Meet the Team

Oboist, Co-Director

Juliana Zheng is a 16-year-old oboist from Interlake High School who currently studies under Mary Lynch Vanderkolk. She has been involved in music for most of her life ever since she started playing the piano when she was six. She has previously been a part of BYSO and currently plays as the principal oboist in the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra. She has attended summer festivals such as Kinhaven and Interlochen where she took lessons with oboists such as Linda Strommen and Pedro Diaz. This year, she looks forward to spending the summer at the Tanglewood Summer Institute, and the Hidden Valley masterclass program with Elaine Douvas.

Alto Saxophonist, Co-Director

Vikramaadhithyaa Jagannathan is a 15-year-old alto saxophonist from Interlake High School who currently studies jazz and classical saxophone under the tutelage of Paul Gillespie and Larry Schacher. He has been studying various genres of music from a young age, starting with Indian classical music at 4 and continuing with percussion, starting at the age of 9, before beginning his saxophone journey in 6th grade at the age of 10. He has won numerous accolades in competition, including Outstanding Soloist awards at the Bellevue Jazz Festival, Eastshore Jazz Festival, and the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, as well as participating and ranking in events such as the Eastshore Solo & Ensemble Festival. He is also a part of the Seattle Saxophone Institute. He is the principal alto saxophonist for the Interlake Wind Ensemble & Jazz I and has received adjudication from numerous well-known musicians. Outside of music, he enjoys running track, rocketry, and reading.

Pianist, Co-Director

William Wang is a 16-year-old pianist from Bellevue, Washington, who studies under Dr. Peter Mack. He has won and received prizes in numerous competitions and festivals, internationally and regionally. His achievements include getting First Place in the Charleston International Music Competition, Gold Medalist in the Cap Ferret Music Open, Gold Medalist in the Simon Fiset Piano Competition, Gold Medalist in the Chopin Northwest Piano Competition, and obtaining Honorable Mentions from the Washington State Senior MTNA. Additionally, during Summer 2024, he attended the Oberlin Conservatory Summer Piano Festival. He is very involved in his local classical music scene, frequently attending festivals organized by the Seattle Music Teachers Association, Chopin US Northwest Council, and the Washington State Music Teachers Association. He enjoys all types of classical music, but especially enjoys Romantic and Contemporary-period music. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with his friends and working out.

Founder and Executive Director, Pianist

Daniel Jung is an 18-year-old pianist from Bellevue, Washington who currently studies under Donna Bender and Oksana Ejokina. He has won numerous competitions and festivals internationally and regionally with his most recent achievements including the YoungArts Award at the YoungArts National Competition, Gold Medalist in the Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition, Silver Medalist in the Piano League International Competition, and Gold Medalist in the Washington State Outstanding Artists Competition. Additionally, he has also been the Gold Medalist in the Chopin Northwest Festival and a finalist in the Seattle Young Artist Music Association Concerto Competition, Olympia Symphony Young Artists Competition, Seattle King FM Young Artist Awards, and the Washington State Senior MTNA. He has performed in events hosted by renowned organizations such as the Chopin US/NW Council, Eastside Music Teachers Association, and Washington State Music Teacher Conference, and has recently appeared live on Classical King FM 98.1. Apart from competing he enjoys outing in nature and debate.

Violinist

Cristina Kosilkina is a 19-year old violinist from Interlake High School. She was introduced to music at a young age through her parents starting piano at 6 with Tatiana Sharapova and now studies violin with Yuriy Michlin as well. She has since been a part of byso, syso, Interlake chamber orchestra, and several music camps including marrowstone music festival. Cristina has been recognized in various events such as the Russian Chamber Music Competition, the Classical Viennese Festival, and the Vistuoso Artists Festival. She has participated in the Seattle Young Artists Festival, Chopin NW competition, Solo and Ensemble and more. She has performed in Chamber groups, taken part in duet competitions/performances, and has received many adjudications from skillful pianists.

Co-Founder, Pianist

Jerry Li is a 18-year old pianist from Interlake High School who studies under Dr. Peter Mack. He started playing piano when he was 5 and from the age of 9, he started to attend local competitions, frequently placing and winning in them. He has been finalist in the Seattle Symphony Young Artists program and the Don Bushell Piano Competition, gotten 3rd prize in the Leopold Bellan International Competition, 3rd prize at the Outstanding Artists Competition, and performed at Benaroya Hall and on King FM. Furthermore, he has also given back to the community by tutoring younger children in music for a great part of his high school career. He greatly enjoys all kinds of classical music, although he most prefers music from the Romantic Era. In his free time, he indulges in video games, hiking, and trips to bubble tea shops.

Co-Founder, Pianist

Sarah Guo is a 18-year old pianist from Interlake High School who studies under Donna Bender. She started playing piano when she was six, and since then has placed in multiple competitions and festivals regionally and internationally such as the Washington 2020 Outstanding Artists Competition, 2020 Chopin Northwest Festival, 2021 Russian Festival, and the 2022 International Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition. She has been invited to perform at the Royal Albert Hall, the Musikverein, and the Benaroya Hall. Apart from music, she enjoys creative writing, debate, and tennis.

Violinist

CJ Zhan is a 18-year old violinist who has studied under Shan Han since the age of 5. They have participated in Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra's Youth Symphony, WMEA All-State Honors Ensembles, and achieved a Pass with Merit in the ABRSM Violin Performance Grade 8 Exam. In the past, they have also been involved with jazz and chamber groups. They are currently a junior at Interlake High School and enjoy playing in and dedicating volunteer time to Interlake's Chamber Orchestra. Aside from music, they enjoy drawing, practicing martial arts, and getting out in the sunshine.

Videographer/Cinematographer

Clarence Guo is a junior at Interlake High School. Exposed to music all his life, he is actively involved with his school's band program, playing trombone for its award-winning jazz program. In 2021, he was voted rookie of the year. Asides from music, he is extremely dedicated to community service. He enjoys playing basketball and creative writing.

Pianist

David Gatien, age 15, is from Bellevue, WA and currently studies piano with Yoshikazu Nagai. At the age of 6 and just months after starting piano, David entered his first piano competition (the Northwest Chopin Competition) and won Gold. Since then, he has won several top performance awards in competitions such as the Golden Classical Music Awards International Music Competition; the American Association for the Development of the Gifted and Talented (AADGT) International Young Gifted Musicians Festival; the American Protégé International Romantic Music and the International Piano and Strings Competitions (both with Judges’ Distinctions); the NW Chopin Competition; and the Artciál International Piano Competition, among others. A full grade level above same-aged peers, David has also won top prizes in grade-based competitions among older peers. He was selected as a WA State Recitalist in 2022 and 2023, and received the 2023 Ida Zelikovsky Green Award for Outstanding Talent (Best Performer, Grade 5-11) from the Washington State Music Teachers Association, Eastside Chapter. A recipient of masterclasses from world-renowned pianists such as Craig Sheppard, Michelle Cann, Jon Nakamatsu, Boris Slutsky, Alexander Korsantia, Rebecca Penneys, Joseph Rackers, Marina Lomazov, Inon Barnatan, and Christopher Guzman, among others, David is also a pianist at the Academy for Chamber Music at the Seattle Chamber Music Society, a pre-college chamber music program for talented musicians.

Violist

William Yoon is a 15-year old violist from Interlake High School who studies under Dr. Leslie Johnson. He started playing viola when he was 8, and since then has placed in numerous competitions and festivals, such as the Korean Music Association, the Seattle Young Artists Music Festival, and the Performing Arts Festival for the Eastside. He has played with the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra for 7 years, playing in numerous orchestras. He has taken part in many chamber groups, orchestras, and full symphonies. Outside of music, he enjoys debate and tennis.

Violinist

Soma Hirai is a 15-year old violinist from Interlake Highschool who studies under Lucy Shaw. He started playing the violin when he was 5 years old, & has participated in the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra & WMEA All-State. His absolute favorite composer is Sibelius, although he is currently starting to enjoy other contemporary composers as well. Outside of music, he enjoys tennis, skiing, video games, and debate.