Academy 2015: Ellen Maloney, Kaz Akamatsu, Kaylin Liu, Leslie Schmult, Justin Pham; Madeline Abel, Hannah Appleyard, Brandon Lach, Elin Liu, Drostan Hall; Hannah Novak (Bass), Kendra Standish, Amanda Lozano, Alison Chang, Max Lowery.
Joshua Leak, Principal Cello
Josh Leak is a 17 year-old junior at Lyons Township High School, who has loved music his entire life. He began playing the cello at three and the drums at five. Josh was an All-District ILMEA participant in 2015, and was selected to the All-State ILMEA Orchestra in 2016. He is currently principal cellist in Sinfonietta at Lyons Township where he earned second place in the Lyons Township Concerto Competition in 2016. Josh is also principal cellist of the DuPage Youth Symphony Orchestra, where he earned first place in its Concerto Competition in 2016. Josh has attended numerous summer string camps including the Sphinx Performance Academy, for the last five years, and he plans to attend Berklee College of Music’s five-week pre-collegiate summer program this July. He has also taken cello lessons with faculty members at the University of Illinois and the University of Michigan.
In his free time, Josh enjoys giving cellos lessons, playing in a drum line, composing music and playing his cello, the drums and singing at his church. Josh is thrilled to be serving as principal cellist of Camerata Academy. Josh’s cello instructor is Dr. Tanya Carey.
Kaylin Liu, an eighth grader, has been studying violin for 7 1/2 years. Kaylin’s teachers have included Thomas Wermuth with whom she studied for two years and Drostan Hall her current teacher. She has been prize winner of Chinese Confucius Competition, Glen Ellyn – Wheaton Music Scholarship Contest, as well as winner of 2014 Society of American Musicians Competition. She was featured in a duet solo in Allegro, a violin ensemble group from Western Springs Suzuki School which toured China in 2013. Aside from violin, Kaylin enjoys traveling, running and reading.
Justin Pham, Violin
Justin Pham has been playing the violin under the tutelage of Steven Sjobring for eight years and Drostan Hall for a year. Since 4th grade, he participated in many music festivals and camps including ILMEA Junior and Senior Festivals, Credo at Oberlin Music Conservatory. He won 1st place in the 2014-2015 Wheaton-Warrenville South Concerto Competition, and is currently the concert master of the WWHS Sinfonia orchestra. Justin will participate in the 2016 All State festival. He hopes to continue playing the violin in college.
Ellin Liu, Harpsichord, Conductor
Introducing the Camerata Chicago Academy Orchestra’s youngest member Ellin Liu, who is our excellent ten year old harpsichord player. She has played continuo for the Bach A Minor Violin Concerto on a beautiful harpsichord hand painted by the late Marge Gieser. 
Max Lowery, Principal Viola and Composer
As well as being a composer, Max Lowery is our excellent Principal Viola of the Academy Orchestra. Max performed the Telemann Viola Concerto with the Academy Orchestra on May 9, 2015.
Sophia Radovic, Second Violin
Camerata Chicago Academy Orchestra Photos
Violas – Alison Chang, Kaz Akamatsu, Max Lowery
Camerata Chicago Academy Orchestra