Performing in youth ensembles is a vital part of a young musician’s education and growth. Playing in an orchestra teaches students how to listen, collaborate, and blend their sound with others—skills that cannot be developed through solo practice alone. Beyond musical technique, ensemble experience fosters discipline and confidence, while also building friendships and a sense of community with fellow like-minded musicians. For many students, these opportunities are where a true love of music takes root and where they begin to understand the joy of making music together. While school band and orchestra programs are important for keeping students engaged, youth ensembles push students to a higher standard. The audition processes are also highly beneficial, as preparing excerpts and going through the experience builds focus, accountability, and resilience, all of which directly contribute to a student’s rapid musical growth and progress. With this in mind, WPMA encourages all of its academy students to audition for local and national youth orchestras.
This Fall, we are excited to announce that students have won 92 seats in the following Georgia-based youth ensembles. Congratulations to strings and wind faculty members Amy Chang, Barbaraann Bongiovanni, Carlos Breña, Clark Carruth, Dan Phipps, Hyesul Shin, Jian Shang, Karen Lin, Lyu Lian, Martin Gueorguiev, Meng Dai, Michael Farrick, Valentina Ignjic, William Pu, and Yuliya Kim on your students achievements, and bravo to all of the students and parents for your hard work and dedication.
Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra (ASYO)
Hamin You, Violin (Associate Concertmaster), 9th Grade, student of William Pu
Lucas Liu, Violin (Principal Second), 12th Grade, student of William Pu
Ellie Kim, Violin, 10th Grade, student of William Pu
Audrey Lee, Violin, 10th Grade, student of William Pu
Caleb Lee, Violin, 12th Grade, student of William Pu
James Lee, Violin, 11th Grade, student of William Pu
Rebekah Lee, Violin, 11th Grade, student of Jian Shang
Elyse Santoso, Violin, 11th Grade, student of William Pu
Eric Shu, Violin, 11th Grade, student of William Pu
Sanjay Srinivasan, Violin, 10th Grade, student of William Pu
Arsheya Singh, Viola (Principal), 11th Grade, student of Amy Chang
Fisher Yu, Viola, 8th Grade, student of Amy Chang
Mia Jiang, Viola, 9th Grade, student of Amy Chang
Dana Chang, Viola, 8th Grade, student of Amy Chang
Ethan Goh, Cello (Assistant Principal), 11th Grade, student of Martin Gueorguiev
Caleb Mani, Cello, 11th Grade, student of Martin Gueorguiev
Chase Choi, Cello, 12th Grade, student of Martin Gueorguiev
Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra (EYSO)
Alyssa Chen, Violin, 11th Grade, student of Amy Chang
Abhinav Ivaturi, Violin, 11th Grade, student of Jian Shang
Yi Liang, Violin, 12th Grade, student of Jian Shang
Rebecca Ma, Violin, 12th Grade, student of Jian Shang
Noah Bang, Viola, 9th Grade, student of Hyesul Shin
Ethan Goh, Cello (Principal), 11th Grade, student of Martin Gueorguiev
Thomas Chang, Cello, 11th Grade, student of Valentina Ignjic
David Kim, Cello, 10th Grade, student of Martin Gueorguiev
Elijah Kim, Cello, 12th Grade, student of Martin Gueorguiev
Ethan Nie, Cello, 12th Grade, student of Martin Gueorguiev
Atlanta Festival Virtuosi (AFV)
Ian Chan, Violin, 11th Grade, student of William Pu
Elaine Jin-Britt, Violin, 9th Grade, student of William Pu
Emily Anne Klayman, Violin, 8th Grade, student of William Pu
Sungeun Ellie Kwon, Violin, 11th Grade, student of Amy Chang
James Lee, Violin, 11th Grade, student of William Pu
Lucas Liu, Violin, 12th Grade, student of William Pu
Elsye Santoso, Violin, 11th Grade, student of William Pu
Hamin You, Violin, 9th Grade, student of William Pu
Mia Jiang, Viola (Principal), 9th Grade, student of Amy Chang
Stella Yi, Viola (Assitant Principal), 9th Grade, student of Amy Chang
Joy Li, Viola, 11th Grade, student of Amy Chang
Yi Liang, Viola, 12th Grade, student of Jian Shang
Caleb Mani, Cello (Principal), 11th Grade, student of Martin Gueorguiev
Thomas Chang, Cello, 11th Grade, student of Valentina Ignjic
Sunghyun Andrew Kwon, Cello, 12th Grade, student of Martin Gueorguiev
Eamon Li, Cello, 10th Grade, student of Martin Gueorguiev
Christ Duversaint, Bass, 9th Grade, student of Michael Farrick
Atlanta Festival Youth Orchestra (AFYO)
William Han, Violin, 5th Grade, student of Jian Shang
Fujia Li, Violin, 4th Grade, student of Jian Shang
Ian Chan, Violin (Concertmaster), 11th Grade, student of William Pu
BeEmnet Yohannes, Viola, 10th Grade, student of Jian Shang
Emory Youth Chamber Orchestra (EYCO)
Chloe Kim, Violin, 9th Grade, student of Jian Shang
Luke Kim, Violin, 9th Grade, student of Jian Shang
Anwita Kulkarni, Violin, 10th Grade, student of Carlos Breña
Aarush Gupta, Viola (Principal), 12th Grade, student of Amy Chang
Eamon Li, Cello, 10th Grade, student of Martin Gueorguiev
Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO)
Alice Andreasen, Violin, 7th Grade, student of Clark Carruth
Ellie Kim, Violin, 7th Grade, student of Jian Shang
Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra (GYSO)
Aanya Srinivasan, Viola, 5th Grade, student of Amy Chang
Gwinnett County Youth Symphony (GCYS)
Ellie Kim, Violin, 7th Grade, student of Jian Shang
Liam Kim, Violin, 6th Grade, student of Lyu Lian
Nathaniel Wirabudi, Viola, 12th Grade, student of Clark Carruth
Linh Pham, Viola, 9th Grade, student of Hyesul Shin
Fulton County Youth Orchestra (FCYO)
Allison Goh, Violin (Concertmaster), 7th Grade, student of Amy Chang
Bellahope Gao, Violin, 7th Grade, student of Jian Shang
Jeremy Ma, Violin, 7th Grade, student of Jian Shang
Aurini Kumawat, Viola, 7th Grade, student of Clark Carruth
Julyana Saxton, Cello (Assistant Principal), 8th Grade, student of Meng Dai
Divya Ishwar Sood, Cello, 9th Grade, student of Valentina Ignjic
Alpharetta Symphony Youth Orchestra
Alana Ulmer, Violin (Concertmaster), 10th Grade, student of Karen Lin
Amelia Zhan, Violin, 6th Grade, student of Lyu Lian
Preston Schlotman, Cello (Principal), 10th Grade, student of Yuliya Kim
Cooper Deng, Cello, 6th Grade, student of Yuliya Kim
Rishi Narula, Cello, 9th Grade, student of Valentina Ignjic
Noah Pullen, Cello, 10th Grade, student of Valentina Ignjic
Julyana Saxton, Cello, 8th Grade, student of Meng Dai
Divya Ishwar Sood, Cello, 9th Grade, student of Valentina Ignjic
Isabela Braccialli, Clarinet, 9th Grade, student of Barbaraann Bongiovanni
Miley Otobe, Clarinet, 9th Grade, student of Barbaraann Bongiovanni
Anish Vudathu, Clarinet, 9th Grade, student of Barbaraann Bongiovanni
Alpharetta Symphony Youth Winds
Flora Guo, Clarinet, 7th Grade, student of Barbaraann Bongiovanni
Jayden Lee, Clarinet, 8th Grade, student of Barbaraann Bongiovanni
James Liu, Clarinet, 9th Grade, student of Barbaraann Bongiovanni
Ana Malta, Clarinet, 7th Grade, student of Barbaraann Bongiovanni
Anisha Nagpal, Clarinet, 8th Grade, student of Barbaraann Bongiovanni
Daksh Shetty, Clarinet, 9th Grade, student of Barbaraann Bongiovanni
Tejas Solai, Clarinet, 9th Grade, student of Barbaraann Bongiovanni
Ian Tsao, Clarinet, 7th Grade, student of Barbaraann Bongiovanni
Mahati Aswin, Bass Clarinet, 7th Grade, student of Barbaraann Bongiovanni
Jeremy Yang, Saxophone, 8th Grade, student of Dan Phipps
Cooper Ruan, Saxophone, 12th Grade, student of Barbaraann Bongiovanni
Kendall Youth Orchestra
Caden Jung, Violin, 7th Grade, student of Jian Shang
Crystal Ha, Viola, 8th Grade, student of Clark Carruth
Kaylie Kim, Cello, 7th Grade, student of Martin Gueorguiev
Fayette Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
Ichihashi Mai, Violin, 4th Grade, student of Jian Shang
About William Pu Music Academy
The William Pu Music Academy is a private, award-winning, conservatory-style music academy in Atlanta. WPMA offers music education programming taught by the finest musicians and pedagogues in all of Georgia. In addition to taking 1-on-1 instrument lessons with highly-trained faculty, students at WPMA study music theory & sight-reading, participate in monthly recitals, studio classes, masterclasses with guest artists, and perform in chamber and orchestra ensembles. Academy students receive a rich and comprehensive music education, supported by a dedicated faculty. In this environment distinguished by its community and learning opportunities, WPMA students frequently compete and succeed in state and nation-wide auditions. Learn more about WPMA and previous student achievements at wpmusicacademy.com.
