News Briefs: Wilmette musicians earn honors at prestigious competition; Three Trevs excel at national Chinese essay contest

Three ensembles from the Music Institute of Chicago’s Academy for gifted pre-college musicians triumphed in the Rembrandt Chamber Musicians Annual High School Chamber Music Competition, according to a press release.

Two Wilmette teens were among the awarded ensembles, including: Angelica She, 16, a viola player in the Salice Piano Quartet (watch performance here), and Mia Wimbiscus, 17, a cellist in the Zephyr String Quartet (performance). Both ensembles earned honorable mentions.

Due to the virtual/remote nature of this year’s competition, the press release said all three ensembles recorded their performances at the Music Institute’s acclaimed Nichols Concert Hall.

Founded in 1995, the Rembrandt Chamber Musicians Annual High School Chamber Music Competition is widely regarded as one of the premier competitions of its kind in the Midwest, drawing participants from the Music Institute of Chicago, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, Midwest Young Artists, Merit School of Music, and a variety of public and private schools.

Three New Trier students awarded in Chinese essay contest

Three New Trier students competed in The 17th National CLASS Essay Contest this fall, hosted by the Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools.

The topic for the CLASS 2020 Essay Contest was “A Time Capsule from the Year 2020,” and students were encouraged to use Chinese in describing items that are representative of their life in living through the COVID-19 pandemic, a press release from the high school said.

Senior Patricia Yang received the Gold Award, sophomore Tyler Wang received the Silver Award, and junior Max Hartman received an honorable mention.

“With the help of all my Chinese teachers, I’ve learned so much about Chinese language and culture,” Yang said in the press release. “Despite being in a pandemic, I was able to continue my engagement in Chinese learning and apply all the knowledge that I have accumulated over the past four years. Receiving an award from the National Chinese Essay Competition is one of my proudest achievements and I cannot wait to continue exploring and learning Chinese language and culture.”

Hundreds of students from around the U.S. competed in beginner, intermediate or advanced divisions among three categories based on their language experience, the release said. Categories included students who are non-native speakers of Chinese in a regular foreign language program, students who are heritage learners and students who have been in an immersion program regardless of first language background.

Local dean’s list honors

The following students were named to dean’s list for the fall 2020 semester at the University of Rhode Island:

• Kaitlyn Burgess, of Wilmette, and

• Gillian Klise, of Wilmette

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