosos directores tales como Joann Falletta, Jung-Ho Pak y Erik Nielsen. Recibió clases particulares con la violinista Susanna Gilmore durante el campamento y asistió a clases maestras con violinistas famosos como Philippe Quint, Martin Chalifour (concertino de la filarmónica de Los Ángeles), Jorja Fleezanis (concertino de la orquesta de Minnesota por 20 años). También tuvo el honor de recibir clases maestras del cuarteto “Parker”.

Ha tocado como solista en diversas orquestas sinfónicas interpretando piezas de alto nivel. En el 2009, tocó como solista, bajo la dirección del director de orquesta británico Stephen Ellery,  con la Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional tras ganar el concurso de solistas del Instituto Nacional de Cultura y en el 2010 tocó como solista con la Sinfónica Juvenil tras ganar el concurso de solistas del Ministerio de Educación tocando el concierto de Max Bruch en sol menor. Este año no ha sido la excepción, ya que ganó el concurso  para tocar como solista con la Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional del Perú por segunda vez como solista, tocando el concierto de Dvorak en la menor.

Desde el 2009 es el concertino de la Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil del Instituto Nacional de Cultura, dirigida por el maestro Pablo Sabt, donde ha tenido el privilegio de acompañar al afamado tenor peruano Juan Diego Flores. Actualmente forma parte de la “Orquesta de la Ciudad de los Reyes”, también dirigida por el maestro Pablo Sabat, con la que ha acompañado a varios solistas invitados de renombre. 

Enrique F. Victoria-Obando
Viola
Arequipa, Perú 

Born in Arequipa, Peru, Enrique studied violin at the L. Dunker Lavalle School of Music in Arequipa (1995-2000). Enrique has played as soloist with the Arequipa Symphony Orchestra, Arequipa Chamber Orchestra and the University of San Pablo Orchestra. He has also played with the Ensemble Barroco of Arequipa.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico (2008) in violin performance, under Maestro Henry Hutchinson and Omar Velazquez. He has participated in numerous music festivals, including Stony Brook Summer Music Festival, Festival of the Youth Orchestras of the Americas (FOSJA), Killington Music Festival, Apple Hill Center of Chamber Music and the Festival Internazionale della Cultura (Italy).

Enrique is a substitute musician with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Santa Fe Symphony, Santa Fe ProMusica, Canticum Novum and Opera Southwest.

Currently, he is pursuing graduate studies at the University of New Mexico in Viola Performance and Orchestral Conducting. He is a member of the Abe Franck Quartet of the University of New Mexico and studies viola with Professor Kimberly Fredenburgh, violin with Dr. Carmelo de los Santos, and conducting with Dr. Jorge Perez-Gomez.

César Avilés
Violin
Aguada, Puerto Rico 

César Avilés is a violinist and composer born in Puerto Rico. He graduated from the Conservatory of Puerto Rico with degrees in music performance and composition. His professional debut as a composer occurred when he was invited to play his Caprice no.1 for violin solo on Fox News in a commercial about the Eastern Music Festival musicians.

In that season (2007) Aviles was the concertmaster of the orchestra and at the same time he brought together the Eastern Music Festival chamber orchestra to perform one of his most acclaimed pieces ("Viejos Tiempos", for string orchestra). The composition was also performed by the Bayamon Symphony Orchestra in their concert season in Puerto Rico. 

In 2008, Cesar was the first place winner of the Puerto Rico Conservatory concerto competition which led to a performance as a soloist with the conservatory orchestra and the premier of his Violin Concerto "A Violinist's Dream," with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra. As a violinist he has performed with the Puerto Rico Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras as a substitute member as well as in the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra.

He is a current member of the World Orchestra and YOA Orchestra of the Americas. Cesar has been in several workshops and festivals around the world and has taken masterclasses with today's most prolific figures in music. 

Xiomara Mass
Oboe
Puerto Rico 

Xiomara Mass is a native of Puerto Rico, where she was accepted into the ‘Conservatorio de Música’ at age fifteen. Here, she studied with David Bourns, former principal of the ‘Orquesta Sinfónica de Puetro Rico’ and Pedro Diaz, solo English horn of the Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Mass has also worked with such renowned oboists as Elaine Douvas, Liang Wang, Nathan Hughes, Eugene Izotov, and Humbert Lucarelli.

She has been invited to participate in many prestigious music festivals including FOSJA ’03 and ’04 in San Juan, the John Mack Oboe Camp ’05, Tercer Festival de Dobles Cañas ’06 in Panama, YOA Orchestra of the Americas ’08 and ’10, Domaine Forget ’08 the St. Barth’s Music Festival ’08 and ’09 and the YouTube Symphony Orchestra ’11.

She won first prize at the Tuesday Musical State Scholarship Competition in Akron, Ohio in 2010, as well as in the First Chamber Music Competition at the ‘Conservatorio de Música’ with her woodwind quintet. Ms. Mass is currently pursuing an artist diploma at Oberlin Conservatory where she also graduated with honors in 2010 obtaining her bachelor’s degree in oboe performance under the tutelage of renowned oboists and professors, Alex Klein and Robert Walters. 

Ivonne Pérez
Oboe
Cidra, Puerto Rico 

Born in the island of Puerto Rico, Ivonne Pérez started performing on the flute at age nine, moving to the oboe a few years later. Over the last four years, Ivonne has proven to be a skilled orchestra musician, performing under conductors such as Rossen Milanov, George Manahan, Julien Salemkour, Guillermo Figueroa and Maximiano Valdés. 

She has had the opportunity to play with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra during the past three years. In 2010,  Ivonne  was one of the winners of the Concert Festival Competition in New York City. Since 2006, Ivonne has participated in summer festivals and master classes in Puerto Rico and North America: Festival de la Orquesta Juvenil de las Américas (FOSJA), Banff Centre for the Arts Summer Music Program, Patrick MacFarland English Horn Master Classes, and The Juilliard School ChamberFest.

Ivonne continued her oboe studies at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music with Dr. Frances Colón, winning second place in the Concerto Competition at that same institution. In 2009, she moved to New York to study at Stony Brook University with Pedro Díaz. Ivonne is currently at The Juilliard School of Music, where she also studies with Elaine Douvas, Nathan Hughes and Linda Strommen. 

Danielle Aiken
Trumpet
Chicago, Illinois, USA 

Danielle Aiken has been studying trumpet for 14 years. She received her Bachelors of Music from Florida State University in 2008. She continued on to obtain her Masters Degree at DePaul University in 2010 where she studied with John Hagstrom, Tage Larsen, and Matt Lee.

Currently residing in Chicago, Danielle freelances with a variety of ensembles in the area. In the past she has attended music festivals such as the Eastern Music Festival and the Aspen Music Festival.

Danielle was a winner of the ITG scholarship competition and a semi finalist at the National Trumpet Competition.  

Lindsay Baggett
Violin
Marietta, Georgia, USA

Violinist Lindsey Baggett grew up in a music-loving family in Marietta, Georgia. She began her violin studies in the second grade. She is currently a Master of Music student of William Preucil at the Cleveland Institute of Music, graduating in the spring of 2011. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Florida State University as a student of Karen Clarke.

Additional studies with Laura Bossert at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA were essential to her musical growth. Lindsey enjoys playing in orchestras, and has been a member of the Tallahassee Symphony, Mansfield Symphony, Gulf Coast Sinfonia, and Firelands Symphony, among others. She has served as concertmaster of the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, and is currently a New World Symphony semi-finalist.

Lindsey is an alumna of Aspen Music Festival, where she studied with Cornelia Heard, and was a member of the Aspen Chamber Symphony and Festival Orchestra. Other music festivals include National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, CO, LyricaFest Chamber Music Festival, and Brevard Music Festival. She was a recipient of Brevard Music Center’s Repertory Training Program Fellowship in 2005. An active chamber musician, Lindsey has been coached by Peter Salaff, Charles Castleman, Andres Cardenes, Carolyn Warner, and Roger Tapping. Lindsey is a certified Suzuki violin teacher, and received her training through the Cleveland Institute of Music Suzuki Pedagogy program. Outside of music, Lindsey’s interests include fashion design, art, and reading. 

Sophie Baird-Daniel
Harp
Seattle, Washington, USA

Sophie Baird-Daniel is from Seattle, Washington where she began playing harp at the age of 9.  Her previous teachers include Valerie Muzzolini of the Seattle Symphony and Kathleen Bride of the Eastman School of Music.  She currently resides in Toronto as a student of Judy Loman.

Sophie has had the opportunity to be coached in master classes and summer programs with leading harp pedagogues including Isabelle Perrin, Elizabeth Fontan-Binoche, Elizabeth Hainen, Catherine Michel, Mariko Anraku, and Natalia Shamayeva.  In 2010, Sophie was awarded 1st runner up at the Anne Adams Awards and was given the opportunity to perform the Debussy Trio Sonate with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Sophie attends the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Glenn Gould School in Toronto, where she pursues a Bachelor of Music and Performance Artist Diploma under the tutelage of Judy Loman. 

David Ellis
Cello
Cleveland, Ohio, USA 

David Ellis, a native of Solon, Ohio, is thrilled to be back with the YOA for a second summer.  David presently studies at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he is studying towards a Bachelor’s Degree in cello performance and a Master’s Degree in viola da gamba and baroque cello.  His teacher for all three instruments is Catharina Meints.

As a cellist, David has served as principal of both the Oberlin and Oberlin Chamber Orchestras, and has played as a member of the Oberlin Contemporary Ensemble.  He has participated in the Aspen Music Festival and the National Repertory Orchestra, and was a participant in YOA’s last tour of South America.

While by comparison a recent student of the viola da gamba and baroque cello, David is still beginning to enjoy a successful career at both instruments as well, participating in masterclasses with Anner Bylsma, and most recently was part of a historical performance trio chosen by Oberlin to play as part of their annual concert at the Kennedy Center.

In addition to his instrumental pursuits, David is an avid conducting student who, in his spare time, has devoted himself to assembling ad-hoc orchestras.  If still offered spare time, David highly enjoys films, or his favorite TV show, the West Wing. 

Jena Gardner
Horn
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Jena Gardner is currently living and working as a freelance musician in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  From 2007-2010 she was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago where she had the privilege to perform under the baton of conductors Bernard Haitink, Pierre Boulez, Mark Elder, Esa-pekka Salonen and many others.

Recently, Jena completed her Master's Degree at Carnegie Mellon University under the guidance of Pittsburgh Symphony Principal horn, Bill Caballero.  She received her Bachelor's Degree from Northwestern University and studied with former Chicago Symphony member Gail Williams.

Jena has attended the New York String Orchestra Seminar as well as the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan. 

Victor Gomez
Tuba
Alta Gracia, Cordoba, Argentina
Houston, Texas, USA

Victor Gomez was born to Argentinean parents in Houston, Texas. He started performing at age twelve, initially on trumpet, and soon moved to the Tuba when he discovered its awesome power. Only when he learned the values of discipline and musicality from his mentor and tuba teacher David Allen did he begin to unleash his true potential and develop his dedication to music.

Victor is now a student of Mark J. Barton, and has also been privileged to learn from David Kirk,  Jim Desano, Jim Austin, and Brad White. While at the University, Victor won the Moores Concerto Competition and performed with its highest ensemble on their regional tour. Mr. Gomez has performed as a guest artist for various concerts at the Moores School of Music during his studies there.  He is also quite busy outside of school, having performed with both the Rafael Mendez Institute and Instrumenta Oaxaca, winning the “Brass Divison” of the chamber-music competition with his brass Quintet.  In 2008 Mr. Gomez played tuba with the rock band Weezer during their North American tour. He enjoys exploring the application of the tuba in many different genres and styles of music.

Mr. Gomez has played in and given master classes domestically as well as abroad in Ecuador, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Brazil. Victor now studies in Houston Texas and works as a freelance musician. He also enjoys having a competitive private low brass studio. 

Maggie Gould
Violin
Greenville, SC, USA

Violinist Maggie Gould is from Greenville, South Carolina. Since 2007, she has won the Carolina Youth Symphony Concerto Competition, second place in the MTNA competition, and placed as a finalist twice in the Greater Anderson Musical Arts Consortium Competition. Margaret has received the Emerson Scholar Award as well as the Fine Arts Award at the Interlochen Arts Camp. She has been selected as a National Symphony Fellow at the Kennedy Center, and selected to play in the National High School Honors Orchestra in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She received a full scholarship to attend Meadowmount in the summer of 2010.

Margaret has performed in masterclasses for Charles Castleman, Burton Kaplan, William Preucil, George Taylor, Elizabeth Adkins and Holly Hamilton. She is currently a student of Gerardo Ribeiro at Northwestern University. 

Adam Daniel Jones
Bass Trombone
Wichita, Kansas, USA

A native of Kansas, Bass Trombonist Adam Daniel Jones recently completed his Masters Degree Program at the New England Conservatory of Music. He also holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Wichita State University, graduating with Honors in 2007. While at WSU Mr. Jones was a featured soloist with the WSU Symphony Orchestra, Trombone Ensemble and Jazz Arts Ensemble. While residing in Boston, Mr. Jones was an active freelance musician, regularly performing with multiple area orchestras. Mr. Jones is currently the bass trombonist with The Wichita Grand Opera. He is an alumnus of the Aspen Music Festival and Pierre Monteux School. His principal teachers were Russ Widener, John Rojak and Douglas Yeo. Mr. Jones is also an avid photographer and scuba diver. 

Priscilla Rinehart
French Horn
Seminole, Florida, USA

Priscilla Rinehart attends The Juilliard School in New York City, and is studying French Horn Performance under William Purvis. She is a third year undergraduate student and performs with the Juilliard Orchestra, Opera Orchestra, and chamber ensembles. Ms. Rinehart is twenty one years old and graduated from Seminole High School in southwest Florida. While there she participated in All-State and All-County ensembles. Priscilla attributes her musical beginnings to her first private teacher, Carolyn Wahl, of The Florida Orchestra. Ms. Rinehart is expected to graduate in the spring of 2012, then begin a Master's degree. She is a recipient of the Irene Diamond Scholarship.

Joel Schut
Violin
Boulder, Colorado, USA 

Fascinated by music’s ability to connect people, places, ideas and communities, Joel Schut is active as a conductor, educator and violinist. Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, he began his training on piano and quickly developed a passion for making music. Joel is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance where he was awarded the Albert A. Stanley Medal, the school’s highest honor. As a conductor, he has served as Music Director of the Livingston Symphony Orchestra from 2007-2010 as well as founding director of the Detroit Medical Orchestra. As a violinist, Joel is a former member of the Flint Symphony Orchestra and a semi-finalist for the New World Symphony. He has performed with the Aspen Music Festival, the National Repertory Orchestra and the American Institute of Musical Studies Festival Orchestra in Graz, Austria. A passionate advocate for music education, Joel served as Orchestra Director at Saline High School in Saline, Michigan teaching a vibrant string program of over 160 students. Additionally, he has served as an American Music Ambassador on a Cultures in Harmony project in Tunisia. He is currently pursuing a masters degree in orchestral conducting at the University of Colorado-Boulder under the instruction of Gary Lewis. 

Michael Severance
Bassoon
San Francisco, California, USA 

Michael Severance is a 21-year-old bassoonist from San Francisco, California. He is currently studying bassoon with Kristin Wolfe Jensen at the University of Texas at Austin. He has won the Felix Khuner Concerto Competition and second prize in the Fremont Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition.

He has performed as a soloist in concerti with the Fremont Symphony Orchestra and the Prometheus Symphony Orchestra. He has performed in master classes of Frank Forst, Kathleen McLean, Jeff Robinson, Steve Wilson, Martin Kuuskmann, and the Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet.

He previously studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with Stephen Paulson, where he received awards for outstanding achievement in bassoon performance, musicianship, and music theory. 

Kevin Shannon
Trumpet
Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA 

Kevin Shannon is a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA and began playing the trumpet at the age of 9. After studying with Dr. Karl Sievers at the University of Oklahoma where he received his Bachelor of Music in 2009, Kevin received his Master of Music degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music in the Spring of 2011 under the instruction of Mr. Michael Sachs.

As a soloist, Mr. Shannon won the 2003 International Trumpet Guild Youth Competition in Fort Worth, Texas. As well as being a finalist in the National Trumpet Competition twice as a soloist in the high school and college solo divisions, Kevin was a member of the 2010 National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado, USA.

As a chamber musician, Kevin has performed with his brass quintet in master classes of the Cavani String Quartet and in local homeless shelters of Cleveland, Ohio.

Kevin enjoys reading, playing sports, learning the German language, and drinking coffee. His plans for next year are to move to Houston, Texas and to begin work on his Doctor of Musical Arts degree under the instruction of Mr. Jim Vassallo at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music.

Robin Su
Violin
Boulder, Colorado, USA

Robin Su is pursuing a double-degree at Oberlin College and Conservatory in Violin Performance and Hispanic Studies. A native of Colorado, and playing violin since age 8, she has gained her musical experience from various music festivals and orchestras including Aspen Music Festival Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific, and playing alongside members of Oberlin faculty, Colorado Symphony Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra. She is currently a student of Marilyn McDonald.

In addition, Robin recently spent four months in Cuba studying at the University of Havana and exploring various styles of Cuban music. She is now researching Latin American ethnomusicology, with an emphasis on the African Diaspora in the Americas.  

Ivy Wong
Double Bass
New York, USA/Hong Kong

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Ivy started playing the Double Bass at age ten.   She was the principal bass at the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra, Eastern Festival Symphony Orchestra, Purchase Symphony Orchestra, Belilios Symphony Orchestra, and others.  She came third in the Bass Solo competition (Senior) in Hong Kong School Music Festival.

In addition to participating in competitions, Ivy has toured with orchestras and choirs to music festivals around the world since she was ten.  In summer 2010, Ivy participated in Moritzburg Festival Academy in Germany.  She is currently studying with Timothy Cobb at State University of New York - Purchase College and double majoring in Arts Management.

Apart from playing the bass, Ivy is also a conductor, chamber pianist, and an A capella singer.  A natural collaborator and supporter of new music, Ivy is greatly in demand for chamber music alliances. She was honored as the “Musician of the Year” of Belilios Public School in 2007 and appointed as the Chairlady of the school’s Music Society shortly after.  Under her direction, the school orchestra has won championships in Hong Kong Youth Music Interflow Competition and Hong Kong School Music. 

Jennifer Zhou
Flute
Columbus, Ohio, USA 

A native of China, 18 year old Jennifer Zhou is a freshman flutist on full merit scholarship studying with Professor Bonita Boyd at the Eastman School of Music. Jennifer made her debut in Carnegie Hall in October 2010, as a result of being a First Prize Winner of the Alexander & Buono International Flute Competition. She has participated in many orchestras including the Aspen Music Festival Orchestras, Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, the 2008 American Strings Teacher Association National High School Honor Orchestra, and Interlochen World Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Jennifer was named a substitute for the 2010 New World Symphony and winner of the 2010 Yamaha Young Performing Artists for flute. She was the winner of the 2010 Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition and performed with COYO in Severance Hall on May 9, 2010. Zhou has garnered numerous awards including First Place in the 2009 National Flute Association High School Soloist Competition, YoungArts Honorable Mention Award by the 2010 National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts, and finalist for the 2010 Astral Artist National Auditions. She won the second annual “The President’s Own” Marine Band Concerto Competition and the opportunity to perform with the Marine Band in their Young People’s Concert. Zhou placed second in the 2009 MTNA Senior Woodwind Competition. She was featured on NPR’s From the Top. Jennifer was first place winner in the 2004 MTNA Junior Woodwind Competition as well as the COFA Junior and Senior Competitions.

Jennifer began her studies at the age of six. She has studied with Beth Owen (NCTM) and Martha Aarons (freelancing and former 2nd flute of The Cleveland Orchestra). Jennifer has attended the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Interlochen Center for the Arts, Oberlin Flute Institute, and Kennedy Center’s National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute. Upcoming engagements include a performance as a member of the 2011 YouTube Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House on March 20, 2011, and a solo performance with The Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall on April 26, 2011.