2000-2001

Kristin Arendt, trombone

Kristin is a 5-year OYO veteran who was just awarded a UCB BA in Molecular and Cell Biology with an emphasis in Neurobiology and a minor in music. She is a USAG Level 7 Gymnast for Lamoreem Gymnastics and also played with the UCB Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Trombone Quartet, and Marching Band. She plans to work in a research laboratory before attending graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in Neuroscience.

Sarah Aroner, violin

A 3-year OYO member, Sarah will graduate San Domenico and attend UC Berkeley. She has been a member of San Domenico Virtuoso Program and the Young Musicians Program. Sarah has won a Chancellor’s Scholarship (at UCB), the Harvard Book Award, a National Merit Commendation, Bank of America plaque in the humanities, and a California Masonic Foundation Scholarship. She has been a volunteer at Alta Bates Hospital. At UC she will study molecular and cell biology and play in the orchestra.

Diana Au, violin

A 5-year OYO veteran, Diana will graduate Piedmont High School and attend UC Santa Barbara. She has been a member of YOSAC and was marked superior at solo ensemble in 8th grade. In Varsity Golf Diana was awarded the MVP award, HAAL All League Award, Scholastic Athlete award, and the Most inspirational award. After summer school she will work at a French Importing company and attend UC Santa Barbara in the fall.

Pam Bajada, percussion

A member of OYO for 3 years, Pam will graduate from Piedmont High and attend UCSD where she will major in biology in hopes of becoming a pediatrician. She has been a member of Millennium Strings and received a superior rating for CMEA solo competition. Pam has also been a member of the Varsity Softball and Basketball teams and has been named a Scholar Athlete. Her interests include surfing and volunteering at Children’s Hospital, and she plans to continue playing music at UCSD.

Maya Barrera, oboe

With 2 years in OYO, Maya will graduate James Logan High School and attend the Thornton School of Music at University of Southern California where she will be a Music Performance Major. Maya has been very active in her school music program, and has participated in the Jr. Bach Festival, been a 4 year CBDA All State Honor Band member, 2 year CMEA All State Honor Orchestra member, 3 year CODA All State Honor Orchestra member. This summer she will be a counselor at Sequoia Lake Music Camp.

Michael Bishop, violin

A member of OYO for 2 years, Mike will graduate Campolindo High and attend the University of Puget Sound where he will major in music with a double major in English. He has been a member of a quartet, Young Artists Symphony Orchestra, and Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra and recipient of a Certificate of Merit (IX, and Advanced), CMEA duet (command superior), and soloed in the Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 with his school orchestra. Mike’s interests include tennis, table tennis, soccer, and composing music.

Sven Chilton, violin

A 3-year OYO member, Sven will graduate Berkeley High School and attend MIT where he will likely major in math or physics and pre-med and play in the orchestra. He has been an Eagle Scout, National Merit Scholarship winner, AP scholar, Governor’s Scholarship winner, Entertainment Editor of Berkeley High Jacket, and has won Unanimous Superior awards for CMEA festivals in both chamber and orchestral music. Sven enjoys hiking biking, backpacking, travel, writing, languages, and anything Swedish. He’d like to go to medical school, become and oncologist, and engage in cancer research, and eventually settle in Sweden and write at least one novel.

Iris DeSerio, cello

Iris has been a member of OYO for 2 years. Having attended San Domenico School, where she was voted MVP in Varsity Soccer, she will graduate Berkeley High and attend UC Santa Cruz, where she will major in marine biology and environmental science. Iris has been a member of the Young Musicians Program for 5 years and won Outstanding Contribution from an Auditor Award. She was a member of the Junior Bach Festival. Iris also won a Japan-American Friendship Scholarship and a Memorial Scholarship from the Music Teachers’ Association of California. She is also an accomplished photographer. Iris plans to continue playing music in collegeand after college hopes to save the coasts of the world.

Jackie Kamrath, violin

Jackie Kamrath is a four year OYO member. She has also participated in OYO chamber for 2 years and went on the last OYO tour to South America. This year she has branched out her enjoyment of music joining Campolindo High School Concert Choir and Chamber singers and will be performing with them for the Pope at the Vatican this summer. Jackie has had many other new experiences and successes this year at Campolindo. She will graduate as Valedictorian of her school and has received recognition as winner of the Bank of America Award for Liberal Arts, a National Merit Finalist, and an AP Scholar. After high school Jackie will continue on to Columbia college in New York where she hopes to continue her study of both voice and violin.

Nele Kemmerich, cello

Nele originates from Germany and moved to the US to spend her senior year at Piedmont High School and play in OYO. After graduation from Piedmont High she will return to Cologne, Germany to complete her education in the German school system, as well. She enjoys playing the Cello and has won several competitions in Germany and got a Unanimous Superior award for CMEA festival in orchestra music. Currently she does not plan on making her hobby a profession.

Sarah Kwan, violin

With one year in OYO, Sarah will graduate San Francisco University High School and will attend either Bryn Mawr College or the University of British Columbia. She has won a National Merit Scholar Commendation, was Op-Ed Editor of the Devil’s Advocate (school paper), Concert Master of SFUHS Orchestra, was selected to attend the National Student Leadership Conference (on international relations) in Washington DC, and was Leader and founder of the annual Clothing Drive at SFUHS.

This Summer she plans go to China for a month to learn how to speak Mandarin. “Youth is fleeting—might as well have fun.”

Oliver Mains, clarinet

Oliver has been in OYO for one year. He began playing clarinet in 8th grade, and has also played for 3 years in YPSO, played Carnegie Hall with them last summer, and won the Concerto Competition this year. He won the Burlingame Music Club competition, where he was the only high school age participant. A National Merit Commendation winner, he will graduate College Preparatory School and will attend Oberlin College and Oberlin Conservatory, in double degree program where he will earn a BA in Liberal Arts as well as a BM in music. Oliver is active in CPS orchestra and chamber music program. After this year’s OYO tour, Oliver will be a counselor (4th year) at East Bay School of the Arts, then attend the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland in August.

Jesse Miller, bassoon

Jesse has been a member of OYO for 3 years while a student at Piedmont High. He will attend UC Berkeley in the fall where he will play in Cal Marching Band and Wind Ensemble. Jesse has been a member of the State Honor Band, won Unanimous Superior awards for CMEA festivals in band and chamber orchestra, and is a recipient of a California Governor’s Scholarship. He plans to continue his current job as a computer systems and network administrator and consultant, and also, to continue his studies on the piano, bassoon, sax, and guitar through college and beyond.

Patrick Nagel, bass

With two years in OYO, Patrick graduated two years early from Berkeley High School to study music theory and history at Laney College. In the fall he’ll attend the New School University Jazz and Contemporary Music Program at the Mannes Conservatory within the New School. Patrick has been a member of the Oaktown Jazz Ensemble, Anonymous Inc., Donald Bailey Quartet, Richmond Jazz Collective, and Eddie Gale’s Black Dot Cafe Ensemble. He won a Jazz Scholarship from The New School University, scholarships from The Stanford Jazz Workshop, and the Artistic Excellence Award from The East Bay Center for the Performing Arts.

Mara Plotkin, clarinet

With 2 years in OYO, Mara will graduate from Marin Academy and attend The Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific. She has been a member of the Young Musicians Program and the Bay Area Wind Symphony. Mara is an accomplished dancer and dance teacher and composes music.

Dustin Smurthwaite, bass trombone

With two and 3/4 seasons in OYO Dustin is graduating Foothill High in Pleasanton and will attend Arizona State University. He has been an Eagle Scout, Class President, OYO Board Member, won Command Performance at numerous solo and ensemble competitions, won Outstanding Student awards in high school, Letters in Drama and Band, numerous Jazz soloist awards, honor roll and Deans list. Dustin makes movies ranging from artistic suicide prevention films to satirical interpretations of great literature. His main passion is comedy: he won the election for class president by doing a comedy act.

Anson Tsai, violin

With 2 years in OYO Anson will graduate Campolindo High School and attend UC Berkeley, where he’ll major in EE and Computer Science. Anson has been an AP Scholar, a Governor’s Scholarship recipient, won Command Performance at CMEA, was co-founder and President of the CHS French Club, won the Bank of America award for achievement in French, is a CSF life member, Concertmaster of CHS Orchestra, won a Health Scholarship from John Muir Medical Center for volunteering (for three years). He also participated on the varsity track team. Anson plans to join the UCB orchestra and perhaps put together a coupla chamber groups.

Jimmy Tseng, bass

After 3 years in OYO, Jimmy will graduate San Leandro High School and attend the University of Washington and study biological sciences. He has been a member of YOSAC, San Leandro High School Jazz Band, won the YOSAC citizenship award, and a CMEA Command Performance. Jimmy enjoys basketball, tennis, table tennis, football, soccer, physiology and (of course) music. He will continue music by playing for the University of Washington.

Lacey Waggener, french horn

With two terms in OYO Lacey will graduate Northgate High and attend CSU Hayward (with scholarships) where she will be a music major. She has been a member of Young People’s Symphony Orchestra and held first chair in both her district and Contra Costa County honor bands. She also played in the all-state honor band. “I’m majoring in music...so I guess I’ll be a musician.”