2022 Michigan National Award Winners
Amy Wang was born in Lexington, Kentucky and grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She embarked on her musical journey at the age of four with her lifelong teacher, Mrs. Vivian Kleinhuizen. She is an active member of the Federation Festival, Grand Rapids Musicians’ League, and St. Cecilia Junior Music Club.
At age six, she achieved the highest MMTA score which marked the first of many achievements she would accomplish. Amy has won competitions including the Grand Rapids Musicians’ League Scholarship, Federation Festival Awards Competition, Lucille Dinsmore Competition, and Grand Rapids Youth Symphony Concerto Competition. Recently, she was the recipient of the Michael R. Edwards Graduating Senior Performance Award and second place winner in the Lana M. Bailey Piano Concerto Award.
Beyond performing on stage, Amy also enjoyed playing cello in her school orchestra, teaching piano, and performing in local senior homes. This summer, she’ll attend the Interlochen Center for the Arts’ Summer Camp. With the help of teacher Mrs. Susan Crosser, Amy successfully auditioned for music programs at various universities. Amy was awarded a full-tuition scholarship to pursue piano performance at Michigan State University with Dr. Young-Hyun Cho.
Hunter O’Brien’s passionate and artistic outlook on music has garnered him success in
competition settings, including prizes in the International Friedrich Kuhlau, Yamaha Young
Performing Artists, James Pappoutsakis, New York Flute Club, and Southeast Michigan Flute Association Ervin Monroe Young Artist competitions.
Active as a recitalist and chamber musician, Hunter gave his Boston recital debut in September 2018, performing the Fenwick Smith Tribute Concert in Jordan Hall. He later performed across New England as a member of the Boreas Wind Quintet, a 2018 New England Conservatory Honors Ensemble. As a member of the Houston-based Kodan Quintet, he has received prizes in the Coltman, Music Teachers National Association, and New Orleans chamber music competitions.
Hunter began his flute studies with Dr. Joanna Cowan White of Central Michigan University. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music as a
Presidential Scholarship student of Paula Robison and is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music as a student of Leone Buyse.
Johan Cohen, the Second Place Winner for the NFMC 2022 Junior Composers’ Contest is from Farmington Hills, Michigan. He is currently a senior at Interlochen Arts Academy with a major in Composition studying with Dr. Cynthia Von Maanen. In the fall he will begin his Bachelor of Music in Composition at Julliard School.
Matthew Studier, a senior from Lake Orion, Michigan, was awarded the NFMC Federation Grand Gold Cup for Piano Solo and Concerto in the spring of 2022. He is a student of Renata Capozzoli, a member of the Camerata Senior Club. He plans to attend Western Michigan University in the fall.
Congratulations, all!