MYAC ALUMNI
MYAC alumni can be found performing in professional orchestras on both national and international levels. They’re also leaders in business, technology, medicine, education, and law, among other fields.
Find out more ways to stay involved in the future of MYAC.
Alumni News
MYAC Alumni from around the globe performed onstage at the Journey to 30 Celebration Concert on December 27, 2022 at Symphony Center in Chicago. This community event reunites MYAC Orchestra, Jazz, and Choral Alumni both onstage and backstage, each year on December 27. Watch the full performance here.
Crain's Chicago Business has announced that Chipman Design Architecture has been ranked as one of Chicago's 2023 Biggest Women-Owned Businesses. Led by CEO Lauren Chipman, the architecture firm has been a WBENC business since 2020. The firm takes great pride in being part of a list that celebrates the remarkable achievements of women-owned ventures. Congratulations, Lauren, '01 Alum/viola!
Conrad Tao was a member of MYAC’s orchestra and chamber music programs before moving to New York City. He continues to gain prominence on the international stage as a pianist and composer. Recent highlights include performances with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. His violin concerto was premiered by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in 2021.
Molly Yeh (percussion, ‘07) has found success as a blogger, Food Network star, and mom of two children. Check out her very popular Food Network show (now in its 10th season) and her website, "My Name is Yeh"!
Distinguished Alumni in the Music World
Eric Anderson (‘07 Alum, clarinet) Naples Philharmonia
Ivan Arden (‘09 Alum, saxophone) Quantico Marine Corps Band
Drew Banzhaf ('08 Alum, double bass) Co-principal bass, Malmö Symfoniorkeste, Sweden
Robert Bassill (’97 Alum, violin) Orchestra Director, Lake Forest High School; Chamber Music Program Director, Midwest Young Artists Conservatory
Tamara Benitez-Winston (‘12 Alum, english horn/oboe) Nashville Symphony
Ethan Bensdorf (’03 Alum, trumpet) 2nd Trumpet, New York Philharmonic
David Binder (’08 Alum, trombone) 2nd Trombone, Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Abby Black (‘11 Alum, horn) New World Symphony
Jeremy Black (’96 Alum, violin) Concertmaster, Grant Park Symphony Orchestra; first violin, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Stuart Bogie (’93 Alum, clarinet/saxophone) Stuart has recorded with Arcade Fire, Iron and Wine, Antibalas and many other renowned musicians!
Cordelia Brand (‘17 Alum, viola) Associate member, Chicago Civic Orchestra
Anna Burden (’02 Alum, cello) Associate Principal Cello, Montreal Symphony
David Caplan (‘17 Alum, cello) Fellow, Grant Park Symphony Orchestra; Member, Chicago Civic Orchestra
Dan Carson (‘10 Alum, double bass) Section Bass, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Autumn Chodorowski (‘08 Alum, violin) Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra
Alison Chung (‘02 Alum, oboe) Kansas City Symphony
David Cohen (’06 Alum, trumpet) Principal Trumpet, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Michael Cox (‘12 Alum, trombone) San Francisco Ballet and San Francisco Opera
Andrew Dahan ('98 Alum, tenor) Choral Director, Niles North High School; VocalPoint Director, MYAC
John Dahlstrand (’95 Alum, bass) Assistant Principal Bass, Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, France
Carrie Dennis (‘95 Alum, viola) Assistant principal, Philadelphia Orchestra; Principal Viola positions with Berlin Philharmonic, LA Phil and currently Sydney Symphony
Gina DiBello ('00 Alum, violin) first violin, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Evan Epifanio (‘06 Alum, bassoon) The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Michael and John Fatum (’08 Alum, trumpet and percussion), Founders and band members of The Rad Trads
Austin Fisher ('08 Alum, cello) Acting Principal Cello, Colorado Symphony Orchestra
Gwen Fisher (’01 Alum, viola) Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Natalie Gaynor (‘11 Alum, violin) Principal second violin, Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet
Catherine Gatewood (‘00 Alum, clarinet) Naples Philharmonic
Nathan Goldin (‘15 Alum, horn) Helena Symphony Orchestra
Ian Hallas ('08 Alum, double bass) Principal bass, Lyric Opera Orchestra; currently section bass, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
David Halperin (‘03 Alum, clarinet) Air Force Academy Band
Derek Handley (‘00 Alum, cello) Section cello, Madison Symphony Orchestra
Nick Hersh (’06 Alum, cello) Associate Conductor, Baltimore Symphony
Taylor Isberg (‘13 Alum, clarinet) United States Coast Guard Band
Garrett Johannsen ('01 Alum, tenor) Check out his website.
Alisa Jordheim (’03 Alum, voice) Soprano Young Artists with Milwaukee Florentine. Check out her website.
Daniel Kaler (‘15 Alum, cello) Cincinnati Symphony
Eunice Keem ('02 Alum, violin) Associate Concertmaster, Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Jeremy Killeen (‘14 Alum, trombone) Navy Band Northwest, Navy Audio Engineer
Katrina Kral Halderman (‘07, trumpet) Fort Sam’s Own Army Band
Adam Kromelow (’07 Alum, piano), Jazz Pianist based in New York. Check out his website.
Kevin Kunkel ('07 Alum, cello) Cellist, Oregon Symphony
Becca Laurito (‘06 Alum, percussion) Principal percussionist, Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and performs regularly with the Philadelphia Orchestra
Jamie Leff (‘09 Alum, horn) Houston Ballet
Kate Lewis (’97 Alum, viola) Professor of Viola, Illinois State University; Principal Viola, Peoria Symphony Orchestra
Miles Link (‘12 Alum, cello) Member, Chicago Civic Orchestra
Morgen Low (‘12 Alum, trumpet) Fellow, New World Symphony
Kate Massagli Black (’96 Alum, violin) Member, Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra
Sara Matayoshi (‘02 Alum, violin) “The President’s Own” U.S. Marines Chamber Orchestra
Alec Mawrence (‘02 Alum, tuba) West Point Brass Quintet
Shannon McCue ('02 Alum, viola) Director of Education at Arts & Humanities Council of Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Maura McCune Corvington ('07 Alum, horn) Second Horn, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Alan Molina (‘97 Alum, violin) First violin, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
Dave Moss (‘04 Alum, Viola) President and CEO of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra
Tai Murray (MYA Alum, violin) Tai participated in MYAC's Chamber Music Program at LFCDS in early years before she went on to early admission at Indiana University. Soloist and Assistant Professor of Violin at Yale University.
Shelby Nugent (‘12 Alum, Horn) Dallas Opera Orchestra
Julia Paine (‘12 Alum, Bassoon) St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Amy Pikler ('11 Alum, viola) San Antonio Philharmonic
Vicki Powell (‘06 Alum, viola) Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
Lauren Randolph (‘18 Alum, voice/cello) Grant Park Music Festival, Music of the Baroque
Patrick Raynard (‘14 Alum, double bass) Annapolis Symphony Orchestra
Doug Rosenthal (’04 Trombone)Trombone, Kennedy Center Opera House/Washington National Opera Orchestra, currently with Pittsburgh Symphony
Jessie Reagen (’97 Alum, cello) Faculty, BIMA at Brandeis University; guest artist with rap stars Kanye West, Jay-Z, and many other renowned musicians
Owen Ruff (‘13 Alum, violin) New World Symphony
Eddie Rumzis (‘10 Alum, bassoon) Bassoon, Maryland Lyric Opera Orchestra
Nathan Sackschewsky (’02 Alum, violin) Music Director, Lake Zurich High School
Robert Sanders (‘17 Alum, violin) Academy Member, Vienna Philharmonic
Andrew Senn (’97 Alum, bass) Director of Music and Organist, First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia
JJ Sechan (‘11 Alum, bassoon) Principal Chair, Colorado Springs Philharmonic
Madeline Sharp (’07 Alum, viola) violist, Atlanta Symphony
Marissa Simmons (‘10 Alum, voice) Contralto, Lyric Opera of Chicago
Janani Sivakumar (‘15 Alum, violin) Member, Chicago Civic Orchestra
Nicholas Slaggart (‘15 Alum, trumpet) Assistant Principal Trumpet, Helena Symphony Orchestra
Alan Snow (‘12 Alum, violin) Associate Concertmaster, Minnesota Orchestra
Elena Snow (‘08 Alum, voice and cello) Voice coach and teacher including a private studio at Harvard University. Link to info.
Ben Smelser (‘15 Alum, cello and trombone) U.S. Air Force Band of the West
Genevieve Smelser (‘13 Alum, violin) Grant Park Music Festival and Cleveland Orchestra
Ben Solomonow (‘14 Alum, cello) San Diego Symphony and freelance LA
Daniel Stone (‘08 Alum, viola) Seattle Symphony
Marissa Takaki (‘15 Alum, bassoon) Second bassoon, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
Mary Vanhoozer-Rodriguez ('04 Alum, piano) Check out Mary's website; it's such a good testimonial to her life as a teacher and performer.
Christine Wheeler (‘98 Alum, violin) U.S. Army Band Performance Librarian; formerly in Army String Quartet
Stephen Zhang (‘15 Alum, clarinet) United States Coast Guard Band and Rhode Island Philharmonic