Celebrating Gilman's Outstanding Music Students
by Director of Music Ariel Dechosa
Jackie W. '31, Jaeman Shin '25, and Andy Yoon '25 — at their young ages — all have impressive musical achievements already. Read more about each student below.
Jackie W. '31
Jackson “Jackie” W. '31 has a deep passion for music that drives him to dedicate himself to the piano. “Music connects with emotions I can’t put into words. I feel my best when I find a phrase that perfectly expresses how I feel,” he says.
Jackie began studying piano at the age of 5 through Gilman's After-School Music Program. Since 2021, he has been studying with Dr. Shirley Yoo, who teaches at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.
In February 2025, Jackie made his orchestral debut with the New England Youth Ensemble as a winner of the Maryland State Music Teachers Association Gertrude S. Brown Memorial Piano Concerto Competition. His accolades include First Prize at both the 2024 Baltimore Music Teachers Association Nachman Competition and the 2023 Valencia International Performance Academy Festival. Earlier, he earned Third Prize at the S. Gottlieb Memorial Piano Competition (2023) and First Prize at the Washington Universal Piano Competition (2020).
In May 2024, with the support of Gilman's Music Department, Jackie successfully presented his first solo recital — a 45-minute program featuring works by Bach, Chopin, and Prokofiev. His recital repertoire reflected his broad musical interests, though he is especially drawn to the works of Chopin, Mendelssohn, and Debussy.
Jackie performs regularly at a variety of venues, both locally and abroad. In Baltimore, he frequently participates in recitals organized by the Maryland Music Teachers Association of Greater Baltimore. He has also been invited to perform with piano minor students at the Peabody Institute. He has been recognized as a Young Artist with the Union Square Soirée, a salon concert series in Baltimore, and has been invited to perform at their events.
Internationally, Jackie has earned placement in several prestigious, highly selective summer programs, including the Valencia International Performing Arts Summer Festival in Spain (2023) and the Vancouver Piano Sessions in Canada (2024). At these programs, he has experienced meaningful artistic growth through rigorous training and public performances.
Through these programs, Jackie has had the opportunity to study with distinguished artists and teachers, including Pavel Nersessian (Boston University / Moscow State Conservatory), Chun-Chieh Yen (National Taiwan Normal University), Daniel Ábalos (Manuel Carra Conservatory), Juan Lago (currently at the José Iturbi Conservatory in Valencia and Escuela Superior Musical Arts in Madrid, formerly at the Qatar Music Academy), Arthur Greene (University of Michigan), Corey Hamm (University of British Columbia), and Sasha Starcevich (Founder & Artistic Director, Vancouver Piano Sessions).
One highlight of his international experience came during the 2023 Valencia Festival, where he was selected to perform at a public concert held at the Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporània, a 13th-century royal monastery turned cultural arts center in Valencia, Spain.
Jackie’s cheerful, kind, and collaborative spirit helps him form friendships wherever he goes. In his free time, he also enjoys music programming—creating, editing, mixing, and arranging music of his own.
Jaeman "Elliott" Shin '25
Jaeman "Elliott" Shin '25 is an accomplished pianist and musician with over a decade of rigorous training at the Peabody Preparatory of Johns Hopkins University. Studying under esteemed instructors Hyun-Sook Park and Min-Chi Wu-Philips, he has earned the Advanced Piano Certificate and been selected for the prestigious Piano Academy, further honing his performance and musicianship skills. Jaeman has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Peabody Institute Performance and Achievement Awards (2020–2024) and multiple first-place finishes in the Maryland State Music Teachers Association competitions. His talent has been acknowledged on an international level as well, earning top prizes in the Piano Star International Competition and the International Young Artist Piano Competition. A dedicated performer, Jaeman has showcased his artistry at esteemed venues such as Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Beyond solo performance, he is an active ensemble musician, serving as first chair clarinet in the Gilman School Concert Band and a member of the Upper School Glee Club and Handbell Choir.
Jaeman will attend New York University in the fall.
Andy Yoon '25
Andy Yoon '25 has been studying at the Piano Academy of the Peabody Institute under Dr. Hyun-Sook Park since 2018. Throughout his career, Andy has won a multitude of prizes and awards, including first place at the 2019 International Young Artist Piano Competition (and selected to perform at the Kennedy Center) and first place at the 2019 SONE International Young Soloists Competition Group C (and performed at Carnegie Hall). He won first place at the 2020 MSMTA Spring Festival: Piano Solo Competition and first place at the 2021 MSMTA Spring Festival a year later, first place at the 2022 MSMTA Doris Chase Piano Competition, third place in both the 2021 and 2022 Piano Star Amateur Division.
Andy won first place at the 2022–2023 Gertrude S. Brown Concerto Competition, second prize at the 2023 Peabody Preparatory Concerto Competition, and, this past summer, Andy won second prize at the 2024 Thomas S. Hulbert Competition, with competitors coming from the entire Mid-Atlantic and beyond. After his time at Gilman and Peabody, Andy hopes to continue his piano-playing through school ensembles and courses offered to students when he matriculates to Harvard. However, he is most grateful for his time spent in Baltimore studying under his teacher and being supported by Gilman's Music Department.
This article was published in May 2025.