NATS-LA PRESENTS

The Gwendolyn Roberts Young Artist Auditions (YAA)

Winner’s Recital

Featuring

JOANNA KIM

Soprano

Student of

Professor Lynn Helding

With Collaborative Pianist

Chloe Gwak

Arielle Claire, Violin

Dennis Papazyan, Flute

Parking Tips:

Most USC lots use Text2Park, which requires payment via your mobile phone. ($4/hour)

Be sure to have your license plate number and a credit card ready.

Please contact NATS-LA YAA Chairperson Raejin Lee at yaa@natslachapter.org if you have any questions.

Joanna has also featured various video games' official soundtracks. She was featured in the multi-award-winning video game, Lies of P. She can be heard in her solo track, “Arche Abbey,” streaming on all online platforms. She also appears in the viral Korean YouTube variety show, UMAGAME, singing in the original television soundtrack.

Joanna received her Master’s Degree in Music in Vocal Arts from The Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California (USC), studying under the tutelage of Lynn Helding. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music with a Vocal Performance and Music Education Concentration from the New England Conservatory of Music. 

and she is particularly known for her ability to adapt to different musical contexts while maintaining a strong artistic voice. Whether in rehearsal or performance, Chloe is driven by the goal of creating an immersive and cohesive musical experience that elevates the artistry of her collaborators.

With a passion for chamber music and performance, Chloe continues to develop her career through performances, recordings, and collaborations with musicians across the globe, seeking to enrich the world of music through collaborative artistry.

Chloe is a dedicated collaborative pianist currently pursuing a Doctoral Music of Arts in Keyboard Collaborative Arts at the Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California. She also holds a Master of Music in Keyboard Collaborative Arts from the same institution. Her academic journey is complemented by a USC Teaching Assistantship, which she has held since

Arielle Claire is a Los Angeles based violinist, having begun her musical journey at the age of 5. She attended the Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLA where she studied classical music and performance with Movses Pogossian and Ji Young An. Additionally, she pursued two minors in Music Industry and Film, Television, and Digital Media. During her time there, Arielle was nominated by string faculty and awarded a position in the Gluck Fellowship program, offering educational performances for various communities across a diversity of musical styles and participating for 2 consecutive years as the first violinist and group coordinator of her string quartet. In 2023, she joined the California Young Artists Symphony as a substitute and American Youth Symphony as a second violinist, which allowed her the opportunity to participate in their Hollywood Project for the 30th Anniversary of Jurassic Park and the recording of Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphony No. 1, featured on the album For a Younger Self. She has also had numerous other opportunities to work with fellow students and faculty, such as participating in the Monday Evening Concert Series, a recording of a Regal Cinemas Coca-Cola commercial, and as concertmaster for UCLA Symphony. Since graduating, Arielle has had the pleasure of taking part in the live production and official album recording of the musical Dis-Topia as principal second, accompanying pianist Zade Dirani at the Wiltern, and recording for more film and game projects including Richard’s Roast, Project: Eden’s Garden, and Gracie Turns 15, among others. Arielle looks forward to joining the San Gabriel Valley Symphony in August as assistant concertmaster.

Dennis Papazyan is currently a Junior student at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music studying with professors Catherine Karoly and Sarah Jackson (as well as with professor Jim Walker independently). Dennis started playing flute at a young age and studied with Mrs. Emily Senchuk. He enjoys performing and was a member of the Colburn School’s Youth Orchestra and was Principal flute of their Sinfonietta. He also was part of their Chamber Music Institute as well as a member of their Honors Woodwind Quintet. He played with the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic Orchestra during their Summer 2022 season. He currently plays in ensembles at the Thornton School, such as their Thornton Symphony and chamber orchestra (including various principle positions), wind symphony, wind quintet, and most recently wind piano quartet (for flute, oboe, clarinet, and piano). Dennis also enjoys participating in competitions: he placed first in the VOCE competition at the local level and third in the state level in 2020, won several scholarships from the Westside Committee of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and placed third and first place in the Elite International Music Competition. He achieved “advanced” level in MTAC’s Certificate of Merit Program, and was selected for Convention, State Honors, and masterclass with Professor Jenni Olsen in the Panel Division. Dennis also has experience in chamber music and orchestras, receiving second place in the Mount Saint Mary’s University’s high school chamber music competition and second place in the Elite International Music Competition in 2019. Over the years, Dennis has attended various Summer Music Programs including Orford Musique’s Summer Academy (having masterclasses with various Professors across the United States, Canada, and Europe), the Marina Piccinini International Master Class, and most recently the Maine Chamber Music Seminar at Snow Pond. Dennis is a tuition exchange scholarship recipient at USC, his future plans include to graduate school and ultimately, Dennis hopes to pursue a solo, orchestral, and studio performance career.

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