Members
Bernards Ensemble
Jason Lee
Co- President, Trustee, Piano
Jason is a founding member of the Bernards Ensemble and is a senior at the North Hunterdon Regional High School. He has been playing piano for over seven years and has played the oboe for six years. Jason is also one of the founding members and is an active player of the Bernards Ensemble since 2016. Jason has received solo and chamber awards from competitions such as the 2022 The New York Classical Music Competition, the 2021 OPUS Music Competion, and more. In addition to music, Jason is part of his school’s varsity track team, has practiced and taught taekwondo for more than 11 years, and has played tennis for five years. He is also part of his school’s Unified Peer Leader’s class, where various students are chosen and assist students with special needs during their classes. Jason hopes to bring joy to people through music and sports.
Minji Kim
Music Manager, Trustee, Violin
Minji is a Junior at Ridge High School. She has attended Manhattan School of Music Precollege since 2017 where she was awarded with the Kate Bamberger Memorial Scholarship in 2018-2019, the Hansoree scholarship in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 and had recipient recitals. She was the 2nd prize winner of the Manhattan School of Music Repertory Strings Concerto competition in 2018. She had a master class with Grigory Kalinovsky in 2020.
She has won several competitions and performed at famous venues such as Carnegie and Merkin Hall. Recently she won the first prize in VIVO International Music Competition, the first prize “Best Mozart Performance” in the Great Composers Competition, and the first prize in the Rondo Young Artist Vanguard Competition. She also won the first prize in the New York International Music Concour for an Ensemble.
Minji performed as a soloist with the Queensboro Symphony Orchestra two times. She also performed in the Young Musician's Concert and the Hansoree benefit concert. She attended the Heifetz Institute PEG program during the summers of 2017-2019.
She has served as concertmaster in the School orchestras since elementary school. At Ridge High School she is an officer of Tri-M Music Honor Society. She is also learning American Sign Language in school.
Outside of school, she has volunteered as a member of an ensemble and has performed for senior houses and nursing homes. She joined the Bernards Ensemble in 2017.
Angelina Yang
Angie is a junior at Ridge High School and has been an active member of her district's school orchestras since third grade. Developing a passion for music at a young age, she has been playing piano since first grade and the violin since third grade. Throughout middle school and high school, Angie has participated in numerous orchestras around this region. At Ridge High School, Angie is co-president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Besides music, she is an avid hiker and loves to spend her time outdoors. Angie hopes to use the things she's passionate about to spread joy throughout her community
Sungjun Jo
Sungjun is a junior at Princeton High School and is currently attending Manhattan School of Music in the Symphony Orchestra. So far he’s been playing the violin for 8 years. He competed in the NJMTA Spring Competition. He was apart of the William Annin Middle School orchestra as well as the schools Philharmonic program. In Princeton High School he is in the PHS Orchestra, and is the editor in chief for his schools yearbook. He’s participated in Veritas, a youth orchestra group, Praise Youth Orchestra, and has participated in a few Mockingbird Benefit Concerts. Aside from violin he likes to watch movies, and listen to music.
GUITAR
Philip Kim
Philip is a senior at JP Stevens HIgh school and has been playing classical guitar for 6 years. Right now, he attends Manhattan School of Music for classical guitar and is the only one who plays one there in the Precollege at the moment. Other than classical guitar, he can play the more conventional steel string acoustic guitar. At school, he is part of JSA, but not in any of the music programs because most of them don’t have a spot for a guitarist, let alone a classical guitarist. Besides music or school, in his free time he likes to bike with his friends or talk to them online
Stephanie Kwon
Stephanie is a Junior at Montgomery High School. She has been accepted into numerous vocal organizations throughout her life including, but not limited to, the New Jersey Honor Choir, New Jersey Regional Choir, and the Chamber Choir at MHS. She often spends her time participating in her school’s volunteer organizations such as UNICEF and Red Cross Club. In her free time, she enjoys recording covers of her favorite songs and writing original songs of her own.
Adrian Kim
Adrian is a junior at Bridgewater High School. He lived in Korea for around five years and in Germany for about three years. He started to learn piano when he was eight years old and since then he has been practicing piano on and off. He has participated in two competitions in Korea and received two special awards. He also performed piano in multiple special events. He also practiced the cello for about four years and performed in a few school concerts in Germany. Other than music, Adrian is into art and coding. He spends time learning how to code and hopes that he will be able to help others with coding in the future.
Co- Vice President, Guitar
Co- President, Piano
Michael Pack
Michael is a junior at Ridge High School. He has been playing jazz and classical piano for the past 8 years. He has won various competitions and performed at recitals, including the Piano Teachers Society of America (PTSA) Competition in the Popular Styles category. Besides playing the piano, Michael has been practicing Taekwondo for 8 years and has a 3nd-degree black belt. He is a Taekwondo instructor and has received the President's Volunteer Service Award 2 years in a row.
Public Relations, Piano
Web Manager, Violin
Co- Vice President, Voice
Secretary, Violin
VIOLIN
Katherine Zhou
Katherine Zhou is a junior at Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights. She has been playing the violin since age 9, and she is a violinist in the New Jersey Youth Symphony, her school orchestra, and her school quartet. Aside from playing the violin, Katherine enjoys playing tennis, drawing, and making trips to Trader Joe's.
Hyunsu Lim
Hyunsu is a junior in Millburn Highschool. She started playing violin when she was in first grade. Since then, she was a member of the Delaware County Youth Orchestra. She also joined the Millburn Middle School's orchestra along with the Select Strings. Currently, she is playing in the Millburn Highschool orchestra. She likes to draw digitally and cooking Korean food.
CELLO
David Yi
David is a sophomore at Bridgewater Raritan Highschool. He has been playing the drums for 8 years and Cello for 4 years, and has performed in orchestras like NJ Regional Orchestra, BRMS chamber orchestra, Veritas orchestra, and Praise Youth Orchestra. He has also attended Spring auditions for NJMTA. In addition to music, he is playing hockey on a travel team, and has been vice president for his school. He hopes to bring people joy through his music.
Yuno Lee
Yuno is a sophomore at Millburn High School. He has played cello for 7 years, playing in the New Jersey Youth Symphony organization and in his school’s orchestra program each for 5 years. He has won several music completions for piano and cello. In 2022, he made the High School North Regions Orchestra. Some of his hobbies are taekwondo, swimming, and running. He has been a 2nd degree black belt for two years and an instructor, helping and teaching younger students. He participates in the Millburn Swim and Cross Country team, and diligently works hard to improve in both sports.
Noah Choi
Cello
Noah is a junior at the Wardlaw Hartridge School who has been a part of the Bernards Ensemble since 2017. He has been playing the cello for 7 years, participating in his previous school’s symphony orchestra as well as independent organizations including Veritas Orchestra. Over the years, Noah has held multiple officer positions in extracurricular activities, and plans to progress the Bernards Ensemble further with his experience.
Joie Kuo
Joie is a sophomore at Bridgewater-Raritan High School. She currently studies with Ms. Clara Kim at the Juilliard Pre-College where she has been awarded the J and S Berger and Louis Smadbeck scholarships. Joie has played the cello since age eight while studying with Marnie Kaller and Sofia Nowik, and later with David Geber. She has won prizes at the Great Composers Competition, NLPA International Young Artists Competition, and Bravura Concerto Competition. Joie attended the Senior Division of the Heifetz International Music Institute in 2022, studying with Hannah Roberts, Guy Fishman, Amit Peled, Hans Jørgen Jensen, and Peter Stumpf.
Yuan Xiong
Dylan is a rising 6th grader at William Annin Middle School. He started playing piano since 6 years old and started studying cello at the beginning of 3rd grade. Dylan has performed many times for the Arc of Somerset county, at various nursing homes, and together with other members of Bernards Ensemble. He played at Mount Prospect School Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra from 3rd to 5th grade, and practiced and performed Chamber Orchestra at New Jersey Academy of Music. He will be attending Kinhaven Junior Session this summer. In addition to music, Dylan also enjoys math, coding, skiing, and hiking with his family.
VOICE
Stephanie Yakely
Stephanie is a junior at North Hunterdon High school. Her passion for music started in elementary school when she was accepted into the school’s selective choir, and then the New Jersey Honor Choir. Stephanie also joined the Bernards Ensemble in mid-December of 2019. She is an active participant in both live theater and technical theater and hopes she can spread the joy of the arts to all.
PIANO
Joseph Cho
Joseph is a junior at Bernards High, has been playing the piano for over 5 years. He went to Dorney Park to perform with his old school jazz band. In addition to music, he plays for his school’s soccer team, his school’s winter and spring track team, and he attends the NJ school of archery. He enjoys spreading positivity and joy through music and other activities. He also likes to make other people smile and happy through music..
Madeline Paik
Madeline is a Junior at Union County Magnet High School and also attends Manhattan School of Music and Science Honors Program at Columbia University. She has been playing classical piano for 11 years but has participated in her middle school’s jazz band with both piano and flute. She has performed at Carnegie Hall 3 times after winning 1st and 2nd place in the Golden Key Music Festival and the Crescendo Competition. Outside of music, she enjoys drawing and spending quality time with friends. She is also passionate about engineering, as she attends a school specialized for it, and is currently in her school’s robotics club.
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Evan Fan
Evan is a 8th grader at William Annin Middle School. As the brother of a person with special needs, he firmly believes in the mission of the Bernards Ensemble. He has been studying piano with Marcia Maull for 8 years, and has won multiple awards in the annual piano competitions of the Music Educators Association of New Jersey. He will be studying piano at the Precollege Division of Manhattan School of Music this coming year. He also plays violin in orchestras at William Annin Middle School. Evan is passionate about mathematics, qualifying in 2021 for the national Mathcounts competition and the USA Junior Mathematical Olympiad. In addition, he enjoys playing chess and tennis.
BoKyung Park (Nina)
Nina is a junior who goes to Ridge High School. She has been playing the piano for 12 years and the flute for 5 years. She plays the piano for the New Jersey Youth Symphony and actively participates in her school’s music programs with piano and flute. When she was living in Korea, she was one of the principal members of her school’s student-led band where she organized and rearranged several music pieces for the members to play. Having lived in India for 4 years and recently moving into the United States from Korea, Nina loves to try new things and explore. In her free time, she loves to learn different languages, and she was the founder/president of the Chinese Language and Culture Club in her school back in Korea.
HORN
Joshua Chun
Joshua is a senior at Millburn High School. He has played the horn since the fourth grade, and plays in the Millburn Wind Ensemble. He was the first chair in the 2021 NJSMA Region Band and Orchestra. On the side, he casually plays guitar and piano. Besides playing music, he is the class secretary and enjoys listening to music.
VIOLA
William Song
William Song is a sophomore at Montgomery Highschool. He has been playing the viola
since the third grade. During his time in junior highschool, he participated in the CJMEA
Orchestra twice. He has also been performing in the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra
for over six years. William has entered the Prima Volta Music Competition in 2020 and
the NJMTA music competition. In his school, he competes on the school team for the
Forensics Speech and Debate Club and the Mock Trial Club. He finds joy in sports like
swimming, skiing, and cycling. William loves mathematics and the sciences.
ALUMNI
Austin Lee
Founder, Trustee
Austin is currently studying the violin and viola under Bela Horvath of the Manhattan School of Music. He served as concertmaster in various orchestras and performed solo concertos multiple times. Austin has won awards as both a soloist and a chamber musician in competitions such as the Coltman Chamber Music Concert at UT Austin, the "Rome" Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition, the Sinfonietta Nova Young Concert Artists Competition, and the YWCA New York International Music Competition. He is a sophomore at Columbia University and plans to major in Economics and Public Health.
Sean Lee
Founding Member
Sean is currently studying Finance and Consulting at Emory University. He has played the cello since the age of 7, performing as a soloist and member of numerous orchestras. He has performed in performance halls such as Merkin Concert Hall, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and Wiener Musikverein in Austria. At Emory University, Sean is part of the Asian Culture Club, Korean American Student Association, and iMentor program.
Ethan Chiu
Founding Member
Ethan is a sophomore at Hamilton College. He is passionate about the French horn on the Wind Ensemble, swimming, and volunteering. He was a captain for the high school swim Team, swims competitively for the Somerset Hills YMCA Swim Team, and actively volunteers for Saturdays in Motion at the YMCA.
Jimmy Gao
Founding Member
Jimmy is a sophomore at Duke University, where he studies public policy. He has been playing both the cello and the piano, and he has been a member of the Bernards Ensemble since its creation. Outside of performing at events, he also helps publicize the Bernards Ensemble’s events and even once serving as its host. Outside of the Bernards Ensemble, he also serves as an officer in the Ridge Symphony Orchestra and plays piano recreationally. Above all, Jimmy enjoys serving as a voice and communicator for the less privileged and is committed to creating positive change in his community both through music and through other avenues.
Karen Cui
Founding Member
Karen is a sophomore at Northwestern University. She has been involved with music since the age of 7 and has since learned piano, flute, oboe, guitar, ukulele, and a little bit of cello. She has played in the New Jersey Youth Symphony, in her high school wind ensemble, and she was also a member of the Tri M Music Honors Society. Apart from music, she was a 4-year varsity high school track athlete competing in hurdles and jumps, and also served as student body secretary and treasurer for the National Honors Society. She is majoring in communications and plans to minor in music technology.
Brandon Lee
Trustee
Brandon is attending NYU with the class of 2025. He has played cello for nine years and has participated in the All States Orchestra, Regional Orchestra, School Chamber and Symphony Orchestra, and New York Youth Symphony. In addition to orchestras and symphonies, Brandon has taken part in multiple volunteer orchestras and events such as PEC and ARC, as well as music festivals such as the Summit Music Festival in Manhattanville. In addition to music, Brandon is a part of clubs such as the Youth Advisory Council for the Congressman, Project Sunshine Non-Profit, and other assorted clubs.
Jessica Kim
Trustee
Jessica is currently studying Hotel Administration at the Cornell Hotel School. She has played the violin since 1st grade, and enjoys cooking and the arts. During high school, she participated in her school orchestra as well as the New Jersey Youth Symphony. At Cornell, Jessica is now a part of several student organizations, and hopes to continue violin.
Carys Law
Carys is a freshman at Northeastern University College of Engineering. She has been playing violin for 11 years and has been engaged in many orchestras including New Jersey Youth Symphony and her school’s symphony orchestra. She has also performed at notable venues such as Carnegie Hall and Princeton University’s Alexander Hall. Outside of music, she is a four-year varsity tennis player and the Captain of the Ridge Girls Tennis Team, as well as the founder and director of Feed to Give, a nonprofit organization. She is a committed individual and loves to take leadership roles in the activities she is passionate about, and especially in music.
Eric Chung
Eric takes passion in playing the alto saxophone as well as tenor saxophone. Eric participates in many different kinds of bands such as the Bridgewater-Raritan Monday Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble, The Jazz House Kids Big Band, Elefante’s Allstar Jazz Band, NJ Region II Jazz Band, and many more. Eric loves playing the saxophone and he wants to use his talent to bring joy and happiness to many people. Eric thinks being part of the Bernard’s Ensemble is an honor and he is very happy to be a proud member of the organization.
Julie Soldat
Julie is currently studying Studio Art and Psychology at Lafayette College. She has played piano for four years and started singing in 5th grade, and enjoys baking and painting. During high school, Julie participated in Track and Field, and now she is currently a member of the Lafayette Track and Field team.
Ethan Hong
Cello
Ethan is a senior in high school in Livingston, New Jersey. He started playing cello in his school’s music program when he was 9 years old and began to take private lessons 3 years after being charmed by its rich tone that resembled the human vocal range. In his earliest ensemble days, he played at the Lakeland Youth Symphony for 2 years, only to later join the New Jersey Youth Symphony by 2019. He has made it into the Northern NJ Regions Orchestra and has also won first prize in the Concert Festival Competition of 2020. Outside of orchestral music, he appreciates many other different genres of music, his favorites being punk rock and metal, but his all-time favorite artist being Radiohead. Ethan currently has the interest to follow a career path in medicine in psychiatry and is excited to participate in the Bernard Ensemble.
Syon Lee
Syon is a sophomore at Cornell University where she studies Biology and plans to pursue a career in the intersections of law and medicine. She has been playing piano and viola for over 10 years and has been involved in various orchestras like the NJ Regional Orchestra, school orchestras, and the New Jersey Youth Symphony. She has also attended the Brevard Summer Music Festival and has performed at Carnegie Hall. At Cornell, Syon is continuing her musical studies, performing with the Cornell Orchestra and chamber ensemble. She is also an editor for the Cornell Diplomat, and promotes health product equality in various healthcare clubs.
Alexandra Gualario
Alexandra is a freshman at Columbia University. She has been under the tutelage of Lorraine Nubar and Cynthia Sanner of The Juilliard School and most recently under Martha Elliot of Princeton University. Alexandra has also studied at the Académie Internationale D'eté de Nice in Nice, France. She was recently cast in her first professional opera with the regional opera company Light Opera of New Jersey in their production of Die Fledermaus and has been showcased in their pre-professional showcase Basking in Light. Having a passion for connecting with others through music, Alexandra is thrilled to be a member of the Bernards Ensemble.
Daniel Cho
Daniel is a freshman at Northeastern University. He has been playing the piano for 8 years now. Although he primarily played the piano for fun, he now has a dedication to use his talent for the community, hence why he has joined the Bernards Ensemble. He believes that he should use his skills for the greater good because he can, even if they aren't much. Besides the piano, Daniel also enjoys practicing archery, reading, and modifying nerf blasters. He looks forward to exploring and obtaining more skills in the future.
Helen Cho
Helen is currently studying at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University under the tutelage of Molly Barth. At the Blair School, Helen has played principal flute in the Vanderbilt Orchestra and Wind Symphony. Helen is involved in chamber music as a member of a woodwind quintet. Previously, Helen studied with Soo-Kyung Park at the Manhattan School of Music, Pre-College division. Helen has performed at Carnegie Hall and at the New York Flute Fair and has won awards including First Prize at the MSM Woodwinds, Brass & Percussion Concerto Competition, the New York Flute Club Young Musicians Contest, and the Elite International Music Competition.
Helen has participated as a performer at The Consummate Flutist at Carnegie-Mellon University and Aria Summer Academy. This past summer, she visited Colombia with the Vanderbilt Wind Symphony for an immersion experience.
Alexander Moon
Cello
Alexander is a senior at Governor Livingston High School who has been in the Bernards Ensemble since 2019. He has been playing cello for around 7 years. He has won prizes for the NLPA Competition, the International Virtuoso Competition, the Young Musicians, the Prima Volta (allowing him to perform at Carnegie Hall), the Vivo International, and the New York Artist International competition. He also won the 1st place as a duo with Minji Kim (member) for the New York International Music Concours. For his orchestras, he has been part of the NJ All state and the Central Jersey Regionals orchestras, the New Jersey Youth Symphony, the New York Youth Symphony, and the All-Eastern Orchestra. He also has interned at the GMP Young Artists Summer Music Camp. He is a varsity swimmer for his high school swim team and is part of the National Honors Society. He also be participated in the BU Tanglewood Music Camp summer 2021 and has volunteered at the Praise Korean Cultural Community Center as a teaching assistant since 2019.
Philip Choi
Trumpet
Philip is a senior at Ridge High School. He has played trumpet for nine years and in CJMEA Regions Band for three years. In his free time, he plays tennis for his school’s team and performs with jazz group Dixietones throughout his local community. As part of the Bernards Ensemble, he enjoys spreading joy through his music at service-oriented events. Empowered to interact more with his community, Philip has worked with the Somerset County Democratic Committee to increase voter awareness and participation. He plans to further work for his community through a major in the social sciences.
TRUMPET
