Alumni

Michelle Rofrano
Erica Safran
David Schlossberg
Julia Stewart
Dmitry Styrkas
Alexander Suponya
Joshua Suslak
Jonathan Taratuta-Titus
Leonidas Tolias
Leda Wang
Young Min Yi
Young Jin Yi
Agustin Zavala

Jonathan was selected by audition and attended the Young Artists Piano Program at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute in the summers of 2008 and 2009. He was chosen as a pianist for the BUTI Young Artists Wind Ensemble and performed on piano and celesta in their final concert of summer 2009 in Seiji Ozawa Hall on the Tanglewood Main Grounds. He was also selected for and attended the Eastern Music Festival in the summers of 2010 and 2011.

Jonathan participated in several chamber groups that were part of the Honors Music Program at the Westminster Conservatory. One of these groups
was a piano trio with Karen Bao (violin) and Philip Chan (cello). The trio was selected to perform at an annual NJMTA Fall Conference chamber master class in 2010. The Trio also performed for the members of the NASH Ensemble of London in a master class organized by the Young Artists Program and Princeton University in March 2011.

At Princeton High School Jonathan played clarinet in the PHS Orchestra. As a freshman and sophomore, he played alto saxophone in the award-winning PHS Studio Band. Jonathan performed  9 solo piano concerts in the Princeton area nursing homes and care centers.

By the age of 14 Joshua had given several brilliant performances in the major Halls of New York City, such as Lincoln Center (Alice Tully Hall) on November 22, 2003,  Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall) on May 8, 2004, May 22, 2004, and May 2006. He has performed as a soloist with the Westminster Community orchestra, conducted by Ruth Ochs in Richardson Auditorium of Princeton University (Rachmaninoff’s 2d piano concerto in 2007 and Grieg Piano concerto in 2005).
While in the Young Artist Program at the Westminster Conservatory designed for gifted students, he met two gifted young musicians – violinist Evan Shieh and cellist Alan Chin. Together they founded a dynamic trio – Mephisto Trio – working and performing together until their graduation. The Trio was awarded High Honors in the 2004, 2005, and 2006 by NJ Music Teachers Association. They gave their Carnegie Hall performance in 2006 and several highly acclaimed concerts in the Princeton area.

Joshua was a member of his high school philharmonic orchestra, a cappella groups, concert choir and chorale, jazz band, wind symphony, and symphonic band. Joshua  dedicated time to frequently perform at assisted living facilities and many township events earning regional and national awards for his outstanding commitment including the U.S. President’s Award for Community Service, the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, and the Trenton Times Jefferson Award.

He was also a finalist and Honorable Mention recipient in the Steinway competition in the spring of 2012. In ensemble performances he has also won a Sterling award at the Golden Key music competition (2010) and a second Grand Prix at the Music-Fest competition (2011), with cellist Jason Isbit. He has performed at Westminster, Rider University and twice at Carnegie Hall. Leonidas attended the Westminster Conservatory Young Artist program from 2003 to 2012 where he studied music theory, history and composition/orchestration, conducting, chamber music and jazz improvisation. He also played cello in Westfield public school orchestras for seven years and has often been invited to play piano with the WHS chamber orchestra. He was the section leader of the Westfield High School Marching Band Front Ensemble where he played vibraphone, marimba, keyboard and tenor drums (Quints).

Pria was a winner, 3d place, of The NJMTA Young Musicians Competition in the fall of 2014. She was also chosen as an alternate in the advanced master class competition at the annual convention of the New Jersey Music Teachers Association in 2014 and 2012.
Pria became a winner of the top High Honors award in the New Jersey Music Teachers Spring Recital auditions of 2014. She was the winner of the top Gold prize in the International Music and Arts Society piano competition in 2013. As a result, she gave a performance in the winners’ recital at Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall) in New York. In December 2012, she was honored to perform her music during the Winter Holiday festivities at the Drumthwacket Governor’s Mansion. At the Princeton Day School she is a Frank Jacobson Music Scholar. There, she gave her solo, senior recital in May of this year. She is the pianist for the Princeton Day School jazz band. Pria’s other interests include photography, figure skating, and writing.

Celina was a winner of the NJMTA Spring recital auditions when she received High Honors award both times that she participated in 2012 and 2011. She is a two-time Princeton Steinway Society Competition finalist and Honorable Mention recipient (2014, 2012). In 2010 Celena became a Grand-Prix winner at the Music-Fest competition ( Carnegie Hall performance) and an Honorable Mention recipient of the Westminster Conservatory scholarship competition. She has also passed the ABRSM piano examinations up to grade 8, as well as the grade 5 music theory exam. She also studied flute at the Westminster Conservatory with Jill Crawford. In school she accompanies school Choir. Since she started working with Mrs. Shklar she has become more appreciative of the musicality of the instrument, as well as of the genius of Russian Romantic/Contemporary composers such as Balakirev, Rachmaninoff, and Prokofiev. Celena is studying entrepreneurship and life science at the University of Pennsylvania where she also continues her longtime engagement with piano and music.

Agustin was also honored to perform during Winter Holiday festivities at the Drumthwacket Governor’s Mansion in December 2012. A year earlier he participated in the Music-Fest Rising Talents competition as a chamber musician together with his ensemble partner violinist – Viola You. There he won top Grand Prix and played in Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall. Agustin also participated in the NJMTA in 2012 winning top High Honors award. He passed the AP Music Theory exam with the highest grade and ABRSM highest level 8. Aside from piano competitions, Agustin has organized several recitals for senior citizens in assisted living communities. He also was contracted to play in the Meadow Lakes Winter Concert series. Agustin’s favorite composers are Berlioz and Chopin. Aside from piano Agustin enjoys playing soccer and running.

His rapid progress was proven when two years later Eric became a winner at the Crescendo International Competition and performed in Carnegie Hall for the first time. In 2010 Eric received a Grand Prize award for the Rising Star Music Festival Competition and gave another performance at Carnegie Hall. Eric is a 4 times winner of top High Honors award at the NJMTA Spring competition in 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2010. In 2013 Eric became 1st place winner of the Westminster Conservatory Scholarship competition and recipient of the top Conservatory award – Korkina Scholarship.
Eric successfully completed and passed with distinction ABRSM exams level 4 by the age of 11. At the same time he also joined a band in school and played trumpet for two years. Now, in addition to his piano study, Eric takes private guitar lessons as a second instrument.
Aside from all his activities in music, Eric is also doing Martial Arts classes whenever he has free time. He also constantly performs in his church at least twice a year playing special music. Eric plans to major in filmmaking and digital media at Pace University and will pursue a minor in music.

Michelle has dazzled audiences with several brilliant performances at the major performance venues in New York, including Lincoln Center (Alice Tully Hall, November 2003) and Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall, May 2004). In the summer of 2008 Michelle was selected to participate in the summer music program for high school students at NYU.

Michelle participated in all orchestral and jazz ensembles and accompanied the chorus at the Reading Fleming Middle School, and she was accepted into the 2005 CJMEA Regional Concert Band and Orchestra. She also sang and played the piano at the 2004 and 2005 RFMS talent shows. Michelle was involved in music at Hunterdon Central Regional High School; through which she performed at Avery Fischer Hall of Lincoln Center in 2007 and 2008.

Michelle Rofrano recently graduated as a Piano Performance BM and orchestral conducting student from Mason Gross School of the Arts. As a pianist, she has performed in recitals at Avery Fischer Hall and Carnegie Hall and has participated in festivals throughout Europe and the US, performing as soloist with the Vienna International Orchestra in 2010. In 2011, Michelle was named winner of the Rutgers Undergraduate Concerto Competition. As a conductor, Michelle gave her debut leading the Rutgers Symphony Orchestra in 2013 and has participated in workshops with the Baltimore Chamber and Bakersfield Symphony orchestras. She held the position of Interim Music Director for the Garden State Philharmonic Symphonic Youth Orchestra during fall 2012 and served as Assistant Conductor of the Rutgers Sinfonia for the 2012-13 season.

Tammy participated in the Young Artist Program at Westminster Conservatory for five years, and has performed in numerous recitals. She has also participated in master classes with distinguished pianists such as Robert Taub, Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, and Jeanine Hummel. She was also an active member of the Princeton Day School choir and the Princeton Day School Madrigal Singers. She sang in the Princeton Girlchoir for three years, touring over the summers of 2005-2007 in Newfoundland, Hawaii, and Eastern Germany and Prague. The Princeton Girlchoir also sang for the President of the Czech Republic at the Ambassador’s residence in Prague.

Tammy was a recipient of the 2007 Pingry School Photo Exhibition Judge’s Award for her work in film and digital photography. She was also a National Merit Commended Scholar, a College Board National AP Scholar, and was nominated to be a Presidential Scholars candidate by the U.S. Department of Education. She also received a perfect composite score of 36 on the October 2007 American College Test (ACT).

Tammy graduated in May 2012 with honors from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, with a concentration in Globalization & Social Justice. She is currently a juris doctor (J.D.) candidate at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, from which she will graduate in June of 2015.

Shannon was a 3 time winner of the  Westminster Conservatory Scholarship competition in 2008, 2006, 2004, Honorable Mention recipient in 2000 and 2002. She was also the piano representative for Hunterdon County schools at the state level Teen Arts program at The College of New Jersey in 2004 and 2005.

Outside of music, Shannon has many other interests. She has a great love for horses, photography, dance, and shopping! Spending time with her friends is an important part of her life too.

As a result, she was one of four people from the state selected to perform for the advanced master class at the New Jersey Music Teachers Association annual convention on November 15th, 2016. The same year, Leda received an honorable mention award in the NJMTA Young Musicians Competition. She was a winner of the top High Honors award at the NJMTA Spring recital auditions in 2016. In 2017, Leda was selected as a soloist with the Princeton High School Orchestra. She performed Saint-Sans piano concerto No.5 with the orchestra in the United States and later during their European tour in major concert halls in London, Paris and Brussels. Their winter performance at the Princeton University Chapel was translated on the classical radio station WWFM. Leda received a standing ovation for that performance.

Composition is another interest of Christina’s. She is a two-time first place winner of the Delaware Valley Philharmonic Orchestra Young Composers’ Competition, and her works have been premiered by the orchestra, and at Westminster Choir College, Princeton Theological Seminary, and The College of New Jersey.

After receiving a Bachelors of Music in Piano Performance at The College of New Jersey, Christina went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. She is currently a registered nurse in the Surgical-Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Jefferson University Hospital and is studying to be an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.

Christina still finds ample time to be an active musician. She is the pianist/organist at The Church of St. Andrew in Newtown, PA and Titusville United Methodist Church in NJ. She continues to teach private piano lessons at Encorp Theater School in Ewing, NJ and accompanies various soloists for performances at The College of New Jersey. On her spare time, Christina composes chamber music and practices the cello.