Bios of Recent Young Artists’ Competition Winners
Samantha Yang, cello — 2019 YAC Emerging Artist
Samantha Yang is a fifteen-year-old cellist living in Toronto, Canada. She began playing piano at the age of four, and her love for music only grew from there. At six years old, she began the cello, studying with Ashley Choi, and ultimately decided to focus solely on...
Diane Kim, violin — 2019 YAC First Place
Da Hyeon (Diane) Kim is a third-year Bachelor of Music program student at the Glenn Gould School, studying violin performance under Paul Kantor and Barry Shiffman. This past summer, she participated in the masterclass program at the Orford Musique academy with...
Eena Yoon, cello — 2018 YAC Junior Winner
Eena Yoon is a fifteen-year-old cellist who lives in Toronto, Canada. Her passion for music began at the age of three, when she started her music career by learning the piano. Eena began learning the cello at the age of seven, studying with Ashley Choi. Currently, she...
Katelyn Emery, violin — 2018 YAC Senior Winner
Twenty-two-year-old Burlington native Katelyn Emery began her violin studies at the age of three. When she was nine, Katharine Rapoport of the University of Toronto welcomed Katelyn into her studio. Concurrently she studied at the Phil and Eli Taylor Academy for Young...
Erin Merkley, violin — 2017 YAC Junior Winner
Erin Merkley is a thirteen-year-old violinist with a love and passion for music. Starting at a very young age, Erin discovered the joy of the playing the violin. Growing up with a supportive musical family, Erin continued to flourish and develop her talents. At the...
Lyndsay Promane, mezzo-soprano — 2017 YAC Senior Co-Winner
Praised for “a genuine and deeply satisfying sound” (The WholeNote) and “an arresting presence on the opera stage” (Schmopera), mezzo-soprano Lyndsay Promane was awarded second place in the 2016 Toronto Mozart Vocal Competition and was selected as a finalist in the...
Joshua Lee, violin — 2017 YAC Senior Co-Winner
Joshua Lee, 17, began learning the piano at the age of 4 under the tutelage of his mother. He showed a keen interest in the violin from the age of 7. He performed his first public recital at the age of 14 . He was a member of the Amabile Boys Choir in London and...
Christina Bell, soprano — 2017 YAC Senior Runner-Up
Soprano Christina Bell hails from Goderich, Ontario, and has been a member of the Canadian Opera Company Chorus since 2015. As a soloist, she is frequently featured in concert, opera, and oratorio around Ontario. Miss Bell’s most recent performances include creating...
Trio Blundell, trumpeters — 2016 YAC Junior Winners
Trumpeters Matisse, Aled, and Maslin Blundell started playing trumpet when they were 7, 6, and 5 respectively, and have been playing together ever since! Individually, they have held positions in the Hannaford Youth Program, Guelph Youth Symphony Orchestra,...