​Emily Russell was a Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra student from 2012-2015. Now, she is attending Appalachian State University  studying elementary and music education.

What do you remember most about your WSYO experience?
I remember being introduced to a wide range of music which, as a trumpet player, I would not have been introduced to otherwise.

I also enjoyed collaborating with other musicians my age and sharing ideas

​Universities attended and degrees earned:
Appalachian State University - currently studying elementary and music education.

Do you still play your instrument?
Yes, for fun and professionally!

What have you been up to since you left WSYO or won the concerto competition? 
I started attending Appalachian State University where I have been studying education specifically in music and elementary studies. I have studied under renowned trumpet professor Dr. James Stokes and participated in many ensembles such as the trumpet choir, marching mountaineers, symphony band, and many more. I have also given two trumpet recitals. I also became a member of Sigma Alpha Iota - an international women’s fraternity dedicated to furthering music in the world. After graduation, I plan to get licensure in Preschool education so that I can instill the love of music in even the youngest minds.

Ash Stemke was a violinist in the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra from 2007 to 2009 and is now a college professor and composer!

Instrument:   Violin

Universities attended and degrees earned:
BM, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2013)
MM, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2016)
DM, Florida State University (2019)

Current occupation:
Assistant Professor of Music

Current Employer:
Murray State University

What do you remember most about your WSYO experience?
Joyfully making music with my friends. Preparing for the rigor of university-level symphony orchestras. The magic feeling of performing one of my own compositions as part of the WSYO, under Dr. Errante's leadership. Oh...and the snacks!

What have you been up to since you left WSYO?
I am currently enjoying a career as a college professor and composer! I serve as Assistant Professor of Music at Murray State University in Murray, KY, where I teach courses in music theory, aural skills, composition, and digital music. Recently, my compositions have been performed by yMusic, the Riverside Symphony, the Boston New Music Initiative, and the San Francisco Choral Artists.

Personal website:
ashstemke.com

Twitter handle:
@ash_stemke

Camden Stohl was a Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra student from 2015-2019 and is now attending East Carolina University earning a bachelor's degree in violin performance. Camden was the Junior Division and High School Division winner of the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra's annual Richard R. Deas Young Artists Concerto Competition in 2014 and 2018.​

What do you remember most about your WSYO experience?
WSYO was always an outlet for me to create amazing music and learn from a wonderful conductor (Dr. Errante), alongside some of my closest friends. The opportunities I got from performing with the WSYO and learning to act as a concertmaster for 2 years had a tremendous impact on the player I am today. I remember being a freshman, never having played in a full symphonic ensemble, and being overwhelmed by everything that goes into this form of performance. I can now look back upon these memories and know that this program gave me so much discipline to learn an abundance of high-level repertoire and operate at a professional standard, and for that, I am forever grateful.

What have you been up to since you left WSYO and/or won the concerto competition? 
Since being in the WSYO and winning the concerto competition I have been studying violin at East Carolina University with Ara Gregorian and Hye-Jin Kim. Here I play in the symphony orchestra and chamber ensemble while pursuing my bachelor's degree, and that means spending my time trying to grow as much as I can each semester. Although I have only been in college for one year, it has been such an amazing experience and I would not change anything about it. In my free time, I also enjoy spending time at the beach, exercising and being outdoors, and doing just about anything crafty, like painting or sewing. I find that these things help keep my creativity alive and in return, self-motivates me when it comes to music. 

Olivia Hakan was a WSYO student in 2013 through 2017 and has continued   playing the violin while  working towards her bachelor's in chemistry at the University of Vermont. Read more about Olivia and her experience in WSYO.

​What do you remember most about your WSYO experience?
My favorite part of WSYO was being able to connect with other musicians that I wasn't always in contact with through school or my studio. It was also a wonderful opportunity to really challenge my playing ability in ways I wasn't able to in other ensembles.

Do you still play your instrument?
Yes, for fun

What have you been up to since you left WSYO or won the concerto competition? Please share any accomplishments, activities, interests, travels, and experience below.
I have been attending school at the University of Vermont, working towards my bachelors in chemistry with a minor in math. I played in their symphony for my first three semesters and was in a chamber group in my last two. I have also continued to take lessons with the university. Outside of school, I have continued to pursue my passion for traveling and the outdoors. I will now, hopefully, be pursuing my master's in Environmental Protection at the University of Edinburgh.

Annie Jewell is a current Wilmington Symphony Orchestra musician and a WSYO alum! You will find Annie around town   performing for many different events and  organizations. 

Universities attended and degrees earned:
University of North Carolina at Greensboro- BA in Violin Performance

Current occupation:
Musician/ Teacher

What do you remember most about your WSYO experience?
Connecting with other young musicians, and having the opportunity to learn performance etiquette before becoming a professional. And playing in the concerts with the Girl’s Choir of Wilmington - which I was also a part of!

Do you still play your instrument?
Yes, professionally

What have you been up to since you left WSYO?
After earning a degree in music, I moved back to Wilmington and now perform with the WSO! I also teach private violin and voice lessons, direct several church choirs, and perform with my bluegrass trio, Annie Oak.

Sophia Han played violin in the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra in 2001-2004. She is now the   Violin and Viola Professor at Southeast Missouri State University as well as the Associate Concertmaster of Paducah Symphony in Paducah, KY.  After WSYO, she attended   UNC-Chapel Hill (BM), University of Michigan (MM),  and Florida State University (DM).

What do you remember most about your WSYO experience?
I took the level of training I received in Wilmington as well as a participant of WSYO for granted! I didn't realize how my teachers and Dr. Errante's standards and pedagogy pushed me to be competitive as an orchestral, chamber, and soloist on a national level. Dr. Errante made rehearsals fun but also made sure we learned along the way. It certainly helped that we had killer players in that orchestra at the time as well. Wishing everyone the best in WSYO!

What have you been up to since you left WSYO?
It's been about 16 years since I last was involved with WSYO and a lot has happened! Currently I serve as the Assistant Professor of Violin and Viola at Southeast Missouri State University as well as the Associate Concertmaster of Paducah Symphony in Paducah, KY. I perform anywhere from half a dozen to a dozen solo and chamber recital programs around the country in any given academic year. During the school year, I get invited to public schools in surrounding states as well as Missouri to lead orchestra clinics.
​
Personal website:
https://semo.edu/music/faculty/han.html

Connie Chen was a violinist in the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra​s from 2001-2008. 
​
​After high school, Connie went on to  Duke University and received a  Bachelor of Arts  in  English Literature and then earned a Master of Science in Technical Communication from North Carolina State University.
​
Current occupation:
Support Engineer

Current Employer:
IBM Corp

What do you remember most about your WSYO experience?
Playing Firebird Suite at Thalian hall!!

Do you still play your instrument?
Yes, for fun

What have you been up to since you left WSYO? 
Trying new recipes and planning my next vacation

Say hello to WSYO alumni, David Haskins! David was a violinist in WSYO from 2008-2012.

Since then, he has graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Music in violin performance and from University of Nevada Reno with a Master of Music in violin performance. David is the Youth Ensembles Manager and Section Violinist for the Reno Philharmonic. He also performs with the Reno Chamber Orchestra and is a Private Teacher.