Alumni Updates: New Positions & Competitions

Dayna Anderson

Violinist Dayna Anderson, who will graduate from the Curtis Institute of Music in May, recently became the concertmaster of the Delaware Symphony. At 22, she is the youngest person to hold the position in the orchestra’s 104-year history. Dayna appeared on From the Top in 2000 at the age of 12. Congrats Dayna!

Three From the Top alums, 19-year-old cellist Mindy Park, 19-year old violinist Emma Steele, and 16-year-old cellist Allan Steele, were finalists in the 2010 Stulberg International String Competition, held on February 27th at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo and adjudicated by the Juilliard String Quartet. Mindy, a native of Palatine, IL, is a student of Ronald Leonard at the Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles. Emma, a Chicago native, studies with Cyrus Forough at the Carnegie Mellon School of Music, and her brother, Allan, studies with Hans Jorgen Jensen. Allan placed third overall, receiving a cash prize and a performance opportunity with the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony. He just appeared on From the Top’s taping in Iowa City which will air nationally the week of May 31. Congratulations to all!

Oliver Aldort was recently named a winner of the Seattle Young Artists Music Festival. He will play the fourth movement of Elgar’s Cello Concerto with Philharmonia Northwest on May 15th at the University of Washington. Oliver is also competing on piano in the King FM 98.1 Young Artists Competition. You can watch Oliver’s video and vote here.