2021 Music Awards Winners

We are proud to announce the winners of the 2021 Monday Musical Club of Portland Music Awards! Contestant Sunny Wang received the most points in our Music Award competition to win the Colliver Award for the best Piano performance; Ryan Babe received the Phillips Family Award for the best instrumental performance and Olga Melendez Valdes received the Jess and Hortense Foster Award for the best vocal performance, with $2,000 going to each contestant. Here’s a complete list of this years’ winners (clicking on their names will take you to their bio, award information and links to their winning performance videos):

• Sunny Wang
• Ryan Babe
• Olga Melendez Valdes
• Steven Wu
• Ellie Kim
• Derek Choi
• Macy Gong
• Michael Gu
• Joshua Hahn
• Avery Hsieh
• Joseph Kim
• Jesse Nieman
• Ben Price
• Isaac Price
• Jenna Tu
• Nolan Tu
• Kira Wang

Sunny Wang received the most points in Monday Musical Club’s Music Awards competition to win the $2,000 Colliver Award for the Best Piano Performance. Sunny has been playing the piano for twelve years. He is currently a junior at Camas High School. As a student of Dr. Renato Fabbro, Sunny has participated in many OMTA programs from a young age and received first prizes in the Tom O’Brien Scholarship Competition, East and Michaels Scholarship Competition, Suzanne Raines Scholarship Competition, and Marjorie Trotter Scholarship Competition. He has also received second prize at the state MTNA competition, second prize at the Washington Outstanding Artist Competition, third prize at the Steinway & Sons Piano Competition, and first prize at the Spokane Piano Competition.

Last year, Sunny received first prize at the Jewish Community Orchestra Young Artist Competition, second prize in the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, and was a finalist in the Coeur d’Alene Symphony National Young Artist Competition. He was also the winner of the Central Oregon Symphony Young Artist Competition and performed Rachmaninoff’s fourth concerto with the COS orchestra in a series of concerts. Sunny is passionate about piano and enjoys learning new pieces and finding ways to improve his technique and musicality. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, competing in math competitions, and working on machine learning projects.

Ryan Babe received Monday Musical Club’s Phillips Family Award of $2,000 for the Best Instrumental Performance. Ryan, a cellist from Salem, Oregon, is currently a freshman cello performance major at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. Ryan has been honored with awards at a variety of solo competitions in Oregon. He placed 1st at the 2020 Violet Lang Instrumental Music Scholarship Contest. He also placed 1st in the 2019 Vernon L. Wiscarson Soloist Competition, 4th in the 2019 OSAA State Solo Competition and was a finalist in the 2020 Oregon Mozart Players Young Soloists Competition. He has also performed as a soloist with the MYSfits Chamber Orchestra and the West Salem Chamber Orchestra. His extensive orchestral performance experience most notably includes two performances with OMEA All-State Orchestra as principal cellist in 2019 and section cellist in 2018. After performing as principal cellist of the Salem Youth Symphony Orchestra, he joined Portland’s Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra in 2018, performing as co-principal and co-assistant principal cellist on multiple occasions.

Ryan currently studies with Professor Desmond Hoebig at the Shepherd School. He previously studied with Oregon Symphony assistant-principal cellist Marilyn de Oliveira and Andrea Chandler. In addition to private instruction, Ryan has performed in masterclasses for cellists including Johannes Moser, Mark Kosower, Brannon Cho, Silver Ainomäe, and Kurt Baldwin. His summer festival activities include the 2018 and 2020 International Cello Institute, as well as the 2019 Meadowmount School of Music, where he studied with Northwestern University Professor Hans Jørgen Jensen.

Olga Melendez Valdes received Monday Musical Club’s Jess and Hortense Foster Award of $2,000 for the Best Vocal Performance. Olga recently graduated from Willamette University in the Spring of 2020 with degrees in Music Performance and Political theory. While at Willamette, she was involved in the Dramatic Vocal Arts program and has performed in roles including Dido in Dido and Aeneas, Susanna in scenes from Le Nozze di Figaro and Annie in the premier of Town Hall. She also held a contract with the Portland Opera Company in Portland, OR as a chorus member for three consecutive years and was involved in their productions of Faust, and two of their season opening “Big Night” shows. While in Oregon, Olga also held contracts with Festival Chorale Oregon as one of their lead solosists for three years singing various famously known baroque selections such as Mozart’s Mass in C Minor, Bruckner’s Mass in E, and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio under the direction of Solveig Holmquist. Additionally, she had the honor of being a Willamette University Concerto-Aria Competition winner, and has competed and won titles in the NATS classical voice competitions at the state, regional, and national level for the past four years.

Olga is now living in Boston, MA where she has accepted an offer to study at the New England Conservatory of Music under Jane Eaglen while earning her Masters in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance. She looks forward to the opportunities and musical development that she will gain once performance venues and in person performance is readily available again in Boston.

Steven Wu received the 2nd highest amount of points in our competition and was awarded one of two $1,500 prizes by Monday Musical Club as the Runner-up for the Best Piano Performance. Steven is a sophomore at Camas High School in Camas, Washington. He began playing piano when he was 5 years old with Mrs. Ellen Putman and has studied with Dr. Renato Fabbro for the past three years.

This spring, Steven won First Prize in the 2021 American Protégé International Concerto Competition. As a winner, he has the opportunity to perform at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall next spring. Steven received Honorable Mentions in the 2020 Washington State Music Teachers Association Outstanding Artist Competition and the 2020 Oregon Federation of Music Clubs Suzanne Raines Young Artist Competition. Steven won Second Prize in the 2019 WSMTA Outstanding Artist Competition as well as the 2019 Oregon Federation of Music Clubs Suzanne Raines Young Artist competition and was also the Alternate winner in the 2019 Oregon MTNA Junior Piano Competition. Previously, he was a winner in the 2019 Washington State Music Teachers Association Playoffs Competition for Clark County. As a winner, he had the honor of performing at the District IV Honors Recital in Centralia, as well as at the WSMTA State Conference at the University of Puget Sound’s Schneebeck Hall. Steven won Third Prize in the 2019 Oregon Music Teachers Association Suzanne Raines Piano Competition and has also participated in the Portland Steinway & Sons Junior Piano Competition.

In addition to piano, Steven is a competitive swimmer and enjoys reading and building model rockets.

Ellie Kim was awarded one of two $1,500 prizes awarded by Monday Musical Club for the 2nd highest score among instrumentalists. Ellie is a 14 year old violinist from Portland, Oregon. She started playing at the age of 5, and is now a freshman at Westview High School, studying violin with Carol Sindell. In 2017, 2018 and 2019 she has had the privilege of being selected to perform as a part of ASTA Honor Recital, and participate in a masterclass with Yolanda Bruno in 2020. As for competitions, she has won 1st prize in Young Artist of the 2020 Canadian International Music Competition and Alternate in the 2019 WSMTA District Competition.

Ellie enjoys making music with other musicians and is a participant of the Symphony Orchestra in the Metropolitan Youth Symphony. Through organizations like Oregon International Ballet Academy and Monday Musical Club, she has had many great experiences soloing and playing as part of an orchestra. Outside of music, she loves to run and play sports with friends, as well as travel around the world with her family.

Derek Choi is a 9th grader at Catlin Gabel School. He started studying piano and classical guitar at the age of 6, and violin at 8. His teacher is Hae-Jin Kim. He played in MYS Vivaldi Strings for one season then joined Portland Youth Philharmonic. He has since been with the organization for five seasons and the last three seasons he has been playing in the top level PYP orchestra.

During his middle school years at Arts & Communication Magnet Academy, he was the concertmaster for their classical orchestra for all three years. Derek was a finalist for both the 2018 ASTA of Oregon Solo Competition and Oregon Mozart Players Young Soloist Competition, and has been a winner at OMTA Classical, Romantic and Ensemble Festivals from 2015 to 2019, including the Trula Whelan Concerto Competition. In June 2019, he was selected to perform in a masterclass with the Mivos Quartet as part of the programs by the Oregon Music Festival. Derek also has extensive experience playing chamber music. He has participated in the University of Portland Chamber Music Camp, Portland Summer Ensemble at Marylhurst University and the Haystack Chamber Music Camp at Portland State University. When not playing music, Derek takes interest in cooking and architecture.

Macy Gong is a freshman at Oregon Episcopal School. She began studying the flute at the age of 6 with Melissa Stoudt, and is now a student of Sydney Carlson. Currently, she is the principal flute of the Portland Youth Philharmonic (PYP).

Macy has won many awards, including first place in the Junior category of the GPFS Young Artists Competition. She also won second place in the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra 2019 Young Artists Competition, and third place in the National Flute Association’s Junior Soloist Competition. Aside from flute, she is heavily involved with piano as well, earning many awards in competitions and festivals. Outside of music, Macy enjoys reading, playing badminton, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Michael Gu is a Junior at Crescent Valley High School in Corvallis. He studies piano with Rachelle McCabe. In 2017, Michael won first place in the Music Teachers’ National Association’s Northwest Division Competition. In 2014, he performed Mendelssohn’s Concerto in G minor with the Oregon Mozart Players. Last year, he performed solo pieces in Corvallis-OSU Piano International’s “Piano in the Vineyard” Concert, appeared as a concerto soloist with the Corvallis-OSU Symphony, and also performed in Chamber Music Amici’s “Next Generation” concert.

Michael also recently won first place in the Portland Youth Philharmonic Piano Concerto Competition, the Junior Division of the Eugene Symphony Young Artists Concerto Competition, and the Senior Division of the Music Teachers’ National Association’s state-level piano competition. He has studied at prestigious summer programs including the Aspen Festival, Colburn Summer Program, Seattle Piano Institute, and the John Perry Academy Summer Piano Festival. In addition to his passion for music, Michael enjoys reading, mathematics, and tennis.

Joshua Hahn is a college freshman enrolled in Bethel University’s neuroscience program. He started playing piano at the age of 6, and has since participated in master classes with several notable pianists, including Alejandro Cremaschi, Albert Kim, Jon Kimura Parker, and Vladislav Kosminov. In 2016, Joshua won the Trula Whelan Concerto Competition, and placed second in the OMTA Susan Raine Scholarship Competition. In 2019, he passed level X syllabus with distinction, and placed first in the OMTA Dorothy Pederson Fahlman Scholarship Competition. Most recently, Joshua received the bronze medal, audience award, and teacher’s favorite award in the senior youth division of the Seattle International Piano Festival. He is the first student from Oregon to do so. Joshua also received the bronze medal in the Vancouver Symphony Concerto Competition, and was named winner of the MTNA State Piano Competition and the Metro Arts Young Artist Debut. Most recently, Joshua won first prize at the Ten Grands Piano Competition. He had studied with Dr. Julia Lee and currently studies with Dr. Herbert Johnson at Bethel University. Joshua enjoys singing and playing multiple other instruments in his free time.

Avery Hsieh is currently a freshman studying Violin Performance at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. She began her violin studies at the age of four and has studied with Robin Silver, Jessica Lambert, Dr. Kathryn Lucktenberg, Holland Phillips, Anthea Kreston, Kathryn Gray, and currently studies with Professor Carolyn Huebl. Avery has participated in many musical activities including various OMTA festivals, fundraising events, community services, summer camps, and chamber music programs. She developed the Intermezzo Project in 2017 that bridges the gap between the Elementary Strings Programs and the advanced youth symphonies for underprivileged students.

She has been the District XI winner in the OSAA Solo Music Championships since her freshman year and was placed 2nd and 3rd at the State level in recent years. She was the winner of the Eugene Symphony Young Artist Competition and was placed 2nd at the Vernon L. Wiscarson Young Musicians’ Competition in 2019. She has played in masterclasses taught by Philip Setzer of the Emerson String Quartet, Charles Castleman, Ryu Goto, and Janet Sung at DePaul University.

In addition, Avery studied piano with Dr. Alexandre Dossin and was the 1st place winner in two piano concerto competitions, giving her the opportunity to perform on stage as a soloist with the Oregon Mozart Players conducted by Director Kelly Kuo in 2017, and with CMSO Oregon Sinfonietta conducted by Dr. Donald Appert in 2019. She continues to enjoy piano in college. Besides music, Avery enjoys reading, filmmaking, and public speaking.

Joseph Kim is a junior at Clackamas High School. He has been playing the violin since the age of seven. He began his violin studies with Robin Baldino and is currently a student of Carol Sindell. Joseph has been a member of the Portland Youth Philharmonic for four years. He was selected to play in both the All State and All Northwest orchestras in 2019 and 2020. He received an Honorable Mention at 2019/2020 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Oregon State Senior String Competition and is a winner of the 26th Young Artists Debut! Van Buren Competition & Concerto Concert. Joseph performs in quartets with his friends at the senior center in their neighborhood. Besides violin, Joseph plays tennis on his school’s varsity tennis team and enjoys many sports.

Jesse Nieman is currently attending Portland Community College for his third year. He began piano lessons in South Korea ten years ago, studied under Pauline Eidemiller upon his return, and recently began studying under Julia Lee. Jesse’s most recent accomplishments include winning the 2020 MTNA senior piano duet state competition, winning the Beaverton Symphony Young Artist Competition and 2nd place at the Ten Grands Piano competition. Jesse has participated actively in and won many OMTA festivals, as well as a scholarship from the Piano Santa Foundation. He won the audience award as a finalist in the PYP piano concerto competition as well as winning second place in the Jean Williams scholarship competition. He has performed in masterclasses with Hans Boepple, Dr. Jane Magrath, Jeffrey LaDeur, Denes Varjon, Dr. Nicholas Reynolds, Dorothy Fahlman, Angie Zhang, Bobby Mitchell, and Andrea Klein. He is currently teaching piano to four students as well as three violin students.

Jesse is very active with his music and during the COVID pandemic produced multiple music videos both individually as well as in collaboration with peers. He also played frequently for his church, retirement homes, private parties, various organizations, and accompanying other musicians before the pandemic. Jesse is also an avid violinist and has played in PYP for over six years. In his free time, Jesse enjoys reading, running, and playing worship for his church and youth group.

Ben Price, a junior at Grant High School, has studied oboe for 6 years with Karen Wagner and previously, Dagny Rask Regan. Currently the principal oboist of the Portland Youth Philharmonic and a section oboist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO), Ben is a past winner of concerto competitions with the VSO, Metropolitan Youth Symphony (MYS), and Oregon Sinfonietta. Ben has performed as principal oboist with the MYSfits Chamber Orchestra, Orpheus Academy and Pink Martini and has played in master classes for Max Blair, Alex Klein, François Leleux, Michael Loveland, Jeff Rathbun, Martin Schuring, and Karen Strand.

A three-time participant in the Northwest Oboe Seminar, Ben was selected as principal oboe of the NAfME All-Northwest Band as a freshman and is also the current Oregon State Solo & Ensemble champion for oboe. For the past two years, Ben has been selected to the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America, studying with Robert Walters, Erik Behr, and Titus Underwood during the program.

Isaac Price is a first-year student at Whitworth University studying political science and pre-med. He began piano studies at age 6, studied under Dr. Kenn Willson of George Fox University from age 10, and now studies with Dr. Judith Schoepflin at Whitworth.

Isaac enjoys both the solo and ensemble aspects of piano. On the solo side, Isaac was a finalist in the 2019 Beaverton Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition and the 2020 Metro Arts Young Artist Debut! Competition, took fourth prize at the 2020 Ten Grands Piano Competition, and has performed in master classes with pianists Gianluca Luisi and Dr. Andreas Klein. Isaac completed the OMTA Syllabus Level 10 Evaluation with distinction in 2019 and studied for the ESMAR evaluation in 2020. In the ensemble context, Isaac participated in Haystack Chamber Music Camp at Portland State University, directed by Carol Sindell and Hamilton Cheifetz of the Florestan Trio. In 2016, 2018, and 2020, he participated in the “Monster Piano Concert,” a biennial production of George Fox University’s Bösendorfer Series. Isaac is also an eight-time winner of the annual OMTA Ensemble Competition, performing in duos with his violinist brother and another pianist. Outside of piano, Isaac enjoys reading, fitness, and forensics.

Jenna Tu is currently in her first year at the Eastman School of Music and the University of Rochester where she is pursuing a dual degree of piano performance and business. She is currently studying with Dr. Joseph Rackers at Eastman and had studied with Dr. Renato Fabbro. Her most recent honors include first prizes at the 2019 Portland District Instrumental Scholarship Competition, 2018 Oregon MTNA Senior Piano Competition, 2018 Marjorie Trotter Memorial Scholarship Competition, 2018 American Protégé International Concerto Competition, and the 2018 Steinway & Sons Competition (Senior Division).

Jenna has given her solo debut as a first-prize winner with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Central Oregon Symphony, Coeur d’Alene Symphony and the Jewish Community Orchestra. She was also a second prize winner of the 2019 Portland Piano International / SOLO Piano Competition. Furthermore, Jenna has performed at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, the 2015 WSMTA State Conference Honors Recital, and the 2014 Colburn Music Academy Piano Festival. In addition, she was selected to perform in master classes for Angela Cheng, Joseph Moog, among others. Outside of music, Jenna enjoys spending time with family and friends. She is also a member of the Asian American Alliance at the University of Rochester.

Nolan Tu, a freshman at Union High School, currently studies piano with Dr. Renato Fabbro. Nolan recently won Third prize in the MTNA National Finals after winning the 2021 MTNA Northwest Division Junior Piano Competition. He won both the 2020 and 2019 Oregon MTNA Junior Piano Competition. Other recent honors include first prizes at the 2020 Washington Outstanding Artist Competition, 2020 CCMTA Honors Competition, 2019 OFMC Suzanne Raines Scholarship Competition, and 2019 Cris Tapang Scholarship Competition. He is also the third prize winner in the 2019 Portland Steinway Piano Competition and has performed in various venues including the Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall in June 2019. Nolan was selected to perform in a master class for Stanislav Ioudenitch and he was also a featured soloist at the 2020 Washington State Music Teachers Association State Conference. Outside of piano, he enjoys swimming, drawing and playing the flute.

Kira Wang is a junior at Catlin Gabel School in Portland, Oregon. She began playing cello with Valdine Mishkin at the age of four and currently studies with Sarah Koo. Kira was the winner of the 2019 Portland Youth Philharmonic Concerto Competition, performing Bloch’s Schelomo with the orchestra in March 2019. In 2018, Kira soloed with both the Beaverton Symphony Orchestra and the Jewish Community Orchestra after being chosen as a winner of their young artist competitions. Kira was placed principal cello in the Oregon All-State Orchestra in 2020 and was recently selected as a finalist for the NPR program, From The Top.

During recent summers, Kira has attended Center Stage Strings, Castleman Quartet Program, National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute, and Boston University Tanglewood Institute, serving as principal cellist. Kira was also selected to participate in the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America for the 2021 season. She has participated in solo masterclasses with Johannes Moser, Alban Gerhardt, Richard Aaron, Anthony Elliott and Amanda Forsyth. In the winter of 2020, Kira became a Regional Director for the Back to Bach project. Along with playing the cello, Kira enjoys track, photography, and snow skiing.