BIOGRAPHIES OF CURRENT STUDENTS

Lauren Chauvin, Teaching Assistant to Charles Castleman, is currently getting her Master's in violin performance at Eastman and is a member of the Orchestral Studies Diploma program.  She started violin at the age of 5 in Houston, TX, studying  with Debbie Elafros, and then with Cindy Rubin.  She has a BM in violin performance from LSU where she studied with James Alexander.  While at LSU she performed with the Baton Rouge Symphony.  She helped establish the LSU chapter of the Music Teacher's National Association (MTNA), and was a founding officer.  She also attended The Quartet Program and the Roundtop Festival Institute, and currently teaches and performs in Rochester.  She enjoys animals, science, sports, and photography.  

Timmothy Baker began studying the violin at the age of ten. Hegraduated from the University of South Carolina in August of 2004 with a BM in Violin Performance. He has held positions as Assistant Concertmaster of the University of South Carolina Symphony and Chamber Orchestras for three consecutive years, and Assistant Principal Second Violin of the South Carolina Philharmonic for two years. He has performed in master classes with Charles Castleman, David Kim, Donald Weilerstein and Vadim Gluzman. His past teachers include Freddie Grace, William Terwilliger, Jerri Lucktenburg and Ryan Kho. In addition, Timmothy enjoys composing and has had several works for string orchestra premiered by groups in South Carolina. A member of The Well-Tempered Trio, Mr. Baker Placed alternate in the MTNA Collegiate Chamber Music Regional Competition.. He was a prizewinner in the South Carolina Young Artist Scholarship Competition,  helping finance his undergraduate education.

Monty Bloom, a twenty-year-old violinist from Hollywood, Florida, began studying violin at age four. After contending with Suzuki violin classes, Monty began studying with Alvin Rudnitsky, and has since performed solos with many orchestras throughout the South Florida area. He later took lessons from Thomas Moore at New World School of the Arts in Miami, where he served as Concertmaster of the school's orchestra, and graduated with distinction. He has performed in master-class for Benny Kim, Charles Castleman, Ilya Kaler, Eliot Chapo, and Albert Markov. Highlights of Monty's high school career include winning several local competitions, and appearing on MTV. He has built quite a reputation, thought for what he is not really sure. Following an enjoyable year off of school (by choice, of course), he is currently working on a Bachelor of Music at Eastman. A three-summer participant at The Quartet Program, Monty has been described as, "tacky, yet delightfully unrefined," and "a man who knows the definition of the phrase "agitato con sentimento," and that is to say nothing of his musical abilities, which are adequate at the very least. Five restraining orders later, he is enjoying meeting new people. Lots of new people.

A native of Hong Kong, 21-year-old Kitty Cheung began the violin when she was four, and has been performing in concerts, charity activities, TV programmes, radio programmes, and a noodle commercial (!) since age 5. Her first solo performance was at age 7: instead of playing the violin, she sang "Tomorrow" from the musical "Annie" with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Kitty has performed in more than 25 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America. Kitty was Concertmistress of the Hong Kong Children's Symphony Orchestra, and has also played in Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra, and the Hong Kong Medical Association Orchestra. A recipient of the 1995 Hong Kong Ten Outstanding Teens Award, Kitty was also awarded a scholarship in 1998 to attend the Pan Pacific Music Camp in Sydney, Australia. A prizewinner many times in the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival, she gave her first solo recital at the Hong Kong City Hall Theatre in 2000. In 2001 Kitty attended the Interlochen Arts Camp on a full scholarship, where she was Assistant Concertmaster of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Honor String Quartet. In 2003 she attended The Quartet Program. Last year, she gave an interview and 30-minute performance on the programme “Young Music Maker” for RTHK Radio 4. A former student of Yao-ji Lin, Hung-ying Ho, Xing-ye Qiu, and Hao-yee Li, Kitty received the Licentiate Diploma (LTCL) and the Fellowship Diploma (FTCL) of the Trinity College of Music, London at age 15, and the Licentiate Diploma (LRSM), with distinction, of the Royal Schools of Music, London, in 2001. The Bernard Van Zuiden Music Scholarship helped finance her first two years at Eastman. She is a candidate for the Eastman Performers Certificate.

Michael Danchi, from North Carolina, was a student in high school of Eric Pritchard of the Ciompi String Quartet. He was for 2 years Concertmaster of the Triangle Youth Philharmonic, and soloist in the Mendelssohn Concerto with them. He was also a featured artist at the North Carolina Bach Festival Youth Concert.

Agah Ayango Davenport-Yarbo, 21, was born in Munich, Germany. Both her parents are professional musicians: the Afro-American Jewish soprano Africa Yarbo-Davenport and the late Austrian conductor and violinist Hans-Peter Jillich. A vivid musical experience was seeing Leonard Bernstein conducting on TV, which made her ask for an orchestra as a birthday present at the age of 2. When her mother confessed that she would not be able to cook for a whole orchestra, Agah chose a violin instead. After high school graduation in 2003 she began her studies at the University of Salzburg Mozarteum with Prof. Hermann Kienzl and Rainer Schmid. Since 2003 she has performed as soloist with orchestras in Germany, Austria, and Italy. At The Eastman School of Music Agah has been awarded the prestigious Howard Hanson Scholarship, the George Eastman Grant and the Merit Award. Since the age of 10 she has also received scholarships and awards for both violin and piano for studies at the Royal Conservatory of Glasgow, and with Anne Shih in Vancouver, Taras Gabora and Zakhar Bron in Italy, David Taylor in the US, and Svetosar Anatchkov in Germany. She has been a scholarship participant at The Las Vegas Music Festival, and a member of the Mitchell Stern Memorial Scholarship Quartet at The Quartet Program. Agah earned degrees in classical ballet after having skipped two grades from the Royal Academy of Dancing in London. She is socially dedicated to the society ANYANGO e.V. which is a non-profit organization that organizes concerts, lessons and exhibitions for gifted but socially deprived children, musicians, artists and especially physically challenged artists. In 2005-06 she will present recitals for the Austrian Contemporary Music Society, the Ernst Krenek Society of Vienna and the Steinway Gallery in Salzburg, as well as a solo with orchestra in Carinthia, Austria.

Olivia De Prato was born in Vienna in 1983, and started to play the violin at the age of six, studying with Prof.Ulf Wallin. From 1995 to 1998 she was a student of Prof. D. Schwarzberg (Ass. M. and L. Sorokow) in the preparatory division of the University of Music in Vienna. She took part in various concerts as soloist and chamber musician in Austria, Italy, Croatia, and the USA.. Together with the chamber orchestra of Gorizia,  conducted by Carlo Grandi,  as well as with the junior grade - orchestra of the Vienna Music High School, Olivia de Prato performed as a soloist in Italy and Austria. In December 1998 she was invited by the Italian Red Cross to Udine, where she performed with the Pro Arte Trio; at a charity concert in the Theatro Giovanni da Udine. In 1996 and 1997 she was a prizewinner at the ESTA competition in Florence,Italy .As a result Olivia was asked to play at the ESTA-Congress in September 1998 in Trieste, Italy. In 1999 and 2001 she performed solo recitals in the USA and in Salerno (Italy) .In June 1998 she passed the admission as an undergraduate student at the Vienna University of Music & Arts as the youngest Austrian student of Prof. Schwarzberg. In August 1999 she performed as recitalist at the Fesitval of Ravello (Italy). In 2000 she played in an "Upbeat; master-class for Professor Alice Schoenfeld at the University of Southern California. In 2002 Olivia won second prize at the "Beethoven e I Classici" Competition, and was invited to perform at the "Nel suoni del lunghi" Festival. She joined Prof Castleman's studio in September 2001. While at Eastman, in both of her years as a member of the Philharmonia, she led it as Concertmaster. Her summer studies have included The Las Vegas Music Festival, three years at The Quartet Program (at Bucknell), and one season at The Quartet Program at Oberwart.

Laura Earley , an 18 year old from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, is pursuing a BM degree in violin performance as a freshman this year at Eastman. Coming from a musical family, she began playing the violin at the young age of 3 ½, studying the Suzuki method. At age 7, Laura began her main studies with Philadelphia Orchestra members Yayoi Numazawa and Yumi Ninomiya Scott, and continued to study with them both until college. For many years, Laura was involved in several youth groups, including the Temple University Music Prep. orchestras and chamber ensembles, Philadelphia Sinfonia, the Settlement Music School Scholarship Advanced Chamber Orchestra and quartets, and the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. At age 13, Laura soloed with Philadelphia Sinfonia, playing Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole. Laura has also attended such summer programs as the Soundfest and Bard Chamber Music Programs, run by the Colorado Quartet, and ENCORE School for Strings. In addition to violin, Laura also studied piano for 11 years, and won 1st prize in both the Intermediate and Advanced divisions of the young artists’ competition at the Haddonfield School of Performing Arts. Besides music, Laura loves to water ski, go on thrill rides (and wants to go skydiving), and bake desserts (and of course eat them as well, especially anything involving chocolate =) ).

Nari Hong , in her second year at Eastman, came to the US in 2001. In June 2002 she was winner of the Emerson Scholarship to the Interlochen Arts Camp, a full tuition scholarship given one special talent in each U.S. state. A student at the Pennsylvania Governor's School of the Arts in 2003, in May of that year she won First Prize in the Phyllis Triolo and Second Prize in The Nittany Valley Symphony Keller Competitions, that summer attending The Quartet Program. Nari also served as Concertmaster of the Central Pennsylvania Youth Orchestra and the Las Vegas Music Festival Orchestra.

Hanna (call me Nessa) Hurwitz is eighteen years old and is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her teachers have included Barbara Coventry, Nina Bodnar, Tim Klabunde, and Samantha George. She has been the featured soloist with both the Santa Barbara Symphony and the University of Milwaukee Symphony.   When standing erect she is five feet, two inches tall.. Entering her sophomore year at Eastman, Hanna has been a founding member of the mattress room revival project and is most well known for her work on the mattress rooms of aught four and five.  Under her pen name, Poxy Hurwitz, she has coauthored such books as "Teach Me Tonight", "The Art of Mattress Room Construction", and "Season for Serta".  Other interests include kicking butt at chess and Scrabble.  Hanna also enjoys pretending to be a knitter (though really, she only knows one stitch and can only make uneven scarves).  She has spent three summers at The Quartet Program. Poxy would like to thank all of her wonderful friends for their kindness in the past week.  Also, tenths are the best interval ever!

Vivek Jayaraman

Na Jeung Kim, a 1998 graduate of Seoul National University, where she studied with Hai-Eun Hyun,  was the first violinist to be accepted in the joint Orchestral Studies Program of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Eastman School. While a Masters candidate at Eastman she was awarded The Performers Certificate. Currently preparing for her DMA Comprehensive exams, Na Jeung has won titled positions in the Binghamton, Utica, and Albany Symphony Orchestras.

Ji Hee Lim, Born in Seoul, Korea. A student of Nam Yun Kim until 1999. Studied with Hai Eun Hyun at Seoul National University. Performed with Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra in Ostrava, Czech, Korean Chamber Ensemble, Seoul National University Orchestra, New Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Bucheon Philharmonic Ochestra in Seoul, Korea, and performed a  recital in Seoul in 2002. She has been Concertmaster of the Las Vegas Music Festival Orchestra, and is a candidate for the Eastman Performers Certificate.

Andrew Lisbin  Andrew Lisbin has been playing violin since he was four years old. Previous to his study with Charles Castleman, he studied for four years with Patinka Kopec at the Manhattan School prep division. A four-year participant at The Quartet Program, in the summer of 2003 Andrew was hired as a concertmaster of the Ohio Light Opera Company Orchestra. In 2005 he was hired to participate in Spoleto USA. He has a great interest in opera and hopes to specialize in it.

Ka Chun Gary Ngan (just call me Gary), born in Hong Kong, began his violin lessons at the age of 5, major teachers including Ms. Qiu Xing-ye, Mr. Li Hau-yee, Ms. Beedarn Chao and Prof. Lin Yao-ji of the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing. Gary has beea soloist with the Pan Asia Orchestra, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and Ying Wa College Orchestra. He is also an active chamber violinist and violist. In 2003-4, Gary gave sveral solo recitals at the Hong Kong City Hall Theater and St. John' s Cathedral. He has received the Performing Achievement Award from the YIP'¦s Children Choral & Performing Arts Centre. Gary joined the Hong Kong Children's Symphony Orchestra for concert tours to Shenzhen and Thailand and the Asian Youth Orchestra touring Asia for 18 concerts under the baton of Maestro Sergiu Comissiona and Mr. Richard Pontzious. Also, He has been the Music Captain of the Ying Wa College Student Council, student conductor and concertmaster of the College Orchestra and String Orchestra. Gary has won many prizes and scholarships including the Sandra Wagstaff Scholarship for String Concerto, the Miss Barbara Fei Instrumental Scholarship, the David S. Davies Foundation Scholarship and the Howard Hanson Scholarship. In addition, he has obtained the Licentiate (LTCL) and the Fellowship (FTCL) Diploma for violin performance from the Trinity College, London with high commendations.

Robert Raymond was born and raised in the peaceful village of Hume, Virginia, population three cannons and an unknown but small quantity of people.  For the past year, he has lived in the dirty Yankee city of Rochester where he attends the Eastman School of Music and studies violin with Charlie and viola with Phillip Ying.  He spent his time there gallivanting around the countryside on his bicycle, taking long trips to quaint towns along the pleasantly serene Erie Canal.  At home he prefers quieter pastimes such as practicing, construction projects, and playing with his three canines, five felines, and one big furry maned creature he calls a horse.  He also operates a small record company where he captures the sound of various artists for posterity, pleasure, and profit. He has spent 4 summers as a participant in The Quartet Program and has been Concertmaster of The Las Vegas Music Festival Orchestra.

Patrick Ryan, 22, is enjoying his first year as a masters student at Eastman.  He graduated from Florida State University in 2004 as a student of Beth Newdome, a former Castleman student.  While at FSU he won several competitions including the school's concerto competition, and the Mt. Dora Arts Festival string competition.  An avid performer of chamber music, he has performed in many ensembles, including a memorable performance of the Schubert Octet with faculty members at FSU.  Patrick has enjoyed two summers at The Quartet Program, two at Brevard Music Festival, and one in Lucca, Italy, playing an opera festival.  Patrick's other interests include throwing the frisbee, playing golf, and playing the ukulele.     

Gregory Tompkins, 18, is pursuing a double degree in violin performance and social psychology. A native of Greenville, South Carolina, Gregory began studying Suzuki violin at age 7 with Betsy Fee.  His principal teachers also included Dr. Eun-Sun Lee, and chamber coach John Ravnan. During his time in high school, Gregory performed solo with several local orchestras, including the Clemson Symphony Orchestra, the Carolina Youth Symphony, and the Greenville County Youth Orchestra. He graduated from Greenville High at the top of his class and was a National Merit Finalist. Gregory also enjoys fixing Apple computers, studying obscure languages, and anything that involves chocolate.

Matt  Zerweck, 21, a senior at Eastman, began violin studies in Philadelphia at Temple University Music Prep. with Michael Ludwig and Elissa Koljonen.  In high school, he soloed with the Kennet Symphony and played in youth ensembles including PYO, DCYO, and the Temple Music Prep. Chamber Orchestra.  While at Eastman, he has played in several chamber music Honors concerts with his piano trio, premiered works of student composers, and organized a conductor-less chamber ensemble. He is a candidate for the Eastman Performers Certificate, and in October 2005 performed the Tchaikovsky Concerto as soloist with the Eastman Philharmonia, winner of the school-wide Concerto Competition. In both of his years as a member of the Philharmonia, he has led it as Concertmaster. Matthew's rise to international stardom was facilitated by his onstage role as the esteemed gypsy violinist, Minardi, in The Music Academy of the West's production of Nina Rota's "The Italian Straw Hat".  He has also attended The Quartet Program, National Orchestral Institute, Kent/Blossom, and the New York String Seminar.