The Armstrong Youth Orchestra Honors Recital held on March 1, 2020 honored the five finalists from the recent Concerto Competition. Ticket sales and donations supported the Competition Winner and two Honorable Mention prizes, as well as a fund drive for private lesson scholarships.
Congratulations to these talented musicians!
Noah Thomas Eastman is the son of Kevin and Jackie Eastman. He is in the 10th grade at the Savannah Arts Academy and has studied bassoon with Raymond Patricio for three years. Noah has been selected for the GMEA All-State Band for bassoon for the past two years. Noah presently is performing in the Savannah Arts Academy Mastery Orchestra, SAA Mastery Band, Armstrong Youth Orchestra, and the Savannah Winds. He has earned Superior Ratings for both GMEA Small Group and Individual Performance Evaluations for bassoon. He attended the UGA Music Institute in 2019 and has been accepted into Interlochen Arts Camp for 2020. Noah was named the First Honorable Mention performer at the recent AYO Concerto Competition.
Peter Stephen Gardner is the son of Sabrina and Stephen Gardner. He is in the 12th grade at the Savannah Arts Academy and has studied cello privately with Emily Calhoun for three years and Sarah Schenkman for four years. Peter was selected for the GMEA All-State Orchestra for the past four years and has been a member of the Armstrong Youth Orchestra for the past eight years. Peter has attended the University of Georgia Summer Music Institute, the Elaris Summer String Academy, and the Carolina Summer Music Conservatory. He was chosen to participate in the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program for music this past summer. Peter is currently principal cellist of the Savannah Arts Academy Orchestra and the Armstrong Youth Orchestra. Recently, he won the Armstrong Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition and will be performing the Dvorak Cello Concerto in B minor with the AYO in May. Peter enjoys playing ultimate frisbee and studying math and science in school.
Jalin Alexander Graham was born in Warren, Ohio and became interested in music at the age of 11. He began his studies under the instruction of Mr. Luis Branch at the Oglethorpe Charter School. He is currently a student at the Savannah Arts Academy under the instruction of Emily Calhoun and studies with Lizhou Liu (Principal Violist with the Savannah Philharmonic). He has performed with the Armstrong Youth Orchestra, Savannah Philharmonic, TedX Savannah, All-State Orchestras and the Savannah Arts Orchestra at The Kennedy Center. He plans to become a professional violist. Jalin was named the Second Honorable Mention performer at the recent AYO Concerto Competition.
Elizabeth Mia Jones is the daughter of Chad and Hélène Jones. She is in the 10th grade at the Savannah Arts Academy and has been studying violin with Terry Moore for 7 years. She also loves to sing and play the piano. Elizabeth participated in GMEA All State Orchestra and All State Chorus in 2018. She was selected again for All State Orchestra this year as well as All State Reading Chorus. She is a member of the Savannah Arts Academy’s Mastery Orchestra and has been a member of the Armstrong Youth Orchestra Program for five years.
Sharon Joy Lee, 13 years old, is the daughter of Chae and Cindy Lee. She is in the 8th grade at the Richmond Hill Middle School and joined RYO as Concertmaster last Fall 2019. She has been playing violin since she was age 5 and currently studies with Kerri Sellman. Because of her military family, she has had the opportunity to study with many teachers in diverse states and countries. Sharon has performed in several professional orchestras as well as a soloist with the El Paso Youth Orchestra in Texas; and the Levee Art Youth Orchestra and Common Ground Youth Orchestra in South Korea. She is looking forward to growing and expanding her musical experiences in her high school years.
