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The "Back to BACH" Project
Students for the Arts!
Isabelle Choi
Member Since Fall 2017
Isabelle Choi is a junior at Reservoir High School in Fulton, Maryland and began playing the flute at age 9. She is currently the principal flutist of the Bethel Emmanuel Youth Orchestra, which has performed at the Mercy hospital and the Lorien Senior Center. She was principal flutist of the Howard County High School Gifted and Talented Orchestra and was a member from 2016-2018, performing with the BSO at the Meyerhoff and at the Kennedy Center. Additionally, Isabelle is a member of the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra and was selected to perform for the BSO's 100th Anniversary Celebration. In 2012, Isabelle placed first in the Greater Columbia Music Teachers Association Competition and in 2014, second place in the Greater Columbia and Laurel Music Teachers Association Ensemble and Chamber Music Competition. In 2015, she placed second performing in a trio at the Greater Laurel Music Teachers Association Ensemble Festival. Isabelle has participated in the 2013, 2015, and 2016 Howard County Gifted and Talented Bands and in the Maryland All State Band for the past four years. In addition to playing the flute, Isabelle has been an avid Girl Scout since kindergarten and has earned her bronze and silver awards. She is very grateful to be able to perform and spread her love of music with children. Isabelle will assume the role of R.D. in the fall of 2019.
Member Since Fall 2018
Justin Yi
Justin Yi, a 9th grade student in Poolesville HS, loves playing classical viola. To push himself and become better he participates in International Competitions such as American Protege. He likes to apply his service activities through musical performances. He was a member of MYCO for 4 years, AYPO for 2 years, and NLF for 6 years. Currently he is principal chair of AYPO and NLF Orchestra. He was rewarded with the Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2016 and 2017. He has won many competitions, in 2014 WPAS 1st placed, 2015 American Protege Young Musicians 3rd placed, 2015 Crescendo International Music Competition 1st placed, 2016 WPAS 1st placed, 2016 American Protege Young Musician second placed, 2016 YMIC International Competition 3rd placed, 2017 CAI Virtuoso Competition 1st placed, 2017 CAI Maestro Competition 1st place, 2017 WPAS Competition 1st placed, and 2017 YMIC International Competition 3rd placed. Justin has also won many medals in national swim meets. He is currently in RMSC on the National Team Group. In his spare time, Justin enjoys reading books and playing sports with his friends.
Gloria Cai
Member Since Fall 2018
Gloria Cai, a junior at Marriotts Ridge High School, began studying piano at age four with Ms. Yuhua Gu. She has won numerous prizes in competitions, including first prize of the International Young Artist Piano Competition, second prize of the American Protege International Competition of Romantic Music, Eastern Division finalist of the MTNA Senior Piano Competition, and first prize of Gertrude S. Brown Memorial Concerto Competition, and more. Gloria has performed as a piano soloist at many prestigious venues, including the Carnegie Weill Recital Hall and the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. In addition, she has collaborated with professional orchestras such as the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra and the Howard County Concert Orchestra. Most recently, she was awarded the LTCL Piano Performance Diploma by the Trinity London College. Besides piano, Gloria studies cello at the Peabody Performance Academy with Ms. Wonhee Kim. She has won top prizes in the MSMTA Unaccompanied Bach Competition, the Rockville Competition, and the Jack Weaver Memorial Competition. She has been selected as assistant principal of the Maryland All State Orchestra, principal of the Howard County GT Orchestras, and is a member of the Peabody Youth Orchestra and NYO2 2019. Besides music, Gloria enjoys coding, volunteering, and hanging out with her friends. She loves working with children and is excited to share her passion for music through the “Back to Bach” project.
Sean Yu
Member Since Fall 2018
Sean is a sophomore at Marriotts Ridge High School in Howard County, Maryland. He started the cello in third grade and has been studying with cellist Won-hee Kim ever since. He has won the MSMTA Bach Competition and has earned honorable mentions in the Columbia orchestra Concerto competition. In the summer of 2018, he applied to be apart of Interlochen and Curtis summer festivals, but ultimately participated in the National Youth Orchestra 2 (NYO2). During the school year, Sean participates in the Howard County Gifted and Talented Symphony Orchestra (HSGTSO). In addition to HSGTSO, he has participated in the Maryland Allstate Junior Orchestra the past three years and looks to move up to the Senior orchestra this year. This year, Sean looks forward to being able to share his gift with younger students.
Daniel Hwang
Member Since Winter 2018
Daniel Hwang, 15, is a sophomore at Wootton High School in Rockville, MD. He studies violin with Dr. James Stern. Daniel has been playing for the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra since 2014, and is currently a member of Philharmonic Orchestra as a first violinist. Daniel has received numerous awards including first place in the Metropolitan Music Festival, winner of Rockville Competition, first place in the State Solo and Ensemble Festival, and first place in the National Gospel Competition. Daniel has also won second place in the MSMTA Spring Festival and third place in the Washington National Youth Competition. He has been a soloist for Maryland All State Orchestra and Concertmaster of the National Philharmonic Summer Institute with full scholarship. He has also participated in master classes with Ilmar Gavilan, Roberto Valdes, and Melissa White. Daniel is part of Tunet String Quartet in the MCYO Chamber Music Program, which is coached by Colin Sorgi and Dietrich Paredes. His quartet was invited to a masterclass with Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Atlantic String Quartet, and also won second place at the Metropolitan Music Festival. In addition, Daniel regularly volunteers for Young Musicians Inspiring Change (YMIC) and this is his fifth year as a volunteer. Daniel has also received two Presidential Awards for outstanding community service. Aside from music, Daniel enjoys playing football and frisbee. He is excited to join the Back to Bach Project and share music with other students.
Hawon Lee
Member Since January 2019
Hawon Lee is a 9th grader at Montgomery Blair High School. She has played the violin since the age of 8 and is a student of Ms. Yoojin Baik. She has placed 1st place of the Intermediate Violin section and received the Tutorial Study Awards in the 47th Annual Joseph and Goldie Feder Memorial String Competition. Hawon has also won several prizes from the Maryland State Music Teachers Association (MSMTA) competitions, Young Musician Inspiring Change (YMIC) International Competitions, and the 2017 Concert Artists International Virtuoso Competition II. She has played violin at Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra (MCYO) since she was in 4th grade and has played in All County/All State Junior Strings Orchestras. She has been the concert master of MCYO Chamber Strings, Young Artists, and Symphony for MCYO. She has also participated in a master class with Hilary Hahn. Hawon enjoys serving the community with her musical talent and plays music at nursing homes and hospitals as a member of Young Musicians Inspiring Change (YMIC) and the Tacy Foundation. In her free time, Hawon enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, and painting.
Tracie Kwon
Member Since January 2016
Tracie Kwon is a senior at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, Maryland. She has been studying flute with Dr. Michelle Cho for nine years. Tracie is currently the principal flutist in New Life Youth Orchestra, and through several musical mission trips to South Korea, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Cuba, has been able to experience the joy music can bring to herself and others. Tracie has won gold prize at the INPASS Music and Arts Festival and first place in the Honors Competition hosted by Flute Society of Washington at the Mid-Atlantic Flute Fair. She was selected to perform at Alden Theatre as a result of the Young Soloists Competition, and also won second place in the United States Navy Band Young Artist Solo Competition and grand prize in the Young Musicians Inspiring Change Competition in 2016. During the summers of 2016 and 2018, she participated in National Youth Orchestra 2 hosted by Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute. Other than music, Tracie enjoys volunteering and traveling. She especially loves to work with and teach children, and is so thankful for this opportunity to share music with young children through Back to BACH. Tracie joined the Back to Bach Project in the fall of 2016. She assumed responsibilities of co-regional director in the fall of 2018.
Amy Hwang
Member Since January 2016
Amy Hwang, 15, is a sophomore at Glenelg High School She started studying the flute at age 6, and currently studies with Mrs. Leah Arsenault Barrick. Amy received Grand Prize in the Washington National Youth Music Competition. She has also received First Prize in the Columbia Orchestra Concerto Competition, the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, the Asian American Music Society International Competition, the Friday Morning Music Club’s Ross-Roberts Competition, and the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) State and Eastern Division Competitions. She has also won top prizes at the MTNA National Competition, the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra (BSYO) Concerto Competition, and the YMIC International Competition. Amy was the principal flautist of the 2019 Maryland Junior All-State Band. She has also been principal flautist of the Howard County High School Gifted and Talented Symphony Orchestra (2019 and 2020) and is also a rotating flautist in the top orchestra of the BSYO program (2019 and 2020). Amy has performed in Carnegie Hall and also as a featured soloist with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra, the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, and the BSYO, and has also performed with the YouTube channel TwoSet Violin and taken a masterclass with Ms. Jasmine Choi. Outside of flute, Amy is the Co-President of the Speech and Debate Club at her school and a black belt in Taekwondo.
Sarah Cho
Member Since Fall 2019
Sarah Cho, 14, is a freshman at Poolesville High School’s Global Ecology house. She has been playing piano for 10 years. She gave her first public performance at the age of 6 and won her first statewide competition at the age of 9. She has placed first, third, and honorable mention in the MSMTA spring festivals. She has placed first place and second place at the Rockville Competitions. She was even a top winner and got to perform at the Winners Concert at Montgomery College for the Rockville Competition. She has won first place at the Metropolitan Music Festival. She has won the gold award at the National Gospel Music Festival. She has also won 2nd prize at the YMIC International Competition and had the opportunity to perform at the DC Piano Festival as a guest. She has passed the National Guild Auditions for 8 years. She has been an international member, a national member, a state member, and a district member. Sarah has also won the Early Bach Award. She has passed 3 theory level tests from the MSMTA as well. Aside from piano, Sarah enjoys shopping and hanging out with friends.
Allen Yoo
Member Since Fall 2019
Allen Yoo, 14 years old, is a freshman at Winston Churchill High School and has been studying the cello since the 2nd grade. He has been a member of the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra for 7 years, earning top seats there. In 2017-2018, he was the principal of the MCYO Young Artists and joined MCYO Chamber Music Program. Currently, he is co-principal of the MCYO Chamber Ensemble. He was the principal of Herbert Hoover Middle School’s top orchestra and was placed into Winston Churchill High School’s top orchestra. Allen’s awards include earning gold at the President's Volunteer Service Award, winning both the MSMTA & ASTA Strings Plus Ensemble and Solo String Festivals, placing second at the YMIC Metropolitan Competition for both solo and quartet performances, and performing with the Montgomery County Philharmonic Orchestra as the winner of the Bernie Rappaport Young Musician Concerto Competition. Recently, he performed at Carnegie Hall as a winner of YMIC’s Young Artists Audition. Allen has completed his ASTACAP for levels 4-7 with honors. He participated in several summer music camps like the Blue Mountain Music Festival and the National Philharmonic Senior Summer String Institute Allen participates in community work with New Life Youth Orchestra by sharing his love for music with the underprivileged and Young Musicians Inspiring Change by showcasing his musical talents at numerous nursing homes and benefit concerts.
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