Zooming Thru Music Team
Here's the members of our organization and a bit about them!
Our Founders
Founder
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a freshman at Harvard University. She studies piano passionately with world-renowned pianists Hung-Kuan Chen and Tema Blackstone at the prestigious Juilliard Pre-College Program. After realizing the serious effects of social isolation firsthand, Sophia has committed to helping others feel a sense of connection to the outside world. In her free time, Sophia likes to draw, write stories, read, and play tennis with her friends.
Founder
Helena Kim
Helena Kim is a sophomore who currently is at Wayne Hills High School in Wayne, New Jersey. She studies piano at music school Manhattan School of Music at the pre-college program with Mr. Daniel Epstein. Helena has a strong interest in music, and tends to listen to many genres. Helena not only plays the piano, but also plays the trumpet. Whenever Helena can catch a breath, she likes to read, draw, write short stories, and play tennis with her sister.
Officers
Officers
Aadhithyaram Balaji - Co-Vice President
Aadhithyaram (Aadhith) is a senior at Wayne Hills High School in Wayne, NJ, and has attained the rank of Eagle Scout from Boy Scout Troop 108 in Wayne. He takes piano lessons with Dr. Mansoon Han Kim, and plays trumpet with the Wayne Hills Patriot Marching Band and Jazz Band. He has been a part of several musicals at his school, and has played lead roles in them. In his free time, Aadhith likes to dabble with various musical instruments, and listen to a variety of musical genres. An avid reader, he enjoys learning about ancient history and making digital and pencil art. Having dedicated himself to serving his community in many ways, Aadhith now looks forward to sharing his music with the community.
Ariana Aray -
(Co-Vice President)
Ariana lives in Wayne, New Jersey. She is a senior at Wayne Hills high school. Ariana plays the ukulele and loves to sing! She also writes some of her own songs. Ariana enjoys theatre and performing. She has been competitively for the past 7 years. She is fluently bilingual (Spanish and English).
Eunice Park -
Secretary
Harpist Eunice Park lives in Virginia and is a junior at Lake Braddock Secondary School, VA. She studies with Nancy Allen, principal harpist of the New York Philharmonic, in the Juilliard Pre-College Program. Eunice is the Principal Harpist of the Virginia All-State Orchestra and is the first-prize winner of the American Harp Society National Competition. She is also the winner of the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra Competition and 1st prize winner of the CNU Harp Festival. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and playing harp duets with her younger brother, Wesley!
Brynn Buckley -
Secretary
Brynn is a senior at Wayne Hills High School. They also participate in musical theatre, color guard, a capella choir, and improv. Outside of Zooming Thru Music, they've performed with Wayne Hills Theatre Workshop, Rosen Performing Arts Center, Aspire Performing Arts Company, Wayne Hills Patriot Voices, and the Wayne HIlls Patriot Marching Band Color Guard.
Manya Madan - Tech Officer
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Brynn is a senior at Wayne Hills High School. They also participate in musical theatre, color guard, a capella choir, and improv. Outside of Zooming Thru Music, they've performed with Wayne Hills Theatre Workshop, Rosen Performing Arts Center, Aspire Performing Arts Company, Wayne Hills Patriot Voices, and the Wayne HIlls Patriot Marching Band Color Guard.
Members
Members
Avantika Lakshman
(Voice)
Avantika Lakshman is an 8th grader at Brooklawn Middle school in Parsippany, New Jersey. She studies the Carnatic violin and Indian classical dance. Showing her passion for singing, she participates in the school chorus group and practices diligently. Being a bookworm, Avantika enjoys trips to the library and playing badminton with her family. Realizing how important it is to spend time with her community, Avantika is very thankful for the opportunity to join Zooming Through Music.
Matthew Kwon
(Piano)
Matthew Kwon, 14 years old, from New Jersey, is an ninth-grader at Montclair Kimberley Academy. He has been a student of Dr. Mansoon Han Kim since the age of seven. Matthew has received experience through participating in multiple recitals. He shares his fondness for music through activities like participating in a jazz band at school. Matthew loves playing the piano because he can express his emotions through it and it allows him to show his passion for music. Playing a new song on the piano is always interesting to him and is always different. Outside of music Matthew enjoys reading, playing tennis, and debating.
Caleb Kwon
(Piano)
Caleb Kwon, 12 years old, lives with his family in New Jersey. Caleb began playing the piano at the age of seven. He has been actively participating in recitals and has learned much from the opportunities given. His colorful music personality shows through his pieces when he plays the piano. His favorite piece is Melancholy Reflections by Mike Schoenmehl. When Caleb plays the piano he enters his musical world. That’s one of the reasons he loves the piano. When Caleb plays the piano and listens to his music he feels as if he can escape from reality, which allows him to go into his realm of music. Aside from piano Caleb enjoys biking, reading, and swimming.
Cadee Lee
(Clarinet)
Cadee Lee is a senior from Cresskill and attends Bergen County Academies. She plays the clarinet and is a student at Juilliard Pre-College. Aside from music, she also loves baking and writing. She is currently involved in the Academy Chronicle, her school newspaper, as the Assistant Managing Editor. Even during these hard times, she hopes to bring joy to others through her performances.
Charlotte English
(Voice)
Charlotte English is a sophomore at Wayne Valley High School. In my free time, she enjoys singing, performing in musical theater, participating in student government, and cheerleading.
Hailey Shafer
(Voice)
Hailey Shafer is 17 years old and has been doing musical theater since she was 4 and it has been her #1 priority since. Some fun facts about her are that she is a Capricorn, she likes to read and bake, and sing with her friends. She has been a part of Zooming Thru Music for a few months now and has enjoyed it since.
Josh Cooper
(Voice)
Josh Cooper is 15 years old and in the 11th grade. He attends the Passaic County Technical Institute in Wayne, New Jersey. There, he is involved in multiple things such as ski club, and musical theater. He also does musicals outside of school at Aspire PAC. Josh loves to sing and is very happy to be part of Zooming Through Music.
Phoebe Han
(Viola)
Residing in Cresskill, NJ, Phoebe Han is a violist who studies with Toby Appel. She is in the 12th grade and currently attends the Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in New York City. Phoebe also enjoys photography, baking, and spending time with her friends and family. She even has a white toy poodle named Marshmallow!
Ian Choi
(Cello)
Cellist Ian Choi lives in New Jersey and is a student at Tenakill Middle School. He studies with Soo Bae, a popular and professional cellist. He is one of the cellists in the Tenakill School Orchestra and a contestant in the Regional Orchestra Audition Competition. In his free time, he enjoys watching movies, playing video games, such as Minecraft, producing and making YouTube videos, and even arranging sheet music for movie soundtracks.
Ellie Choi
(Violin)
Ellie Choi is a violin player who lives in New Jersey, she goes to Tenakill Middle School and is a younger sibling of Ian Choi. She participated in a concert in "Little Mozarts." She likes to eat, sleep, play games, draw and do music.
Matthew Wang
(Clarinet)
Matthew Wang is a clarinetist and is 15 years old and currently in 10th grade. At school, he participated in the Band, and Jazz Band. He also is part of the Math Counts team. Matthew enjoys playing video games with his friends and watching movies.
Leah Yeon
(Piano)
Leah Yeon is a bright 4th grader at the APT elementary school in Wayne, NJ. She started learning piano when she was 7-years-old and has been improving her skills much since taking lessons with Professor Mansoon Han Kim. She has won awards at several auditions and competitions. She is also an excellent swimmer and practices hard, and has also received medals in swimming competitions. Lastly, she loves reading books, drawing, and writing stories whenever she has free time.
Alumni
Jaein Han
(Voice)
Jaein Han is a senior at Wayne Hills High School. She is part of her school’s theatre group, and loves to sing and act. She has been doing theatre since 6th grade, and she enjoys it as a way to express herself and learn more about herself through the characters she plays. Jaein also loves learning science, and hopes to study physics in college. In her free time, she makes art, watches movies, and plays video games. She loves doing Zooming Thru Music shows, and is thankful to be a part of it.
Katherine Wang
((Piano, Voice)
Katherine Wang is a pianist living in Trumbull Connecticut. She is a Senior at Trumbull High School and also is in the Juilliard Pre-College Program where she studies with Victoria Mushkatkol. Katherine enjoys painting, songwriting, and spending time with her family. She has a younger brother named Matthew, who plays the clarinet!
Joshua Kucharski
(Trumpet)
Joshua Kucharski is a freshman at the Peabody Conservatory. He graduated from DeMatha High School and Juilliard Pre-College in NYC, where he studied with Raymond Mase. Joshua was a memorial of the National Youth Orchestra, and was formerly principal trumpet for three years in the Maryland Classic Youth Symphony program (MCYO Symphony), the principal trumpet of the Juilliard Pre-College Concert Orchestra.
Dylan Misquita
(Piano)
Dylan Misquita is a sophomore at Rutgers. He loves movies and music and has been playing piano for around 6 years. He’s performed at many recitals, including one at Carnegie Hall.
Kevin Valencia
(Cello)
Kevin Valencia is currently the principal cellist at the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s Youth Symphony chamber program, and has been playing cello for the past eight years. He also plays French horn for the Wayne Hills band program and mellophone for the Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps.
Ethan Han
(Cello)
Ethan attends the University of Chicago. He graduated from the Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in NYC and studied cello at the Juilliard School Pre-College Division with Amy Barston.
Irene Hwang
Irene Hwang is a freshman attending Rutgers University. She plays the piano and enjoys it very much. Some of her hobbies are cooking, playing games, and reading. She loves listening to music and tries to make people smile when she can. She hopes that she can make people happy through these harsh, unprecedented times with the things she does, like playing the piano.
Amy Hecht
Amy Hecht is a freshman attending Pace University. In her free time, she sings, plays the alto saxophone, tap dances, and takes photos. She loves Broadway musicals and participates in theatre programs in and out of school. She was part of her high school’s marching band, where she played alto sax. She was also part of winter guard, where she tossed flags and rifles. She is almost constantly listening to show tunes and enjoys sharing her voice with others!
Elizabeth Grant
Elizabeth Grant is a senior at Wayne Hills High School. She’s been singing since she was very young, and has been doing theatre productions since she was 12. In her time doing stage work, she’s played iconic characters like Fiona (Shrek: The Musical), Elsa (Frozen: The Musical), and Cinderella (Cinderella). Elizabeth loves sharing her talent with other people, and it always makes her happy to see people truly enjoying what she’s doing. Elizabeth would like to thank Sophia Kim for making this beautiful program, and for allowing her to be involved in it. She would also like to thank her family for always being extremely supportive of her music, shows, etc.
Joy Zhang
Wenrui (Joy) Zhang is a freshman attending Barnard College. She began taking piano lessons at three and earned level 9 out of 10 on the Chinese Music Association Piano exam. Her favorite pieces from childhood are Merry Go Round of Life and Summer by Joe Hisashi. She also enjoys trying new instruments, such as the ocarina and kalimba.
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