Aurora Quartet
The Aurora Piano Quartet members consisting of violinists/violists Sidney Lee and Elinor Detmer, cellist Amelia Zitoun, and pianist Colin Song, are all students and Scholarship Fellows in the pre-college Academy program for gifted young musicians at the Music Institute of Chicago (MIC). The group is coached by MIC faculty members Sang Mee Lee and Elaine Felder. The
word “Aurora,” of Latin origin, and derived from the Roman mythological Goddess of Dawn, suggests a tone of hopefulness, and it is the group’s wish to inspire audiences with their music.
In addition to being avid chamber musicians, each member of Aurora is an accomplished soloist. Sidney, a student of I-Hao Lee, was the 1st prize winner of the 6th Enkor International violin competition, and has won numerous awards from Lakeview Orchestra, DePaul, Sejong, AMI and SAM music competitions. She has also performed in the Chicago Cultural Center and Young Steinway Concert Series.
Elinor, who studies with Almita Vamos and Davis King, was a co-concertmaster of the Chicago Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, has performed in master classes with Brian Lewis, Simon Fischer, and Robin Scott, and was a quarterfinalist at the 2019 Fischoff National Chamber Competition.
Amelia, a student of Horacio Contreras, is the winner of the 2020 DePaul Concerto Competition, and has taken master classes with Mimi Zweig, Vladimir Perlin, and Tanya Carey. During the summer of 2019, Amelia attended the International Academy of Music in Nice, France, studying with Xavier Phillips and Jean-Marc Phillips.
Colin, a student of Ralph Neiweem, was a member of Duo Appassionato, where he won first prize in the 2017 Chicago National Youth Competition for Piano Duos. He has been featured on WFMT’s Introductions and NPR’s From the Top; he was a finalist in the MTNA Senior Piano Duet Competition held in Orlando, and was also invited to perform at the Smith Center in Las Vegas.
Trio Reine
Trio Reine is an intensive piano trio from Midwest Young Artists Conservatory, located in Highwood, Illinois. It consists of violinist Miriam Friedman, cellist Grace Mockus, and pianist Eva Sharman. All are part of the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, and are currently coached by Tatyana Stepanova.
Grace Mockus currently studies with Martin Nocedal, and is the principal cellist of the Lake Forest High School Symphony Orchestra. She was the Strings Division winner of the 2018 and 2019 Lake Forest High School Honors Competition, and was an honorable mention in the 2019 Walgreens National Concerto Competition. She has been a part of ILMEA’s District and State Orchestras as well. In her free time, Grace enjoys playing tennis, reading, and frequently re-watching Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Eva Sharman currently studies piano with Tatyana Stepanova. She has won awards in competitions such as the 2019 Lake Forest High School Honors Competition, 2019 NSMTA Sonata Festival, 2018 and 2019 Granquist Competitions, and 2017 Walgreens National Concerto Competition. In her free time, Eva enjoys drawing, spending time with her family and dogs, and playing violin.
Miriam Friedman currently studies with Sonia Hadar, a private teacher out of Lake Forest, Illinois. She has participated in competitions such as the Walgreens National Concerto Competition, the 2019 Highland Park High School Concerto Competition, and the 2017 DePaul Concerto Competition. Miriam is also a participant of ILMEA’s district and state orchestras. In her free time, Miriam enjoys calligraphy, watching Netflix excessively, and singing with her friends at Highland Park High School.