THE HAMS CELLO COMPETITION 2000

Patrick Jee (3-17-78), First Prize Teachers: Aldo Parisot, Steven Doane, David Ying School: Juilliard School of Music Prizes and Awards: top prize in 1st Andre Navarra Cello Competition, Toulouse France, 1999 and Irving Klein International String Competition 1998

Denise Djokic (11-19-1980), Second Prize Teachers: Laurence Lesser, Richard Aaron School: New England Conservatory Prizes and Awards: 1st prize Caprio Young Artist Competition 2000, 1st prize Irving Klein International Competition 1998, 3rd prize Johansen International Competition 1997, 1st prize Jeunesse Musical Debut 1998

YuJeong Lee (9-26-1979), Third Prize Teachers: Joel Krosnick, Philippe Muller, Myung-Wha Chung School: Juilliard School of Music Prizes and Awards: Finalist and special prize Tchaikovsky International Competition for Young Musicians 1995, 1st prize Korea Music Competition 1998, 3rd prize Saint Louis Symphony Young Artists Competition

Arash Amini (7-11-1975) Teachers: Aldo Parisot, Davis Soyer Prizes and Awards: ALEX Award National Alliance for Excellence 1999, Leonard Rose Memorial Scholarship, Eleanor Slatkin Memorial Scholarship (Juilliard)

Stephen Fang (10-20-1981) Teachers: Richard Aaron, Carter Brey, Irene Sharp School: Cleveland Institute of Music Prizes and awards: New Jersey Symphony League Award, 1st prize Montclair Chamber Ensemble National Young Artist Competition, Judges Commendation Johansen International Competition, 1st place Goldblatt Scholarship State String Competition, 1st place ASTA State Solo Competition

Kee-Hyun Kim (3-4-1982) Teachers: Laurence Lesser, Jerome Carrington, Myung-Wha Chung School: New England Conservatory Preparatory School Prizes and Awards: 1st prize Juilliard Precollege Concerto Competition 1994, 1st Prize Korean Newspaper Competition 1998, 2nd prize NEC Precollege Concerto Competition 1999

Susie Yang (2-10-1982) Teachers: Hans Jensen School: Schaumberg High School Prizes and awards: winner Illinois Young Performers Competition, performed as soloist with Chicago Symphony on Channel 11, 1st place Fox Valley Young Artists, 1st place Midwest young artists-junior division, 1st place Skokey Valley Competition, 2nd place ASTA National Competition

This competition for young cellists was the first competition organized by the Holland-America Music Society (HAMS) and was organized in collaboration with Arts at Argonne.

The HAMS is a not-for-profit organization based in Chicago. Its mission is to provide encouragement in the form of performance opportunities and the use of an excellent instrument to an outstanding young cellist who has embarked upon a professional career.

The main prize of the HAMS Cello Competition 2000 was the use for one year of a cello made by the Dutch violin maker Koen Johan Herman Padding and a cello bow made by Keith Sleeman of Amsterdam.

“January 5, 2000, Chicago What a thrill to play on this new instrument by Koen Padding. Every string has integrity and rings true. The person who will play on this cello is certain to derive much pleasure and satisfaction. A lucky person indeed. Yo-Yo Ma”