These recitals showcase young talented musicians, giving them an opportunity to perform before a wider audience. Fine Arts Chamber Players provides a venue for these gifted young artists as they pursue careers in music.
Rising Star Recital
Allison Whitfield
Allison Whitfield began playing the oboe at age eleven. A Michigan resident, she played in the Michigan All-State Orchestra and the Michigan Youth Arts Festival multiple times in high school, along with other various honor bands. In 2006 Allison began formal training at Michigan State University under the tutelage of Jan Eberle, former principal oboist of the Fort Worth Symphony. In summer 2009 and 2010, Allison underwent intensive orchestral training at the Chautauqua Institution, playing in the festival orchestra and performing in recitals. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance in May 2010, Allison is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Music Performance at UT Arlington under the instruction of Rogene Russell, principal of the Dallas Opera, member of the Fort Worth Symphony, and Artistic Director of Fine Arts Chamber Players. Allison recently won second place in the Mid-Texas Symphony’s Young Artist Concerto Competition and also won the UTA Band Alumni Scholarship Award, Sue and Art Mosby Scholarship Award, and the Arlington Arts League Rick Bateham Memorial Scholarship.
Annie Lin
Dr. Annie Lin actively maintains a performing career as a soloist, chamber musician, and collaborative pianist with performances that span North America, Asia, and Europe. She is a dedicated collaborative pianist, recording more than one hundred compact discs and DVDs with young instrumental artists for the BPC Recording label. The former head of the piano division at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Dr. Lin has been an Assistant Professor at Southern Methodist University, Scripps College in Claremont, CA, and a Lecturer at the University of Southern California. She received her B.M. in piano performance from USC’s Thornton School of Music studying with James Bonn, and subsequently received her M.M. and D.M.A. degrees in piano performance studying with John Perry. Currently, Dr. Lin serves on the faculty of the Brandeis Piano Conservatory in Richardson, TX, where she maintains a private teaching studio and trains and coaches students in the art of collaboration.
July 10th
Beethoven Basics
Rising Star Recital
Sahun Hong
Born in 1994 in Seoul, Korea, Sahun Hong has studied piano since age four. At the age of 16, he graduated Magna Cum Laude from TCU with a degree in Piano Performance. He is a student of Professor John Owings. He has also had lessons with Juilliard Professors Martin Canin and Veda Kaplinsky. Prior to entering TCU at the age of 11, Sahun performed in 28 schools in the Fort Worth ISD through the Van Cliburn Foundation’s “Musical Awakenings” program.Sahun has won numerous prizes and awards, including the 2010 Lennox International Young Artist Competition, the 2009 Fort Worth Symphony Young Artist Competition, and the 2009 Leschetizky Competition for Gifted Young Pianists in New York. Sahun has performed with the Fort Worth Symphony, Richardson Symphony, Waco Symphony, Brazos Valley Symphony, Galveston Symphony and Camerata New York. He has also been featured on the nationally broadcast radio show “From the Top.”
July 17th
Cello Classics
Rising Star Recital
Terri Sanchez
Terri Sanchez is a doctoral candidate at the University of North Texas, studying with Professor Terri Sundberg. She received her Master of Music degree from Southern Methodist University and her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She is a laureate of many national competitions: 1st Prize Winner of the San Diego Flute Guild Artist Gold Competition, 2nd Prize Winner of the National Flute Association Young Artist Competition along with the award for "Best Interpretation of a Newly Commissioned Work," 2nd Prize Winner of the 26th Annual Myrna W. Brown Artist Competition, 1st Prize Winner of the NFA Orchestral Audition Competition and Finalist in the Walfrid Kujala Piccolo Competition. Ms. Sanchez is on the faculty of Floot Fire, a summer flute camp, a Teaching Fellow at UNT and teaches private flute lessons at her home in Carrollton.
July 24th
Summer Winds
Rising Star Recital
Katelan Tran Terrell
Born in 1994, Katelan Tran Terrell began taking piano lessons at age five, under Mrs. Donna Kemp. Since 2008, she has been studying with Dr. John Solomons at the University of Texas at Arlington and frequently participates in the Clavier Series Recitals there. At age fifteen, she made her concert debut for a Sigma Alpha Iota Scholarship Fundraiser at Irons Recital Hall. Katelan is the recipient of numerous awards and prizes, including: winner of the 2010 Texas Music Teachers Association Competition, senior piano performance finalist at the 2011 Music Teachers National Association Competition, and winner of the 2011 Young Musicians Concerto Competition sponsored by the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra. Currently, she is an 11th-grade homeschooler and a UTA Honors Academy student pursuing a B.A. in Piano Performance.
July 31st
String Extravaganza
Rising Star Recital
Vatsal Vemuri
Vatsal Vemuri(age 8) will start 3rd grade this fall at St. Mark's School of Texas in Dallas. Vatsal started learning to play the piano with Ms. Phoebe Hemmingway at the Suzuki Institute of Dallas. He is now continuing his piano studies with Dr. Bret Serrin at the Suzuki Institute. Vatsal played a Beethoven sonata at the DMTA Symphonic Festival in January 2011 and placed 1st in the Elementary I category.
Nikki Naghavi
Nikki Naghavi (age 10) was born in Dallas. She is the only child in her family. She started playing the violin at the Suzuki Institute of Dallas when she was 4 1/2 years old. She is the student of Ms. Nicolette Solomon. Nikki is in the "Gifted & Talented" program at her school and will start 5th Grade this fall. She practices her violin for 2 hours a day and she likes to draw, read and play with her friends. She also loves to play her violin for anyone who enjoys listening to music.
Shokhvrit Mand
Shokhvrit Mand (age 14) is a student of Dr. Bret Serrin at the Suzuki Music Institute of Dallas. He has been acclaimed by audience and critics alike on numerous occasions, including his recitals in the prestigious Eisemann Performing Arts Center and his award–winning performance during the Sixth International Frédéric Chopin Youth Competition. Hailed by Russian America as “a musician of both profound emotions and stunning virtuosity”, Shokhvrit has also been a prizewinner in the DMTA competition, Dallas Solo Piano Competition, Collin County Young Artist's Competition and Hubbard Chamber Music Competition. This summer Shokhvrit was accepted as a scholarship student at the International Institute for Young Musicians.
