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Emily Chen

Emily Chen

Viola and Piano

Emily Chen, an eighteen-year-old, is currently a senior at Stockdale High School. Inspired by her two older sisters, she began playing the piano at age five, making this her thirteenth year. Currently studying under Dr. Soo-Yeon Park, Emily has completed all ten levels of Certificate of Merit, was a regional winner of the Southern California Junior Bach Festival, and performed a piano concerto with the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra. Alongside piano, she has been playing the viola since fifth grade. Under Rebecca Brooks’s guidance, Emily was the principal violist of the Bakersfield Youth Symphony Orchestra, Kern County Honor Orchestra, and the Stockdale Symphony Orchestra. While she wants to continue playing music in the future, she plans on exploring other interests, such as medicine, at Brown University. Outside of music, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones, traveling, and journaling.

Earvin Manongdo

Piano

Earvin Manongdo is a talented pianist who earned his associate’s degree from Bakersfield College, where he was honored with the Department Award for Performing Arts. Currently a senior at California State University, Bakersfield, he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in music, studying piano under the guidance of Dr. Soo-Yeon Park. As a recipient of the Bakersfield Music Scholarship at CSUB, Earvin has engaged in many musical opportunities, including CSUB piano studio recitals, new music concerts, opera performances, concert band performances, and chamber music concerts. He was also selected multiple times to play in master classes with guest artists, including soloists from the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra. During the summer, he participated in the Bakersfield International Music Festival and was invited to the Montecito International Music Festival as a recipient of a fellowship scholarship. As a sought-after collaborative pianist, Earvin has performed in the California Music Educators Association Solo & Ensemble Festivals and the Command Performance Recital. As he graduates with the Arts & Humanities Outstanding Project in Performing Arts award, Earvin plans to pursue a master’s degree in Piano Performance at CSU, Long Beach, where he has been offered a prestigious scholarship and a Teaching Associate position in piano class. Earvin’s upcoming engagements include a piano concerto performance with the CSUB Orchestra as a soloist in May 2025.

Earvin Manongdo
Benjamin Roh

Benjamin Roh

Violin

Benjamin Roh is a senior at Stockdale High School. He began violin and piano at the age of 7, but decided to focus on his violin career in high school. Throughout high school, Benjamin has been an active member of the Kern County Honor Orchestra, BYSO, the BYSO Quartet, and the Stockdale Symphony Orchestra, where he has served as assistant concertmaster for most of his career and now concertmaster. He has also been invited to perform at prestigious events such as the Bob Cole Honor Festival at California State University, Long Beach, where he participated in a masterclass with the renowned Yue Qian, as well as a masterclass with Young Artist of the Year, Stella Chen through the Bakersfield Symphony. Other notable engagements include the CODA December Honor Orchestra, the LA Youth Philharmonic Orchestra’s summer program, the Bakersfield International Music Festival at CSUB, and three Command Performance recitals for KCMEA. In May 2024 , he made his debut with the Tehachapi Symphony, performing the Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26 at the Young Artist Concert and with the Bakersfield Youth Symphony Orchestra in November 2024 as well. He plans to pursue medicine at Pomona College and also to continue his musical studies as a non-major there.

Sara Kiani

Piano

Sara, 18, is a senior at Stockdale High School and has studied piano since age 7, currently under Dr. Soo-Yeon Park. Over the past four years, she has competed in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival, earning a silver medal in the Complete Works category this year. She has also received Command Performance at both the Southern California and Kern branch Solo and Ensemble festivals since her freshman year. Sara has participated in the Montecito and Bakersfield International Music Festivals and has received masterclasses from renowned artists like Fabio Bidini. She recently performed as a soloist with the BSO and the BYSO. Starting next Fall, Sara plans to pursue a degree in piano performance at the University of Southern California. Outside of music, she enjoys ceramics, reading, and spending time with family and friends..

Sara Kiani