2022 Finalists

Bryan Huang, Westlake High School class of 2024, has studied the violin for nine years under the instruction of Mrs. Shuwei Liu. Bryan has participated in Conejo Valley Youth Orchestras since 2016, where he holds a principal violin position in the Youth Orchestra and Virtuosi Ensemble. Additionally, he recently won a fellowship with the California Young Artists Symphony as a distinguished young musician in the local region.

In July 2021, Bryan performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto at the 11th annual Henry Schwab Violin and Viola competition and won third prize. He has also won a gold medal at Conejo Valley branch MTAC VOCE violin competition 2019. Bryan actively participates in community performances with local ensembles at festivals and church events.

Aside from playing the violin, Bryan is an elite swimmer on Westlake High School's varsity team and on the championship team of Class Aquatics swim club.

It is a great honor and privilege to perform with the Schwab Academy of Music.

Skyler Lee, 17-year-old, is an 11th grade student at Newbury Park High School. His first music introduction was through Conejo Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) elementary strings program. Skyler chose violin specifically for its sweet tone. Soon after, he started private violin lessons with Teresa DiTullio. Skyler is currently studying violin under Sam Fischer at Colburn School.

Skyler is a concertmaster of Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra (CVYO) and a member of California Young Artists Symphony. He has served as a co-concertmaster at California All State Junior High Orchestra. Skyler has won 1st place Conejo Valley branch MTAC VOCE violin competition from 2017-2019 and 3rd place ENKOR International Music competition in 2020. He was selected as a Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra Young Artist in 2020, and he performed a full concerto at the 11th annual Henry Schwab violin competition and won 2nd prize in 2021. In February 2022, Skyler had a solo performance with Thousand Oaks Philharmonic in Opus 58 concert, and he was then chosen to perform as a rising star of Ventura Music Festival.

Skyler often enjoys playing for people in local communities such as: churches' homeless dinners, veterans’ homes, retirement centers, and hospices. He tailors his music performances to the audiences’ likes and preferences. In his free time, Skyler likes to read, play chess and computer games, and listen to music.

Zephan Bornfreund, a senior at San Marcos High School, has been playing violin for twelve years, four of those years with Santa Barbara Youth Symphony.  Zephan is currently studying violin with Mrs. Joyce Osborn at Woodland Hills.  In 2020, Zephan had the honor of winning the SBYS Concerto Competition.  Last summer, Zephan also competed in the 11th Annual Henry Schwab Violin & Viola Competition as a finalist.  During other summers, Zephan attended Indiana University's String Academy, Montecito International Music Festival, and the Merit Program at the Music Academy of the West.  In addition to music, Zephan participated in cross country and track teams throughout high school, and is an avid member of Riveria Robotics in Goleta. This fall, Zephan plans to study mechanical engineering and continue making music at the University of California, Berkeley.

Audrey Li is fifteen years old and a freshman at Thousand Oak High School. She has been studying with Mrs. Shuwei Liu since the summer of 2021. She started participating in the strings program at Weathersfield Elementary School and was in the Los Cerritos Middle School Chamber Orchestra. She is currently the concertmaster for the Thousand Oaks High School Chamber Orchestra.

Karl Baumgartner, age 15, is a 5th generation Ventura County native and a 9th grade honor student at West Ranch High School. He began playing violin at five years old and currently studies violin with Alexander Treger. In addition, he studies piano with Maria Shcherbakova.

He is a member of the West Ranch High School Orchestra and has participated in the Ventura College Orchestra. Karl is a prize winner in local and regional violin competitions. He shares the gift of music by playing the violin and piano for the elderly in convalescent homes.

Parallel to his musical journey, at age 6, Karl started his martial arts training. At age 12, Karl earned his first-degree black belt in Taekwondo and Hapkido. Presently, he is preparing for his second-degree black belt in Taekwondo and Hapkido and trains in Krav Maga and Jiu Jitsu. Through mentoring beginner martial artists, Karl nurtures partnership and innovative thinking.

Academically, Karl is intensely fascinated with history, archaeology and philosophy. He finds math and science both profound and intriguing. His future goal is to help humans adapt to the effects of climate change and rising sea levels by designing and building underwater cities or metropolises that float on water.

At leisure, Karl enjoys riding horses, swimming, skiing and of course, playing computer games.

William Chen attends Westlake High School. He is 17 years old currently and began studying violin at age 10 with Shuwei Liu. In addition to this, William began studying piano at age 6, and currently studies at the Colburn School. He has received awards in numerous events, including MTAC events, regional festivals, SYMF, among other competitions. William also plays in Westlake High School’s Chamber Orchestra, and participates in various music-related volunteer activities outside of school.

Beatrice Jiang is fourteen years old and a 9th grader at Westlake High School.  She started violin lessons at the age of 6 from Mr. David Killen, and has been studying with Mrs. Shuwei Liu since 2017.  She has served as the first violin for her school strings orchestra in elementary and middle school.  She also served as the associate concertmaster of the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra in 2017-2018.  In 2016, she was the featured soloist with the Westlake Village Symphony Orchestra at their summer Gala concert. In 2019, she won the 10th Henry Schwab Violin Competition Honorable Mention and was reported as the youngest musician in the final competition of the Schwab by the VC Reporter News.  In 2020 she won the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic Concerto Competition and was selected as a soloist in the Opus Concert 57.  Beatrice has participated in various music programs and received honors for her playing including the Gold Medal Honor for the Advanced Contemporary Music Festival, and the Junior Chamber Music Honor tour to Europe in summer 2022.  She was accepted by both the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic and Los Angeles Youth Orchestra as the performer in many concerts.  It is Beatrice's great honor to be selected as a finalist for the Schwab again!  Beatrice is a straight A student with the Presidential Award.  She also enjoys tennis, video games, and hanging out with pets.

Kyler Chu is a 5th grade homeschooler from Camarillo, who has been playing the violin since the age of 4. He has been studying violin with Shuwei Liu for the past 4 years. He is a member of the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra which will be performing in Carnegie Hall this summer, and previously played with the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra. Kyler is an avid tennis player, and he has been competing in the USTA and VCJTA tournaments. He enjoys science and robotics, and recently completed a week-long intensive robotics camp where he built and programmed a self-driving robot. He also enjoys exploring the abundance of available outdoor hiking and bike trails in the Conejo Valley.