Collin Parker-Szekely, Piano

COLLIN PARKER-SZEKELY, 15, of Abington, PA, continues to be involved in many different musical activities, primarily through his studies in both piano and cello. Collin studies piano with concert pianist Michelle Cann and takes private cello lessons with Thomas Kraines through the Settlement Music School, where he has also been a recipient of the William B. McLaughlin III Scholarship. He has performed for the International Crescendo, Kiszely, and Dorothy Sutton piano festivals and competitions, as well as the Charleston Piano Competition, receiving top honors. In 2019, he was given a monetary award and invitation to participate in an international tour as a result of his 2020 participation in the Crescendo festival. Collin was selected as a featured soloist for the “Bach and Beyond” Music Festival in western New York (rescheduled for summer 2022) performing Mozart’s Concerto No. 12, K. 414, A Major (Collin was also awarded a scholarship for his participation in “Bach and Beyond”). Collin participates as a cellist in the top ensemble (Symphony Orchestra) of the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County system. In addition, he is currently involved with two chamber trios through Settlement—playing piano with one and cello with the other. Collin attended the Luzerne Music Camp in upstate NY during the summers of 2017-2019 for both cello and piano. More recently, he studied piano at the Philadelphia International Music Festival (PIMF) summer 2020 and 2021, and cello at the Arts and Community Network (ArCoNet) music camp summer 2020. Collin won the overall concerto competition at the PIMF in summer 2021. In addition to the piano and cello, Collin studies music theory, excels at singing, enjoys hip-hop, anime, and playing soccer, and has interests in history and philosophy.

Chloe Hyun, Violin

Chloe Hyun began her violin studies at the age of six and now at sixteen years old, is actively pursuing her career in music. Chloe studied with Elizabeth Kaderabek for nine years and is now a student of Kimberly Fisher, Principal Second Violinist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She has also performed in masterclasses and received instruction from highly acclaimed musicians including David Kim, Marc Rovetti, Lee Snyder, Carlos Rubio, Netanel Draiblate, and more.

Chloe has participated in many ensembles through the PYO Music Institute, where she started as a PRYSM Young Artist and is now in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. She has also been accepted into the Center for Gifted Young Musicians at Temple University’s music preparation program where she is a member of the Youth Chamber Orchestra and a violinist in her string quartet, coached by Kathryn Read. Along with that, Chloe is a member of the Snitzer Quartet, coached by William Polk, as she was a recent recipient of Settlement Music School’s Advanced Study Scholarship. Chloe is also a member of the Delaware County Region Back to Bach Project, a global organization that visits surrounding communities to share the gift of music. Chloe actively participates in international summer music festivals yearly and has been a PMAY artist since 2020.

Chloe is currently a Junior at Haverford High School and is very involved in her school’s music programs. Outside of the practice room she enjoys traveling, running her candle business, and spending time with her friends!

Maxwell Brown, Violin

Maxwell Brown is a 10-year-old violinist with flying fingers, a fluid bow arm, and rich tone that belies his half-sized violin. Max’s passion for music was apparent in his infancy when he was riveted by songs, and in his toddlerhood, when he turned all toys into pretend instruments. At age 3, Max enrolled in the Suzuki Academy of the Music School of Delaware, where he currently studies classical violin with Shelley Beard Santore.
Max has won prizes in international classical music competitions such as Camerata, American Protégé, Crescendo, Vivace, and Grand Prize Virtuoso, sometimes winning judges distinction awards or special prizes for exceptional young talent. Max won the 2021 Delaware Concerto Competition for Young Musicians and was the 2021 recipient of the Glotzer Merit Scholarship.

The 2021 youth old time fiddle champion of the Galax Old Fiddlers’ Convention in Virginia- the world’s oldest and largest old time fiddle convention- Max studies fiddle with Andrew Vogts and is a recipient of the Bill Birchfield Fiddle Scholarship. In 2021 Max also placed second in adult old time fiddle at Galax, and won the adult fiddle championship at the Berlin Fiddlers Convention.
Max’s performance highlights include classical violin recitals at Carnegie Hall and the Kimmel Center, as well as fiddle performances at: The Miller Center with Trout Fishing in America; Kutztown University in advance of Steve Martin’s Steep Canyon Rangers; and The Grand Opera House, opening for bluegrass legends Del (McCoury) and Dawg (David Grisman) as well as for The Beach Boys.

Kwanyun Loo, Cello

Kwanyun Loo, 11, is a 6th grader. He started playing the cello when he was 4 and has been with the PYO institute since he was 8, beginning with the PRYSM ensemble. He was steadily promoted to the PYMO (now renamed YMDO) ensemble, and then the PYAO ensemble, where he is now section leader. Kwanyun studies with Clancy Newman, and is a recipient of Settlement Music School’s Pre-Advanced Study Ensemble Scholarship. He is a cellist with the PMAY Initiative as of the 2021-22 season. Apart from music, Kwanyun enjoys advanced math, computer programming, and playing in the backyard.

Mio Imai, Violin

Mio Imai, age 11, is a 6th grader at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School and studies violin with Kimberly Fisher, the principal second violin of The Philadelphia Orchestra. Mio made her violin solo orchestra debut at the age of 9, performing with New York Session Symphony (2019), followed by Rowan String Ensemble of Rowan University (2021).

She won the 2nd prize in Leonid Kogan International Competition for Young Violinists 2021 and was chosen as a Pennsylvania state winner of Music Teacher National Association Competition 2021. She was nominated as a finalist in the 2020 Philadelphia Orchestra Albert M. Greenfield Student Competition (final round was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic). Mio has won 1st prizes in a number of competitions, including Sound Espressivo Global Music Competition (2020), Philadelphia International Music Festival Concerto Competition (2019), Rowan String Ensemble Concerto Competition (2020), Old York Road Symphony Young Artist Competition (2019), Crescendo International Competition (2019), and Junior Classical Music Competition in Japan (2017). In addition to performing solo, Mio plays chamber and orchestral music as a member of Temple University Youth Chamber Orchestra in Center for Gifted Young Musicians Program, Temple University. Besides music, Mio enjoys crafting, painting and skiing.