Music The Guild Scholarships: Awards of Distinction

Isaiah is a 17-year-old senior in high school, homeschooled through Visions in Education. He has taken formal piano lessons for 4 years but began playing the piano when he was 11 years old. He lives in Woodland with his parents and two siblings and is currently a student of Dr. Jana Olvera. Last year, Isaiah performed a piano concerto movement as a soloist with the Solano Symphony orchestra. He is also an active performer with the West Coast Ragtime Society and was featured in the 2021 World Champion Old-Time Piano Playing Junior Showcase. Aside from studying classical piano, Isaiah plays classical and Spanish guitar and serves as a pianist at his church. Outside of music, he enjoys outdoor activities like swimming and hiking, reading, learning Spanish, and spending time with his family and friends.

Noah Girdler is a senior at Dos Pueblos High School, and has been playing the cello for 6 years. He has been a keen participant of local youth orchestras including Santa Barbara Strings and Santa Barbara Youth Symphony, both of which he has been principal cellist. As a prospective Westmont student he currently also participates in the Westmont College Orchestra. Noah studied under Katie Mendenhall for 5 years, and is now currently studying under Dr. Chenoa Orne-Stone. He has enjoyed taking part in the National Cello Institute and WAYA and was a winner in the 2020 Santa Barbara Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation Competition. He recently participated in a cello Masterclass with Alisa Weilerstein and has enjoyed taking part in Vivace Chamber Groups.

Leah Nieman, violinist, is a senior from Portland, Oregon. She began violin lessons eleven years ago at the age of seven while living in South Korea. Upon her return to the States, she studied under Ryan Lee, and is currently studying with Ines Belgique. Leah also played in the Portland Youth Philharmonic for seven years, performing countless different symphonies and pieces at various concerts and events. She has performed in numerous masterclasses and competitions as well. Leah is currently teaching both violin and piano to five students, and has taught up to eleven students at one time. She also enjoys playing frequently for her home church and played violin and piano in her youth group’s worship team for two years. She also has played consistently at retirement homes, private parties, chamber groups, and at various events and organizations. In her spare time, Leah loves swimming with her club team and spending time with her friends and family.

For the last 8 years of his life, Aaron has diligently honed his skills on the cello under the stellar instruction of Dr. Szpakiewicz. Aaron played with the Korean American Youth Symphony Orchestra for several seasons, performing at Walt Disney Concert Hall in the summer of 2017 and later as soloist at the Colburn Conservatory of Music. Over his years of playing, Aaron participated in the Montecito International Music Festival where he studied under Ko Iwasaki. He progressed to the semi-finals at the Classics Alive Young Artists competition, and competed in the Redlands Bowl Music Festival and Lansum International Music Festival. Shortly after, Aaron would win the Callie McGrath Solo Competition and Liana Cohen Music Festival. Besides cello, Aaron also enjoys speech and debate, where he is ranked nationally, as well as mathematics where he also frequents the competition scene.