New Artist Members

The American Young Artists Association (AYA) welcomes nine new members in the seventh edition of its artist announcements. This group brings together an accordionist, singers, orchestral and jazz instrumentalists, and a theatre performer, with work spanning the concert hall, opera house, and musical stage.

Below, we introduce the artists through a selection of their performances, training, and recent work. Their individual AYA profiles offer a fuller view of each practice.

Born in Moldova, accordionist Radu Ratoi began studying his instrument at six and continued his training at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen. A winner of the 2024 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions, he brings the accordion into a broad classical and contemporary repertoire.

Native Hawaiian soprano Tasha Hokuao Koontz performs both established operatic repertoire and new works. Her 2024 appearances included the title role in Tosca in Chile and her Metropolitan Opera debut in Ainadamar. In 2022, she originated Frida Image 1 in Gabriela Lena Frank’s El último sueño de Frida y Diego.

Elio Kennedy-Yoon works across acting, singing, dance, and musical theatre. His performance experience at Harvard included theatre productions and ensemble singing with the Din & Tonics. He also appeared in the Harvard–Yale Cantata at New York’s 54 Below in 2024 and 2025.

Horn player Sylvia Beach’s work encompasses orchestral and chamber performance. Her experience includes the Juilliard Orchestra, Juilliard Wind Orchestra, and Juilliard Opera Orchestra, alongside chamber music with the Corte-Forte Horn Quartet. She participated in Juilliard’s American Brass Quintet Seminar during the 2023–24 academic year.

After joining Houston Grand Opera’s Butler Studio in 2024, tenor Shawn Roth appeared as Heinrich der Schreiber in Tannhäuser. He received the Wagner Society of New York’s Robert Lauch Memorial Award in 2024. His work also extends to the recital stage, including a 2025 appearance at Scandinavia House in New York.

South Korean cellist Cheyoon Lee performs as a soloist and chamber musician. Her studies include degrees from the New England Conservatory and The Juilliard School, following Juilliard Pre-College training. A 2025 Bowdoin International Music Festival Fellow, she has also participated in Kneisel Hall, Meadowmount, and the PyeongChang Music Festival.

Originally from El Paso, Texas, Guillermo Lopez performs on both double bass and electric bass. His ensemble experience includes Carnegie Hall’s inaugural NYO Jazz in 2018 and performances with Juilliard Jazz. His work also encompasses Latin music, fusion, funk, and contemporary performance.

Violist Isabella Vita Mier is from Los Angeles. Her training includes the Colburn School, Pasadena Conservatory of Music, and Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Her work encompasses chamber and orchestral performance, and her early solo experience includes an appearance with the LACHSA String Ensemble under Fung Ho.

Finnish American violinist Charlotte Loukola was Finlandia Foundation National’s 2025 Performer of the Year. Her work includes solo performance, chamber music, and collaboration with contemporary composers, as well as baroque violin. Her training connects The Juilliard School, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and Finland’s Sibelius Academy.

AYA welcomes these artists to the Association and invites readers to explore their work.