Some amazing feats that our alumni have accomplished in the 2025-26 season:

If you’re an alumni with an exciting update, please email zoe@californiamusiccenter.org with your news.

• James Baik and Haddon Kay, cello, 2019 1st Place Klein Winner and 2023 Semifinalist, named Bowers Program Artists at Chamber Music Society at Lincoln Center
• Nikki Chooi, violin, 2009 1st Place Klein Winner, appointed Carriage House Violins Artist-in-Residence
• Noam Ginsparg, cello, 2025 2nd Place Klein Winner, is awarded inaugural Gingold Fellowship at the Meadowmount School of Music
• Caroline Durham, violin, 2020 4th Place Klein Winner, wins 2026 Guildhall School Gold Medal
• Joshua Roman, cello, 2003 and 2004 3rd Place Klein Winner, named a recipient of the Renée Fleming Neuroarts Investigator Awards for the study ’Music for Autonomic Rehabilitation in Long Covid’
• Alyssa Park, cello, 1989 1st Place Klein Winner, appointed new Concertmaster at LA Opera
• Teng Li, viola, 2002 2nd Place Klein Winner, appointed to the faculty of Curtis Institute of Music
• Mihai Marica, cello, 2005 1st Place Klein Winner, joins the Takács Quartet
• Dana Kelley, viola, 2013 3rd Place Klein Winner, appointed Assistant Principal of the National Symphony Orchestra
• Youjin Lee, violin, 2013 1st Place Klein Winner, loaned 1736 ‘Muntz’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ by Nippon Music Foundation
• Youjin Lee & Julia Xiaozhuo Wang, violin, 2013 1st Place Klein Winner and 2025 Semifinalist, named semifinalists in 2026 Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition
• Jing Wang, violin, 2007 1st Place Klein Winner, serves as guest concertmaster of the China National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra