Hannah Schweiger (15) is an honors sophomore student at Pacifica Christian High School in Newport Beach. She started playing the violin at the age of six, and piano at five years old. She studied violin for many years at Colburn, where she was repeatedly recognized with merit scholarships, honors in chamber music, and honors recitals. She was privileged to study at the renowned Interlochen Arts Camp for the last two summers on full scholarship, where she was concertmaster of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra. Competition recognition includes first and top prizes at Southwestern Youth Music Festival, Satori Strings Contest, Southwest Bach Festival, and others. Hannah loves making music with friends, and this is her seventh year participating in JCM, four of those in Honors trios. She also is a section leader with PSYO, and soloed with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra for community outreach concerts (2023). She has played in masterclasses for multiple notable artists including Stephen Miahky, Esther Yoo, Stefan Jackiw, Hong-Yi Mo, and Tina Qu.

Hannah is also an accomplished pianist, having completed Certificate of Merit Advanced Level with State and Branch Honors while in 8th grade. She studies piano with her mother, and has played for Steinway Artist Stewart Gordon, Bradford Gowen, and others, winning multiple first and top place prizes in international competitions, including the Ivy International Piano Competition. In her free time, Hannah is an avid reader of classic literature, a novel and short-story author, and enjoys settling down with a good book and a nice cup of tea. She enjoys playing golf, and is currently a competitor in Lincoln-Douglas debate. Hannah currently studies violin with Dennis Kim, concertmaster of the Pacific Symphony.

Claire Jin, a sixteen year old pianist, is a junior at Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine, California. She started playing the piano at the age of six and currently studies with Miranda Wu. Her passion for chamber music led her to join the OC Branch of Junior Chamber Music four years ago, and she has loved it ever since. She has been a branch honors member and JCMSSA board member all four years. Last summer, she performed at Carnegie Hall after winning first prize in the American Fine Arts Festival International Competition, and at the Walt Disney Concert Hall after winning first prize in the Los Angeles Golden Classical Music Awards. In past years, she has won first prize in various MTAC Branch Festivals, including the Bach, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary Festivals, as well as the Scholarship Competition. Claire would like to extend her gratitude to her family, friends, and teacher for all of the opportunities they have provided for her to excel in her piano career.

Carina Wang is a 2022 winner of the American Fine Arts Festival (AFAF) “Concerto Competition” in the cello solo category and “Regular Season” competition in the chamber music categories, and a 2020 winner of the AFAF Strings of America international string competition on cello and AFAF “Golden Era” competition in piano solo and chamber music categories. Carina Wang performed both cello and piano at Carnegie Hall, New York, in June 2023 and December 2021. She attended the Borromeo Music Festival Summer 2022 in Switzerland and performed a solo cello concerto with the Tesoro High School Chamber Music Orchestra May 2022. Carina has been playing cello since the age of six and piano since the age of five; she currently studies with Mr. Ben Hong on cello and Dr. Myong-Joo Lee on piano.

On cello, Carina was invited to a 2022 Spain concert tour with Irvine Classical Players following her winning a seat as a solo performer. She was also awarded at her 2021 MTAC Advanced Panel Audition with the honors of California State Honor and Panel Alternate. She was the top prize winner in various competitions including the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) competition and the Young Artist music competition, and she was accepted to the All Southern Honor Orchestra in 2021.

In her free time, Carina enjoys participating in music festivals and programs such as Junior Chamber Music, Chamber Music OC Pre-college program, John Perry SCMI Piano Music Festival Junior program, St. Margaret’s Summer Music Festival, and Trio Celeste Chamber Music Festival. She is also involved in the planning and executing of multiple music programs including her role as the president of On Vibrato, a non-profit performing arts organization that launched two successful Chamber Music Play-Along festivals in the summer and winter of 2022. In addition to her musical studies, Carina has been an active member of the National Honor Society since 2021 and is currently on Tesoro High School’s Mock Trial Team. She enjoys ice skating, drawing, baking, and classical music.