STRING INSTRUCTORS
Viola You
Violin & viola
Viola You is a Los Angeles-based violinist and violist and active chamber musician. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from UCLA with a focus in violin and viola performance.
Born and raised in NYC, Viola began her music studies at the age of four. She performed in local competitions, such as the Music Fest Rising Talents competition in 2010, where she received the opportunity to perform at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, NY as a violin and piano duo. Critics have described her sound as having “exceptional warmth and tone,” “great energy and a noble sound that is full and rich”.
In her early years, Viola performed with chamber ensembles and orchestras. She finished her 7-year career at the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey as concertmaster with the performance of Dvorak’s New World Symphony. She also attended the Westminster Conservatory Pre-College at Rider University. In addition, she attended summer festivals such as Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and Montecito International Music Festival.
During her studies at UCLA, Viola had the opportunity to perform chamber music and orchestral music with local ensembles such as the American Youth Symphony at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and UCLA Camarades for “Sundays Live” at LACMA.
She owes much of her musical growth and education to world-renowned performers and instructors, such as Phillip Levy, Movses Pogossian, Guillaume Sutre, Varty Manouelian, Carla Maria Rodrigues, Haroutune Bedelian, and one of America’s leading baroque violinists Nancy Wilson.
In addition to her performing and teaching, Viola worked as an Orchestra Librarian for the UCLA Philharmonia Orchestra from 2015 to 2018 and the Aspen Philharmonic Orchestra at the Aspen Music Festival in 2018.
Viola currently teaches and performs in the South Bay and the greater Los Angeles area. She has helped numerous students of various levels achieve high scores for CM (Certificate of Merit) and RCM (Royal Conservatory of Music) and win local competitions. A number of her students have been accepted into local orchestras such as the Colburn CSPA String Orchestra, Mira Costa Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, El Camino Community Orchestra, and more. Her students have also been awarded opportunities such as performing at the Walt Disney Hall as concertmaster and performing in New York City as a soloist.
As an active performer, Viola regularly plays chamber music for local concert series and plays with orchestras such as American Youth Symphony, Colburn Orchestra, and the LA Doctors Symphony Orchestra. She is also an member in the Music Teacher’s Association of California of Torrance Branch and serves as the student advisor for the Music Students’ Service League, which is a music volunteer program for middle and high school musicians.
Kayvon Sesar
Violin & viola
A graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama’s prestigious Orchestral Studies Master’s program, Kayvon Sesar had the pleasure of studying with Lesley Hatfield, Marcia Crayford, and Itzhak Rashkovsky. Kayvon has also received a Master’s in Classical String Performance from the University of Limerick in Ireland where he studied with Katherine Hunka, and a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach where he studied with Andrea Byers.
An active orchestral musician, Kayvon has played as an Extra with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales performing on such occasions as their 90th anniversary live streamed concert and recording pick-ups for the BBC’s broadcast of the Royal Wedding. Kayvon has also performed concerts with the Welsh National Opera and the Irish Chamber Orchestra during his time in the UK and Ireland. While studying at the RWCMD, Kayvon was Concertmaster for various ensembles such as the RWCMD Symphony Orchestra, Opera Orchestra, String Soloists, and Senior Strings Ensemble. Kayvon has attended festivals such as AIMS in Graz and the Interlochen Arts Camp where he served as Concertmaster of the Interlochen Philharmonic.
Having recently moved back to Los Angeles, Kayvon has had the pleasure of performing with Santa Barbara Symphony, San Bernardino Symphony, and the American Youth Symphony. He also works freelance playing as a session/studio musician as well as performing in live shows with artists such as: Toni Braxton, Michael Bolton, Evanescence, and many more.
Raymond Newell
Cello
Raymond Newell began his cello studies in Denver, Colorado at the age of 8 in the studio of the nationally known Suzuki and pedagogy teacher Carol Tarr. After 7 years, he continued his studies under Richard Slavich at the Lamont School of Music until moving to Los Angeles in 2014. Since then, he has studied with the well known cellist and professor, Joon Sung Jun, at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University Long Beach where he is now finishing a BM in Cello Performance. Since 2012, Raymond has been a member of notable youth orchestras such as Colorado’s elite Denver Young Artists Orchestra and the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra where he was principal and assistant principal cellist. He is currently a member of the American Youth Symphony as well as principal cellist of the Bob Cole Conservatory Symphony. In 2016, Raymond completed an East Coast tour were he made his Carnegie Hall Debut as part of the Southern California Junior Chamber Music Artist Debut Program. He has also been on tour with multiple orchestras to countries including Spain, Germany and Czech Republic. In 2020, Raymond performed Eric Whitacre’s work Sacred Veil in collaboration with BCCM Chamber Choir and the composer himself at the 2020 ACDA Western Division Conference for a sold out performance at the Salt Lake Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, UT.
Raymond’s cello students are regularly appointed to principal positions in school orchestras, many of which participate in regional honors festivals. Other students have been accepted into the Philharmonic Society's Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra and selected as honors musicians in the Junior Chamber Music program, being given the opportunity to perform in master classes and concerts at the Idyllwild Academy.
In 2019, Raymond was a full ride scholarship recipient to the PRISMA Festival in British Columbia, Canada as well as a scholarship recipient to the Monticito International Music Festival in 2015 and the Lamont School of Music Summer Academy in 2014. He has also collaborated in chamber music with members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. In his studies, he has also participated in master classes at Juilliard, New England Conservatory and Bob Cole Conservatory and has played for notable musicians Alice Schoenfeld, Andrew Shulman, Dennis Karmazyn, Awadagin Pratt and Midori.
Anna Koito
Cello
Anna Koito is a concert cellist and esteemed music educator based in the vibrant Los Angeles area of California. With awealth of accomplishments to her name, Anna's journey in music began as a section cellist in the prestigious Niigata Symphony Orchestra and later in the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. Throughout her career, Anna has demonstrated her versatility as a musician, excelling in chamber music performances, studio recordings, and commercial media. Her exceptional training under esteemed mentors such as Sumiko Kurata,
Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, and Ben Hong has contributed to her profound musicality and technical prowess. Notably, she studied at the Toho Gakuen School of Music for Young Artists, Toho Gakuen School of Music High School, and earned a Bachelor of College Diploma from Toho Music University. Anna's exceptional talent has garnered recognition and acclaim. She secured first place and the Special Award in the Junior Cello Competition in Sapporo, Japan, and showcased her artistry at the prestigious Suntory Hall in Tokyo during an Awards Ceremony Recital. Her international performances include appearances at the France Academy Music Festival in Kyoto, the 20th Annual Kirishima National Music Festival, and as a guest performer at the World Cello Congress III in Baltimore, MD. In addition to her orchestral commitments, Anna has also made notable contributions to the television industry, commercials, studio recordings, and actively engages in chamber music collaborations. With over 15 years of private teaching experience, Anna is committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians, imparting her knowledge and passion for the cello and piano to her students. Anna Koito's dedication to her craft, remarkable achievements, and unwavering commitment to music education make her an exemplary figure in the world of classical music. Her artistry continues to captivate audiences, while her teaching inspires and empowers aspiring musicians in the South Bay and greater Los Angeles music communities.