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The "Back to BACH" Project
Students for the Arts!
Enrique Rodrigues
Member Since Fall 2014
Enrique Rodrigues is a student at Fair Lawn High School and is honored to be the first recipient for dual outstanding achievements in academics and music by the New Jersey Department of Education. Enrique was selected to travel to Miami as a 2019 National YoungArts Foundation Winner and engage in a week of masterclasses and performances with many of the nation’s most renowned artists. In addition, Enrique was invited to perform in Los Angeles on the National Public Radio’s From the Top radio show, and to record at the acclaimed Hollywood Studios in LA. He has been awarded top prizes at the Juilliard Concerto Competition, New Jersey ASTA Solo Strings Competition, NJMTA Young Musicians Competition, Shining Stars Debut Soloists & the Golden Key Music Festival. In 2015 and 2017, Enrique was invited as a recognized artist of the Juilliard Starling Delay Violin Symposium. In the summer of 2017, he studied at the Morningside Music Bridge Festival, receiving full scholarship. Enrique has given performances in prestigious venues at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Jordan Hall, New World Center, Merkin Hall as well as internationally at P.I Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Russia, and The University of Music, in Germany. Maestro Zubin Mehta, Joshua Bell and Midori Goto are a few among the illustrious musicians Enrique has had the immense opportunity to perform for.
Eilene Lee
Member Since Fall 2016
Eilene Lee, 14, is a freshman at Bergen County Academies, started violin at the age of 5. Eilene has been studying with Yu-Jeong Lee and currently is a student of Shirley Givens at The Juilliard School, pre-college division. Eilene has won prizes in several national and international violin competitions. She was the 1st prize winner at the YWCA New York Music Competition and NY International Music Concours in 2015 and a winner of the NLPA National Young Virtuosi Recital Competition in 2014. Other competition awards included are the KRB NY International Music Competition, the International Virtuoso competition, and the International Grande Music Competition, performing in Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie, as well as Merkin Hall in Kaufman Center. She has performed as a chamber musician as well, and won 1st prizes in several competitions including Camerata International Music Competition and East Coast International Music Competition. She has participated in several music programs including The Echo Music Festival and School, and The Saarburg International Music Festival and School in Saarburg, Germany. She enjoys playing in many orchestras that include the Bergen County Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (2011), New Jersey Region I Junior High School Orchestra (2015, 2016-Concertmaster), New York Youth Symphony Orchestra (September 2015 to May 2016), Juilliard Pre-college Symphony (2016 - current). She also volunteered at various charitable events with her chamber group and the Good Neighbor Ensemble.
Alba Olivares
Member Since January 2017
Alba is a 17 year old junior at Weehawken High School. She was a broadcaster at Radio Vision Cristiana from 2012-2013. Currently, she is a broadcaster as well as a production assistant at Radio Genesis which she started working in December of 2016. She can be heard at the “Following the Steps of Jesus” family hour. She is an active and passionate member of her church where she sings in the Tabernaculo de Reunion Choir, and is the videographer at her church. Takes theology classes on Mondays for 4 hours. She does missionary work serving food to the homeless. She is the secretary of the youth group at her church, and as well the social media promoter. At weehawken high school Alba is the secretary to "International Club" and is a member to a program "future teachers of America". Alba also enjoys sports. She is in the women’s Varsity volleyball team at Weehawken High School. She has participated in the Weehawken Volleyball Clinic in the summer of 2015- 2018 where she competed in tournaments against many Hudson County Schools. Alba is the first photographer/media assistant.
Heechan Ku
Member Since Fall 2017
Heechan Ku, 15, is a sophomore at Bergen County Academies, started cello at the age of 9. Heechan has been studying with Clara Kim at The Juilliard School, pre-college division. Heechan has won prizes in several national and international cello competitions. He was the 1st prize winner at the YWCA New York Music Competition, International Grande Music Competition, and a winner of the NJIO Concerto Competition, Camerata Artists International Competition. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, and Merkin Concert Hall, and Bruno Walter Auditorium in Lincoln Center on numerous occasions. He has performed as a chamber musician as well, and played in the Chamber Music Society program in 7th and 8th grade. He has also played in multiple orchestras that include the New Jersey Region I Junior High School Orchestra (2015-Principal Chair), Juilliard Pre-college Symphony (2015 - current), and his school orchestra. Heechan Ku will join the "Back to BACH" Project in fall 2017.
Daniel Son
Member Since Fall 2017
Daniel Son, 15, is a sophomore at Ridgewood High School. He is currently studying viola at The Juilliard School, Pre-College Division with Sophie Arbuckle. Daniel has performed at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and has been accepted to the New Jersey Region I Orchestra, as well as the New Jersey All-State Orchestra. He is also a member of the Good Neighbor Ensemble, which is a group that spreads love through music to senior homes across Northern New Jersey. Outside of music, Daniel enjoys to play sports such as soccer, lacrosse, and taekwondo. Additionally, he enjoys to write and has placed in the Scholastic Writing Competition. Daniel will join the "Back to BACH" Project in fall 2017.
Elli Choi
Member Since Winter 2017
Elli Choi is quickly establishing herself as one the most talented violinists of her
generation, has performed extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Asia
and Middle East at esteemed venues such as Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, David
Koch Theater, Carnegie Hall, Kimmel Center, Dvorak Hall in Rudolfinum, Tonhalle in
Zurich, Berliner Philharmonie, Grosser Saal in Salzburg, Abu Dhabi palace, Burj Khalifa
Dubai, De Doelen in Rotterdam. Elli is studying at the Juilliard Pre-College
since 2009, age of seven. has collaborated with members of New York Philharmonie,
Philadelphia Orchestra, Emirate Youth Symphony, Prag Youth Philharmonic. In
April 2018 Elli has been replaced for David Garret 2 concerts in Interlaken Classic
Festival, Switzerland. In September 2016, winner of Monaco-World Music Competition in Monte Carlo, performed Visiting Artist Concert Series ofYST Conservatory in Singapore. In 2015,1st prize at the Wieniawski Lipinski Competition, Grand Prix at the 11th Young
Virtuoso Competition in Sofia. Bulgaria leading to an engagement with Sofia
Philharmonic, invited to Le Festival Du Vigan in France 2017. Elli was the semi-finalist at International Violin Competition of Indianapolis 2018, the Menuhin Competition 2018, 2016, performed at the Vadim Repin Festival in Novosibirsk, Russia 2015.
Iris Sung
Member Since Fall 2018
Iris is an eighth grader at Tenafly Middle School. Since age 4, she has studied and performed both piano and violin. For the summer of 2018, she was selected as a soloist of the Vianden International Music Festival held in Luxembourg. In 2018, she has joined New York Youth Symphony as the youngest member of the first violin section. For June and July of 2019, she will perform in various cities in Spain with her string octet and orchestra during the NYYS Spain Tour. She is also a member of NJ Sinfonietta Youth Ensemble. Iris has performed as a soloist with the orchestra of Camerata New Jersey and the NV Chamber Orchestra. In 2016, she performed at a masterclass given by violinist James Buswell. She has won various awards, including first prize at the IGMC 2018, Gold Medal and first prize at 2018 National Young Maestro Competition, first prize at 2014 East Coast International Competition, second prizes at the 21st YWCA New York Music Competition, 2016-2017 VIVO Youth International Music Competition and 2016 Camerata Artists International Competition. Recently, Iris served in the background role of an orchestra member for the film, Protégé, directed by Warren Fischer, and produced by Tyler Ben-Amotz. Besides music, Iris loves swimming. At school, she is the co-captain of TMS Math Team, and enjoys pondering profound questions in philosophy club.
Henri Yoon
Member Since March 2019
Henri Yoon is a 15 year old cellist. He started the cello in 2012, at age 8. He’s been continuing his studies under the supervision of Clara Minhae Kim at Juilliard Pre-College now. He has received first place in such competitions as the YWCA Music Competition in 2018, the International Virtuoso Competition in 2018, NY international music competition and received second place in his age group in the Camerata Artists International Competition. He has performed at venues at Steinway Hall, Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center, Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Music Center, and at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. He is currently fresh man of Riverdale Country School in the Bronx. He found the student-run music ensemble group in School, he is also a member of math club and Varsity swim team.
Joshua Kim
Member Since March 2019
Joshua Kim, born in 2002, began playing the cello in second grade, and is currently studying under Seojin Yang. Throughout middle school and high school, he has been in the CJMEA orchestra and NJMEA orchestra, and was the principal cellist in 2019 for the Central Jersey orchestra. He has received the Grand Prix in the New York Concert Festival Concerto Competition, as well as other solo awards from the VIVO International Music, the Golden Era of International Music, and the KRB Music competitions. During the summer of 2018, he attended the Summit Music Festival, and in 2019, he will attend Interlochen. In addition, Joshua runs a group in his town called Vivace, where he and a group of students perform music for various people in nursing homes. He is also a member of his town’s First Aid and Rescue Squad, where he lends his aid to those who need it. Joshua Kim is currently a junior at High Technology High School in Lincroft, NJ, the #1 STEM high school in the nation, and is part of the Technology Student Association.
Ashley Park
Member Since April 2019
15 year old violist Ashley Park attends Palisades Park Jr./Sr. High School. She began her viola journey at the age of 12. Ashley studies under the tutelage of Elizabeth Chang at the Pre-College division of The Juilliard School. Before learning the viola, Ashley had played the piano for almost 10 years. While studying the piano she has won first prize in the New York International Music Competition. Ashley has performed with the Union City Philharmonic from winning the Hudson Concerto Competition. Some viola awards Ashley has won includes Manhattan International Music Competition 1st prize and New York International Music Competition 1st prize. Recently, Ashley received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Congresswoman Grace Meng. Ashley has also participated in the All-North Jersey JHS Regional orchestra as well as the New Jersey All State orchestra as the principal. She was also a finalist and winner of the Chamber Music Society. In her spare time, Ashley is part of the volleyball team and drama club at school.
Iris Hur
Member Since April 2019
Iris Hur is a 12 year-old violist, started viola at the age of 7. She was accepted into Juilliard Precollege at age of 11. She has been studying viola with Hsin-Yun Huang, Yi-Fang Huang and Molly Carr. She has won various awards, including 1st prize at 2013 New York Artist International Music Competition, 1st prize at 2014/2015 East Coast International Competition, 1st prize at 2015 New York International Music Concours, Grand prize at 2015 Manhattan International Music Competition, 1st prize at 2016 VIVO International Music Competition, 1st prize at 2018 International Grand Music Competition. Iris has performed as a soloist with 1660 radio Korea symphony orchestra. She has performed at the Isaac Stern Hall of Carnegie, Merkin Concert Hall and Bruno Walter Auditorium in Lincoln Center. As a chamber musician she attended the KRB music competition. During her summer, she has attended Heifetz PEG summer music festival. She is also a member of "Show Me Your Hearts Foundation", where she performs at the Hackensack Children's Hospital, participating in fundraising events towards cancer patients. In her spare time, she enjoyed swimming and drawing and decorating her room.
Jordan Paik
Member Since September 2018
Jordan Paik, 16, is a sophomore at Ramsey High School and began playing the clarinet at 11 years old. She has participated in Bergen County Band since the eighth grade and has been in Region Band since seventh grade. She is also a part of her school marching band, as well as the Honors Band Wind Ensemble where she is first chair. Jordan is also a member of her school drama club in which she is an active participant as both an actress in all plays, and a musician in the pit. She was also invited to join the International Thespian Society and was accepted into the Penn State Honors Music Institute. She has received many recognition awards for her musical achievements, as well as the President’s Volunteer Service Award from the Metropolitan Youth Ensemble. Jordan is also the president and founder of the Grace Notes Ensemble.
Myra Cui
Member Since Winter 2019
Myra Cui is a sophomore at River Dell High School in New Jersey. She has been playing the violin since age 5 and has previously studied with Ms. Minji Kwon. She is currently a student of Naoko Tanaka at the Juilliard School Pre-College Division. Myra has received top awards from competitions such as the International Virtuoso Competition, Vivo International Music Competition, NJMTA Young Musicians Competition, MTNA Student Performance Competition, Camerata Artists International Competition, International Grande Music Competition, among others. She has played in major venues including the Isaac Stern Auditorium, Weill Recital Hall, and Merkin Concert Hall. Myra was a member of the New York Youth Symphony Orchestra for two years. She joined both orchestra and chamber performances during the NYYS 2019 Spain Tour. Besides music, Myra enjoys swimming, traveling, coding and volunteering. Myra will be joining the Back to BACH Project in the fall of 2019.
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