Hannah Choi

Senior Orchestra Concerto Competition Winner

Hannah Choi, 17-year old cellist, began studying cello since the age of seven. She studies cello with Senior Lecturer Stephen Harrison of Stanford University. She has enjoyed being in the California Youth Symphony for seven years, in which she has been a Senior Principal Cellist for the past 3 years. Hannah won numerous competitions, including 1st Prize and the Best Performance Award at the American Protege International Concerto Competition, 1st and Grand Prize at the Contra Costa Young Artist Competition (in which she performed with its Symphony), 1st and Grand Prize at the international United States Open Music Competition, 1st Prize at the American Fine Arts Festival’s International Concerto Competition, 1st Prize at the Golden Era of Romantic Music International Competition, and 1st Prize at the American Protege International Piano and Strings Competition. Additionally, she has been awarded in the Palo Alto Philharmonic Young Artist Competition, the Chinese Music Teacher’s Association of Northern California International Competition, and The Korea Times Music Competition. She has been invited to perform The Swan by Saint Saens as a cello soloist with the Principal Ballerina of the Moscow Ballet. She has also had the pleasure of performing at Carnegie Hall four times.

Throughout her summers, Hannah has participated in the California Youth Symphony’s Summer Programs and Tours, performing in New Zealand and Eastern Europe. She studied under Professor Hans Jorgen Jensen of Northwestern University at the Meadowmount School of Music. Hannah was the Principal Cellist in the Chamber Ensemble of the Bay Area Cello Summer Program led by Northwestern University alumni. In the last four years, she has experienced teaching and playing chamber music with the Polyphony Chamber Orchestra. At school, Hannah is the President of The Songwriter’s Guild. As the President and Founder of the Youth for Music Organization, she is always passionate about giving the gift of music to the community. Frequently, she invites young musicians from the age of six to perform with her at hospitals and retirement homes. She encourages her special friends who have autism to join her. This summer, Hannah is looking forward to her last tour with CYS in Western Europe as well as learning from Principal Cellist of the Cleveland Orchestra, Mark Kosower. In the fall, Hannah will begin her studies at her dream school, Stanford University.