Aki Santibañez, 16, started playing violin at the age of three. This year, she won the Sinfonietta Bel Canto (SBC) Concerto Competition and last year Merit School of Music’s Concerto Competition. She has also won prizes at the Sejong Music Competition and the DePaul University Concerto Festival. Aki dedicated eight years to the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO), progressing from the Overture String ensemble to the Symphony Orchestra, and was concertmaster numerous times.
Aki was invited to perform in masterclasses led by Hilary Hahn, Robert Chen, Lina Bahn, Jessica Lee, Stephen Miahky, and Solomiya Ivakhiv. She was also invited by the Black Oaks Ensemble to join the Cordes en Gascogne Festival in France.
As a member of the Spizella String Quartet, Aki has performed at the University of Chicago, the Harris Theater, and Highland Park’s Community House as part of the Pilgrim Chamber Players. Spizella was featured on WFMT’s Introductions this year and has reached the quarter finals of the prestigious Fischoff International Chamber Arts Competition, the finals of the Rembrandt High School Chamber Competition and received an honorable mention in the Open Division of the Chicago National Chamber Music Competition.
Aki is a sophomore at Whitney M. Young high school in Chicago and she was appointed concertmaster of the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) District 1 Senior Orchestra last year. She is a member of her school’s Asian dance club and performs for the school community. Her recent violin instructors include Desirée Ruhstrat and Miki Yuasa.