The 2011/2012 Menges Scholarship Award Winners
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Jeffrey Han, cello |
| Jeffrey Han is a sophomore at Conestoga High School. He was the principle cellist of PA All-State Orchestra in 2011 and has played with the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, the Philadelphia Sinfonia, and the Temple Youth Chamber Orchestra. Jeffrey has been playing in string quartets at the Settlement Music School as an Advanced Study Scholarship recipient since 2009. He won first place in the Senior Strings Division of the Tri-County Youth Festival in 2011, as well as the first place in the Junior Strings Division (2009) and the second place in the Senior Ensemble Division (2010). His teachers included Hai-Ye Ni, Ohad Bar-David, and Winifred Martindale. | |
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Angela Zhao, piano |
| Angela Zhao, 12, is a student of Ms. Chiu-Tze Lin. She began studying piano at age 5 with Ms. Irene Lu. Angela has won numerous top awards which include winning first prize years at the New Jersey Music Teachers Association (NJMTA) Young Musician Competition four times. She was the New Jersey State winner in Music Teachers National Association Piano Competition in 2010, which enabled her be the New Jersey representative to compete in the Eastern Division. As a result of winning the Cecilia Music Club competition in New Jersey and the Crescendo International Festival, Angela has performed as a soloist in Lincoln Center Alice Tully Hall and Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall. Angela is also a prize winner in the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra Concerto Competition and the Steinway Scholarship Competition. She has also received distinction in Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music Examinations; her marks were the highest in the tri-state area (New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.) Angela is a 6th grade student in Marlboro Memorial Middle School. In addition to playing piano, Angela is first violinist in New Jersey State Youth Orchestra. Besides piano and violin, Angela has shown a variety of interests including starring as a pianist on the television series “Law and Order” in 2011, winning the title NJ Rock N’ Music Idol in 2009. She enjoys singing, dancing, playing guitar, swimming, Tennis, and skiing | |
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Alexandria Conrad, violin |
| Alexandria Nichole Conrad is a 16 year old Honor student, and member of the National Honor Society at the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. She studies the violin with Netanel Draiblate. Alexandria is a former student of Lee Snyder. Alexandria received first place in the Lancaster Symphony Junior Concerto Competition as well as the Lancaster Symphony Senior Concerto Competition. She was a winner of the Philadelphia Biblical University Concerto competition, and was also a finalist in the Hershey Symphony Competition. She has performed as a soloist with the Lancaster Symphony, and the PBU Symphony. Alexandria has an Advanced Study Scholarship at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia. She is a recipient of the Tom and Marry Ellen Herren Scholarship, and received a scholarship through the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra. Alexandria is Concert Master of the Trowbridge Chamber Orchestra at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia. She is also a member of the Vicepia Trio. The trio won Gold at the Young Classical Virtuosos of Tomorrow Competition, and as a result performed at the Kimmel Center. Alexandria has performed in Master Classes and for Pamela Frank, Arnold Steinhardt, Hagai Shaham, Ittai Shapira, Soovin Kim, Ida Levin, Sang Mee Lee, and Kurt Nikannen. | |
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Kevin Kong, piano |
| Kevin Kong is a 14 year old 8th grade student who attends Community Middle School in the West-Windsor Plainsboro School District where he receives excellent grades and is a violinist in the first violin section of the orchestra. He is currently a student studying under Dr. Chiu-Ling-Lin and was previously learning under Michael Jacobson and Chiu-Tze-Lin. Kevin was the grand prize winner in the Bravura Philharmonic Concerto Competition and earned a chance to solo with the Bravura Philharmonic. Additionally, he was the winner of the Westminster Conservatory Scholarship competition for the violin. Kevin was also the recipient of the highest score in the tri state area in the Associated Board of Royal School of Music. He is the winner of numerous competitions including the NJMTA Young Musician’s Competition for three years, MTNA Junior Division winner, Steinway Society Competition winner for two years, and was selected to perform in Carnegie Hall. He also enjoys giving back to the community and has performed in nursing homes and senior citizen homes through invitation and personal volunteering. | |
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Clare Bradford, cello |
| When Clare was four years old she first heard a recording of YoYo Ma and became determined to learn to play the cello. Shortly thereafter she began lessons with Kwang Yu at the Germantown Settlement School who guided her quickly through the Suzuki method. Clare and her family moved to Pittsburgh when she was six where she began to study with Mikhail Istomin, a cellist with the Pittsburgh Symphony. At seven years old, Mr. Istomin arranged for her to play for legendary cellist Mstislav Rostropovich at a master class on the stage of Heinz Hall. She was later invited to appear on that same stage as a young guest artist with the Pittsburgh Symphony and then subsequently for other events on behalf of the symphony's outreach and fundraising efforts. Since moving back to Philadelphia in 2005, Clare has played in master classes with cellists Orlando Cole and Peter Stumpf, and has participated in the orchestras and chamber ensembles at the Temple University Prep Center for Gifted Young Musicians. For the past three years, Clare has been a scholarship student in the Settlement Music School's Advanced Study Program playing in the Auger Contemporary Piano Quartet and the Meyer Schwartz Piano Trio. In addition to this year's appearance with the Ambler Symphony, Clare will be a guest soloist with the Old York Road Symphony this spring. Now fifteen years old, Clare is a student of Philadelphia Orchestra cellist, Yumi Kendall and continues to occasionally study with Mr. Istomin in Pittsburgh. Clare is home schooled and one of seven children. |
