What’s Happening at Saint Andrew’s

Student Spotlight: Issana Yaguda

Issana Yaguda, an 11th grader at Seminole High School, is currently studying violin with Ms. Olga Kolpakova at Saint Andrew’s Conservatory of Music. She has had the privilege of studying with Ms. Kolpakova for the past 9 years. This summer, Issana toured China with the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Hanrich Claassen. They performed in Beijing, Xi’an, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. Particularly exciting for the youth orchestra was performing the newly commissioned piece entitled “Building Of A City” by ASCAP’s 2019 Young Composer Award recipient, Sam Wu. Additional pieces performed were by Balakirev, Copland, Chabrier, Mendelssohn, Dvorak, and Yuankai.

As of last spring, Issana has also been studying voice with Mrs. Laura Yount at the Conservatory. She is very excited about her lessons and says they are the highlight of her week.

Student Spotlight: Regine and Rianne Lee

Conservatory students Regine and Rianne Lee recently competed in the Florida Federation of Music Clubs state competition, where both received 1st place in their divisions of violin and cello, respectively. Both Regine and Rianne were also nominated for the Irene Muir scholarship. Regine is a violin student of Olga Kolpakova, and Rianne is a cello student of Elise Jimenez.

Student Spotlight: Cecily DeMarco

Congratulations to Conservatory student Cecily DeMarco, who has been accepted to the Julliard School and will begin her studies there in organ performance this month. Cecily is a student of Dr. Terry Yount and recently completed her 4th year as organist at The Chapel at Edgewater Pointe Estates in Boca Raton. She has also played several concerts at the Pink Church in Pompano Beach and church services at New Presbyterian Church and Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale. Cecily is thankful for the opportunity to use the gifts and talents that the Lord has given her for His Kingdom and His Glory!

Student Spotlight: Nathan Petersen

Former Conservatory student Nathan Petersen has spent his summer rehearsing, performing, and touring as the bass trombonist for the prestigious National Youth Orchestra of the United States (NYO-USA).

Following a comprehensive audition process and a three-week training residency with leading professional orchestral musicians, Nathan and other high school students embarked on a tour to some of the great music capitals of the world.

Led by conductor Sir Antonio Pappano, the NYO-USA has performed works by Strauss, Prokofiev, and Berlioz this summer. Their tour kicked off with concerts at Tanglewood and Carnegie Hall featuring Isabel Leonard, followed by performances in Berlin with Magdalena Kožená, and continuing with concerts in Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Germany alongside Joyce DiDonato.