Young Artists Concert

2018 Young Artist Competition Winners

Jeremy Ahn 

My experience as a musician began with the piano at a fairly early age, and studies in the cello followed soon after. While I do not remember much from those early days, I do know that today, God has blessed me with a passion for music that has persisted through the years and long hours of practicing up until this day. After taking private lessons from multiple teachers, after playing in concert bands, jazz bands, orchestras, and ensembles, after performing for festivals, talent shows, church special music, and studio concerts, I have finally arrived to this day where I am currently studying Piano as a major in Andrews University while simultaneously playing cello in the University orchestra. Through all the summer camps and workshops and masterclasses, I have come to a point where music is an integral part of my life, so much so that I cannot help but want to share it with everyone around me.  

Donn Latour

Donn LaTour began violin lessons at the age of 3. He studied for seven years with Mr. Jim Butler in Battle Creek, and then for seven years with Ms. Patty Kates from the Grand Rapids Symphony. In March of 2009, he participated in the Kalamazoo alumni chapter of the “Spotlight on Youth” competition. In June of that year, he played in the Blue Lake Suzuki honors recital. He joined the Kalamazoo prep-string orchestra soon after and progressed to the symphonic orchestra, and after seventh grade, the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony, playing under Conductor Andrew Koehler for five years and serving as the orchestra’s concertmaster for two years. Donn played in both the Mein Speiler and Vitulare string quartets during this time and had the opportunity to perform for Midori with the Vitulare quartet. In 2014, he won the Bravo music competition in Kalamazoo. Donn was selected three times as a winner for the Stulberg Masterclass, playing for Rachel Barton Pine (2012), Soovin Kim of Stony Brook University and the Peabody Conservatory (2013), and Donald Weilerstein, founder of the Cleveland Quartet and faculty at Julliard (2014). Most recently, he performed for Kurt Sassmannshaus, of the Cincinnati Conservatory, during a student master class. Donn is a music major at Andrews University and a member of a string quartet as well as the University Symphony under Dr. Claudio Gonzales, where he served as concertmaster last year. He studies with Ms. Carla Trynchuk. Playing the first movement of the Brahms violin concerto with the Andrews University Symphony Orchestra this evening represents the capstone moment of his musical journey.    

Zachary Randolph 

Zachary Anil Randolph is a senior at Andrews University studying Biology as his major in addition to minors in both Music and Chemistry. Zach was born into a family of violinists and choral conductors who encouraged him to get involved with music early on in his life. However, it wasn’t until his senior year at Andrews Academy that he discovered his gift for classical singing as he prepared and performed the tenor solos in Théodore Dubois’ Oratorio Le Sept Paroles du Christ. Upon entering Andrews University, Zach declared a minor in music with the intention of learning vocal technique through both choral and solo performance. During his time of study in the studio of Charles Reid, Zach has given solo performances from W.A. Mozart’s Così Fan Tutte and Don Giovanni, Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story, Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah, G.F. Handel’s Jephtha, Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and La Fille du Régiment, Guiseppe Verdi’s La Traviata, and many others. Zach views his many on-stage performances as invaluable opportunities to understand and study the worldviews, dispositions, and personalities of various characters whom he may disagree with philosophically, but must embrace nonetheless. Zach will be attending medical school at Michigan State University this coming summer and hopes to employ what he has learned on stage into how he relates to and empathizes with his future patients as a physician. In addition to his talents in the arts and sciences, Zach is an avid outdoorsman, enjoys cooking, has a heart for service in his community, and is deeply in love with his beautiful fiancée, Smriti Dass.

Grant Steinweg

At the age of 3, Grant began piano lessons with Liz Trupp. Later, at the age of 9, he began cello lessons with Joshua Knopp, before transferring to the studio of Nancy Ives, principal of the Oregon Symphony. During his childhood, he played in the Portland Adventist String Orchestra, Oregon Pro Arte Youth Chamber Orchestra, and Pro Arte Conservatory Strings. Grant was also principal cellist of the Fountainview Academy Orchestra, where he was a student for 3 years. While at Fountainview Academy, he arranged several pieces for choir and orchestra, composed a piece for orchestra, and conducted the ensemble himself. During his time in high school, his love for music grew—to the point of wanting to take it here at Andrews University. Grant believes that he would not be where he is today if it weren’t for Jesus: “It is undeniable that God has guided me every step of the way. It was His providence that allowed me to take music lessons, and to have the opportunity to attend this university.”

Grant is currently working on his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with an emphasis in composition. After he graduates, he desires to start a music ministry consisting of a choir and orchestra with the primary focus of evangelism.

Taemin Yoon

Taemin Yoon was born in Seoul, South Korea and began formal piano lessons at the age of five with Jiae Yang. At age eight, she won first place at the Seoul Academy Piano Competition. She continued her education at Fountainview Academy in 2013 where she served as pianist for several ensembles over the course of three years and studied piano with Charlotte James. As an ensemble member, she toured with the Fountainview Academy Orchestra to the west coast of the United States, Hawaii, and Europe. In 2016, she performed with the Andrews University Symphony Orchestra as a winner of the Young Artist Competition. She has also participated in masterclasses with John Mortensen, Christopher O’Riley, and Victor Rosenbaum. Taemin Yoon is currently a senior at Andrews University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Music under the tutelage of Chi Yong Yun.