Youth Talents
Each year, the Youth Talent Audition is for all the current SYS musicians. The winners, in either Concerto or Composition competition, will perform their winning piece at the Spring Concert in May.
May 2025
Hanna Rico
Piano Concerto, Op. 25, Molto Allegro con fuoco, by Flex Mendelssohn
Hanna Rico is a junior at Glendale High School. She began studying piano at the age of seven and has since developing a passion for classical music. She is currently under the tutelage of Ms. Cindy Dittrich.
Hannah won awards in Piano Solo competitions at the 2025 IPPA Conero International Piano (Gold award at the national level), 2025 Missouri Federation of Music Clubs (first place), 2025 Springfield Area Music Teachers Association (outstanding performance), 2023/2024 Beverlie Roper Competition for Young Artists (third/first place), and Missouri High School Solo and Ensemble (gold medals). She also received superior ratings (state level) at the 2023/2024 Missouri Music Teachers Association.
Beyond solo performances, Hannah plays piano with her school orchestra, SYS, and at her church, and occasionally at senior living facilities. Hannah loves playing beautiful music and plans to continue enjoying piano for a very long time.
Drew Oliver
Composition Winner - Fantasy for Orchestra
Drew Oliver is a senior at Glendale High School. He has been playing violin for 8 years and composing music for 4 years. After high school, Drew plans to go to Evangel University where he will major in Special Education and minor in Music.
Sophy Wickham-Zhou
Concerto Winner - Violin Scene de Ballet, by Charles-Augustin de Beriot
Sophy Wickham-Zhou, daughter of Cameron Wickham and Fan Zhou, has studied violin for 11 years, currently with Dr. David Hays. She has been part of the Springfield Youth Symphony for 3 years and has performed in the All-State Orchestra.
A student at Central High School, Sophy is in the IB program, is a National Honor Society member, and serves on Student Council. Outside of school and violin, she also dances with the Springfield Ballet.
May 2024
Zeke Kolb
Concerto Winner - Oboe Oboe Concerto in C Major, K314, by W. A. Mozart
Zeke Kolb is a 15 years sophomore at Grace Classical Academy. He has been playing the oboe for 3 and half years; and he played other woodwinds before that, including the clarinet and a variety of different saxophones. He fell in love with oboe when he went to see the St. Louis Symphony at Powell hall. Along with his love for music, Zeke is a competitive swimmer and enjoys singing and serving in his local church.
Moses Pavón
Composition Winner Symphony in the D Minor
Moses Pavón is a violinist/violist and an aspiring self-taught composer. His love for performing and creating music comes from an inability to express himself through traditional means. Through music, he describes emotions that language can't express. When performing, his goal is to make the audience feel emotions through his playing. That is what music should be. He hopes to satisfy the audience with complex emotions they can't describe by composing and performing passionate music. Moses owes a great deal of gratitude to his family and friends for supporting to his family and friends for supporting him through his musical journey. Moses whishes to thank his mother, Gwyn Pavón, his father, Luis Pavón, and his brother, Henry Pavón, for their love and support.
Brayden Miao
Concerto Winner - Piano Piano Concerto No. 2, 3rd Movement, by Edward MacDowell
Brayden Miao is a national finalist in the MTNA Junior Piano Competition in 2023. He also won the first-place in 2023 Charleston International Classical Music competition and 2022 London Classical Music competition in Junior Artist category. Further accolades include third place in the 2023 Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition and second at the 2022 Memphis International Piano Competition. He reached the semi0final in the 2022 Seattle International and Spotlight International Piano Competition, and won the 2021 Golden Classical Music Awards, the 2020 Gloria Artis, and the 2019 Steinway Young Artist Competition. His musical journey includes a solo performance at Carnegie Hall and participating in the Texas State International Piano Festival. Brayden studies under the tutelage of Hye-Jung Hong and Wei-Han Su. Also as a violinist, under the guidance of David Hays, Brayden won the 2016 MTNA strings competition and received an honorable mention in 2021. He performed in first violin in the 2024 Missouri All-State Orchestra.
May 2023
Roman Bunn
Concerto Winner - Violin Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major, 1st movement, by W. A. Mozart
Roman Bunn is 14 years old and has been playing the violin since 5th grade at the age of 10. He is currently a freshman at Kickapoo High School under the baton of Ms. Annie Honeycutt in orchestra class. Additionally, he studies privately with Dr. David Hays. His journey in violin began with Mr. Mark Mckinney and Mrs. Juliana Georgiades, former teachers who helped him develop a deep connection and appreciation for the instrument. Roman is grateful to all of his teachers for their guidance and support. He enjoys playing music with friends in orchestra class and SYS rehearsals. Roman hopes to continue the study of music throughout college and life.
Nathan Lovelace
Concerto Winner - Horn Villanelle for Horn and Orchestra, by Paul Dukas
Nathan Lovelace has been in SYS for two years and is a senior at Kickapoo High School. He has been playing horn since seventh grade and has taken lessons with Eric Jackson since 8th grade. Nathan is a part of the Jazz Band and Advanced Band at Kickapoo. He was a member of the SCMMEA District Honor Band all 4 years of high school, the 2nd chair horn of the 2022 Missouri All-State Band, and principal horn player of the 2023 Missouri All-State Orchestra. Among Nathan's hobbies are fishing in Ozark streams and rivers as well as listening to prog rock.
Elijah Hertzog
Composition Winner Symphony No. 1 in C Major
Elijah Hertzog is pleased to have his first composition debuted by the Springfield Youth Symphony. Elijah is a senior at Glendale High School and has served as concertmaster of the GHS orchestra and SYS. He also sings in the GHS Chamber Choir and starred as Prince Eric in the GHS fall musical The Little Mermaid. He is planning to study violin performance at Missouri State University starting in the fall and then study orchestral conducting in graduate school. In his free time, Elijah enjoys reading and watching Cardinals baseball.