San Diego Branch VOCE 2020 was an amassment of extraordinary talent and skill under one roof! Ten teachers sent a total of 34 soloists and 6 ensembles to compete, and 1 non-competitive entry. They were assisted by 8 accompanists. The event was held January 5 at Grossmont College in two competition rooms, and was open to the public.

Co-Chairs:
Hernan Constantino, Danette White, and Yuko Maruyama

Studios represented:
Ruslan Biryukov, cello & coach; Hernan Constantino, violin & coach; Peter Dayeh, clarinet; Constantino Felicetta, clarinet; Annelle Gregory, violin; Sunjin Kim, violin; Tasha Koontz, voice; Alex Palamidis, violin & coach; Pasha Tseitlin, violin & coach; and Elena Yarritu, flute & piccolo

Accompanists:
Yulia Atoyan, Dana Burnett, Melissa Creider, Katherine Dvoskin, Yuju Jung, Dale Liao, Joanne Stohs, and Bryan Verhoye

Judges:
Ai Nihira & Jian Wang—Junior & Intermediate Solo Strings
Ethan Parnela & Edmund Stein—Senior Solo Strings, and Intermediate & Senior Ensembles
Amy Taylor & Sheryl Renk—Intermediate & Senior Solo Winds, and Solo Voice
Dan Ratelle—Solo Voice

6 teachers worked as volunteers:
Ruslan Biryukov, Peter Dayeh, Annelle Gregory, Sunjin Kim, Alex Palamidis, and Pasha Tseitlin

3 San Diego Branch board members provided additional support on site:
Chutaphin Yeager, Brian Goral, and Miriam Cole

A tremendous thank you to all involved!!

Congratulations to EACH student for your performance—for dedication to music—and willingness to put yourself out there and go for it!!

Below are the results. 1st Place Winners (including ties) are eligible to compete at the MTAC State VOCE in April. A further online application is required. If 1st Place Winners cannot compete, then a 1st Place Alternate may do so. Note that 2nd Place cannot substitute in the absence of 1st.

Junior Solo Strings
1st Place Tie—Brianna Baek, violin
1st Place Tie—Ethan Zhou, violin
1st Place Alternate—Julian Wu, cello
2nd Place—Alexia Ciobanu, violin
3rd Place Tie—Jasmine Chan, violin
3rd Place Tie—Benjamin Luo, violin
Honorable Mention—Joyce Kwack, violin

Intermediate Solo Strings
1st Place—Stacy Widyono, violin
1st Place Alternate—Justin Wu, cello
2nd Place—Ethan Zhang, cello
3rd Place—Kevin Hu, violin
Honorable Mentions (alphabetical)—Chisato Kamakura, violin; Daeho Lee, violin

Senior Solo Strings
1st Place Tie—Adam Kulju, violin
1st Place Tie—Phoebe Olszewski, violin
1st Place Alternate—Alina Hernandez, violin
2nd Place—Evan Zhou, violin
3rd Place—Janice Hu, violin
Honorable Mentions (alphabetical)—Charlotte Hou, violin; Wei-Shan Huynh, violin; Andrew Yang, cello

Intermediate Solo Winds
1st Place—Nathan Haghgoo, flute
2nd Place—Nithin Chilakapati, flute/piccolo
3rd Place—Ramona Terry-Lorenzo, flute

Senior Solo Winds
1st Place—Gary Lin, clarinet
2nd Place—Elaine Yiu, flute
3rd Place—Daeyoun Na, clarinet

Senior Solo Voice
2nd Place—Sophia Khurana, mezzo-soprano

Intermediate Instrumental Ensemble
1st Place—”Ember String Quartet”
Stacy Widyono, violin; Chisato Kamakura, violin; Maya Rosenbaum, viola; Josephine Kim, cello

2nd Place Tie—”SKY Trio”
Kevin Hu, violin; Sunny Fan, cello; Eric Wang, piano

2nd Place Tie—”String Quartet”
Janice Hu, violin; Tristan Upton, violin; Dasha Zerboni, viola; Ethan Zhang, cello

Honorable Mention—”Mini-Cellissimo”
Han Li, cello, Debora Okhotina, cello

Senior Instrumental Ensemble
1st Place—”The String Beans”
Evan Zhou, violin; Wei-Shan Huynh, violin; James Renk, viola; Dylan Renk, cello

2nd Place—”San Diego Youth Cello Quintet”
Darren Jiang, cello; Andrew Yang, cello; Sebastian Brumm, cello; Ethan Zhang, cello; Justin Wu, cello

The state VOCE competition was held in Orange County on April 7, 2019. Branch Winners from across the state participated.

Congratulations to all San Diego Branch participants for the extraordinary work needed to reach the state competition! Students from our branch fared superbly well! Congratulations students for these wonderful results!

State Results for San Diego Branch MTAC students:

1st Place – Elijah de la Motte, cello – Junior Solo Strings
1st Place – Zackery Edwards, bassoon – Senior Solo Winds
1st Place Alternate – Nithin Chilakapati, flute & piccolo – Intermediate Solo Winds
2nd Place – Pearl Anne de la Motte, viola – Intermediate Solo Strings
2nd Place – Flora Yuan, soprano – Intermediate Solo Voice
2nd Place – The String Beans – Intermediate Ensemble (Evan Zhou-violin, Wei-Shan Huynh-violin, James Renk-viola, Dylan Renk-cello)

1st Place State VOCE Winners will perform in the VOCE Recital at the State MTAC Convention in Santa Clara, June 30, 2019, and receive a scholarship award.

There were 41 entries in the 2019 Branch VOCE Competition held at Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church on January 5. So numerous were the entries, that the competition was split into two concurrent events: strings and ensembles in the sanctuary, with winds and voice in the chapel.

Congratulations to all participating students for such wonderful performances! You are to be truly commended for your training, preparation, and fortitude.

Thank you to all students, parents, church personnel, co-chairs, volunteers, teachers, accompanists, and judges for your invaluable contributions toward a successful VOCE!

Co-Chairs:
Hernan Constantino, Danette White, and Yuko Maruyama
Volunteers:
Ruslan Biryukov, Miriam Cole, Peter Dayeh, Brian Goral, Sunah Park Jong, Pasha Tseitlin, and Dan Yu
Studios Represented:
Ruslan Biryukov, Glen Campbell, Hernan Constantino, Peter Dayeh, Wei Feng, Sunah Park Jong, Alexander Palamidis, Pasha Tseitlin, Danette White, and Elena Yarritu
Accompanists:
Yulia Atoyan, Dana Burnett, Miriam Cole, Katherine Dvoskin, Yoonhee Huh, Bradley Pettit, Danette White, and Dan Yu
Judges:
Strings & Ensembles: Missy Lukin and Chia-Ling Chien
Winds & Voice: James Romeo and Leyla Zamora
Voice: Dan Ratelle

1st Place Branch Winners are eligible to compete at the State VOCE in Orange County on April 7, and we wish you well! 1st Place Alternates may compete at the State VOCE when Branch Winners cannot.

RESULTS
Junior Strings:
1st Place – Elijah D, cello
2nd Place – Jessie S, violin
3rd Place – Benjamin L, violin
Honorable Mention – Caitlin W, violin

Intermediate Strings:
1st Place – Pearl Anne D, viola
2nd Place – Eric Z, violin
3rd Place – Ethan Z, cello
Honorable Mention – Stacy W, violin

Senior Strings:
1st Place – Nathan S, violin
1st Place Alternate – Luzy G, violin
2nd Place – Evan Z, violin
3rd Place Tie – Darren J, cello
3rd Place Tie – Jacey Y, violin

Intermediate Winds:
1st Place – Nithin C, flute & piccolo
1st Place Alternate – Anna L, flute
2nd Place – Gary L, clarinet
3rd Place – Ramona T, flute
Honorable Mention – Richard L, flute

Senior Winds:
1st Place – Zackery E, bassoon
1st Place Alternate – Dillon H, flute

Intermediate Voice:
1st Place – Flora Y, soprano

Intermediate Ensemble:
1st Place – The String Beans
Evan Z, violin; Wei-Shan H, violin; James R, viola; Dylan R, cello

2nd Place – The LHF Trio
Kevin H, violin; Sunny F, cello; Leo L, piano

3rd Place – San Diego Youth Cello Quartet
Darren J, cello; Andrew Y, cello; Ethan Z, cello; Daniel C, cello

Honorable Mention – De la Motte String Quartet
Josiah D, violin; Naomi D, violin; Pearl D, viola; Elijah D, cello

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