Stamps String Quartet Class of 2022

Major: Instrumental Performance

Instrument: Violin

Stamps Ensemble Name: Stamps String Quartet Class of 2022

Lydia Newton, violin, is majoring in Instrumental Performance at the Frost School of Music located at the University of Miami, where she is a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar, Class of 2022. 

Lydia Newton is from Moss Point, MS, and studies violin with Sonja Foster of Atlanta, GA. Previous teachers include Enen Yu (Mobile, AL) and Jivka Jeleva Duke (Baton Rouge, LA). Lydia has been a state winner in Music Teacher's National Association (MTNA) String Solo Performance competition for three years. In 2016, she placed first in the MTNA Southern Division Junior String competition and competed as a finalist at the MTNA National Convention in TX. Lydia has won various other competitions and has been awarded music education grants from the Rachel Barton Pine Foundation (2018) and The Performing Arts Consortium (2016). During past summers, Lydia has attended the Castleman Quartet Program (2017) and the inaugural season of National Youth Orchestra Two (NYO2) of Weil Institute, Carnegie Hall (2016). She has twice served as concertmaster of Alabama All-State Orchestra Festival. She has soloed with the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra (2017), the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (2017, 2015), the Georgia Philharmonic Orchestra (2015), and the Southeastern Louisiana University Chamber Orchestra (2010, 2009). In January, 2017, Lydia presented private recitals in Hilton Head, SC, as a guest of "Young Artist Performances" concert series, and in October 2017, she gave recitals in Charleston under the sponsorship of "Music Matters!" Counting it a privilege to share the gift of music, Lydia has relished a variety of musical “projects” over the years, many involving collaboration with musician siblings. In April 2018, she premiered “Route 7 Rhapsody,” her brother's violin-piano sonata, with her pianist sister at Williams College, MA. Beyond her musical pursuits, Lydia enjoys running, reading non-fiction, sketching portraits, and participating in her church.

Major: Instrumental Performance

Instrument: Violoncello

Stamps Ensemble Name: Stamps String Quartet Class of 2022

Ruth Stokes, violoncello, is majoring in Instrumental Performance at the Frost School of Music located at the University of Miami, where she is a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar, Class of 2022.

Ruth Stokes is from Minnesota and has been playing cello since she was six years old. Ruth has been principal cellist and soloed with the orchestra at St Croix Preparatory Academy. Ruth also played in the Symphony Orchestra of Minnesota Youth Symphonies, went on tour to Cuba with them, was a finalist in their symphony solo competition, and played with them as principal cellist. Ruth attended University of Northwestern for two years, playing with their orchestra both years, and was principal cellist for her second year. She has attended the Sartory String Quartet Institute, the Green Lake Chamber Music Camp, and the Credo Oberlin Chamber Music Festival. Ruth uses music to worship God and love others. She greatly enjoys marine biology, history, art, poetry, horseback riding, and spending time with her parents and her four crazy siblings.

Major: Instrumental Performance

Instrument: Violin

Stamps Ensemble Name: Stamps String Quartet Class of 2022

Soohyun Chae, violin, is majoring in Instrumental Performance at the Frost School of Music located at the University of Miami, where he is a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar, Class of 2022.

Soohyun Chae, born in Seoul, South Korea and a long-time resident of Lubbock, Texas, began his violin training at the age of six under the tutelage of former TTU violin professor, Kirsten Yon. During his early years as a violinist, he participated at his local Suzuki and Amati programs (STELR). He also participated in the Lubbock Youth Symphony Orchestra (LYSO) and other various local ensemble programs. After many years of study with Dr. Yon, he then went on to study his remaining high school years with TTU violin professor, John Gilbert.

Soohyun has attended various summer music programs including the Texas Tech Band and Orchestra Camp, Bravo, the Pienza Music Festival, and the Castleman Quartet Program. He has also received lessons and masterclasses from numerous distinguished professors, including Sally O’Reilly, Charles Castleman, and Yair Kless. On top of his musical experiences, he has also won numerous state-wide honors.  He has been a member of Texas All-State Orchestra for the past 3 years as well as being selected as an Outstanding Performer at the 2016 Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest (TSSEC) last year. Only the top 2%-3% of solo performances can earn this distinguished honor.

Soohyun also embarked on an active performing career as a pianist as well. He won first place for all three years he has participated in the piano sonata and sonatina contest hosted by LMTA (Lubbock Music Teachers Association). He also was a semi-finalist in the 9^th-10^th Grade division in the Texas state piano festival hosted by TMTA (Texas Music Teachers Association) and has participated in both the Juanita-Miller (SMU) and Baylor piano competition. He continues to play the piano as a hobby but has set it aside in order to pursue the violin.

Soohyun currently studies violin under Charles Castleman at the Frost School of Music. He loves science and mathematics and has remained academically competitive in high school, becoming a National Merit Finalist and a Phi-Beta Kappa Scholar. Outside of music, he enjoys watching anime and making soundtrack transcriptions.

Major: Instrumental Performance

Instrument: Viola

Stamps Ensemble Name: Stamps String Quartet Class of 2022

Wynne Owre, viola, is majoring in Instrumental Performance at the Frost School of Music located at the University of Miami, where she is a Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholar, Class of 2022.

In 2016, Wynne Owre was the sole violist chosen to represent the State of Florida at the National Association for Music Education All-National Honor Ensembles Symphony Orchestra, where she had also performed in 2015. She has had many musical accomplishments from performing at Carnegie Hall with the Honors Performance Series in 2016 to performing under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas with the New World Symphony Side by Side Concert in 2015 and 2016.
Wynne resides in Miami, Florida where she has studied the viola with April Queen for seven years. She was a member of the Palmer Trinity School Orchestra, and is a recipient of the National School Orchestra Award as well as the Quincy Jones Music Award. Wynne has been selected for the Florida Orchestra Association All-State Orchestras for four years. During the summers, Wynne attends the Meadowmount School of Music in Westport, New York in the studio of Gerardo Ribeiro. She has also performed with the ICMC Music Festival in Italy and France. In her free time Wynne enjoys horseback riding, and has been competing in hunter/jumper competitions since the age of five.