The "Back to BACH" Project
Students for the Arts!
Albert Hwang
Member Since Fall 2018
Albert is currently a sophomore at Torrey Pines High School and has been playing trumpet for about two and a half years. Currently, Albert is the youngest wind player of the San Diego Youth Symphony's Ovation Program. While at SDYS, Albert has performed repertoire such as Scheherazade, An American in Paris, Tchaikovsky Symphony 4, Overture to Candide, Galop, and Huapango. Albert was also the third chair in the San Dieguito Union High School District Honor Band. Before SDYS, Albert was the principal trumpet of the New Youth Orchestra's Concert Band, and Albert is currently in the Torrey Pines High School Wind Ensemble. Albert has studied with notable trumpet players, including his current instructor Ray Nowak, former-SDSO Principal Trumpet Micah Wilkinson (now Principal Trumpet in Pittsburgh), and John Wilds. Albert is set to join the "Back to BACH" team in the fall of 2018.
Megan Peng
Member Since Fall 2018
San Diego, CA Region
Megan Peng is currently a freshman at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego. Megan started playing the viola at the age of eight. She is currently an assistant principal violist in the San Diego Youth Symphony's Ovation program, and she was also the principal violist in San Diego Youth Symphony Showcase Program for two years previously. In those years, Megan has participated in the Youth Symphony’s leadership quartet. She was chosen to play in many selective orchestras, such as Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) Honor Orchestra and Community Youth Orchestra of Southern California and performed at Segerstrom Hall and Disneyland multiple times with these ensembles. Megan also played in Pacific Symphony’s Santiago Strings which received a unanimous superior rating from American Strings Teachers Association (ASTA) and served as principal violist at Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association (SCSBOA) Honor Group, and California Orchestra Director’s Association (CODA) All-State Orchestra. Individually, Megan was the recipient of many awards for her solo performance such as first place in Diamond Bar Performance Arts Competition (DBPAC), first place in an open competition at the Southwestern Youth Music Festival (SYMF), second place in Lansum International Music Festival, and most recently a finalist in San Diego Youth Symphony’s Concerto Competition. When Megan isn’t playing the viola, she also enjoys playing tennis and spending time with her friends.
Josephine Kim
Member Since Fall 2018
San Diego, CA Region
Josephine Kim is a sophomore at Torrey Pines High School and began learning the cello at age 12. She has participated in competitions like the Austin Symphony Youth Competition 2015, the 8th Young Musicians Festival Competition, and CAPMT Young Artists Competition. She was granted the Distinction Award from the ABRSM Piano Exam. In 2016, Josephine moved to California, joined the New Youth Orchestra of San Diego, currently in the assistant principal cellist position, and afterward made the 2017 SCSBOA All-Southern Middle School Honor String Orchestra. Later that year, she made 2017 CODA Junior High All-State Orchestra and was placed third in the cello section for the state of California. Josephine finished the year as principal cellist of the advanced chamber orchestra of Carmel Valley Middle School and was a finalist for the Director’s Award. Josephine was a first place winner in the American Protégé International Music Talent Competition 2017 a third place winner in the American Protégé International Competition of Romantic Music 2017. She has performed in the Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall in New York City. Later in 2017, she won first place in the NYO Solo Competition 2017. In addition, she was a third place winner in the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition 2018. In early January, Josephine made the 2018 CODA High School All-
State Symphony Orchestra. Josephine is part of her school’s advanced orchestra and plays her cello for nursing homes and the Ronald McDonald House. Aside from cello, she enjoys playing badminton with her school team, participating in science and math competitions, and volunteering at Scripps Hospital and Red Cross. Josephine is set to join the "Back to BACH" team in the fall of 2018.
Laura Yu
Member Since Fall 2018
San Diego, CA Region
Laura is currently a senior at Torrey Pines High School and began playing at the age of 5. She began developing her passion for piano in her elementary school years when her piano teacher began giving her more lyrical pieces like Tchaikovsky’s Barcarolle. She currently dedicates most of her time working on expanding her repertoire; she also has been accompanying her school's choir for about three years now. She recently began participating in local MTAC competitions and has been a branch and regional winner in Southern California Junior Bach Festival. She has also participated in the MTAC Panel auditions. Laura is set to join the "Back to BACH" project in the fall of 2018.
Jacey Yang
Member Since Fall 2018
San Diego, CA Region
Jacey Yang is a senior at Torrey Pines High School. She began playing the violin at the age of 5 and currently studies with Hernan Constantino. She is the assistant concertmaster of the Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra and the concertmistress of the Torrey Pines High School Advanced Orchestra. Jacey has won numerous awards such as 1st alternate in the 2017 VOCE State Finals, 1st place in the 2015 and 2017 San Diego VOCE Competition, and 2nd place in the 2018 MTAC San Diego Concerto Competition. She also received 2nd place in the 2017 American Protégé International Concerto Competition and performed in the winners’ recital at Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall. In addition, Jacey participated in masterclasses with William Preucil. This summer, she will participate in the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Summer Music Institute on full scholarship at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. In the summer of 2016, she participated in the Montecito International Music Festival on a merit scholarship. In the fall of 2017, she founded Appassionata Music Club at her school, where she organizes and performs in outreach concerts at retirement homes across San Diego. Outside of music, Jacey enjoys teaching kids about science at her local library as part of the Scientists and Engineers for Tomorrow Club and is a coordinator for Journal of Youths in Science, her school’s science magazine. Jacey is set to start in the fall of 2018.
Sarah Wu
Member Since May 2018
San Diego, CA Region