Emily Bergstrom

Emily first enrolled at PCM in 2010 as a student in the Young Musicians program. She then took Suzuki Cello classes and began taking cello lessons with Nick Bertani. This fall, Emily will attend Pasadena City College where she will study Zoology and Animal Science. She will also continue her musical journey as a member of Pasadena City College’s orchestra.

Lio Itaya

Lio started their musical journey at PCM at the age of one, as a part of the Young Musicians Program. They started violin at age five and have studied with Elizabeth Hedman since age ten. Lio is not only a violinist, but also a composer, participating in the Brightwork High School Composer Initiative with Nina Shekhar. Since 2023, they have participated in the LA Phil Composers Fellowship Program and have composed more than a dozen original works for orchestra and chamber ensembles. This fall, Lio will attend the New England Conservatory’s Contemporary Musical Arts Program, where they will study a wide range of musical genres while continuing to develop their skills in performance, composition, and improvisation.

“A very special thank you to Ms. Elizabeth Hedman for her guidance, encouragement, kindness, and for sharing the joy of music with me throughout the years. Thank you also to Ms. Amy Rowe for helping me take my first steps into jazz arranging and supporting me as I explored something new. And to all the teachers and staff at PCM, thank you for making PCM a second home and for helping me grow not only as a musician, but also as a person over the past 17 years. I am truly grateful to have been part of this community.”

Kathryn Khalil

Kathryn began her studies at PCM in 2023, studying voice with Mariné Ter-Kazaryan. A recent graduate of Maranatha High School, she will attend UC San Diego as an English major in the fall.

Michaela Lau

A student at PCM since 2017, Michaela studied voice with Mariné Ter-Kazaryan. In 2023, she was a semi-finalist in the The Music Center’s 35th Annual Spotlight Competition in the classical voice category. That same year, she won First Prize in the Glendale Orchestra Competition presented by the Music Teachers’ Association of California. Michaela graduated from Gabrielino High School and will study Chemical Engineering at UC Berkeley.

Audrey Lord

Audrey first enrolled at PCM as a Young Musicians student in 2013. At the age of six she went on to study violin with Sharon Harman. A recent graduate of Westridge School, Audrey is a member of the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra and their Philharmonic ensemble. With the ensemble, she performed at Carnegie Hall and in theaters throughout Italy. This fall, she will attend the University of Southern California, majoring in Human Biology (pre-med). She is excited to continue pursuing her passion for music and plans to join the USC orchestra and for music to remain a lifelong part of her future.

“I would like to thank Ms. Sharon for teaching me everything I know and for fostering my genuine love and passion for music. Thank you for sticking with me throughout all these years and for encouraging me every step of the way.”

Daniel Melero

A student at PCM since 2020, Daniel has taken Music Theory classes and piano lessons with Renee Gilormini, as well as clarinet lessons with Laura Stoutenborough. He graduated from Eagle Rock High School where he was the Co-President of the Eagle Rock High School Band. He will attend UC Berkeley in the fall.

Eyla Najafi 

Eyla first enrolled at PCM at the age of 12 and studied violin with Sharon Harman for 7 years. She graduated from Flintridge Preparatory School, where she served as the concertmaster of the school’s orchestra and president of Healing Harmonies, a music performance club that brings student musicians into local communities to perform for people with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. In the fall, she will attend UC Berkeley, majoring in Cognitive Science. She hopes to continue pursuing music alongside her academic studies and remain involved in performance and community-centered musical initiatives throughout college.

“I would like to thank Ms. Sharon for her wisdom, passion, and kindness throughout my musical journey. Throughout the past six years, she inspired me every day to develop a genuine love for the violin, and I couldn’t have become the musician I am today without her incredible guidance and support.”

Julian Rife 

Julian began playing violin at 5 years old and recently graduated from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. In Summer 2024, he began concentrated viola skill development and became the Principal Violist of the LACHSA Orchestra. In 2025, he began studying viola with Jonah Sirota and continues to play violin as the Principal Second Violinist of the Pasadena Youth Symphony Philharmonic Orchestra. In the fall, he will study viola at Northwestern University.

“To Mr. Sirota, thank you for taking me under your wing this year and always giving me the belief I needed to succeed and make my dreams come true, even when I didn’t realize I needed it.”

David Sandoval 

In 2015, David began studying piano at PCM with Dr. Vatché Mankerian, later taking voice with Gustavo Hernandez. David graduated from St. Francis High School, where he participated and lettered in the Junior Varsity Mountain Biking Team. He also lettered in Drumline and served as the 2025-2026 captain. David was a member of the National English Honor Society, Film and Arts Clubs, and Latinos Unidos and will attend Franciscan University in the fall, where he will study English.

“I would like to thank Professor Vatché for his kindness, wisdom, generosity, and patience during these past 11 years. He has been instrumental in my love of music and inspires me to reach perfection and virtuosity in all areas of my life.”

Federico Scarpellini Martinez

A PCM student for 12 years, Federico studied piano with Dr. Kathryn Eames. He recently graduated from California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley in the Production and Design Conservatory, and will attend California State University, Northridge in the fall.

James Toche 

James enrolled at PCM in 2019 and studied violin with Brandon Encinas. He achieved the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Grade 8 certification — the highest level achievable — and also volunteered as a Music Ambassador at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. James graduated from St. Francis High School and will attend Stanford University, majoring in Biomedical Computation with a minor in Music Performance.

Zachary Tsai 

>Zachary has studied cello with Andrew Cook since 2023. He has participated in a number of festivals, including the Heifetz International Music Festival, Rushmore Music Festival, and Meadowmount School of Music, and received top honors at the Altair International Competition, Charleston International Music Competition, Great Composers Competition Series, and the Newport Virtuosi Competition. He graduated from Flintridge Preparatory School and will study cello and psychology at Boston University.

“I would like to thank my teacher, Andrew Cook, for his guidance, patience, and mentorship over the past three years.”

Marley Van Den Burg 

Marley began studying classical guitar with Dr. Brian Barany when she was in kindergarten. Since then, she has performed as a soloist and as a member of PCM’s Los Angeles Youth Guitar Orchestra and its Pasadena Youth Guitar Orchestra. Marley graduated from Blair High School and will study Cinematography at UC San Diego.

“I would like to thank Mr. Brian for his patience, guidance and clever jokes over the past 13 years of my life. I can proudly say that he has helped me as not only a guitar player but someone with a better understanding of what it means to be a musician and playing a part in the person I am today. I could not have asked for a better teacher and mentor.”

Sea’ra Zabounian

Sea’ra first enrolled at PCM as a student in the Young Musicians program. She’s taken Suzuki Guitar classes and studied guitar with Connie Sheu, Felix Bullock, and Dr. Brian Barany. She’s also been a member of PCM’s guitar ensemble classes with Bryan Fasola. She graduated from Crescenta Valley High School, and, in the fall, will attend Pasadena City College.

Marcel Zamora 

A student since 2013, Marcel took Suzuki Violin classes and studied violin with Sharon Harman. He graduated from Polytechnic High School, and will attend Boston University majoring in Public Health (pre-med).

David Zhang 

David began studying piano with Dr. Stephen Cook in 2016. He graduated from California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley, where over the past three years he was featured as a piano soloist, orchestra accompanist, and choir accompanist across annual school performances, including Holiday Enchantment, Fantasia, and Season Finale. In 2025, he joined the chamber choir at CSArts as an outstanding tenor, and completed the schoolwide concert Carmina Burana. This fall, David will attend UC San Diego, where he will major in chemistry.