Many members of LWYS have gone on to do great things with music in high school, college, and beyond!
Below is a list of their successes shared to inspire you and your child as they progress through the program.
If you are an alumni, or a parent of an alumni who has kept orchestral music in their life,
feel free to share their accomplishments via email at [email protected] and I will post it here!

​Hallie Chavez, Violinist 
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra All-Stars Orchestra

Nathan Freeland, Cellist
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Rising Stars Contest Winner 2025, Birch Creek Concerto Competition Winner 2025,
Birch Creek Symphony 2025, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra Principal #2 2025-26, CYSO Core Chamber Orchestra, 
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra All-Stars Orchestra

Nathan Hoch, Cellist
All-State Orchestra 2023, All-State Honors Orchestra 2024, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Rising Star Contest Winner 2023

Elliot Schaffrath, Violist
 Elmhurst University Symphony Orchestra, All-State Orchestra 2021 and 2022, All-State Honors Orchestra 2023 and 2024,
Birch Creek Symphony Orchestra

Ellie Freeland, Violinist
All-State Orchestra 2024, All-State Honors Orchestra 2025, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Rising Stars Contest Winner 2022, Birch Creek Symphony 2025, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra All-Stars Orchestra

Grant Brown, Cellist
Belmont University Symphony Section Leader, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, All-State Honors Orchestra

Victoria Nyder, Violist
Music Ed Graduate from ISU and Public School Orchestra Director in Mokena

Faith Buralli, Violinist
Music Ed Major at St. Xavier, Band Director in the public schools

Meghan Barnett, Violist
Public School Orchestra Director in Indiana, All State Orchestra

Evan Bourgeois, Cellist
Principal Cellist Bradley University Orchestra, 2021 Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Rising Star, ILMEA All-State Musician 2021, 2022, 2023

Gavin Murray, Violinist
Violin Performance Major Roosevelt School of Performing Arts, All-State Orchestra 2021a and 2022, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra

Shay Parchem, Violinist
All-State Orchestra 2022 and 2023, All-State Honors Orchestra 2024, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Rising Star Concerto Competition Winner 2022, University of Arizona Symphony

Austin Moy, Violist
Belmont University Symphony, 2022 Illinois Philharmonic Rising Star, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra Member

​George Graefen, Violist
2022 Illinois Philharmonic Rising Star, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Belmont University Symphony

Alicia Pearson, Cellist
2020 Illinois All-State Honors Orchestra - 3rd in State!

Jonah DeMik, Cellist
2022 ILMEA District Cellist, Valpariso Symphony Orchestra