Christie Cheung, age 14, is currently a violin student at the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, where she is under the tutelage of Dr. Conrad Chow. Christie has had the opportunity to perform for renowned violinists such as Maxim Vengerov, Augustin Hadelich, and James Ehnes.
In 2023, she was a winner of The Taylor Academy’s Concerto Competition and performed as a soloist with orchestra. Additionally, Christie was selected to perform as a soloist with the Burlington New Millennium Orchestra and the Glenn Gould School Chamber Orchestra. In the summer of 2023, Christie attended the Heifetz International Music Institute Program, an acclaimed summer program that focuses on developing the musical talents of young artists.
Among her many accomplishments are winning the 1st Prize in the Canimex Canadian Music Competition in 2022, receiving the Grand Trophy in the CCC Toronto International Music Festival in 2021, being selected as a finalist in the Ysaye International Music Competition in Belgium in 2021, and winning the 1st Prize in the Little Mozart International Competition in New York in 2019. She made her debut at the iconic Carnegie Hall at just nine years old.
Karen Kobayashi is a high school student who studies flute under Susan Hoeppner, previously with Louis Papachristos and Hideko Amano. In 2023, she performed at Carnegie Weill Recital Hall in New York as a first place winner of the American Protégé International Music Talent Competition, and appeared on “Introduction” of WFMT, Chicago’s classical music radio station.
Karen started to play flute at age 8 in her school’s music program. Most recently, she was awarded First Place in the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival (Open Concerto ARCT and Above), Junior Division of the Society of American Musicians Competition, Wind Winner of the Walgreens National Concerto Competition, Third Place in the MOYSE International Flute Competition (Category A), and Honorable Mention in Senior Division of the Chicago Flute Club Student Competition. She played as a member in the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO), and was also selected as principal flute of the 2022 All Illinois Junior Band. Born in Japan, Karen has lived in Thailand, the U.S, and moved to Toronto with her family in January of 2023.
She is currently in her first academic year at the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists and attends North Toronto Collegiate Institute. She is also a member in the Wind Orchestra of Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra (TYWO).
Born in Toronto, 18 year old Adriel Sloss began playing the violin at the age of four. He joined the Taylor Academy for Young Artists at the Royal Conservatory of Music when he was nine, where he studied with Kelly Parkins-Lindstrom and Jonathan Crow. Now, he studies with Martin Beaver at the Colburn Conservatory where he is pursuing his Bachelor’s of Music.
Alongside being an avid soloist, Adriel is also a highly experienced chamber musician. In the summer of 2022, Adriel’s string quartet was invited to be a part of the Banff International String Quartet Competition Youth Program which he thoroughly enjoyed. More recently, he was selected to perform in a masterclass for Midori Goto. Adriel has also worked with artists such as Maxim Vengerov, Timothy Chooi, Jinjoo Cho, Peter Oundjian, Erin Keefe, Callum Smart, and many others.
On three occasions he has placed first in the National Round of the Canadian Music Competition. In addition, Adriel has been invited to participate in music programs across the world, including countries such as Canada, U.S.A., Netherlands, and Switzerland.