Hello all Phoenix Youth Symphony Organization Members!

Congratulations all PYS graduating seniors!  "Impressive" is an understatement for the achievements of this group.  They read like a "Who's Who" of high school graduates!

We are so fortunate to have such talented and successful students in our ensembles.  Their hard work and dedication greatly contribute to the high level of playing in the Phoenix Youth Symphony orchestras, and make them the outstanding ensembles that they are. 

Congratulations to parents, too!   All your hard work, sacrifice and dedication in supporting your children's academic and musical endeavors are greatly appreciated!

Below is a list of our seniors, their chosen college and major, and any awards or achievements they earned:

Youth Symphony: 

• Ryan Ban, Cello, New York University, Journalism
• Victor Beyens, Violin, Cleveland Institute of Music, Violin Performance; Institutional Scholarship, All State Orchestra 4 Years Award
• Courtney Bruce, Viola, Barrett Honors College, ASU, International Studies, business and math; AIMS Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship at ASU, North Canyon Dollars for Scholars
• David Celaya, Bassoon, College of William and Mary, Computer Science, Japanese, Spanish; AIMS Scholarship, U of A Wildcat Excellence Scholarship, ASU Provost's Scholarship, DU Provost's Scholarship, NHS, SHS
• Angel Chen, Violin, Cleveland Institute of Music, Violin Performance; CIM Institutional Scholarship, All State Orchestra 4 Years Award, National Orchestra Award, PYS Young Musicians Competition Grand Prize Winner
  
• Brooke Clason, Violin, Brigham Young University, International Relations; National Merit, full ride scholarship to BYU
• Chad Cole, Bass, ASU, Double Bass Performance; Special Talent Scholarship Music Audition
• Jeffrey Curry, Cello, ASU, Meteorology
• Eric Fleming, Bass, Berklee College of Music, Music Production or Film Scoring
• Katie Ann Franklin, Bassoon, Northern Arizona University, Speech Language/Hearing Disorders; AIMS Scholarship, NAU Presidential Scholarship
• Derek Goad, Viola, Cleveland Institute of Music, Viola Performance; Institutional Scholarship
• Jenna Goodrum, Oboe, University of Colorado, Boulder, Oboe Performance
• Brenna Goth, Viola, University of Arizona, Social Sciences; National Merit
• Joy Gunderson, Harp, St. Olaf College, Church Music; Music and academic scholarships from St. Olaf
• Quinlan Hamann, Viola, Calvin College, Asian Studies/Physics; Honors scholarship/Cayuan instrument scholarship/ Calvin music scholarship
• Booyeon Han, Violin, Princeton University, Chemistry/Pre-med; National Merit Finalist, AIMS Scholarship, Valedictorian, Presidential Scholar, Coca-Cola Scholars Program Semi-Finalist, TW Lewis Scholarship semi-finalist, Siemens AP Scholars Female State Winner
• Chris Kopp, Bass, Northern Arizona University
• Jillian LaCroix-Martin, Violin, University of Arizona, Pre-Med; Wildcat Excellence Award for Academic Achievement
• Sara Ludington, Bass, ASU, Music Education
• Andrew Ma, Violin, University of Arizona, Biochemistry; National Merit Finalist, AIA Scholar - Activity Participant of the Year Finalist, AIMS, Bonnevie Science Scholarship, Coca-Cola Scholars Semi-finalist, All-State Orchestra 4 years award
• Will Matloff, Cello, Rice or Vanderbilt, Engineering; National Merit Scholar, Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarhip, Rice Trustee Distinguished Scholarship
• Marco McKay, Viola, ASU, Music, maybe Foreign Language; AIMS Scholarship
• Jean Menefee, Viola, ASU, Music Education, Special Talent Scholarship
• Heather Merchut, Violin, Johns Hopkins, Neuroscience; AIMS Scholarship, U of A Wildcat Excellence Award
• Kele Missal, Viola, U of A, Music Education, Wildcat, Excellence Scholarship
• Jane Oliver, Percussion, NAU, Hotel/Restaurant Management/Music; AIMS Scholarship, National Honors Society honors, NAU & ASU President Scholarships
• Tyler Richardson, Trumpet, ASU, Music Performance and Education; AIMS Scholarship, University Scholarship
• Alex Rivera, Trombone, U of A, Music
• Nathan Rose, clarinet, Arizona State University (Music Education), Special
  Talent Music Award (ASU), John Philip Sousa Award
• John Russell, Violin, Pomona College, International Relations; National Merit Scholar, Presidential Scholar Candidate, President's Honors List (Paradise Valley Community College)
• Alex Schwartzstein, Double Bass, NAU, History; President's Scholarship
  
• Sarah Sejen, Trombone, U of A, Physics; U of A Wildcat Excellence Scholarship
• Matthew Smith, Cello, ASU, Cello Performance, ASU University Scholarship, Special Talent Scholarship
• Kelly Wagner, Trombone, ASU, Music Education; music scholarship
• Jessica Waithe, Trumpet, McGill University, Music Performance; McGill Entrance Scholarship

• Brian Bell, Violin, Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, Material Sciences; National Merit Commended Scholar, Academic Scholarship from Rose Hulman, IB Diploma
• Adam Clark, Trumpet, U of A, Music Education; 1st Chair Northwest Orchestra
• Stephanie Cole, Viola, U of A Honors College, Biology and Sociology; Achievement Above All Student, AIMS Scholarship, top 5%, Presidential Scholarship
• Becky Frawley, Oboe, University of Wyoming, Music Education; Peak Achievement Scholarship, Woodwind Scholarship, Freshman Orchestra Scholarship, all from Wyoming
• Jared Martin, Trombone, Harvard, Physics; National Merit Scholar, Valedictorian
• Brian Maurer, Violin, Harding University, Music Education & Music Therapy; All-American Scholar
• Spencer Nicholls, Violin, U of A, International Relations; Foreign Language Student of the Year
• Zach Sherman, Trombone, Cornell University, Engineering; National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar with Honors
• Mia Sorensen, Cello, Phoenix College transferring to UC Davis, Equine Veterinary Medicine
• Brian Srisamart, Violin, NAU, Violin Performance and Music Education; NAU Music Scholarship, NAU Merit Scholarship

• Luke Abella, Tuba, Mesa Community College, Music Education
• Gustav Brodman, Euphonium/Baritone, Stanford University, Undecided; National Merit Scholar
• Ryan Clark, Trumpet, U of A, Music, Bioengineering perhaps; Music Scholarship
• Jordan Ezzell, Baritone Saxophone, Harvey Mudd or University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Engineering; National Merit, "Academic Honoree," All-State, All-State Jazz
• Jimmy Gramp, Bassoon, Mesa Community College, Music
• Chas Leichner, Alto Saxophone, U of A, Mechanical Engineering & Electrical Engineering; National Merit, Full ride at U of A
• Beth Magerman, Horn, Barrett Honors College at ASU, Mechanical Engineering; National Merit Finalist, AIMS scholarship
• Jack Schwimmer, Alto Saxophone, ASU, Music Performance & Undecided; National Merit Finalist, Arizona Community Foundation Arts Scholars Program
• Courtney Springer, Flute, Mesa Community College, Undecided; Young Maistro award

 
Best of luck to all of you in your future endeavors!

Dana Faris
PYS President