2025 WYSO Concerto Competition Winners & Honorable Mentions
The WYSO Concerto Competitions for Youth and Philharmonia Orchestras are an annual spring tradition. This year, 40 hard-working and talented WYSO musicians in the Youth and Philharmonia orchestras competed in January, and the competition results are in!
Students that participated meticulously prepared approved concertos and performed before judges. Out of the pool of competitors, the judges announced a Winner and three Honorable Mentions for each orchestra competition.
The three Concerto Competition Winners, Ava Flores and Asha Sundaram (Youth Orchestra Competition) & Rebecca Zhang (Philharmonia Orchestra Competition), will perform (respectively) as soloists with the Youth and Philharmonia Orchestras in the Spring Concerts at the Hamel Music Center on May 17 and 18.
Meet the Competition Winners and the Honorable Mentions below, and mark the recital and concert dates on your calendars. You will not want to miss these spectacular upcoming events and the chance to support these special WYSO musicians!
Youth Orchestra Competition Winners
AVA FLORES, OBOE
Ava Flores is a sophomore at Sun Prairie East High School, and has been playing oboe for three years. She is currently studying with the principal oboist of the Madison Symphony Orchestra, Izumi Amemiya. Ava has been in WYSO for almost two years, and this is her first season in Youth Orchestra. She is also a member of the Lalita Quintet, coached by professor Mark Fink. During school hours, she plays in her high school’s audition band, and guitar in her school’s jazz band. Additionally, Ava has been recognized by many organizations for her exceptional musicianship, such as a merit-based oboe scholarship at the UW Whitewater band camp in 2022 and state solo and ensemble in 2023. She has also played oboe and english horn in the pit orchestra of her high school’s 2023-2024 musical. Ava is grateful for the opportunity to perform alongside the WYSO Youth Orchestra.
ASHA SUNDARAM, FLUTE
Asha Sundaram is a senior at Sun Prairie West High School. She extends her deepest gratitude to WYSO, Mr. Knox and Dr. Fink for the past 4 years playing in Youth Orchestra and the Lalita Woodwind Quintet. In July 2024, she made her concerto debut at Birch Creek Music Performance Center as the Clampitt Concerto Competition winner. In January 2025, Asha placed as a semifinalist in the Bolz Young Artist Competition. Heading into college, Asha is a UW Tuition Waiver Scholarship recipient. Asha thanks her accompanist Amy Hartsough and her flute teacher Victoria Rockman for their support and guidance.
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA COMPETITION WINNER
REBECCA ZHANG, PIANO
Rebecca Zhang is a 8th grader at Kromrey Middle School. She has been studying piano and violin since she was seven years old. Her piano teacher is Lana Robotewskyj and her violin teacher is Liz Norton.
Rebecca was recently named the first-prize winner of the Walter A. and Dorothy J. Oestreich Concerto Competition and will be performing with the Concord Chamber Orchestra in March 2025. Her awards also include an honorable mention in the 2024 Madison Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition and an honorable mention in the 2024 WYSO Philharmonia Concerto Competition. She won her age group at the Sonatina Festival in 2021, 2022, and 2024, and she was the winner of the Madison Area Music Educators (MAME) Honors Recital in 2022, 2023, and 2024. She was also selected to perform in masterclasses with Dr. Diana Shapiro, Janice Carissa, and Dr. Kaju Lee.
In addition to her musical pursuits, Rebecca loves to play tennis and enjoys crafting, fishing, and baking.
YOUTH ORCHESTRA HONORABLE MENTION
INDRE RAGHAVAN, VIOLIN
Indre began her violin studies at age seven with Janse Vincent, and currently studies with Prof. Eugene Purdue. Indre has been a member of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras (WYSO) for eight years, where she has held concertmaster and principal roles. Indre is a finalist of the 2025 Bolz Young Artist Concerto Competition, and will solo with Madison Symphony Orchestra in the final round, “The Final Forte.” She is also the winner of the 2025 Middleton Community Orchestra’s concerto competition. She was a semifinalist of the 2024 Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Stars of Tomorrow Competition, and performed as concertmaster at MSO Stars of Tomorrow Side by Side concert. Indre also was a semifinalist in the 2023 Bolz Young Artist Competition and received honorable mentions in the 2024 Bolz Young Artist Competition, 2024 Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition, 2023 and 2024 Middleton Community Orchestra Concerto Competitions, and was the winner of 2024 Middleton High School Concerto and Aria Competition. She spent the summers of 2023 and 2024 at the Meadowmount School of Music studying with Prof. Gerardo Ribeiro and Prof. I-Hao Lee. Additionally, in 2024, she attended Sounding Point Academy at The Colburn School. Indre has played in masterclasses for James Ehnes, Paul Kantor, David Halen, Danielle Belen, I-Hao Lee, Blair Milton, Dawn Dongeun Wohn, Julian Rhee, Aizuri quartet, and others. Outside of music, Indre is a member of the National Honor Society and serves as class representative in Middleton High School (MHS) Student Senate. Additionally, she is a teen teacher of WYSO Music Makers program, serves as treasurer of MHS Letters of Love chapter (which provides emotional support for patients in Children’s Hospitals across the world,) communications leader of MHS Girl Up (a women’s empowerment club,) and president-elect of MHS Unicef chapter. She also loves to train at CrossFit Madtown.
YOUTH ORCHESTRA
HONORABLE MENTION
MIA BURCHETTE, BASSOON
Mia Burchette is currently a junior at McFarland High School and has been playing the bassoon for over five years. She has played in WYSO for the last three seasons. She also plays in the WYSO Lalita Woodwind Quintet and McFarland Community Band. Mia participates in her school’s jazz band, playing auxiliary percussion, and is a drum major in marching band. She has participated in the WSMA Honors Project for the last five years and earned a WSMA Solo and Ensemble Exemplary Performance Award.
Mia would like to thank her bassoon teacher, Carol Rosing, for her guidance in her studies for the last five years. She would also like to thank her band teacher, Benjamin Petersen, for his support and for being a great accompanist.
Youth Orchestra HONORABLE MENTION
KYLE MCINTOSH, CELLO
Kyle McIntosh, a Junior at Middleton High School, is a cellist and pianist. He has been in Youth Orchestra for 4 years and in the Pondrom Honors Piano Quartet for 2 years. In 2025, he received Honorable Mention at both the Middleton Community Orchestra Young Artists Competition and the Middleton High School Concerto Competition. Additionally, he was previously designated a WSMA Exemplary Performer and performed a cello solo at the Exemplary Performance Recital during the Wisconsin State Music Conference. He currently studies cello with Alex Chambers-Ozasky.
Youth Orchestra HONORABLE MENTION
VIVIAN FENG, PIANO
Vivian Feng is a sophomore at Middleton High School (MHS). She has been playing the piano since age 4 and currently studies with Shu-Ching Chuang. Vivian received Honorable Mention at the 2025 Middleton Community Orchestra Young Artist Competition and at the MHS Concerto-Aria Competition in 2024. From 2017 to 2024, she has been a winner, runner-up, or trophy recipient of the Sonatina Festival. Vivian was the WMTA Badger Winner in 2021 and 2022, and the winner for both the WMTA Badger Regional Competition and the WMTA True State Piano Competition in 2023 and 2024.
Vivian picked up the violin the same time she started piano, and currently studies with Cynthia Bittar. She has been a member of the WYSO since she was 8 years old. Vivian was also awarded the Solo and Ensemble 2024 Exemplary Performance Recognition for both her piano and violin solos.
Vivian enjoys participating in FBLA and Science Olympiad at MHS. She also likes folding origami, watching C-dramas, volunteering, and giving back to her community.
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA HONORABLE MENTION
RIVER YOUNG, VIOLIN
River Young is 14 years old and has been playing violin, under the instruction of Shannon Farley, since she was four. She is homeschooled and lives in Lone Rock, WI.
She has been a member of Opus One, Concert and Philharmonia Orchestras, as well as a member of the Suzuki Strings of Madison Sonora program, which recently toured San Diego. She is also a teacher in the WYSO Music Makers Program. She enjoys working with the children’s ministry at her church and attending youth group. In the future, she would like to work with kids in the foster care system, specifically those who have been impacted by trauma, and incorporate music into their emotional well-being and healing journey.
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA HONORABLE MENTION
SAGE RINEHART, VIOLIN
Sage Rinehart (13) started playing the violin at age 4 in Zürich, Switzerland before moving to Madison, where she joined Suzuki Strings of Madison, studying with Diana Popowycz.
Sage is part of Sonora Strings, the advanced touring group of Suzuki Strings, performing at events such as Governor Evers’ Kids Inauguration Gala, and touring Door County and San Diego, CA. In 2024, she joined the WYSO Philharmonia orchestra.
At age 6, Sage won 3rd place at the Wisconsin State Fair Fiddle Competition 14 and under Division. Since then, she has been selected to perform the Bach Double with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (2022), won the Intermediate Strings division (2023) for the Nie Young Artist Competition in Beloit, and the Advanced Strings division for the same competition in 2024.
Sage plays for her Middleton Fastpitch competitive softball team. She enjoys crocheting, musicals, pottery, animals, and spending time with her family and friends.
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA HONORABLE MENTION
TIANA LEE, VIOLIN
Tiana Lee (KK), a 14-year-old freshman at Madison Country Day School, started playing the violin at age 7 in third grade at EAGLE School. A violinist with the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Philharmonia and an oboist in the Madison Country Day School band, KK has a growing appreciation for music.
Beyond music, KK enjoys exploring science and languages, studying Spanish and French with teachers and self-taught Japanese. KK’s free time is spent reading, writing, drawing, playing Pokémon games, watching anime, and staying connected with friends. KK’s favorite activities also include traveling with family and spending time with two goldendoodles, Minnie and Bruce.
Grateful for the support of past and present teachers, KK looks forward to continuing developing new skills and exploring new opportunities.
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA HONORABLE MENTION
KAI D’AMBROSIA, TUBA
Kai D’Ambrosio is from Reedsburg, Wisconsin, and is currently a sophomore at Reedsburg Area High School. Where he performs in the school’s Concert, Symphonic, and Jazz Bands. Kai has also performed in the WSMA Middle-Level Honors Band, Badger Conference Honors Band and has attended Interlochen summer camp. Kai has been playing a variety of brass instruments for 5 years, but he considers tuba to be his primary instrument. Kai also enjoys playing the bass, tenor trombone, and euphonium. Outside of music, Kai enjoys building and painting model airplanes. In the future, Kai plans to attend the University of Wisconsin – Madison to study Tuba Performance. He also plans to perform in symphonies and teach private tuba lessons.