Meet the Young Artists

Angel is a junior at Wilson High School, and serves as concertmaster of the chamber orchestra. Angel's violin studies started in 6th grade, in the beginning orchestra at Rogers Middle School. At the end of that school year he joined SoCal String Studio, performing in his first recital - Musette, from Suzuki Book 2 - in the fall of 7th grade. Since then, Angel has performed in the first violins of the All District Honors Orchestras every year. He served as concertmaster of Roger's Middle School's advanced orchestra in 8th grade, and auditioned into Wilson High School's chamber orchestra as an incoming freshman. Angel has performed as a soloist with the Bob Cole Chamber Choir at their Winterfest concert. This summer, Angel attended the Zephyr Chamber Music Camp in Lake Tahoe. This fall, he will be performing the concertmaster solos in Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol with the Wilson High School Symphony Orchestra. Angel is currently preparing Saint-Saëns' Violin Concerto No. 3, for his senior solo next year, as well as college auditions. Angel was a founding member of the Young Artists Division in the fall of 2024. 

Anza is in 9th grade at Wilson High School, where she was placed 3rd chair first violin in the chamber orchestra, a remarkable feat for a freshman. Anza joined SoCal String Studio in the summer between 6th and 7th grade, and climbed the ranks of the advanced orchestra at Rogers Middle School, serving as assistant concertmaster in 7th grade, and concertmaster in 8th grade. She was promoted to the Young Artists Division the summer before 8th grade, after one year of lessons. Anza had a busy 8th grade year, serving as concertmaster of the Middle School All-District orchestra, winning the Fred Ohlendorf Scholarship Award (a distinction given to just one middle school and one high school musician from the district each year). Anza also won an audition for the Middle School All-Southern Honors Orchestra, placing in the first violin section of the string orchestra. Later that spring, she was selected to perform the national anthem on violin at her 8th grade graduation. This summer, she rounded out her studies at the New England Conservatory Summer Orchestra Institute in Boston, MA. Anza also plays on Wilson High School's junior varsity volleyball team. 

Claire is a sophomore at Garden Grove High School, where she has served as concertmaster of the advanced orchestra since her freshman year, and principal 2nd in last year's All-District Honor Orchestra. In middle school, Claire built an impressive track record as concertmaster of Marshall Middle School's advanced orchestra in both 7th and 8th grade, and concertmaster of the Middle School All-District orchestra both years as well. Claire has been a featured soloist on several occasions with choirs at Garden Grove high school and the Bob Cole Conservatory at CSULB, as well as church and many other community performances. Claire is also a talented singer and dancer, and has performed in a variety of choral and musical performances, most recently as Mayzie in Seussical Jr, and Donna in Mamma Mia at Garden Grove High School. Claire has been a student of SoCal String Studio since the summer of 2022, and was a founding member of the Young Artists Division in the fall of 2024. 

Elliot is a senior at Poly High School where he currently serves as principal 2nd violin in the chamber orchestra, and will be rotating as concertmaster throughout this year. Elliot has been a member of the Southern California Philharmonic for the last 2 years, and attended Arrowbear Music Camp for the last 5 years. Elliot is particularly passionate about music theory, music education, composition and arranging, and is currently working toward auditioning for a variety of college music programs in order to forge a career path in line with his many interests and talents. Elliot recently wrote an arrangement of Mendelssohn's String Symphony No. 10 for a larger string ensemble, which will be performed at Poly High School at their winter concert this December. 

Elly is a junior at Millikan High School, where she has served as concertmaster. She has been playing violin since 3rd grade, and joined SoCal String Studio in 6th grade, and was promoted to the Young Artists Division in the spring of 2025. Elly was selected for the All-District Honors Orchestras every year since 6th grade. She has spent the last two summers at the Zephyr Chamber Music Camp in Lake Tahoe. Elly was a club soccer player for many years, and is now a competitive badminton player. In addition to her many musical and athletic endeavors, Elly has also earned her Eagle Scout. 

Gwyn is our newest and youngest Young Artist. She is in 8th grade at Hughes Middle School where she serves as concertmaster of their advanced orchestra. Gwyn was a featured soloist this past spring, in the joint Hughes and Poly concert, and placed 5th chair in the first violins of the Middle School All-District orchestra after just one month of violin lessons. Gwyn joined SoCal String Studio exactly one year ago, and was promoted to the Young Artists Division this past spring. In addition to violin, she plays baritone saxophone with her school’s jazz band, and recently performed a violin solo at her sister’s wedding. Gwyn aspires to pursue a degree in violin performance and then apply to medical school.

Jonathan is a sophomore at Wilson High School, where he serves as assistant concertmaster of the chamber orchestra. Jonathan joined SoCal String Studio in June of 2024, and was promoted to the Young Artists Division at our fall recital in 2025. Jonathan has been extremely active in the local music community for many years. He has been in the 1st violins of the All-District honors orchestras every year since 6th grade. He was assistant concertmaster at Marshall Middle School, and has also performed with the Long Beach Summer Music Academy, Musique Sur la Mer, the Long Beach Summer Orchestra at Bob Cole Conservatory, and Long Beach Youth Orchestra where he served as concertmaster of the advanced orchestra. Jonathan also performs on alto saxophone with the Wilson High School marching band.

Marquiel is a senior at Poly High School. She has been playing violin in school for many years, and began private lessons for the first time when she joined SoCal String Studio just one year ago. She made her debut solo performance of the Accolay Concerto at our spring recital in March of 2026. Since then, Marquiel has joined the Young Artists Division, and has been chosen to lead the chamber orchestra at Poly High School as concertmaster. She will be performing the concertmaster solos in Holst's St. Paul's Suite in their upcoming concert. 

Mia is a freshman at Millikan High School. She has been in violin lessons for one year, and was promoted to the Young Artists Division this past spring. In 8th grade, Mia joined SoCal String Studio, performed with the Long Beach Youth Orchestra, and was in the concertmaster rotation of the advanced orchestra at Marshall Middle School. In the past year, Mia has developed a deep passion for music and is working toward pursuing a career in music education. Mia is looking forward to her upcoming Quinceañera celebration.