2026 Soloists

Featured Soloist

Concert 1:

  • Victoria Sun
  • Harbor Day School
  • 8th grade
  • Essay Title: My Journey Through Music

One of my earliest memories of music was watching my older sister play the piano. I was fascinated by the keys and begged my parents to let me try just one lesson. They thought it would be simply a short phase five-year-old me would outgrow and lose interest in. However, somehow that one lesson turned into years of practicing, performing, and growing.

Over time, piano became much more than an extracurricular activity to me, as it became something that challenged me and helped shape who I am today. One of my earliest unforgettable musical experiences was making my concerto debut at the age of nine with the Qingdao Opera Symphony Orchestra. I still remember how surreal it felt hearing the orchestra around me for the first time. Since then, I have had the privilege of performing with ensembles including the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra, North Coast Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Collective of Orange County, and now, the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic. Each performance has taught me something different, whether it was trusting myself or the collaboration of the people around me.

As I continued studying piano with my teacher Ms. Myong Joo Lee, I participated in many more competitions and performances. I have also participated in summer music festivals such as the InterHarmony International Music Festival and Vancouver Piano Sessions, where I performed in masterclasses with Haochen Zhang and Boris Slutsky. Over the years, I have been fortunate to perform at venues all over the world including Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Zipper Hall, Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver, and Chiesa Santo Spirito in Acqui Terme, Italy, among others. One especially unforgettable experience was being invited to perform at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England, where I also had the honor of meeting King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Beyond performing, I also care deeply about sharing music with others and building a community. Currently, I serve a leadership role in the non-profit organization of Pacific Serenades, helping bring music to local communities through performances and other events. Being involved in organizing functions like these allows me to see how music can connect people from vastly different backgrounds, which is something I am interested in pursuing in my future. 

Furthermore, I also enjoy composing music and exploring how music can tell stories on screen. In the past few years, I have participated in short film and documentary projects and had opportunities to compose and record original music in professional studio settings, including at the Fox Studios in Los Angeles. Exploring composition has truly allowed me to experience music from a completely different perspective than performing. 

Lastly, I would like to sincerely thank my teacher, Ms. Myong Joo Lee, for being such an inspiring teacher and mentor throughout my musical journey. Her guidance and dedication has helped me grow not only as a pianist, but also as a person. I would also like to thank my family and parents for their constant love and support, and for always encouraging me to pursue my passions and happiness. Finally, I would like to thank the LAYP concerto committee for this wonderful opportunity to perform with the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic. I am truly grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way.

  • Charlotte King
  • Mira Costa High School
  • 10th Grade
  • Essay Title: Finding My Inner Voice

Music has always been, and I hope will always be, an integral part of my life.  When I first started playing the piano at five years old, I could not have imagined just how important music would become to me. At ten, I decided to play the flute. I remember choosing it mainly because it fit into my backpack. I started taking private lessons over the summer before fourth grade, simply to learn a few notes before school started, so I wouldn’t fall behind. My intention was to stop the lessons once school started. 

Little did I know that I had just met the flute teacher I would still be studying with seven years later. I distinctly remember standing on Kitty Fitzgerald’s balcony, spitting lentils and rice grains in order to learn how to tongue on the flute. Kitty taught me everything, from the basics of how to assemble and hold the instrument all the way through to where I am today. I could not fully express my gratitude to her even if I tried. Not only has she helped me grow into the musician I am today, but also the person I am today. Growing up, I was a very shy child. Speaking in front of a classroom or even finding the courage to ask a question in class was traumatizing. I avoided at all costs social interactions where I had to verbalize my opinions. Playing the flute helped me to find a voice, my voice. I have been able to express myself in ways I never imagined possible through this beautiful instrument. I admit that I am still a shy individual, however music has given me the courage to be heard. 

As an introverted person, anxiety followed me to the world of music. I remember feeling absolutely terrified the first time I played in front of my band class. My hands shook, my thoughts raced, and I convinced myself that I never wanted to perform again.  I could not have been more incorrect. As I have grown as a musician, I have learned to handle performance anxiety to where I enjoy performances. Music is so much more than my petty fear of judgment. Music is about sharing what you love, and communicating it effectively with an audience, no matter how big or small.  In many ways, music is the same as giving a speech. Musicians use punctuation like commas, exclamation marks, and question marks; we enunciate our ideas with articulations; and express our emotions through dynamics, vibrato, and so much more. Music is my voice. If I told my younger self that I would be performing a solo at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in just a few short years, I probably would have freaked out and refused the opportunity. I could never have imagined having the courage to step onto this beautiful, world-renowned stage. And yet, here I am.

I owe much of my new-found confidence to my middle school band teacher, Mrs. Haslop. She was the person who initially nominated me to audition for LAYPO back in 2023. Not only did she foster my confidence, she opened my eyes as a musician. During middle school, music transformed from an extracurricular activity into my main passion, and Mrs. Haslop supported and encouraged me throughout that journey.

I would not be where I am today without the help of numerous other teachers, peers, and mentors. I recently began lessons with Marley Eder, who has challenged me to dive deeper into musical interpretation and artistry. He has introduced me to so much new repertoire in such a short span of time. I have also learned an enormous amount from teachers at the Northern California Flute camp including Karen Van Dyke, Gary Woodward, Tomiko Tsai, Aaron Goldman, Catherine Boyak, Alexa Still, John Thorne, and Jeanne Baxtresser, among others. Not only did these people have ingenious insight in music, performance, and life in general, they have been a huge inspiration to me as a growing individual. This summer, I am incredibly fortunate to attend Interlochen Arts Camp where I will be able to fully immerse myself in the world of music for six weeks, surrounded by the beautiful scenery of Michigan.

Having performed solos with LAYPO for three years during their chamber music series concerts, I have matured as both a musician and performer. I have also gained experience playing with SCSBOA, California All-State bands, and with the Colburn School. Playing alongside such talented and dedicated musicians is an opportunity I do not take for granted, and I have enjoyed every minute of it.

I want to deeply thank the LAYPO selection committee not only for the opportunity to perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall, but also for allowing me to gain such valuable musical experience over the past three years. I would also like to thank my family, who has supported me from the very beginning of my musical journey, and continues to tolerate my late-night practicing. Finally, I am grateful to all the teachers, mentors, family, and friends who have guided and encouraged me each and every day. Without them, I would not have found my inner voice.

Concert 2:

  • Alexander Fan
  • Beverly Hills High School
  • 11th Grade
  • Essay Title: From Here to There: Built From the Bottom Up

In elementary school, I experimented with both piano, which my sister played, and violin, which my dad played, but I never felt fully connected to either instrument. I wanted to find something that was completely my own. After some exploring, I decided to try the double bass. Soon afterward, I joined the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra (BYSO) in Washington State as a fifth grader. At my first ever orchestra rehearsal, I was surrounded by a sound unlike anything I had ever heard. I called it “the most beautiful sound in the world”. At that moment, I knew music would become an important part of my life. 

Then the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. Orchestra rehearsals came to an abrupt end, and my first concert, which I had been looking forward to all year, was cancelled. Furthermore, my private teacher retired, leaving me without formal instruction. For almost one year, I practiced under my dad’s supervision and started online lessons from a family friend who played the bass. Although I missed making music with others, I learned a lot during this time. I developed important technical skills, including vibrato and thumb position, and I developed more patience and perseverance.

When rehearsals finally resumed, I returned to BYSO with a renewed appreciation for every rehearsal and performance. I later also joined the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra (SYSO), performing with both orchestras simultaneously. This exposed me to an incredible variety of repertoire and pushed me to become a more versatile musician. Having spent so much time playing alone, I wanted to seize every opportunity to create music alongside others.

Because I’m often the only bassist in the entire orchestra, I socialized with people in different sections, meeting many new friends in the process. I discovered that a cellist and an oboist in BYSO were also on my club swim team, and we quickly became close. Paying attention to the other instruments helped me understand that playing well in an orchestra, aside from mastering my own part, requires communicating and working collaboratively with many different people. 

In 2022, I entered several online competitions, including the London Young Musician Competition, where I received the Gold Award. I also performed in the Pacific Northwest Ballet pit orchestra, allowing me the privilege of playing alongside some of the finest young bassists in Seattle. They inspired me to set even higher goals for myself. Before my family moved to Southern California in the summer of 2023, I attended the Marrowstone Music Festival, where I had one final opportunity to perform with many of the friends who had shaped my musical life in Seattle. Saying goodbye was difficult, but I knew a new chapter was about to begin.

Moving to Los Angeles introduced me to an entirely different musical community. Through the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (LAYPO), its Chamber Music Series, the Colburn Youth Orchestra, and my high school’s chamber orchestra, I encountered new perspectives and a huge selection of talented musicians across LA. One of my favorite experiences was performing in my school’s musicals with live actors on stage. For one production, I learned electric bass specifically for the show, and our orchestra was honored with the Jerry Herman Award for Best Orchestra. I was also honored to perform in both the California Orchestra Directors’ Association (CODA) Honors Symphony Orchestra and the California All-State Music Educators Conference (CASMEC) Symphony Orchestra, where I collaborated with outstanding young musicians from across the state. 

Music has also taught me the importance of giving back. At the Colburn School, I volunteered at charity events such as “Conduct Me,” and through LAYPO’s Donate Your Talent program, I tutored underprivileged students in music theory. Working with them reminded me of how much others had invested in me throughout my own journey. 

Over the past year, I have focused increasingly on solo double bass performance. Through the Colburn Bass Ensemble and LAYPO, I have performed several solo works before live audiences. Although the bass is commonly seen as only an accompanying instrument, I saw how its deeper, more mellow sound could actually harmonize well with the orchestra in a solo setting. 

This year, I was honored to be selected to perform a solo at the world-renowned Walt Disney Concert Hall. Every time I step onto the stage, I think back to that fifth grade student hearing a full orchestra for the very first time. I could not have imagined where that single rehearsal would lead me. 

None of this would have been possible without the people who believed in me. I am deeply grateful to my parents for their unwavering support and for driving me and my oversized instrument to countless lessons, rehearsals, and performances. I thank my friends and fellow musicians for continually inspiring me to become not only a better bassist but also a better person. My heartfelt gratitude goes to my private teachers,Ted Botsford, Ryan Baird, Stephen Pfeifer, and Ramon Salumbides as their guidance has shaped me into the musician I am today. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Chung for making this dream possible through his vision for LAYPO and his unwavering commitment to youth music education. 

Looking ahead, I hope to pursue a double major in chemistry and music. These fields may seem very different, but both challenge me to utilize my creativity and problem solving abilities. I cannot imagine a future without music. Whether I continue performing, teaching, or simply playing for my own enjoyment, it will always be a big part of who I am.

  • Mia Ji
  • California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley
  • 11th Grade
Screenshot

Growing up in Los Angeles, music has always been a meaningful part of my life. I began studying piano at the age of six, and from the very beginning, I was drawn to the emotional storytelling and expression that classical music offered. My family has always encouraged my artistic interests, and their support allowed me to explore music not only as a discipline, but also as a way to communicate and connect with others. Over time, piano became more than an extracurricular activity, it became a central part of my identity and creative growth.

Throughout my musical journey, performance opportunities and competitions have motivated me to continue improving. At the age of eight, I became a top prizewinner in the MUSE International Piano Competition, which led to my debut performance at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in New York City. Since then, I have received First Prize in the Bach International Music Competition, Gold Prize at the Longdon Young Musician Competition, and was named a finalist in the Vienna Piano School Competition. For the past several years, I have studied with Daniel Lessner in Los Angeles, where I have learned the importance of discipline, consistency and musical interpretation. I also attend the California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley, where I study instrumental piano while collaborating with other young artists in orchestral, musical theatre, and chamber settings. Being surrounded by a creative community has inspired me to grow not only as a pianist, but also a performer and collaborator. 

Beyond classical piano, I am deeply interested in the creative and business side of the music industry. In addition to piano, I enjoy hip-hop dance, songwriting, digital design, and fashion content creation, all of which allow me to express creativity in different ways. This summer, I will attend the GRAMMY Camp Music Business Program in Miami and the Berklee College of Music Music Business Summer Program in Los Angeles to further explore careers in music business, and multimedia collaboration. In the future, I hope to pursue a college education that allows me to combine my classical music background with my interests in music business and creative media. While I plan to continue performing piano seriously, I am also interested in studying areas such as music industry and marketing, where I can blend artistic performance with innovation and creative leadership within the music industry. 

Finally, I would like to thank my parents, friends and my sister for their constant encouragement and support throughout my musical journey. Their belief in me has helped me stay motivated through both challenges and achievements, and I am deeply grateful for the guidance and sacrifices they have made to help me pursue my passion for music. And for my biggest thanks, thank you Daniel for helping me grow as a musician by pushing me to my limits and supporting every single idea I have, you are like a second dad to me and I really appreciate you. Having such a strong support system has encouraged me to continue growing not only as a pianist, but also a creative person. 

  • Justin Chan
  • Punahou School (Honolulu, Hawaii)
  • 12th Grade
  • Essay Title: My Piano Journey and Growth

I began taking private piano lessons when I was in kindergarten, shortly after my twin sister started, initially at home and eventually at the teacher’s studio.  My early public performances were in periodic recitals arranged by my first piano teacher, at the largest and most popular mall in Hawaii, followed by school recitals under my second piano teacher, Dr. Kristin Elgersma.  After she moved, I started taking lessons from Dr. Wendy Yamashita, who has taught me for about ten years now.  She guided me through the competitions I have entered and won throughout my piano music journey.  Dr. Jessica Choi has also been mentoring and coaching me and accompanied me in my piano performances.

Over the years, I have also taken private lessons for violin and percussion.  It is piano that I enjoy the most, and have concentrated on it, which leads to the level where I am today.  Having learned more than twenty repertoires from over a dozen composers, they have enriched my piano techniques and prepared me to win major competitions.  Those experiences gave me the opportunity to perform in fundraisers and gala events, gain confidence to enter several concerto competitions and continue to achieve piano music goals that I pursued throughout the years.

From without, these moments might appear to be milestones defined by recognition.  Standing on that stage, what I felt was not accomplishment, but responsibility.  The music demanded precision, but more than that, it required interpretation.  Every musical phrase raised a question:  What does this mean?  Why this timing, this dynamic, this silence?  In searching for those answers, I found myself drawn less to performance as display and more to performance as inquiry.

The shift became even more meaningful when I began performing with my twin sister.  In 2024, we played a two-piano concerto together at the Korea-U.S. Alliance Cultural Festival in Central Park.  Unlike in solo performance, duet playing requires a different kind of awareness, not just listening to sound, but anticipating another person’s intention.  Our phrasing had to align, our timing had to converge, but most importantly, our interpretation had to become shared.  It was no longer about individual expression, but about creating coherence in art together.

This experience changed how I think about music, and more broadly, how I approach collaboration.  Precision matters, but so does adaptability.  Structure is essential, while meaning emerges through interaction.

Whether I am practicing a passage, analyzing a score, or performing on stage, I have come to see piano not simply as an instrument, but as a way of thinking.  The piano taught me to break complexity into structure, to refine details through repetition, and to remain calm and attentive even under pressure.  At the same time, it taught me that technical mastery alone is not enough; what matters is the ability to reshape that mastery into a song of our souls.

Major awards and honors that I’ve garnered over time are as follows:

  • Second Place, High School Division, 2026 LAYP Piano Concerto Competition
  • First Place, Age Category C, 2024-2025 Madeline Schatz-Harris Young Concerto Competition
  • Second Place, American Protege International Concerto Competition 2023
  • Second Place, American Protege International Piano and Strings Competition 2023
  • First Prize, Piano Young Artist Group B, American Virtuoso International Music Competition 2022
  • Second Prize, Chamber Music Young Artist Group A, American Virtuoso International Music Competition 2022
  • Finalist, Osaka International Music Competition 2020
  • First Prize, Hawaii State Music Competition 2019
  • Second Prize, Great Composers International Music Competition 2019
  • Second Place, Steinway Piano Competition Hawaii 2018

I will attend the University of Southern California, where I plan to pursue Business and artificial intelligence while continuing piano as a minor.

I am profoundly grateful to my parents, piano teachers, and mentors for their unending encouragement, guidance and support.

  • Alexander Burrow
  • Huron High School (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
  • 12th Grade
  • Essay Title: From Discovering My Musical Voice

I came from a musical family and was introduced to music at an early age, joining the Boychoir of Ann Arbor at age 7. I also played the violin and clarinet during my middle school years, played in my school band, and performed in the Honor Band in Orchestra Hall in Detroit, home of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. One of the most significant musical experiences during my youth has been singing with the choir in concerts across the state of Michigan, presenting formal and community outreach concerts in historic venues, churches, libraries, museums, and retirement homes for 9 seasons. My early musical journey was full of ensemble experiences. The Piano entered my life late. I began my formal piano studies only 3 and a half years ago, fully aware that most pianists my age had already been training for nearly a decade. Starting late reshaped my mindset from the very beginning. The piano, for me, has become a voice. I find that I can translate words, emotions, and thoughts into sound. I find almost everything in music. And music is what opened my eyes to the depth of creative potential I am capable of, and it continues to shape how I see myself and the world around me. 

The experiences that have pushed my musical growth the most have been working with teachers in one-on-one lessons and my recent attendance at various festivals in the summer of 2025. These festivals (Bowling Green State University Piano Camp, Anchorage Chamber Music Intensive, Southeastern Piano Festival) gave me the opportunity to learn about many aspects of piano music through piano literature classes, masterclasses, concert performances, and chamber music collaborations. It was in these intensely focused musical environments that I found a community of young pianists who shared my passion and where I learned to push myself further. I always try to seek experiences that will challenge me beyond the practice room. I have found summer music festivals and similar opportunities to be especially transformative for both my learning and artistic growth. I was also fortunate to receive private lessons from many distinguished musicians during those festivals. 

As a late starter on piano, to gain performance experience, I present solo piano recitals for retirement communities and perform in fundraising events for non-profit organizations. Meeting people after the concerts helps me realize how much people appreciate the live performances and the music I bring. I also participated in many local and regional competitions and auditions to expand my experiences, and I am very grateful for the awards and performance opportunities I have received over the last two years.  In 2026, I won the MFMC High School Piano Award, 1st Prize at the Rosalie Edwards Youth Competition in Ann Arbor, and 1st Prize at the Dorothy MacKenzie Price Competition in Toledo (OH). In the same year, I also received 2nd Prize at the Sherer Piano Competition in Goshen (IN), 2nd prize in the Steinway Jr. Artist Competition (Detroit), and an Honorable Mention for the Tuesday Musicale of Detroit Student League Competition. In 2025, I was awarded 3rd Prize in the Steinway Jr. Artist Competition (Detroit) and 2nd Prize in the Tuesday Musicale of Detroit Student League Competition. In 2025, I also placed 1st at the Ravel 150th Festival Piano Competition (pre-collegiate) in Michigan and was a finalist in both the Dearborn Symphony Young Artist Competition and the Dexter Community Orchestra Youth Artist Competition. I was also a recipient of the Tuesday Musicale of Detroit Harry and Irene Elkins Helping Hand Fund scholarship in both 2025 and 2026. In November 2024, I was awarded 1st place at the Schoolcraft Honors Recital audition. 

Recently, in March, I made my New York City debut at the Ukrainian Institute of America. I was also named a Finalist for From the Top’s Learning and Media Lab Fellowship program and was invited to be featured on their Daily Joy series in fall 2025. In January of 2026, I was awarded 2nd prize (senior high school division) in the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic (LAYP) Piano Concerto Competition and will make my concerto debut at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in July, which is an incredible honor. My upcoming performances include a series of concerts in the Upper Peninsula (MI) organized by Beacon Arts Michigan and a solo recital on the Dorothy MacKenzie Price series at the University of Toledo in the fall. 

In the fall of 2026, I will be attending the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance to pursue a degree in piano performance, studying under Christopher Harding. 

I would like to offer my sincerest thanks to my family. I have had an unusual road, but at every step, I have been met with support for my passion for music. I am forever grateful. I also offer my sincerest thanks to my former and current piano teachers: Philip Solomonick, John Solari, and Christopher Harding.

And I would also like to thank LAYPO for this great opportunity. It is these opportunities and experiences that will ultimately shape my artistry, discipline, and future as a musician. 

Thank you all. 

Concert 3

In progress