About the Young Artists
2021 GSO Concerto Competition
Diego Parra, Pianist
Diego Parra, a native of Dallas Texas, just completed his Freshman year as part of the Honors College at the University of Memphis studying piano with Dr. Artina McCain. Diego hopes to become a collaborative pianist, having already performed with soloists, choir, orchestra and various types of jazz and Latin American ensembles.
As a junior at Dallas’ Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, he was awarded the Music Conservatory Director’s Award and was a Gold Medalists in both the Dallas ISD and Texas State Solo and Ensemble competition. His senior year in addition to solo piano and collaborative recitals, Diego and his Duo Piano partner won the 2019-2020 Booker T. Washington Collaborative Piano Competition and he received an Honorable Mention in the Oklahoma State University High School Piano Competition.
Beginning private piano study at the age of 8, Diego continued private piano study for four years and then studied at arts schools. He has performed in numerous masterclasses for professors from universities such as Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, Eastman School of Music, and Oklahoma State University School of Music. Diego’s other musical interests are bass guitar, which he began studying at age 15, transcribing music and collaborating with other musicians.
Karis Ko, Flutist
Karis Ko, a student of Myung Kim, has been playing flute for seven years. She has won numerous music competitions including being selected as a winner in the MTSU Flute Festival Solo Competition (2016) and in the International Grande Music Competition in New York (2017). Karis was a 2018 winner in the Germantown Youth Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition and in 2020 she was selected into the Tennessee Governor’s School for Arts.
Karis is a junior in high school where she has actively been involved in the school band program since the 6th grade. For the past three years Karis has participated in TMEA All West blue band and All State competitions, culminating in 1st Chair placement in the All West Senior 11-12 Band in 2021. As a member of her high school Marching Band, Karis enjoys the comradery with fellow members and especially enjoys band trips for competitions.
Karis is a member of Beta Club, Cum Laude Society, and National Honor Society. In addition to music performance she is interested in painting, reading and listening to music.
Karis Ko, a student of Myung Kim, has been playing flute for seven years. She has won numerous music competitions including being selected as a winner in the MTSU Flute Festival Solo Competition (2016) and in the International Grande Music Competition in New York (2017). Karis was a 2018 winner in the Germantown Youth Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition and in 2020 she was selected into the Tennessee Governor’s School for Arts.
Karis is a junior in high school where she has actively been involved in the school band program since the 6th grade. For the past three years Karis has participated in TMEA All West blue band and All State competitions, culminating in 1st Chair placement in the All West Senior 11-12 Band in 2021. As a member of her high school Marching Band, Karis enjoys the comradery with fellow members and especially enjoys band trips for competitions.
Karis is a member of Beta Club, Cum Laude Society, and National Honor Society. In addition to music performance she is interested in painting, reading and listening to music.
Yuka Terada Yang, flutist
After 10 years of piano study and competitions, Yuka Terada Yang started focusing on the flute, beginning lessons with Dr. Sabrina Hu and two years later with Myung Kim. In just a few years, Yuka became a member of the 2019-20 GPAC Wind Ensemble and a flutist in the 2020-21 Germantown Youth Symphony Orchestra. While Yuka has continued piano study and winning prizes in competitions in Tennessee (Memphis, Chattanooga, Martin, MTNA) she is starting to gain recognition as a flutist.
A member of her high school's Band for the past 5 years, Yuka placed 2nd Chair in the 9th & 10th Blue Band at 2019-20 TMEA All West competition, and was a finalist in the 2021Germantown Youth Symphony Concerto Competition in addition to being one of the GSO Concerto Competition finalists this year. GSO audiences may remember her debut as a pianist on the GSO Young Artist concert in October 2018.
Last year Yuka completed the Kumon Reading program in Japanese and English as well as completing the Japanese Language School in Memphis. In addition to her band membership, Yuka is also a member of her high school's Tennis Team.
After 10 years of piano study and competitions, Yuka Terada Yang started focusing on the flute, beginning lessons with Dr. Sabrina Hu and two years later with Myung Kim. In just a few years, Yuka became a member of the 2019-20 GPAC Wind Ensemble and a flutist in the 2020-21 Germantown Youth Symphony Orchestra. While Yuka has continued piano study and winning prizes in competitions in Tennessee (Memphis, Chattanooga, Martin, MTNA) she is starting to gain recognition as a flutist.
A member of her high school's Band for the past 5 years, Yuka placed 2nd Chair in the 9th & 10th Blue Band at 2019-20 TMEA All West competition, and was a finalist in the 2021Germantown Youth Symphony Concerto Competition in addition to being one of the GSO Concerto Competition finalists this year. GSO audiences may remember her debut as a pianist on the GSO Young Artist concert in October 2018.
Last year Yuka completed the Kumon Reading program in Japanese and English as well as completing the Japanese Language School in Memphis. In addition to her band membership, Yuka is also a member of her high school's Tennis Team.