The Cleveland Cello Society Annual Scholarship Competition

Past Winners

Since 1999, the CCS has sponsored a scholarship competition for elementary- through college-level cellists in Northeast Ohio. Awarding $1,800 in scholarships at its first competition, the prizes have grown and currently represent a total of $4,400. The CCS is proud to report that numerous winners have gone on to illustrious careers in the solo, chamber, and orchestral performance realms!

The prize money for the scholarships is generated at the annual CCS fundraiser concert, i Cellisti! ( Italian, pronounced “ee chell-ees-tee”; English translation “the Cellists”), which has become a very popular event in itself. Serving as a “sampler” of the Cleveland cello scene, i Cellisti! draws both students and professionals from universities (e.g. Oberlin, the Cleveland Institute of Music, Case Western Reserve University, Bowling Green State University, Baldwin Wallace University) and area performing ensembles, and features cello ensemble music from the popular and jazz traditions, as well as the classical music repertoire. For example, in 2003, i Cellisti presented the world premiere of the cello octet, Cello, Celli by jazz icon Dave Brubeck (who was present for the event!); in 2007, the premiere of Suite, a transcription for cello quintet of songs by Canadian alternative-pop violinist, Owen Pallett; and in 2019, fifty cellists joined by the fifty-member Oberlin College Choir formed a huge ring around the entire audience performing Randall Thompson’s Alleluia. The intangible aspect of music was truly tangible that evening!

Competition dates and winners are listed below, in chronological order. When two names follow a Division or Prize heading, they are co-winners of that competition. Click on the - (minus) or + (plus) sign to collapse or expand each year.

  • Collegiate Division

                  Julie Albers (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Aaron)

    Junior Division

                  Evelyn Gardett (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Aaron)

    Elementary Division

                  Michael Kaufman (Shaker Heights, student of Pamela Kelly)

  • Collegiate Division

                  Daniel McDonough (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Stephen Geber)

    Junior Division

                  Hannah  Whitehead  (Cleveland Heights High School, student of Richard Weiss)

    Elementary Division

                  Adam Sims (student of Pamela Kelly)

  • Collegiate Division

                  Christina Babich

    Junior Division

                  Alice Yoo (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Aaron)

    Elementary Division

                  Christopher Irvine (Shaker Heights Elementary, student of Pamela Kelly) 

  • Collegiate Division

                  Dane Johansen (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Aaron)

    Junior Division

                  Rachel Wilson (Cleveland Institute of Music Preparatory Dept., student of Richard Aaron)

    Elementary Division

                  Danae Arnold (student of Bryan Dumm)

     

  • Collegiate Division

                  Michael Block (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Aaron)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor):  

                  Kenneth Olsen (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Aaron)

    Junior Division

                  Michael Kaufman (Shaker Heights High School, student of Allison Wells)

    Elementary Division

                  Michael Merimee (Cleveland Institute of Music Preparatory Dept., student of Pamela Kelly)

  • Collegiate Division    

                   Joshua Roman (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Aaron)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor):    

                  Erin Ellis (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Aaron)

    Junior Division

                  Christopher Irvine (Shaker Heights High School, student of Richard Aaron)

    Elementary Division

                  Hannah Moses (Cleveland, student of Pamela Kelly)

     

  • Collegiate Division

    David Requiro (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Aaron)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor):  

                  Paul Dwyer (Oberlin Conservatory of Music)

    Senior Division (grades 9-12)

    Chris Irvine (Shaker Heights, student of Richard Aaron)

    Michael Kaufman (Shaker Heights, student of Allison Wells)

    Junior Division (grades 6-8)

    Emma Bobbs (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Aaron)

    Elementary Division (through grade 5)

    Braden McConnell (Cleveland, student of

  • Collegiate Division

    Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Aaron)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor):  

                  Desiree Abbey (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Desmond Hoebig)

                  Gwen Krosnick (Oberlin Conservatory of Music, student of Darrett Adkins)

    Senior Division (grades 9-12)

    Emma Louis Bobbs (Cleveland Institute of Music Preparatory Dept, student of Richard Aaron)

    Junior Division (grades 6-8)

    Erica Evans (Hudson Middle School, student of Richard Aaron)

    Elementary Division (through grade 5)

    Sameer Apte (Onaway School, Shaker Heights., student of  Martha Baldwin)

    Benjamin Francisco (Bath, student of Natasha Zielazinski)

     

  • Collegiate Division

    Charles Tyler  (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Aaron)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor): 

                  Gabrielle Athayde (Oberlin Conservatory of Music, student of Darrett Adkins)

    Senior Division (grades 9-12)

    Janet Park  (Cleveland Institute of Music Prep Dept., student of Richard Aaron & Melissa Kraut)

    Junior Division (grades 6-8)

    Hannah Moses (Cleveland, student of Pamela Kelly)

    Elementary Division (through grade 5)

    Audrey Trotta  (Cleveland, student of Melissa Kraut)

  • Collegiate Division

    Desiree Abbey (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of  Desmond Hoebig)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor):  

                   Desiree Abbey

    Senior Division (grades 9-12)

    Cecilia Orazi  (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Melissa Kraut)

    Junior Division (grades 6-8)

    Helen Peyrebrune  (Cleveland, student of Pamela Kelly)

    Elementary Division (through grade 5)

    Henry Shapard (Cleveland, student of Melissa Kraut)

  • Collegiate Division

    Michael Kaufman (Cleveland, student of Steven Doane)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor):  

                  Avery Waite  (Oberlin Conservatory of Music, student of Amir Eldan and Darrett Adkins)

    Senior Division (grades 9-12)

    Charlie Reed  (student of Martha Baldwin)

    Junior Division (grades 6-8)

    Benjamin Francisco  (student of Melissa Kraut)

    Elementary Division (through grade 5)

    Ian Quinn  (student of Christina Babich Rosser)

  • Collegiate Division

    Madeline Kabat (Cleveland, student of Darrett Adkins)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor):  

    Eric Tinkerhess  (Oberlin Conservatory of Music, student of Amir Eldan)

    Senior Division (grades 9-12)

    Nathanael Matthews  (Cleveland, student of David Alan Harrell)

    Junior Division (grades 6-8)

    Sameer Apte  (Shaker Heights, student of Martha Baldwin)

    Braden McConnell (Cleveland, student of Amir Eldan)

    Elementary Division (through grade 5)

    Bethany Bobbs (Cleveland, student of Pamela Kelly)

  • Collegiate Division

    Chris Irvine (Cleveland, New England Conservatory of Music, student of Paul Katz)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor): Chris Irvine

    Senior Division (grades 9-12)

    Hannah Moses   (Cleveland, CIM Preparatory Department, student of Richard Weiss)

    Junior Division (grades 6-8)

    Henry Shapard (Cleveland, CIM Preparatory Department, student of Melissa Kraut)

    Elementary Division (through grade 5)

    Matthew Fields (Cleveland, CIM Preparatory Department, student of Pamela Kelly )

  • Collegiate Division

    Brian Klickman (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Weiss)

    Zachary Mansell (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Mark Kosower)

    Senior Division (grades 9-12)

    Benjamin Francisco  (CIM Preparatory Department, student of student of Melissa Kraut)

    Grant Zempolich (CIM Preparatory Department, student of Pamela Kelly)

    Junior Division (grades 6-8)

    Alex Cha (Cleveland, student of Pamela Kelly)

    Elementary Division (through grade 5)

    Faith Geho (Cleveland, student of Melissa Kraut)

  • Collegiate Division

    Nathan Watts (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Stephen Geber)  

    Matt Zucker (Cleveland, Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Stephen Geber)

    Senior Division (grades 9-12):

    Isabel Dimoff (Shaker Heights, student of Mark Kosower)

    Junior Division (grades 6-8) The George Knobeloch Edwards Prize)

    James Hettinga (Elyria, student of Amir Eldan)

    Elementary Division (through grade 5) The Mary Margaret Kramer Prize

    Marissa Veccia (Cleveland, student of Rachel Bernstein)

  • Collegiate Division

    Gold Medal:

    Hannah Moses (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Melissa Kraut)

    Silver Medal:

    Pall Quinn Kalmansson (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Weiss)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor):  

    Aaron Wolf (Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, student of Darrett Adkins)

    Senior Division (grades 9-12)

    Henry Shapard (Cleveland, CIM Preparatory Department, student of Richard Weiss)

    Junior Division (grades 6-8) The George Knobeloch Edwards Prize

    Alexander Lee (Shaker Heights, CIM Preparatory Department, student of Pamela Kelly)

    Elementary Division (through grade 5) The Mary Margaret Kramer Prize

    Miriam Smith (Cincinnati,  student of Sarah Kim)

  • Collegiate Division
    Gold Medal:

    Rachael Lemna  (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Melissa Kraut)

    Silver Medal:

    Nathanael Matthews (Cleveland, Indiana University, student of Eric Kim)

    Agnew Bach Prize: (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor):  

    Nathanael Matthews

    Senior Division(grades 9-12)
    James Hettinga (Elyria, student of Amir Eldan)
         Honorable Mention:  Sameer Apte and Paul Schubert

    Junior Division (grades 6-8)The George Knobeloch Edwards Prize)

    Ania Lewis (Cleveland, CIMPreparatory Department, student of Martha Baldwin)

    Elementary Division (through grade 5)The Mary Margaret Kramer Prize)

    Elena Ziegler (Fairlawn, CIM Preparatory Department, student of Andris Koh)

    Honorable Mention:  Eleanor Pompa and Laura Schilz

  • Collegiate Division 
    Gold Medal:

    Azure Kline (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Melissa Kraut) 

    Tsz To Wong (Cleveland Institute of Music student of Mark Kosower)

    Silver Medal: 

    Sarah Miller (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Melissa Kraut)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor):

    Isabel Dimoff  (Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, student of Ilya Finkelstein)                  Senior Division (grades 9-12)
    Matthew Fields
    ( Cleveland Heights, student of Martha Baldwin)

    Luke Orth (Cincinnati,  student of Alan Rafferty)

    Junior Division(grades 6-8) The George Knobeloch Edwards Prize

    Marissa Veccia (Cleveland, student of Rachel Bernstein)

    Honorable Mention:  Anna Goldberg (Cleveland, student of Martha Baldwin) and Christopher Oh (Hudson, student of Eun Sol Lee)

    Elementary Division(through grade 5) The Mary Margaret Kramer Prize

    Eleanor Pompa (Cleveland, student of Pamela Kelly)

    Honorable Mention: Matthew Huang, Cleveland, student of Pamela Kelly)

  • Collegiate Division 

    Gold Medal:

    Wei-An Hung (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Sharon Robinson)

    Silver Medal:

    Jacqueline Rogers (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Melissa Kraut)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor):  

    Wei-An Hung (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Sharon Robinson)

    Senior Division (grades 9-12)

    Katsuaki Arakawa (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Mark Kosower)

    Junior Division (grades 6-8)The George Knobeloch Edwards Prize

    Laura Schilz, Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Martha Baldwin

    Elementary Division (through grade 5) The Mary Margaret Kramer Prize

    Matthew Huang (Cleveland Institute of Music,  student of Pamela Kelly)

  • Collegiate Division  

    The Cleveland Violins Shop Gold Prize:
    Daniel Kaler (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Mark Kosower)

    Braden McConnell (University of Michigan, student of Richard Aaron)

    Silver Medal:

    Cordelia Mutter (Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, student of Darrett Adkins)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor):  

    Sumin Kim ( Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Mark Kosower)

    Senior Division (grades 9-12)
    Katarina Davies (Cleveland, student of Richard Weiss)

    Junior Division(grades 6-8The George Knobeloch Edwards Prize
    Ari Webb (Cincinnati, student of Sarah Kim)

    Honorable Mention: Eleanor Pompa (Cleveland,  student of Pamela Kelly)

    Elementary Division (through grade 5) The Mary Margaret Kramer Prize

    Sonya Moomaw (Cincinnati, student of Sarah Kim)

    Honorable Mention:  Michael Zhu

  • Collegiate Division  

    Gold Medal:   

    David Lee (Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, student of Darrett Adkins)  

    Silver Medal:

    Lydia Rhea, (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Melissa Kraut)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor):  

    David Lee (Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, student of Darrett Adkins)

    Senior Division (grades 9-12)

    Ania Lewis (CIM Preparatory Department student of Martha Baldwin)

    Honorable Mention:  Annie Zhang (CIM Preparatory Department, student of Melissa Kraut)

    Junior Division (grades 6-8) The George Knobeloch Edwards Prize

    Eleanor Pompa (CIM Preparatory Department, student of Pamela Kelly) 

    Elementary Division (through grade 5) The Mary Margaret Kramer Prize

    Rhys Scott (Cleveland, student of Derek Snyder)

  • Collegiate Division  

    Gold Medal:

    Lydia Rhea (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Melissa Kraut)

    Silver Medal:

    James Hettinga (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Melissa Kraut)

    Myeonggyun Noh (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Stephen Geber)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor):  

    Lydia Rhea (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Melissa Kraut)

    Senior Division (grades 9-12)  

    Laura Schilz (Cleveland, student of Martha Baldwin)

    Ari Webb (Cincinnati,  student of Sarah Kim)

    Honorable Mention: Daniel Dorsey (Cincinnati, student of Sarah Kim)

    Junior Division (grades 6-8) The George Knobeloch Edwards Prize

    Louis Wang (Cleveland, student of Jerry Yarovich)

    Elementary Division (through grade 5) The Mary Margaret Kramer Prize

    Colin Si (Hudson, student of Renee Matthews)

  • Collegiate Division  

    Gold Medal:

    Drew Dansby (Oberlin Conservatory of Music, student of Darrett Adkins)

    Miles Reed (Oberlin Conservatory of Music, student of Dmitry Kouzov)

    Silver Medal:

    Sarah Dabin Baek (Oberlin Conservatory of Music, student of Dmitry Kouzov)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor):

    Drew Dansby (Oberlin Conservatory of Music, student of Darrett Adkins)

    Sammantha Powell (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Weiss)

    Senior Division (grades 9-12)

    Daniel Dorsey (St. Xavier High School, Cincinnati, student of Sarah Kim)

    Junior Division (grades 6-8) George Knobeloch Edwards Prize

    Elena Ziegler (Copley, student of Martha Baldwin)

    Elementary Division (through grade 5) Mary Margaret Kramer Prize

    Seraphina Huang (Shaker Heights, student of Pamela Kelly)

  • Collegiate Division  

    Jean and Jim Triner Gold Prize: 

    Benjamin Mekinulov (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Melissa Kraut)

    Silver Prize:

    Martha Sprague (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Sharon Robinson)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor):   

    Nathaniel Abreu (Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, student of Dmitry Kouzov)

    Senior Division (grades 9-12)

    Fiona Tsang (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Weiss)

    Junior Division (grades 6-8)  George Knobeloch Edwards Prize

    Sonya Moomaw (Cincinnati School for Creative & Performing Arts, student of Sarah Kim)

    Elementary Division (through grade 5) Mary Margaret Kramer Prize 

    Holden Gilbert (Beachwood Elementary School, student of Pamela Kelly)

  • Collegiate Division  

    Jean and Jim Triner Gold Prize

    April Lee (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Weiss)

    Silver Prize:

    Piper Suk, (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Sharon Robinson)

    Agnew Bach Prize (awarded for the best performance of Bach by a Collegiate Division competitor):

    Iren Hangen-Vazquez (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Melissa Kraut) 

    Senior Division (grades 9-12) 

    Kwabena Owusu (Cleveland,  student of David Alan Harrell)

      Honorable Mention: Paul Orth (Cincinnati, student of Sarah Kim)  

    Junior Division (grades 6-8) George Knobeloch Edwards Prize

      William Yeoh (Cleveland, student of Martha Baldwin)

    Elementary Division (through grade 5) Mary Margaret Kramer Prize

      Daniel Chiang (Cleveland, student of Derek Snyder)

  • Collegiate Division

    Jean & Jim Triner Gold Prize:

    Maria Elli Petridou (Oberlin Conservatory, student of Dmitri Kousev) and Fiona Tsang (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Weiss)

    Y. Chen Silver Prize Winner:

    Bryan Ping  (Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Richard Weiss)

    Agnew Bach Prize: 

    Pin-Hao Chen (Oberlin Conservatory, student of Darrett Adkins)

    Senior Division (grades 9-12):

    Autumn Sakiko Rinaldi (Cincinnati Country Day School, student of Sarah Kim)

    Honorable Mention: Elora Kares (Cleveland Institute of Music Academy, student of Si-Yen Li)  

    Junior Division (grades 6-8)

    George Knobeloch Edwards Prize:

    Seraphina Huang ( Menlo Park Academy, student of Nora Willauer)

    Nicholas Jacques (Menlo Park Academy, student of Alan Harrell)

    Elementary Division:

    Mary Margaret Kramer Prize:

    Brian Du (Hawken School, student of Abbey Hansen)

  • Collegiate Division:

    “Gold Medal” Jim and Jean Triner Prize:

    Ari Peraza, (The Julliard School, student of Joel Krosnick & Zvi Plesser)

    “Silver Medal” Y. Chen Prize :

    Pin-Hao Chen (Oberlin Conservatory, student of Darrett Adkins)

    Agnew Prize for Best Bach::

    Joshua Lyphout (Bowling Green State University, student of Brian Snow)

    Senior Division:

    Dually Noted Prize :

    Jack Neely (Hawken School, student of Daniel Pereira)

    Elena Ziegler, (Copley High School, student of Dmitry Kouzov)

    Honorable Mention: Louis Wang (Solon High School, student of Paul Kushious)

    Junior Division:

    George Knobeloch Edwards Prize:

    Holden Gilbert (Beachwood Middle School, student of Pamela Kelly)

    Honorable Mention: Christina Gomez (St. Peregrine Academy, student of Derek Snyder)

    Elementary Division:

    Mary Margaret Kramer Prize:

    Adrian Cang (Hilltop Elementary School, student of Jeffrey Singler)

Phone: 216.921.3480

Website: www.clevelandcello.com

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