2021 NYYVC winners

Sarah Li, 14, is a freshman at Montgomery High School, New Jersey. She first began studying piano at the age of 4 under the tutelage of Tomoko Harada, to which she continues to this day. Sarah developed a passion for music at an early age, making her Carnegie Hall debut at 6. Since then, she has gone on to win numerous piano competitions, including the NLPA National Young Musicians Showcase Competition, New Jersey Federation of Music Clubs Competition, New York Young Performers Prize Competition, Rondo Vanguard Competition, and Steinway Society Classical Competition. Her most recent accomplishments include receiving the grand prize in the 2020 Prima Volta Music Competition, first place in the 2020 New York Young Virtuoso Competition, first place in the 2020 NJFMC Competition, first place in the 2020 NJMTA Young Musicians Competition, silver in the 2021 Musicale Bach and Baroque Music Competition, gold prize in the 2nd International Apex Music Competition, and first prize in the 2021 New York Young Performers Prize Competition. In addition, Sarah was selected twice to have her performances broadcasted on the radio program Kids on Keys from WWFM The Classical Network, and has taken a master class given by renowned pianist Dmitry Rachmanov. Outside of piano, Sarah also enjoys playing violin, reading, and figure skating.

Kaylin Chung is currently a junior attending the East Brunswick high school in East Brunswick, New Jersey. She has been playing the violin since she was eight years old and currently studies with Elizabeth Faidley in New York City.

Aside from playing the violin, Kaylin runs on her track and cross-country team. She also loves to study environmental science and is an active member of her school’s SAVE club, which raises awareness about climate change and studies human impacts on the environment. In her free time, she loves to bake, read, and hang out with her friends.

Jisang Kymm, age 15, is a sophomore at the Horace Mann School in NY.  He is a student of the Juilliard School Pre-College Division studying with Yi-Fang Huang and Molly Carr.  Jisang is the cash prize winner and the 1st place winner at the Prima Volta Music Competition SE 2021 and a finalist in teen strings at the International Music Grand Prix 2021. He attended the Heifetz International Music Institute in the summer of 2021. Outside of music, Jisang loves to play tennis and table tennis. In his spare time, he spends time with his cat.

Sophia Jenkins, age 11, began playing cello at the age of 6 and lives in Basking Ridge, NJ. She has played with the New Jersey Youth Symphony and at the Chamber Music Center of New York.   Sophia has received awards from the North International Music Competition, the NLPA International Young Artist Competition, the Camerata Artists International Concerto Competition, the International Grande Music Competition, the American Protégé International Concerto Competition, and the Bellegrande International Music Competition.  Sophia has participated in the Heifetz Program for the Exceptionally Gifted (PEG) and the Bowdoin International Music Festival.  Sophia studies cello with Inbal Segev.

Nikka Gershman-Pepper is a 13-year-old flutist and composer. She is a first-prize winner in numerous competitions including Rising Stars Grand Prix (Berlin), Flutes by the Sea International Competition, Chicago Flute Club (Senior Division), concerto soloist for the Whittier Regional Symphony, and International Music Competition Bonn "Grand Prize Virtuoso". She is a recipient of a Sir James Galway Merit Scholarship Award and has been chosen to perform in masterclasses with Sir James Galway, Denis Bouriakov, Lorna McGhee, Andrea Griminelli, Emily Beynon, Viviana Guzman, Garrett Hudson, and Ransom Wilson. Nikka’s solo concerts include performances at the Beethoven House, Bonn, Germany, VOS with the LA Jewish Symphony premiering her original composition, New York at the Salon de Virtuosi winter concert, and Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz with the Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra. She is currently attending the Pre-Conservatory Program at the Colburn Music Academy under the mentorship of Jim Walker.

Cayden Tan is an 11 year old New Yorker who currently attends 6th Grade at Horace Mann School. He has been studying voice under Sun Young Chang for the past 3 years. Cayden has starred in his school’s musical productions including The Rainbow Fish and Singing in the Rain. He expresses his feelings with others through his passion for music. Furthermore, Cayden has performed numerous times at Carnegie Hall. He received 2nd place for his piano solo at American Protégé Competition and 1st place for his duet at the Crescendo International Competition. Outside of music, Cayden plays tennis and swims competitively.

Joel Kim is a junior at Saratoga High School in California. He started playing cello at the age of 9 with Jonathan Koh of the San Francisco Conservatory. He won first prize at the 2020 BMC Music Competition and the 2020 DVC/HNU Young Artist String Competition. Joel is also enthusiastic about chamber music and attends California Music Preparatory Academy. His chamber groups have won prizes at the US Open Music Competition and IGMC. Joel enjoys giving back to community through Tri-M Music Honor Society and HopeBox Charity Youth Orchestra. Joel participated in the Music@Menlo Young Performers Program 2020 and 2021.