The 2008/2009 Menges Scholarship Award Winners

	Ji-Won Song
	Born in South Korea , 15-year-old Ji-Won Song was a student in the Pre-college Division of the Korean National University of the Arts, where she studied violin with Nam-Yun Kim and Bon-Jiu Koo. Ji-Won began her musical study at age 5. In Korea , she won many well-known awards. She was chosen to participate in the Kumho Prodigy Concert. She performed as a soloist with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and Kangnam Philharmonic Orchestra. After moving to the U.S., (2003), she performed violin concerto in ENCORE anniversary concert with ENCORE string orchestra. She performed as a soloist of Cleveland Institute of Music at the Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts, Washington DC for the conservatory project. As the youngest competitor at age of 12, she won 2nd place in the Junior Bowed Instrument Concerto category at the 24th annual Kingsville International Competitions. She was featured as a soloist with Asheville Symphony Orchestra. She performed with Suburban Symphony Orchestra. She performed with Wheeling Symphony. She was also a winner of Philadelphia Orchestra's Greenfield Competition 2008. She was a 2nd place winner at Stulberg International Competition. She had a successful recital at Fontana Chamber Arts at Michigan . She was concertmaster of Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. She was presented in newspapers including Sun Press, Asheville Citizen-Times, The Dominion Post, and Caller-Times. She was also featured in NBC News being interviewed. She was enrolled in Preparatory Division of the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying violin with David Cerone, the president of the Cleveland Institute of Music (2003-2007). She was accepted to Curtis Institute of Music at age of 14. She is now studying with Victor Danchenko.
	Hannah Lam
	Hannah Lam is ten years old and currently studies with Philadelphia Orchestra violinist Hirono Oka, and Ghislaine Fleischmann. Previous teachers include Susan Jarvis of the New England Conservatory of Music, and Gerry Rice. She began playing the violin at age 6, and at age 8 was selected as a first violinist in the Suzuki Youth Orchestra of the Americas during the SAA’s 12th Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She joined Temple University’s Center for Gifted Young Musicians in 2005, and this past year played in its Baroque Ensemble and a string quartet. She also became a recipient of the Dorothy Richard Starling Scholarship at Temple Music Prep. In the spring of 2009, Hannah will be performing with the Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey during its annual Children’s Concert. In addition to music, Hannah enjoys fencing, swimming and Latin.
	Emeline Chong
	I began my study of bassoon at the age of ten (grade 4) with Christine Stahl, a student of Shirley Curtis. Christine taught me the basics of fingering, sound production, and musicianship. When she went to college at Princeton, I began to study bassoon with Michelle Rosen, a graduate of Curtis, Eastman, and the Juilliard Pre-college. Shortly after that, due to distance to travel for lessons with Ms. Rosen, I began to work with Mark Gigliotti, bassoonist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and graduate of Curtis Institute. Mr. Gigliotti has been my teacher since I was about eleven (grade 5). He has helped me to develop my technique and my expression, and to become a true musician. I won first place in the Tri-County Youth Festival Competition for Junior winds in 2005, and played in recital at their festival. I also won first place in the Tri-County Senior Winds Division in 2007, and played in recital that year. I have participated as section leader in the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra, and am currently a member of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, where I play bassoon. I have studied chamber music at the Settlement Music School for several years, and currently am studying under the guidance of Shirley Curtis in quintet ensemble. I have also been awarded scholarships to attend summer music camps at the Kimmel Center for two summers. Last spring I was accepted at the Juilliard Pre-college, but took a leave of absence due to illness in the family.
	Daniel Kim
	Daniel Kim is 10 years old and has been studying the violin since he was 4 with Julian Meyer. He currently studies with Julian Meyer and Helen Kwalwasser. Daniel is a recipient of a Dorothy Richard Starling Scholarship at Temple Music Prep where he is a member of the Baroque Players Orchestra and Ensemble. He has performed at numerous public concerts for community services as well as during Temple Music Prep’s recital hours. In 2006, Daniel was the 2nd place winner of the primary division in a music competition sponsored by the Korean Musicians Association of Philadelphia. Daniel is a gifted student at the Wallingford Elementary School and enjoys playing soccer on a travel team as well as in a trio with his brother and sister.
	Madeline Gralish
	Madeline Gralish is a 17-year-old senior at Haddonfield Memorial High School in Haddonfield, New Jersey. She began studying the violin at the age of 5 and is currently a student of Hirono Oka. Madeline is in her 4th year as concertmaster of the Philadelphia Sinfonia Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. In summer 2007, she toured the Czech Republic and Poland with Sinfonia, playing three concerts in Prague, Teplice, and Krakow, and she will participate in Sinfonia’s Argentina tour in summer 2009. Festivals and chamber music camps she has attended include the Bowdoin International Music Festival, where she studied with Joan Kwuon, the Kimmel Center Chamber Music Camp, Point CounterPoint, Music in the Mountains, and the Strings International Music Festival. Madeline is a member of the Gray Charitable Trust Piano Trio (an Advanced Study Scholarship chamber group coached by Diane Monroe) at Settlement Music School. Madeline plays with the Orchestra Society of Philadelphia and will perform as a soloist with the Olney Symphony and the Ambler Symphony. In her free time, Madeline enjoys reading, practicing her French and Spanish, listening to music, and spending time with her friends. She resides in Haddonfield with her parents, younger brother, Jesse, four cats, and a dog.
	Christine Kim
	Christine Kim is 13 years old, and she started to play the piano at a very young age. She began her studies with two different teachers before she met Mrs. Clarfield. She has studied with Mrs. Clarfield for about three years. Recently Christine has won the Westchester Piano Competition for 2008, and placed for third. She has also won the American Fine Arts Festival and debuted in Carnegie Hall. Not only that, she has won NJMTA 2008 Spring Competition, and the Piano Teacher’s Congress. In spring 2008, Ms. Kim has won the Ambler Symphony Orchestra Competition, and will be performing with the symphony in February. In November of 2005 and 2006, Christine won second and third prize in the Annual Competition sponsored by NJMTA. As a winner in the Cecilian Club Young Musicians Competition 2005 and 2006, she was invited to perform at Alice Tully Hall, in Lincoln Center New York. She also won the Korean American Young Musician's Competitions. In 2007, she won third prize for the NJMTA fall competitions, and was given the title “Honorable Mention” in the MTNA competition. Recently, she has been awarded honorable mention for the 1st Annual Bravura Philharmonic Young Artists Competition. She has won many other competitions such as the Young Artists Concerto Competition, Piano Teachers of Congress, and many more. Not just that, she was awarded for her great performance in the Talent show at her school. Also she has contributed by playing some of her repertoire for the Hope for Henry Foundation. Christine is in seventh grade at Harrington Middle School. Other than playing the piano, she enjoys reading and playing the violin.
	David Kim
	David Kim is currently eleven years old, and has been studying the clarinet since the age of eight. He is the concertmaster for the band in his school, and also the concertmaster for many other bands. He auditioned for the Olympic Junior’s Conference Band, and was given the title of concertmaster. He also performed in many recitals. Recently David has won two competitions. He was given the title of honorable mention by the Lansdale Symphony Orchestra, and he is a winner of the Ambler Symphony Orchestra. David will be competing in many years to follow. Not only does David play the clarinet, he plays the piano and enjoys reading in his spare time.
	Beatrice Hsieh
	Beatrice Hsieh started playing the piano at age 4 1/2 and the violin at age 6. Currently, she studies piano with David Brown and the violin with Sylvia Ahramjian. She has performed on both piano and violin in a myriad of venues, including the Arts Salute to Spring Gala honoring Peter Nero in Spring of 2007. Beatrice is the winner of numerous local and international competitions for piano and violin and was featured on North Penn Television. As violinist, she performed as soloist with the North Penn Symphony Orchestra and Warminster Symphony Orchestra. Future engagements include solo performances with the Ambler Symphony and the Old York Road Symphony in their 2008~09 season. Additionally, Beatrice was a finalist in the Children’s Division of the prestigious 2008 Philadelphia Orchestra Albert M. Greenfield Student Competition. Currently, she is a scholarship recipient for piano, violin and chamber music at the Darlington Arts Center. Beatrice is a violinist of Trio Bravissima and the Hsieh Duo. She is the winner of the 2008~2009 Athena Scholarship Award at the Darlington Arts Center and is very active in school; Beatrice is the winner of writing, drawing, math and reading contests. Last year, she was the Student Council President for her elementary school, Montgomery Elementary. Beatrice was also selected from the entire North Penn School District to represent her school in the Superintendent's Student Council. A recipient of the President’s Award for Educational Excellence in recognition of Outstanding Academic Excellence, Beatrice is a 7th grader at Commonwealth Connections Academy.
	Grace Ju
	Grace Ju is currently in 9th grade at Radnor High School. Starting violin from age 6, she currently studies with Kimberly Fisher of the Philadelphia Orchestra. At the age of 6, she won first place in the Korean Young Musician's Competition. In 2004, she won third place in the Loeb Performing Arts Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation Competition in Instrumental Music, and in 2006, she won first place in the Old York Road Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artists Competition. In 2008, she won the Ambler Symphony’s Menges Scholarship Award. Grace is currently a member of the Temple Youth Chamber Orchestra and is also a member of a String Quintet at Temple Music Prep. She performs regularly at Yuong-Sang Presbyterian Church, and is a member the Yuong-Sang Orchestra. Her past performances have taken place in many locations, including the Emmanuel Church of Philadelphia, the Church of Love, the Wilmington Presbyterian Church, and in Middlesex, New Jersey. She also performed for the Kimmel Center’s program for introducing music to schools in and around Philadelphia. Grace has received scholarships from the Benjamin Franklin Institute Science Museum and from the General Jeong Fund in Korea for her outstanding academic performance. She also won a medal in the regional division of the Concours National Français, and was rewarded Radnor Middle School’s Reeser Award for her leadership skills and overall great academic achievement through her middle school years. At her middle school graduation, she was rewarded the President’s Award for Academic Excellence before performing for her classmates. Grace plays field hockey as the goalie. She also pole vaults for the RHS track and field team. Grace enjoys taking pictures and hanging out with her friends.