B i o g r a p h y
Competitions
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Music Teachers’ Association of California Young Artist Guild member Sophia Sun began her piano studies with Doris Lin at age six. She currently studies with Professor Genevieve Feiwen Lee and has studied with Nancy Daggett Jensen and Ming Tsu of California Institute of the Arts. Acceptance to YAG is one of the highest honors for Certificate of Merit students, and an accepted student is granted membership in the Guild for five years upon recommendation by a panel of evaluators. Additionally, Sophia has garnered numerous awards from MTAC Panel Honors, Chinese Music Teachers Association of Northern California’s International Competition, Kids Play the Darndest Things Competition, Shirmer’s Accompanist Award Competition, Burlingame Music Club Competition, Bay Area Music Association Competition, Sylvia Ghighleri Piano Competition, and US Open Music Competition both as a soloist and with her trio. Most recently, Sophia was named the recipient of the 2016 Rudolph Polk Memorial Award in Music. The Rudolph Polk Memorial Award in Music was established in 1958 by Rudolph Polk’s widow, Mrs. Pauline Polk (Claremont), Professor Kenneth Fiske (Pomona College), Dr. Robert Bernard (Claremont University Consortium), with gifts from Jascha Heifetz, Gregor Piatigorski, and the Los Angeles art dealer Dazell Hatfield. Mr. Polk, a noted violinist, was influential as a concert impresario and promoted the musical careers of a number of concert artists. The prestigious Polk Award is administered by Claremont University Consortium (CUC) and was presented by Alfred Cramer, Professor of Music, Pomona College.
Master Classes
Other notable honors include participating in master classes with Ruth Slenczynska, Greg Anderson & Elizabeth Joy Roe, Frederick Weldy, Dennis Lee & Chee Hung Toh, Ann Schein, Diane Walsh, William Wellborn, Thomas LaRatta, Spencer Myer, James Gardner, Thomas Hansen, and Randall Faber.
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As an Accompanist
Sophia had her first accompaniment gig at the age of 7 and has loved accompanying both the Crystal Children’s Choir Honor Choir and Stanford’s International Choral Workshop performances, as conducted by Dr. Gregory Wait of the Stanford University Memorial Church Choir. She also loves performing in various chamber music ensembles with friends at the Claremont Colleges.
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As a Singer
In addition to playing the piano, Sophia sang with the Organization of American Kodály Educators Honor Choir and Crystal Children’s Choir for twelve years. Choir has given her many opportunities to travel throughout the world, especially through 6 National American Choral Director’s Association concerts and the Kathaumixw International Choral Competition.
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At Pomona College
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Sophia currently studies Cognitive Science and Computer Science, and serves as the music director of her a cappella group Midnight Echo. Sophia also won 5th prize at the Foundation for Global Peace and Environment International Children’s Painting Competition.
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