2023 NYYVC winners

     Ria Kang, a 7-year-old third grader from Tenafly, NJ, embarked on her musical journey at the tender age of 4, when she first picked up the violin. She has been a student of Sheryl Staples at Juilliard Pre-College since 2023 and previously studied with Marvin Moon and Joseph Lin. Ria’s musical abilities have been recognized at various events and she has performed at prestigious venues, including Weill Recital Hall and Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall and Merkin Hall at the Kaufman Music Center. Ria has also had the privilege of participating in master classes taught by violinists, including Kimberly Fisher and Dara Morales. She has also actively taken part in various summer music festivals and achieved top honors in the Under-13 Age Division at the 2022 Philadelphia International Music Festival Concerto Competition. Apart from her musical achievements, Ria is an accomplished academic student who has received High Honors in the 2022-2023 talent search by Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth. In her leisure time, Ria enjoys reading, writing, and listening to classical music.

    Alex Xu is a 7th grader at Tenafly Middle School, New Jersey. He has been a piano student of Dr. Ronn Yedidia at the New York Piano Academy since 2019.  Alex won the NLPA National Young Virtuosi Recital Competition, the International Grande Music Competition, and the Anselmo Academy V International Youth Music Competition in 2023. In addition to his piano pursuits, Alex enjoys playing violin and has been selected as a member of 2023 NJSMA Intermediate Orchestra. During his free time, he loves reading, writing, playing lacrosse, and engaging in video games.

Kacie Jung was  born in 2008 in New Jersey. She has been playing the violin under the guidance and teaching of instructor Hanna Shin since she was 3 years old. Kacie has performed at Carnegie hall and Lincoln center for performing arts and achieved high honors. She has a big passion for music and has high goals for her future.

    David Kim, Rebekah Kim, Jason Lee, and Julia Jang have been performing together under the same teacher since July 2023. David Kim is sixteen years old and a junior at Bergen County Academies; he began playing the violin at the age of five. Rebekah Kim is sixteen years old and a junior at Ridgewood High School; she began playing the violin at the age of eight. Jason Lee is sixteen years old and a junior at Fort Lee High School; he began playing the violin at the age of four. Julia Jang is fourteen years old and a freshman at Dwight-Englewood School; she began playing the violin at the age of four. The members of the Boqer String Quartet have individually experienced playing and participating in recitals, competitions (Regionals/All-State), and orchestras. We continue to perform in these events as well as raise awareness through our music by playing at nursing homes every month and uploading videos for the organization Pro Sono. The Boqer String Quartet was formed by our passion for music, and our cover of Grażyna Bacewicz’s “Quartet for Four Violins” showcases our individual musicalities in one voice.