Byron Hester Competition
April 24, 2021
HFC Virtual Flute Fest

2021 Finalists

Emily DeNucci, flute

Gaylien Chun, piano

Theobald Boehm (1794-1881): Grand Polonaise in D Major, Op. 16

Emily DeNucci, age 14, has studied flute with Greig Shearer at the Hartt School Community Division (HCD) for 6 1/2 years. Through HCD, she also takes piano lessons, plays in a flute/classical guitar duo, and studies composition and music theory with Dr. Jessica Rudman. This is her second year playing in the top orchestra of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO). Emily’s recent achievements include first place in the 2020 NJ Flute Society High School Competition as well as the 2020 Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia Junior Youth Artist Competition, runner up in the 2020 BYSO Concerto Competition, and first prize in the NY Flute Club Young Musicians Contest for her age group in both 2017 and 2019.

Gaylien Chun is a staff pianist and coordinator of accompanying at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School. She has also been affiliated with the Connecticut Opera, the Manchester Chorale, the University of Connecticut in Storrs and the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. As a collaborative pianist, Ms. Chun has performed in numerous recitals and competitions with singers and instrumentalists. She has appeared as a soloist with the Hartt Symphony, the Connecticut String Orchestra, and the Connecticut Valley Chamber Orchestra.

Indigo Fischer, flute

Yu-Hsin Teng, piano

Valerie Coleman (b. 1970): Fanmi Imen

Flutist Indigo Fischer (www.indigofischer.com) is a dynamic soloist, sensitive chamber musician, and personalized teacher. She currently is in her second year of her Master’s degree at The University of Texas at Austin, where she is the flute studio teaching assistant for Marianne Gedigian. Indigo is also the flutist and co-founder of Quintessence, an Austin-based woodwind quintet. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado - Boulder where she studied with Christin Jennings and graduated from high school at Interlochen Arts Academy as a student of Nancy Stagnitta. An award-winning flutist, Indigo has taught private students of all ages and levels. Additionally, she has a passion for the inner workings of arts organizations, having previously worked at the National Repertory Orchestra as their Artist Liaison.

A native of Taiwan, collaborative pianist Yu-Hsin Teng is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Collaborative Piano at the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music at The University of Texas at Austin as a student of Colette Valentine. She was awarded the Butler Excellence Scholarship and Teaching Assistant at the University of Texas at Austin, and received her Master degree in Collaborative Piano at Boston University. Yu-Hsin had opportunities to perform as a collaborative pianist with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, playing with young musicians. She won second prize in the Asia Music Competition in Seoul. In the summer of 2019, she received a scholarship at Songfest in California studying under Graham Johnson, Alan Louis Smith, Margo Garrett, Liza Stepanova, John Musto, Mark Trawka and Kevin Murphy. Her teachers include Patti Wolf, Miguel Campinho, Rick Rowley, Javier Arrebola, Roberto Plano, Victor Cayres and Chun-Shu Liu, and additional studies on harpsichord and organ with Peter Sykes.

Dominique Kim, flute

Valerie Kim, piano

Henri Dutilleux (1916-2013): Sonatine

California native and 2019 James Pappoutsakis Flute Competition winner, California native and 2019 James Pappoutsakis Flute Competition winner, Dominique Kim has performed flute and piano concerti with various orchestras across the U.S., including the San Diego Symphony. She has also performed solo concerts at the La Jolla Music Society’s Summerfest, Ventura Music Festival, and Kaufman Music Center, and chamber ensemble at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, and Washington's Kennedy Center. An active substitute with Houston Symphony and Hartford Symphony, Dominique has also worked with esteemed conductors Gustavo Dudamel, Stéphane Denève, and Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Dominique holds a Bachelor's Degree in History of Art & Architecture with a secondary in Germanic Languages & Literature from Harvard and a Masters in Music from New England Conservatory. has performed flute and piano concerti with various orchestras across the U.S., including the San Diego Symphony. She has also performed solo concerts at the La Jolla Music Society’s Summerfest, Ventura Music Festival, and Kaufman Music Center, and chamber ensemble at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, and Washington's Kennedy Center. An active substitute with Houston Symphony and Hartford Symphony, Dominique has also worked with esteemed conductors Gustavo Dudamel, Stéphane Denève, and Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Dominique holds a Bachelor's Degree in History of Art & Architecture with a secondary in Germanic Languages & Literature from Harvard and a Masters in Music from New England Conservatory.

Violinist-pianist, Valerie Kim, has recently performed at the BBC Proms, across Lincoln Center, the Perlman Music Program, and on WQXR. She is pursuing her Master’s degree at The Juilliard School under the tutelage of Li Lin and Itzhak Perlman as a proud recipient of a Kovner Fellowship.

Tyler Martin, flute

Kyung-A Yoo, piano

Valerie Coleman (b. 1970): Fanmi Imen

TYLER MARTIN, enjoys a versatile career as a soloist, orchestral musician, and teacher. He has appeared in numerous concert halls throughout the United States, including performances in Chicago’s Symphony Hall, The Kauffman Center, and Jordan Hall. Tyler has found success in performances and auditions, including appointments in the 2020 Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra, Brevard Music Center Orchestras, and Texas Music Festival Orchestra. Other notable accomplishments include solo performances at the 2020 National Flute Association Convention, Honorable Mention in the 2019 Boston Woodwind Society: Doriot Anthony Dwyer Flute Competition and an appointment with the Houston Symphony Orchestra as substitute flute. As a freelance artist, Tyler has performed in countries across the globe including; Spain, France, Italy, Brussels, Switzerland, and the Dominican Republic. Tyler received his baccalaureate degree from DePaul University, where he studied with Mark Sparks. He obtained a Master of Music degree at New England Conservatory Paula Robison. Tyler is now under the tutelage of Leone Buyse at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.

Hailed for “her expressive and sensitive sound,” pianist Kyung-A Yoo currently serves as an artist collaborator at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. Working closely with such renowned musicians and pedagogues as Leone Buyse, Paul Kantor, Richie Hawley, Ms. Yoo plays for numerous master classes and recitals every year. She has collaborated with distinguished artists such as Paul Kantor, Benjamin Kamins, Leon Buyse, Michael Webster, Jean Ferrandis, Sergio Pallottelli, Barbara Butler, and Richie Hawley. Ms. Yoo was featured on The Front Row, hosted by KUHF Houston Public Radio, performing with Leone Buyse, Jean Ferrandis, and Sergio Pallottelli.

Dariya Nikolenko, flute

Hui-Chuan Chen, piano

Andre Jolivet (1905-1974): Chant de linos

A native of Russia, Dariya Nikolenko began her musical studies at age seven and made her first concerto appearance at nine performing the C.P.E Bach Concerto in D minor. Dariya has won First prize at the Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition in 2020, First prize and the Grand prize in USA International Music Competition in Boston in 2010, the first prize in Baltimore Music Club Winds and Brass Competition in 2008 and 2010, and the 'New Names' International Competition in Moscow. Ms. Nikolenko graduated with honors from the Moscow Academic College of the Moscow Conservatory, where she studied with Uriy N. Dolzhikov, from Peabody Conservatory with Bachelor of Music Degree where she studied with Marina Piccinini and Yale School of Music with Master of Music Degree where she studied with Ransom Wilson. She also holds a Professional Studies Certificate Program in Orchestral Flute from Manhattan School of Music where she studied with Robert Langevin.

Pianist Hui-Chuan Chen leads a diverse career across three continents as a performer and educator. She has won awards from the Wonderlic piano competition in Baltimore, The International Music festival in Siena, Italy, Kaohsiung City Competition, Taiwan, National Taiwan Normal University Piano Competition, and Kawai Piano competition, Taiwan. Hui-Chuan has performed widely throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, and has appeared in major performance venues such as, Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall), the Kennedy Center, Supreme Court of the United States of America. She has also featured in festivals, including the Aspen Music Festival, the National Gallery of Art, and Phillips Collection in Washington DC, Barge Music festival, NYC, Chigiana International Festival and Summer Academy, Siena Italy, and Heifetz International Music Festival.

2019 Winner’s Recital - Allison Asthana

Allison Asthana is an emerging flute performer and educator based out of Central Texas. She spent three seasons as second flutist and piccoloist with the Waco Symphony from 2013-2016, and has performed in many capacities at venues across the country, including Boston’s Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall, Harvard Sanders Theatre, and Schermerhorn Symphony Hall. Allison is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Texas at Austin and serves as the graduate teaching assistant of the flute studio, studying with Marianne Gedigian. She also holds degrees from Boston University and Baylor University, studying with Linda Toote and Dr. Francesca Arnone respectively. She currently performs as a freelancer in the Austin and San Antonio areas, as well as with the University of Texas Symphony, Wind Ensemble, New Music Ensemble, and Butler Opera Center.