YSC 2022 – 2023 Winners
First Place Winner
Timothy Lien – Clarinet
Timothy Lien is the principal clarinetist at the Livingston High School Wind Symphony who started playing clarinet at the age of 8. He was the concertmaster and principal clarinetist of the 2023 NJMEA All-state band and the 2023 NJSMA Region I band and has performed in NJPAC numerous times. Timothy is the clarinetist of the New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestra since 2019, and he won the first prize for the 2023 Henry Lewis Concerto Competition. His solo performance of the first movement of Louis Spohr’s Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in C Major, op. 26 will be featured in several upcoming programs with the New Jersey Symphony. He also received the gold medal rating for the Arts Ed NJ State Solo Festival in 2021 and 2022. He studies with Andy Lamy, a clarinetist with the New Jersey Symphony.
Second Place Winner
Shune Okada – Flute
Shune Okada’s classical music journey started as a violinist at age 5. At age 11, Shune started studying flute with Mrs. Mary Stingley. In addition to violin and flute, Shune plays oboe and marching percussion. Shune currently is a member of Fortissimo Flutes, a New Jersey Youth Symphony organization.
Third Place Winner
Leigh Rose Hart – French Horn
Leigh Rose Hart is a senior at Vernon Township High School. She is the principal French Horn in her school’s Wind Ensemble, Orchestra and Brass Choir. Additionally, Leigh Rose plays trumpet in her high school’s jazz band. She has been Drum Major of the Viking Marching Band for one year. She is a four-year member of the Sussex County Youth Orchestra. Leigh Rose has successfully auditioned and has been accepted into multiple honor ensembles throughout her high school tenure, including the Sussex County Honors Band, North Jersey Area Wind Ensemble, North Jersey Region I Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, North Jersey Region I Orchestra, New Jersey All-State Orchestra, and the New Jersey All-State Symphonic Band. Leigh Rose plans to pursue music in college with a major in Music Education.