The Clear Lake Symphony held its annual Youth Concerto Competition on January 7 & 8, 2023 for young artists from Houston area high schools, junior highs, and elementary schools. The winners will be provided with a scholarship and will perform as a featured soloist with the Clear Lake Symphony at the March 24th, 2023 concert at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church at 18220 Upper Bay Road, in Nassau Bay. A total of forty three (43) contestants participated in this year’s competition.
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Pictured from left to right: Takeru Nihara, Maureen Min, Catherine Lawson, Quynn McCoy, Aaron Zhu and Wendy Zhou
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Quynn McCoy (Oboe) Winner, Junior Wind Division
Handel – “Sonata No. 1, Mvt. I & II”
Quynn is the daughter of Matthew and Alice McCoy. She is currently in 8th grade (age 13) at Seabrook Intermediate School in Clear Creek ISD. She has studied oboe for 2 years and her music teacher is Ashley Guillot.
Quynn’s musical achievements are: 2022 Region Band – 1st Chair, Region Band – 5th Chair in 2021 and Gold medal in solo and ensemble contest.
Quynn also plays violin and would say she is accomplished. She runs cross country for her school. Quynn hopes to use her instruments to earn scholarships and hopefully go to Duke. She wants to study medicine, but not sure yet what area of specialization.
Catherine Lawson (Trombone) Winner, Senior Wind Division
Jacob – “Trombone Concerto for Denis Wick, Mvt. I”
Catherine is the daughter of Curtis and Amy Lawson. She is a currently a Junior (age 17) at Kinder High School for Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. She has studied trombone for 7 years and her music teacher is Thomas Hulten.
Catherine’s musical achievements are: 2023 All-State Band. Jazz Houston Youth Orchestra in 2021 to present and 1st Chair placement in region jazz, orchestra, band, and area competitions.
Catherine enjoys geology and other activities outside, such as hunting and exploring. She also loves to bake and spend time with her family, friends and pets.
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Wendy Zhou (Piano), Winner, Junior Piano Division
Mozart – “Piano Concerto No. 23, Mvt III“
Wendy is the daughter of Peilin Yang & Jun Zhou. She is the 4th grade (age 9) at Keiko Davidson Elementary School in Katy ISD. She has studied piano for 5 years and is a student of Professor Timothy Hester.
Wendy’s musical achievements are: Gold Medal in the Twelfth International Chopin Youth Competition in 2021, 1st Place in the Rochelle Liebling Kahan Child Piano Prodigies Competition in 2020 and 3rd Prize in the Houston International Music Competition in 2021.
Wendy, other than playing the piano, also enjoys swimming, reading, gymnastics and art.
Aaron Zhu (Piano), Winner, Senior Piano Division
Rachmaninoff – “Piano Concerto No. 1 in F# minor, Mvt. I”
Aaron is the son of Hailing Zang & Guozhong Zhu. He is a Junior (age 16) at Seven Lakes High School in Katy ISD. He has been studying piano for 8 years and his previous music teacher was Douglas Rose and his current music teachers are John & Nancy Weems.
Aaron’s musical achievements are: Canadian Music Competition National Round – 3rd place (2019) & 5th Place (2022) and Edmonton Kawanis Music Festival Scholarship winner (2016-2019).
In addition to music, Aaron greatly enjoys reading, writing, and solving crosswords. He has an interest in the biomedical and neurological sciences, hoping to pursue these studies in a university alongside the continued development of his musical and pianistic capacities.
Honorable Mention – Fu Chen
Liszt – “Piano Concerto No. 1 in F# Minor, Op. 1, Mvt. I”
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Maureen Min (Violin), Winner, Junior String Division
Wieniawski – “Violin Concerto No. 2, Mvt. I”
Maureen is the daughter of Mikyoung Jun & Hank Min. She is currently a Freshman (age 14) at The Kinkaid School for the Performing Arts. She has been studying violin for 8 years and is the student of Dr. Mauricio Oliveros.
Maureen’s musical achievements are: 2nd Place in the 23rd Annual Immanuel and Helen B. Olshan Foundation Concerto Competition, she became a Houston Young Artist for 2022-2023 and ranked Number One in 2021 TMEA Region 27.
Maureen enjoys musical theater, running cross-country, and playing tennis alongside with playing the violin. She hopes to become a dermatologist in the future, and she also wants to minor in violin performance in college to continue her musical journey forward.
1st Honorable Mention – Alvin Zhou (Cello)
Saint-Saens – “Cello Concerto in A Minor, Op. 33, Mvt I-III”
2nd Honorable Mention – Arjun Chandupatla (Violin)
Sibelius – “Violin Concerto in D Minor, Mvt. III”
Takeru Niihara (Violin), Winner, Senior String Division
Sibelius – “Violin Concerto, Op. 47, Mvt. I”
Takeru is a Junior (age 17) at Kinder High School for the Performing Arts. He has been studying violin for 13 years and his initial music studies were in Japan and his current music teacher is Dr. Kirsten Yon.
Takeru’s musical achievement are: Liberec International Violin Academy, Madeline Island Chamber Music, Bowdoin International Music Festival. Concertmaster Region Orchestra (2021), Associate Concertmaster TMEA All-State Symphony (2022), HSPVA Concerto Competition Winner (2022) and Coltman Chamber Music Competition quartet semi-finalist (2022).
In Takeru’s free time, he loves to build plastic models.
Honorable Mention – Madeleine Hearn (Cello)
Elgar – “Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85, Mvt. I”
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Thank You Melodie Shelton!
Many thanks go to Competition Co-Coordinator, Melodie Shelton for her tireless work to put this competition and concert together. A big thank you also goes to their committee who helped during the competition and the judges on January 7 & 8, 2023.
A fine job was done by the competition Judges. This year’s judges were the following:
Dr. Charles Johnson
• Music Director & Conductor – Clear Lake Symphony
• Violist – Houston Ballet Orchestra (retired)
Robert Wall
• Associate Conductor – Clear Lake Symphony
• Orchestra Director – University Baptist Church
• Principal Clarinetist – Clear Lake Symphony
Michael Smith
• Band Director – retired
• French Horn player – Clear Lake Symphony
Dr. So Yoon Lee
• Piano Professor – Lone Star College
Dr. Charles Johnson
• Music Director & Conductor – Clear Lake Symphony
• Violist – Houston Ballet Orchestra (retired)
Bart Morrison
• Worship Pastor – University Baptist Church
• Pianist, Organist
Fernando Medina-Caceres
• Concertmaster – Clear Lake Symphony
• Orchestra Director – Fort Bend ISD
Sara Styskel
• Orchestra Director – Clear Creek ISD
• Cellist – Clear Lake Symphony
Megan Miller
• Adjunct Strings Instructor – College of the Mainland
• Music Director – St. Mary’s Catholic School
• Violist – Clear Lake Symphony
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