Junior Division

Before entering San Francisco Conservatory of Music with full scholarship, South Korean born Chinese pianist, Dr. Hsin-Yi Chang, was featured on many occasions as soloist with several major city orchestras at a very young age. After getting her Master or Music degree from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, she earned a Doctorate degree in Music Arts at the University of Southern California in 2005, majoring in piano performance, and a minor in music history, music education and keyboard collaborative arts. 

Although a classically trained soloist, Dr. Hsin-Yi Chang’s musical career has also included musical theater, voice and instrumental coaching, choir accompanying, and collaborating with dancers at CSUDH, El Camino College and Bethesda Christian, where she is currently working as a staff accompanist, adjunct lecturer and piano professor.

Adán Fernández is an organist, pianist, vocalist, and conductor. He is the director of music and organist at Holy Family Catholic Church where he directs five choirs and implements Kodály instruction for two children’s choirs. He is also assistant conductor for the Claremont Chorale and is currently a doctoral candidate in music at the University of Southern California. As a board member of KASC, he also serves in creating all of the Kodály events in Southern California.

Kelly Adams has been studying music since she joined her elementary school’s French choir at age 5. She began her training in classical music at the San Francisco Conservatory, then progressed to musical theater and pop songwriting/performance. Kelly is a twice-over graduate of the University of Southern California; she received a Bachelor of Music in Music Industry, and a Master of Arts in Music Education. Kelly discovered Kodály in 2013 and immediately fell in love with its revolutionary methods and ideology. She studied under Dr. Kathy Hickey and Dr. Kurt Cereske, and continues to build Kodály-based curricula for Los Angeles music education programs. When she’s not teaching, Kelly performs, writes and records with the band Karmina, and sings in feature films (Pan, The Lorax, The Hive).

Before entering San Francisco Conservatory of Music with full scholarship, South Korean born Chinese pianist, Dr. Hsin-Yi Chang, was featured on many occasions as soloist with several major city orchestras at a very young age. After getting her Master or Music degree from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, she earned a Doctorate degree in Music Arts at the University of Southern California in 2005, majoring in piano performance, and a minor in music history, music education and keyboard collaborative arts. 

Although a classically trained soloist, Dr. Hsin-Yi Chang’s musical career has also included musical theater, voice and instrumental coaching, choir accompanying, and collaborating with dancers at CSUDH, El Camino College and Bethesda Christian, where she is currently working as a staff accompanist, adjunct lecturer and piano professor.

Daniel Strychacz, a Bay Area native, is a DMA candidate studying Choral Music at the USC Thornton School of Music. Daniel is the lead conductor of the Oriana Choir and serves as the department’s Festival Coordinator. Daniel also earned his Master of Music degree in Choral Music from Thornton in 2015. Before returning to Los Angeles, Daniel was the Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, taught private voice and guitar lessons, and served as the Director of Children’s Choirs at Bay Area music education nonprofit Cantare Con Vivo, conducting four youth choirs and overseeing the program of nine choirs.

Adán Fernández is an organist, pianist, vocalist, and conductor. He is the director of music and organist at Holy Family Catholic Church where he directs five choirs and implements Kodály instruction for two children’s choirs. He is also assistant conductor for the Claremont Chorale and is currently a doctoral candidate in music at the University of Southern California. As a board member of KASC, he also serves in creating all of the Kodály events in Southern California.

Kelly Adams has been studying music since she joined her elementary school’s French choir at age 5. She began her training in classical music at the San Francisco Conservatory, then progressed to musical theater and pop songwriting/performance. Kelly is a twice-over graduate of the University of Southern California; she received a Bachelor of Music in Music Industry, and a Master of Arts in Music Education. Kelly discovered Kodály in 2013 and immediately fell in love with its revolutionary methods and ideology. She studied under Dr. Kathy Hickey and Dr. Kurt Cereske, and continues to build Kodály-based curricula for Los Angeles music education programs. When she’s not teaching, Kelly performs, writes and records with the band Karmina, and sings in feature films (Pan, The Lorax, The Hive).

Before entering San Francisco Conservatory of Music with full scholarship, South Korean born Chinese pianist, Dr. Hsin-Yi Chang, was featured on many occasions as soloist with several major city orchestras at a very young age. After getting her Master or Music degree from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, she earned a Doctorate degree in Music Arts at the University of Southern California in 2005, majoring in piano performance, and a minor in music history, music education and keyboard collaborative arts. 

Although a classically trained soloist, Dr. Hsin-Yi Chang’s musical career has also included musical theater, voice and instrumental coaching, choir accompanying, and collaborating with dancers at CSUDH, El Camino College and Bethesda Christian, where she is currently working as a staff accompanist, adjunct lecturer and piano professor.

Griffith Frank is an award-winning singer and RIAA certified multiplatinum songwriter hailing from Topanga, California. He spent his formative years developing as a musician under his father David Frank (writer/producer for many diverse artists such as Christina Aguilera, Chaka Kahn, Phil Collins, and many more).

Eventually, Griffith signed with A&M/Geffen records under Ron Fair (Pussycat Dolls, Black Eyed Peas, Queen Latifa) and was featured on the Golden Globe Nominated movie Nine soundtrack, in which Griffith’s version of “Unusual Way” was notably praised by People Magazine. Griffith has since performed all over the world at legendary venues such as the Disney Hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and the Jakarta Jazz Festival.

As a songwriter, Griffith’s works have garnered over 650 million streams worldwide, with notable viral hits such as “Boomerang” by Jojo Siwa, “Where Would I Be Without You” by Kendall K, and the newly released “Handstand” by Rosie McClelland.

Adán Fernández is an organist, pianist, vocalist, and conductor. He is the director of music and organist at Holy Family Catholic Church where he directs five choirs and implements Kodály instruction for two children’s choirs. He is also assistant conductor for the Claremont Chorale and is currently a doctoral candidate in music at the University of Southern California. As a board member of KASC, he also serves in creating all of the Kodály events in Southern California.

Kelly Adams has been studying music since she joined her elementary school’s French choir at age 5. She began her training in classical music at the San Francisco Conservatory, then progressed to musical theater and pop songwriting/performance. Kelly is a twice-over graduate of the University of Southern California; she received a Bachelor of Music in Music Industry, and a Master of Arts in Music Education. Kelly discovered Kodály in 2013 and immediately fell in love with its revolutionary methods and ideology. She studied under Dr. Kathy Hickey and Dr. Kurt Cereske, and continues to build Kodály-based curricula for Los Angeles music education programs. When she’s not teaching, Kelly performs, writes and records with the band Karmina, and sings in feature films (Pan, The Lorax, The Hive).

A native of Japan, Dr. Hiroyo Hatsuyama began her piano lessons at the age of three. After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Japan, Dr. Hatsuyama continued her music education studying with Professor Elena Shishko at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia, and Professor Kevin Fitz-Gerald at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. As the recipient of a full-tuition dean scholarship and teaching assistantship at USC, she completed both degrees, Master of Music in piano performance and Doctor of Musical Arts in keyboard collaborative arts, with a focus on chamber music. As a versatile pianist and harpsichordist, Dr. Hatsuyama frequently appears in recitals throughout the Los Angeles area. Her experience as an educator includes more than twenty years of teaching piano, chamber music, harmony, music history, theory, and aural skills in Japan and the United States. After teaching at the University of La Verne, she recently became a part-time faculty member at the Pomona California State Polytechnic University.