THE YAO HONORS – PAST AWARDEES
PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS | TEACHERS & COMMUNITY
2023: John Seaton (Band), Las Vegas Academy of the Arts
2024: Tim Thomas (Orchestra), Coronado High School
2025: Sarah Mamula (Orchestra), Green Valley High School
2026: YAO Honors Not Held
2023: Kerry Bennett (Orchestra), Thurman White Academy of the Performing Arts
2024: Marisa Davidson (Band), Canarelli Middle School
2025: Waverly Tingle (Orchestra), Hyde Park Middle School
2026: YAO Honors Not Held
2023: Lee Schreiber (violin/viola)
2024: Kim Glennie (harp)
2025: Naoko Taniguchi (violin)
2026: YAO Honors Not Held
2023: Susan Barton (violin/viola)
2024: Manuel Gamazo Jr. (percussion)
2025: Arturo Hernández Gómez (composer/violin/viola)
2026: YAO Honors Not Held
2023: Leonard Riel – TRP Productions
2024: Yuri Cho
2025: Noybel Gorgoy
2026: YAO Honors Not Held
PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS | STUDENTS
2023 Symphony: Elizabeth Hebing (flute), Izabella Tu (harp), Abigail Knox (violin)
2023 Academy: Riley Vraniak (double bass), Alexis Rivera-Valenzuela (cello)
2024 Symphony: Ethan Tajalle (viola), Sachi Blevins (flute), Lauren Oliver (violin)
2024 Academy: Kahlin Kuaana (viola), Max Piroumian (double bass)
2025 Symphony: Alexander Vakov (oboe), Julian Romano (cello), Abraham Flannigan (double bass)
2025 Academy: Ivan Lam (cello), Liliana Castillo (violin)
2026 Symphony: Dominic Polyak (horn), Rejoin Jung (cello), Jonathan Mercian (percussion)
2026 Academy: Ethan Yi (violin), Ryan Gates (cello)
2023 Symphony: Kelsea Ann Collier (oboe), Fabricio Martinez-Aguilar (double bass)
2023 Academy: Elisa Chong (violin), Tom Tian (viola)
2024 Symphony: Owen O’Donnell (trumpet), Gregory Moix (viola)
2024 Academy: Nico Chio (violin), Ashley Nam (cello)
2025 Symphony: Gentian Therqaj (viola), Brennan Fischl (clarinet)
2025 Academy: Genesis Menendez (violin), Aimee Arciniega (violin)
2026 Symphony: Kennedy Middleton (oboe), Elisa Chong (violin)
2026 Academy: Alice Kay Johnson (violin), Sophia Brown (viola)
2023: Award Not Established
2024: Carolyn Salvador
2024: Quinton Krull
2025: Andrew Sundberg
2026: Not Awarded
2023: Evie Beauparlant (violin), Noah Chio (viola)
2024: Juanpablo Figueroa (violin), Gabriella Tenoria (cello)
2025: Addyson Kennedy (double bass), Sukaara Addisu (viola)
2026: Patrick Carter (violin), Jason Tran (violin)
PHOTOS | 2023 YAO HONORS
