Are you a former member of WSYO?
Youth Orchestra
Rockestra
Junior Strings
Chamber Ensembles
JOIN OUR WSYO ALUMNI GROUP!
The Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestras (WSYO) has made a significant impact on the region’s student musicians since 2001. Whether you were a Junior Strings, Rockestra or Youth Orchestra member, we want to hear from you!
Currently, four of our WSYO alumni perform in the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra. Other WSYO alumni are local educators, or they have gone on to become community leaders, doctors, lawyers, business professionals and entrepreneurs around the U.S. The WSYO experience gives students from all backgrounds the skills to succeed in whatever their future holds.
No matter what path our students follow when they leave us, we want to make it as easy as possible for WSYO alumni to stay in touch with their musical roots.
What are some of our Alumni up to now?
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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.
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Submitted in 2020:
"Hi! My name is CJ Tyson and I was a cellist in WSYO for four years (2015-2019)! Youth symphony was extremely important to me. Every Thursday, I would always be so excited driving to rehearsal, getting ready to not only challenge myself as a musician, but also look forward to creating and maintaining long lasting friendships with other fellow musicians. My time in this symphony helped make me realize how important music is to me and the significance of continuing my studies, despite where my future career takes me. "
CJ is currently pursuing a degree at Duke University with a major in Neuroscience and a minor in Chemistry. He is also minoring in music and therefore is a part of the Duke Symphony Orchestra!
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Submitted in 2020:
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.
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Submitted in 2021:
"Hi, My name is Tyler Hamilton and I was in WSYO for three years (2016-2019). WSYO was important to me because it introduced me to playing in a symphonic orchestra! Before auditioning for youth symphony, I only had the opportunity to be in a symphonic band setting at my high school, so it was very fun to learn from the different environment. I feel it made me a better and more well-rounded musician."
Tyler is now attending NC State University and is an active part of their marching band, The Power Sound of the South! Tyler is pursuing a major in Sociology and a minor in Spanish!
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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 Music, the Riverside Symphony, the Boston New Music Initiative, and the San Francisco Choral Artists.
Personal website: ashstemke.com
Twitter handle: @ash_stemke
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Submitted in 2024:
Years you participated in the WSYO? (Including Junior Strings, Rockestra & Youth Orchestra)
2012-2019
What instrument(s) did you play in WSYO?
Violin
Universities attended and degrees earned:
East Carolina University- bachelor’s degree in violin performance (Spring 2023) University of Maryland- master’s degree in violin performance (Upcoming Spring 2025)
Current occupation:
Graduate student at University of Maryland.
Please share any awards, contributions to your field of work, and/or your greatest career/college accomplishments:
Member of University of Maryland’s fellowship quartet, performing for events for the university and providing outreach for the surrounding communities. Invited to perform an interactive set at University of Maryland’s Maryland Day event while working with the Voices of Prince George’s county nonprofit. Performed at Washington DC’s Kennedy Center in Spring of 2024.
Did participating in WSYO influence your career path in any way? If yes, please elaborate.
I always envisioned being a violinist as my career and WSYO was my start in knowing what that may look like. Being in WSYO and being a part of the first WSYO quartet gave me knowledge about orchestral and chamber music playing before getting to college, which was very valuable and had a tremendous impact on the player I am today.
What is your favorite musical memory from WSYO?
My favorite memory in WSYO was performing music that really pushed the ensemble. We all felt so fulfilled if we worked really hard to put it together and it paid off. It is so important to give students music that is appropriate for their skill level, but a bit of a challenge is also really great for building confidence and comradery within the ensemble.
What is your favorite non-musical memory from WSYO?
My favorite memories of WSYO is hanging out with the friends that I made through the program. Between orchestra and quartet rehearsals, performances, or just spending time together, most of my best friends in school were from this program.
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Submitted in 2020:
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.
What do you remember most about your WSYO experience? WSYO was my favorite musical outlet as a high-schooler, and it played a crucial part in my decision to dedicate my life to music. It was the first time I had ever participated in a full symphonic orchestra, and I'll never forget hearing that sound for the first time. I looked forward to each and every rehearsal, and I practiced diligently to learn the difficult music. I loved working with Dr. Errante, performing professional-level repertoire, including some of Errante's own music, serving as Concertmaster for the first time, helping and guiding my peers, and attending the summer strings festival at UNCW.
Do you still play your instrument? Yes, for fun and professionally.
What have you been up to since you left WSYO? I left Wilmington in 2012 to attend Appalachian State University, where I majored in violin performance, studying under Dr. Nancy Bargerstock. I won a contract with the Johnson City Symphony as their assistant-principal second violin in 2013 and played with them until I moved in 2016. I performed solo with the Appalachian Symphony Orchestra in 2014. I also performed solo and in the violin section of the Symphony of the Mountains. During my last year of undergrad I went abroad to Barcelona, Spain where I studied Spanish and took violin lessons with Kai Gleusteen at the Liceu Conservatory for 7 months. I returned to Boone, graduated early, and moved to Reno, Nevada in 2016 because I was offered a full ride and a Graduate Teaching Assistantship at the University of Nevada, Reno. In 2018 I finished my Masters in violin performance, studying with Stephanie Sant'Ambrogio. During the past three years I have participated in Round Top Music Festival in Texas, and AIMS in Graz, Austria, won a contract with the Reno Philharmonic, and have performed with other ensembles such as the Reno Chamber Orchestra, Susanville Symphony, and Fresno Philharmonic. In May 2019 I began work as the Youth Ensembles Manager for the Reno Philharmonic, overseeing all aspects of our four youth orchestras and free after school violin program, which in total comprises almost 500 students. I have come to love my life here, although it is far from home, and I've become an avid lover of the outdoors; anything from hiking to skiing to kayaking. I still play violin every day, teach regularly, and am very passionate about music education and its importance in the community.
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Submitted in 2020:
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.
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Submitted in 2020:
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? 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.
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Submitted in 2020:
"Hello! My name is Emma Tracy and I was a cellist in WSYO for two years (2016 & 2019). I am so grateful for the experience I got being in youth symphony, playing challenging music in what feels like a professional setting made me feel much more comfortable playing at the collegiate level at Appalachian State University."
Emma is currently earning a degree in Cello Performance at ASU!
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Submitted in 2020:
Connie Chen was a violinist in the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestras 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
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Submitted in 2024:
Years you participated in the WSYO? (Including Junior Strings, Rockestra & Youth Orchestra)
2021-2022
What instrument(s) did you play in WSYO?
Trumpet
Current occupation:
Medical Laboratory Technologist ( Graduate in August )
What is your favorite musical memory from WSYO?
My favorite memory from WSYO is playing the English folk suites, they were so fun to play and perform for people.
What is your favorite non-musical memory from WSYO?
My favorite non-musical memory is when me and my friend Sam who played percussion would get food after rehearsal.
If you have any other activities, interests, hobbies, travels, or life experiences you would like to share, please elaborate below!
I love to stay active! I enjoy running and going to the gym as well. Also I love performing gigs because it allows you to experience all types of music while still having fun!
Have questions?
Email Meghan McDonald at meghan@wilmingtonsymphony.org or call (910) 791-9262