2024

Harrison Yu is a junior at Cypress Woods High School. He began his piano life at the age of five. He has been studying at the Michael P. Hammond Preparatory Program at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music since he was nine, first with Dr. Scott Cuellar, and currently with Dr. Richard Marshall. Harrison has had a distinguished musical journey, as prize winner in many competitions including first prize in the HMTA solo contest, third prize in the TMTA state concerto competition, and third prize in the 11th International Chopin Youth Competition. He performs regularly in Duncan Hall at the Shepherd School. Harrison is also a drum major for his school marching band. He currently plans on pursuing piano performance in college.

2023

Mani Hourfar, 16, is a junior pianist at the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) under the direction of Rodolfo Morales. He has been playing piano since the age of 9. He currently studies with Richard Marshall in the Michael P. Hammond Preparatory Program of the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where he also studies advanced music theory and composition with composer Ethan Soledad. He has had master classes with Dr. Robert Roux, Chair of keyboards at the Shepherd School of Music through the same program. He has also had masterclasses with Victor Rosenbaum at Atlantic Music Festival, with Paul Nitsch at Palmetto International Piano Festival and with Yoshizaku Nagai, Piano Department Chair at San Francisco Conservatory, at Interlochen. Mani has won honorable mention in the 2021 Youth Chopin Competition and was a finalist in 2022 at TMTA’s solo piano contest. The same year, Mani won second place at the HMTA Concerto Competition and won first place at the HSPVA Concerto Competition. So far in 2023, Mani has won first prize in both the Fort Bend Symphony Concerto competition as well as the Virtuosi of Houston Concerto Competition. Mani is also passionate about chamber music. He has been coached in multiple masterclasses by the Fischer Duo, and privately by Shepherd School collaborative piano artist faculty, Charlie Tauber. He studies chamber music at Opus1 Camber Music School, where he is currently coached by Matt Lammers. Passionate about music, Mani has also played the violin since the age of 6. His other hobbies include chess, reading, and playing music with friends

2022

Joshua Henselman is a fifteen-year-old freshman at Veritas Academy and has studied piano since he was five. He enjoys many genres, including all classical music, film scores, musicals, and pop music. For two years, he has been the captain of the Veritas drum line, and he has played a wide variety of percussion instruments in the Veritas percussion ensemble. Joshua has earned many awards locally, state-wide, and nationally. These awards include top prizes in the DeBose National Piano Competition, TMTA State Performance Contest, Steinway Piano Gallery Concerto Competition, ADMTA Solo Contest, ADMTA Scholarship Contest, Baylor/Waco Piano Competition, and Blinn College Competition. Joshua also enjoys collaborative playing. As an eighth-grade student, he accompanied a full-length production of The Greatest Showman presented by the Veritas high school drama troupe. He accompanies other student instrumentalists for competitions and festivals and regularly collaborates with other pianists in duets, duos, trios, and quartets.

In addition to his musical endeavors, Joshua also enjoys spending time outdoors. He especially enjoys hiking in the Colorado Rockies and playing football and frisbee. He pursues a rigorous course load at Veritas Academy, planning a STEM-heavy graduation plan. He also works as a member of the custodial staff for his school.

Joshua’s primary instructor is Peggy DeArmond (Naples, Idaho), with support from his previous teacher, Jeannie DeArmond-Henselman. He is self-driven, often selecting his own repertoire and defining his own ambitions. Performing the Prokofieff Piano Concerto No. 2 has been his dream for many years.

2020

Lindsey Kim is a 15 year old violinist from Allen, Texas and a freshman at Lowery Freshman Center (a part of Allen High School). She started violin at the age of 6 and currently studies with Lucas Aleman of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Jina Lee-Aleman of The Dallas Opera Orchestra. She recently won a first place in concerto category (junior division) at Dallas Symphonic Festival Competition and was a Bronze medalist at Roger & Ella Jo Adams Concerto Competition. Lindsey was the concertmistress of the middle school All Region 25’s top orchestra for the past two years, 2017 and 2018. She also won third place and honorable mention in the junior division of the Collin County Young Artist Competition in 2018 and 2019. Since 2017, Lindsey has been a member of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra where she loves performing with talented young musicians. Recently, as a freshman, Lindsey led the TMEA high school All Region 25 Symphony Orchestra as concertmistress. She successfully auditioned into the All State Symphony orchestra (where she will have a chair test to determine the final chairs in San Antonio in February). Lindsey is also an accomplished pianist, playing the instrument since she was 5. She won numerous awards in various piano competitions and festivals. Lindsey is also passionate about participating in community volunteer activities, such as the Allen Community Outreach and the church youth ministry programs. During her spare time from school work and practice, she enjoys baking cookies, dog-sitting, jogging, watching cooking shows on Netflix, binge watching K-dramas, listening to K-pop, and playing tennis with her younger sister, Nicole.

2019

A cellist of 10 years, Andres Ayerbe has been studying with Daniel Saenz, Cello Professor at Sam Houston State University. Andres is currently a junior at Klein High School, and during his time there he has made the TMEA Region IX Symphony Orchestra for three consecutive years, and has made TMEA All-State Orchestras for three consecutive years as well. He is also very happy to be playing with the Houston Youth Symphony Orchestra this year as their assistant principal cellist. Recently, Andres competed in the Clear Lake Symphony Youth Concerto Competition, and placed 1st place in their Senior Strings division. Outside of music, Andres enjoys Chemistry, Computer Science, and especially mathematics, as he competes on his school’s UIL Math Team. He is also a member of the National German Honor Society, the Science National Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta. He would like to thank his supportive parents, orchestra director, and private teacher for ensuring that his musical career stays well-cared for and nourished! He would also like to thank the members of the Fort Bend Symphony for this amazing opportunity!

2018

Violinist NICKOLAS WARWICK (age 12) is honored to have been selected as the 2018 Marielle Olgetree Young Artist. Nickolas is a native Houstonian, and is currently in the seventh grade. He has many interests ranging from military history to architecture; however, he is most passionate about his music. Playing the violin and performing are not only a part of his life, but a part of who he is, and he is happiest when sharing his talents with others. Starting with a box violin at the age of three, Nickolas progressed quickly.

At age six he won first place performing Concerto in A Minor by Vivaldi in the Sherman Clay’s Talent Competition in Houston. He has twice been selected to perform in Colorado Suzuki Institutes’ (CSI) Solo Honor Recital, again performing Vivaldi (age 7), and Concerto No.1, Allegro moderato by J. S. Bach (age 9). By age ten, Nickolas made his first solo debut with Symphony North of Houston, playing Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Major by Mozart. Nickolas has also had the honor of performing in recitals at Meadowmount School of Music and Killington Music Festival. Finding enjoyment in performing with others, Nickolas has participated in various chamber ensembles with CSI, KMF, and Meadowmount.

Currently, Nickolas is a violinist with the Houston Youth Symphony (HYS), and last year he had the experience of being Concertmaster with HYS Philharmonia under the direction of Mr. Michael Isadore. Selected as Houston Civic Symphony’s 2018 Young Artist Competition Junior Division winner, Nickolas will again pair with Mr. Isadore on March 9th, 2018, in a performance of the Allegro (first) movement of Mozart’s Violin Concerto in D major, No. 4. Nickolas’ modern day violin influences are Joshua Bell, James Ehnes, Julia Fisher, and David Garrett. Like other twelve year olds, Nickolas’ favorite pastimes include running, biking, and playing video games with his friends. He also enjoys hanging out with his dogs, Charlie and Belle. Nickolas also gives back to his community by performing for senior groups, care centers, and participating in local benefit concerts.