The Honors Program at Levine is a merit based program designed to enrich the musical development of Levine’s exceptionally gifted students; by providing opportunities for them to enhance their musical education, gain inspiration through association with a community of like-minded students, and represent Levine as ambassadors of excellence. Once admitted to this prestigious program, an Honors Student will participate in a variety of activities and is given a modest stipend, which is applied towards tuition.

Learn more about Levine's current Honors Program students:

Danielle Agress

What is your favorite food?
Thai food

What is your favorite color?
Purple!

How old were you when you began lessons?
I was 7.

Who is your musical idol?
I don't really have one -- I prefer to admire the unique qualities of various musicians

Who is your favorite composer?
Sergei Rachmaninoff

Who is your favorite rock band?
An Endless Sporadic

How much do you practice every day?
Before I reached the workload-heavy stages of high school, I would try to practice somewhere between 3-5 hours a day. However, since I now have a rather difficult schedule, I probably practice around an hour or maybe 2 most days

Describe your most successful performance
In the summer of 2009, I participated in the Gijon International Piano Festival in Gijon, Spain. During my 2nd week there, I performed in a student recital at a concert hall in the city. I was the youngest participant in the festival by far (most of the other students were college students or beyond), and many people were wondering why I was at the festival to begin with. Therefore, I felt the need to prove my worth with this performance, and when I walked on stage, I gave it all I had. Not only did I perform my heart out, I also got a roaring applause. It was a wonderful experience. :)

Describe your most embarrassing performance
Quite a few years back, I learned a piece of music on my own and performed it at a recital. After the performance, I was told that I missed a section of the piece, and when I checked my score, it turned out that a page was missing. I was mortified, and I also never performed a piece without presenting it to my teacher first ever again.

Why are you a musician?
Music provides a wonderful escape and outlet. I enjoy using my efforts to create sounds as beautiful as I can make them, and I also enjoy the strong friendships that can form as a result of musical events.

Nicole Bonan

What is your favorite food?
Home-made "Magic" bars are my favorite food.  "Magic" bars are like brownies, but they're made of graham cracker crumbs, chocolate, butterscotch, and coconut.

What is your favorite color?
My favorite color is navy blue.

How old were you when you began lessons?
I was 8 when I started taking lessons.

Who is your musical idol?
I have two musical idols, Xuefei Yang and Taylor Swift.  I admire Xuefei Yang's individuality and the uniqueness she brings to her repertoire, especially through her arrangements of traditional Chinese pieces.  I admire Taylor Swift's passion and honesty towards her music and also her down-to-earth attitude

Who is your favorite composer?
My favorite composer is Leo Brouwer. 

Who is your favorite rock band?
It's hard to pick just one favorite band; a few of my favorite bands are Green River Ordinance, Counting Crows, O.A.R., and Lifehouse.

How much do you practice every day?
I usually practice about an hour and a half a day.  However, as I'm in the second semester of my junior year of high school I practice whenever I can.

Describe your most successful performance
My most successful performance: I had made it to the final round of a regional solo classical guitar competition, and I was up against a tough competitor.  I was really nervous, but I was more determined than ever to play my best, whether I won or not.  I began to play, and I became so absorbed in the music that my nerves faded and I could really just enjoy the music.  When I got up to bow, I felt that I had played one of my most successful performances.  I came in second, and because I felt that I did my personal best, it was like winning the whole competition.

Describe your most embarrassing performance
My most embarrassing performance: I was in 8th grade, and it was the first time I had ever competed as a solo classical guitarist.  I made it past the first round of the competition and went on to the semi finals, which both surprised and terrified me!  I was so nervous that during the second piece in my set, I completely forgot which notes came next and I didn't know what to do.  After playing a bunch of very wrong-sounding notes and creating a long pause in the music, I remembered the second ending and finished the piece from there.  It was hard to force myself to finish the piece, but I'm glad I did!

Nathan Foley

What is your favorite food?
Baconburger

What is your favorite color?
Red

How old were you when you began lessons?
8

Who is your musical idol?
I have none

Who is your favorite composer?
Mozart

What is your favorite rock band?
Funkadelic

How much do you practice?
An hour a day

Describe your most successful performance
I won at the apollo theatre in the adult competition.

Describe your most embarrassing performance
A performance at a restaurant in which I was playing through equipment that was not my own. Nothing seemed to go right.

Why are you a musician?
I've wanted to be a musician for as long as I can remember and still love it.

John Janezich

What is your favorite food?
Burgers

What is your favorite color?
 Red

How old were you when you began lessons?
5

Who is your musical idol?
I don't have a musical idol but there are many musicians that I admire.

Who is your favorite composer?
Favorite composers are: Beethoven and Chopin 

What is your favorite rock band?
The Beatles

How much do you practice?
2-3 hours

What was your most successful performance?
One of my Marlin-Engel performances. 

What was your most embarrassing performance?
When I was younger I skipped over a large part of a Chopin Waltz.

Why are you a musician?
Because I enjoy playing and performing music.

Emily Jung

What is your favorite food?
Sushi and Thai

What is your favorite color?
White

How old were you when you began lessons?
I began taking piano lessons at the age of 6.

Who is your musical idol?
Although I love and appreciate listening to different interpretations of a piece performed by all artists, my favorite musical idol is Evgeny Kissin. He is the master of touch, color, and nuance, and he truly has the power to captivate the audience with his virtuosity and his uncanny ability to change mood and expression instantaneously. I love his beautiful tone and brilliant runs.

Who is your favorite composer?
Sergei Rachmaninoff.

What is your favorite rock band?
Although it isn't rock, my favorite artists are Chrisette Michele and Sara Bareilles.

How much do you practice?
I try to practice about 2 hours every day. .

Describe your most successful performance
Even though I have been playing the piano for 11 years now, I still have not experienced a performance where I could honestly declare it "successful." Despite the number of times I have performed in recitals, master classes, and competitions, I have always had trouble presenting and really connecting with the audience. I become a nervous wreck before my turns to play and all I think about is just getting through piece instead of making every moment special and "tell a story" to the audience. The good new is that performing chamber music helped me gain confidence and be a better performer.


Describe your most embarrassing performance
In 5th grade, I competed in a Young Pianist Competition where I performed my first concerto, the Beethoven Piano Concerto in C Major. The competition required each competitor to choose and perform a piece from each of the 4 musical eras-the Baroque, the Classical, the Romantic, and the Modern-and on top of that, one concerto. It was a very difficult program to perform, especially in a competition. In the Beethoven Concerto, there is a passage where both my left and right hand play the same long, chromatic run down the piano, and end with a huge chord. When I play the huge chord at the end of the phrase, my accompanist also has a chord. On the day of the competition, I rushed down the chromatic scale and played my chord about a second earlier than my accompanist. It was quite embarrassing because I gave a big confident nod at my accompanist when I played my chord...

Why are you a musician?
Music is my escape route from my boring daily routines. Every piece of music is unique in its own way and being able to learn and experience all those different emotions is amazing. It is also very fun to become different characters depending on which piece I am playing at the moment. I feel so privileged to have been given the opportunity to have music as such a big part of my life.

Stephanie Leontiev

What is your favorite food?
Anything sweet!

What is your favorite color?
My favorite color is blue

How old were you when you began lessons?
I started playing the piano when I was seven years old

Who is your musical idol?
My musical idol is Eugeni Kissin

Who is your favorite composer?
My most enjoyable composers to perform are F. Chopin and S. Rachmoninoff.

Who is your favorite rock band?
My favorite rock band is The Killers. Although not rock, my favorite musical artist is David Guetta.

How much do you practice every day?
Because I am a high school junior, it is increasingly difficult to practice the amount of hours that I wish I could and should be practicing. I try to practice at least 2 hours every day, but unfortunately it varies during rough school nights.

Describe your most successful performance
My most successful performance was at Carnegie Hall in NYC where I performed The Young Juliet from the Romeo and Juliet Piano Suit by Sergei Prokofiev.  As part of a winner’s recital, I was honored with the opportunity to perform in this grand and spectacular music hall. Not only was I playing one of my favorite pieces, but I was satisfied and proud of my performance. My excitement was so high and my enthusiasm was so profound that I didn’t want that phenomenal moment of thriving on stage to end. This is a memory full of a roller coaster of emotions that will always be crystal clear in my mind.  And, of cause, it was an enormous thrill to win Second Place in The Robert  Spencer Piano Concerto Competition (NVMTA) in Virginia in 2010 and 2011!

Describe your most embarrassing performance
I’d rather not describe my most embarrassing performance because there’s a reason as to why I don’t want to recollect those memories!  However, I will share a funny story anyway! During a concerto competition, my performance didn’t run as smoothly as I would’ve hoped. During the first opening chords, I exuded so much strength that I felt a ricochet as the bench I was sitting on slid drastically backwards to the point where I almost fell off and onto the floor! Trying to keep my cool, I was able to continue playing as I attempted to discreetly hover over the keys, waiting for the momentary break where my accompanist played the part of the orchestra. In the end, my efforts paid off as I won second place with my first concerto! Moral of the story- Hang on for dear life and then pretend as if nothing out of the ordinary happened.

Why are you a musician?
I am a musician because I absolutely love to perform and love the sensation of emotions a piece of music creates within me. I believe music is a universal language that unites all people and is a nurturing force that purifies one’s mind and soul. I especially enjoy performing for the volunteering of Arts Are For All Ages at retirement communities and in the National Cathedral for school services because of the revelation that I am positively impacting the community with my music. I will continue to include music in my life because nothing compares to the release it gives me.

Brian Lichliter

What is your favorite food?
Ham and cheese sandwich with potatoes chips inside

What is your favorite color?
Blue

How old were you when you began lessons?
I began lessons with my first private teacher Criag Arnold when I was 16 but my dad has been teaching me trombone since I picked up the instrument in 5th grade (11 years old)

Who is your musical idol?
Although I am a trombone player by trade, my favorite musician is hands down the violinist Hilary Hahn. Her technique combined with her expression and understanding of every piece she plays is truly something to aspire towards.

Who is your favorite composer?
My favorite composer depends on the day and my mood. As far as consistency goes I would have to say I seem to like anything and everything Tchaikovsky has written so I guess he is my favorite composer. Mahler and Vaughn Williams are honorable mentions.

Who is your favorite rock band?
Not sure if they qualify as a rock band but 30 seconds to mars is my favorite band.

How much do you practice every day?
I practice roughly an hour a half a day. With either a rehearsal or lesson everyday of the week plus the added pressure of school it gets hard sometimes to practice. Recently (due to my college auditions) I have stepped up my practice time greatly though.

Describe your most successful performance
My most successful performance was with my symphonic band last year. Our conductor, Chris Weise, programmed a very hard concert for our Band Festival that year including Rienzi and Bells for Stokowski. Performing those pieces at our festival with a group of such high caliber was really something special and merits being called my most successful performance.

Describe your most embarrassing performance
District XII Band Festival during my 8th grade year. My band was performing a piece titled Celtic Suite and during the first movement, in the middle of this very exposed soloistic section, I dropped my straight mute making a huge noise. I was extremely embarrassed and disappointed in myself.

Why are you a musician?
While auditioning for 7th grade band my father gave me a piece of advice that has stuck with me ever since. He told me to “make my judge cry.” Granted I was playing a kiddy version of over the rainbow but music is more than what you play. I am a musician with the goal to move someone with my music, to affect someone emotionally, to make people think. Again I bring up my musical idol, Hilary Hahn. Her recording of The Lark Ascending has had a huge impact on me. Her musical expression and playing is so beautiful and I want to be able to have the same affect on someone in the future that she has had on me.

Andrew Logan

 
What is your favorite food?
Pasta
 
What is your favorite color?
 Green

How old were you when you began lessons?
I started piano when I was 8 and began clarinet lessons at Levine at the age of 10.

Who is your musical idol?
Benny Goodman

Who is your favorite composer?
J.S. Bach

What is your favorite rock band?
The Offspring

How much do you practice?
Variable, on average 45 minutes to an hour a day.

Describe your most successful performance
My most successful performance was at the NVMTA achievement award competition last May when I won first place.  After playing I had that good solid feeling of "Hey, that was pretty nice."

Describe your most embarrassing performance
My most embarrassing performance was at a woodwind concerto competition 3 months earlier in which I played the same piece as I did in the NVMTA competition.  I pulled one of those stereotypical clarinet screeching squeaks that goes BRAAAAKKK at an open isolated section of the song.  What are the odds...  Naturally I had a rather large grimace on my face while bowing.

Why are you a musician?
I am a musician because music is the medium through which I enjoy expressing myself and my emotions.

Jack Ludwig

What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is Spaghetti Bolognese

What is your favorite color?
My favorite color is red.

How old were you when you began lessons?
I began oboe lessons when i was ten years old.  Then when i was twelve i started taking singing lessons.

Who is your musical idol?
My musical idol is Bryn Terfel.

Who is your favorite composer?
I have many favorite composers. These include Mozart, Mahler, Dvorak, Rossini, and Puccini.

What is your favorite rock band?
My favorite band is Coldplay.

How much do you practice?
I try to get in at least an hour of oboe every day and 15-20 minutes of singing.

Describe your most successful performance
My most successful performance was my second vocal jury, in the basement of the NW Levine Campus.  I was singing Libera Me Domine from Fuare's Requiem.  I remember that when I was singing the audience disappeared and it was just me and the accompanist.  I was happy about that and I was having fun.  Which is the most important thing about being a musician.

Describe your most embarrassing performance
My most embarrassing performance ever was The 2011 Cogen Concerto Competition.  It was so embarrassing because I was putting so much effort into it and making everything I played as beautiful as possible.  Then I had a memory lapse.  I just blanked on an entire section of the piece.  I could see the shock in everyone's eyes.  I looked at my accompanist and she started playing the section again in a place that I did remember.  I finished the piece with only one thing in mind: finish with a strong come-back!  I did my best and thats all I could give, but boy was I ashamed.

Why are you a musician?
I am a musician for many reasons.  First and foremost, I never want to grow up.  And when you are a musician you NEVER grow up.  You can always be as childish as you want.  It's perfectly fine.  That's why so many musicians, like Mozart, were as most people say "crazy."  Second, the type of people that become musicians are my friends.  And I have to say, musicians are probably the kindest people on earth.  Third, music is a way in which I can express myself.  I can put all of my emotions into my music, whether I'm happy and in a "bubbly" mood, or whether I'm down-in-the-dumps.  It's a really great way to make myself feel better by releasing all of my emotions.  And lastly, it's fun!  Being a musician is simply and honestly fun.  It's the most joyous career I can think of.

Sam Matzner

What is your favorite food?
Thai.
 
What is your favorite color?
Blue.

How old were you when you began lessons?
6 years old

Who is your musical idol?
Jaco Pastorius

Who is your favorite composer?
Pat Metheny

What is your favorite rock band?
Fleet Foxes have done some pretty interesting things recently- I also like Blind Pilot a lot. Folk bands in general are kinda where it’s at right now

How much do you practice?
Probably not enough- wish I had more time!

Describe your most successful performance
A few friends and I recorded George Benson’s Affirmation at Levine’s summer rock and roll camp some years ago- unsure of how it actually went because I’ve never listened to the CD, but it felt really good to play.

Describe your most embarrassing performance
The Little Theatre of Alexandria adapted and premiered its own rendition of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol back when I was in third grade. I had one line, and all my friends came to watch- it was a little awkward.

Why are you a musician?
It’s much easier to show people how you’re feeling in a musical context than in a social one.

Nate McLean

What is your favorite food?
Chipotle burritos and chocolate

What is your favorite color?
purple

How old were you when you began lessons?
6

Who is your musical idol?
Joshua Bell

Who is your favorite composer?
Tchaikovsky

Who is your favorite rock band?
Linkin Park

How much do you practice every day?
One hour

Describe your most successful performance
My first Cogen competition (grade 6).  I tied for 1st place in the intermediate instrumental division.

Describe your most embarrassing performance
In my last sight reading audition for Senior Regional Orchestra I played the last whole note of the excerpt a half step too high.

Why are you a musician?
I like playing violin because of the possibilities and opportunities it creates.

Stephen Moran

What is your favorite food?
Pasta

What is your favorite color?
Red

How old were you when you began lessons?
5 years old

Who is your musical idol?
Mstislav Rostropovich

Who is your favorite composer?
Alexander Scriabin

Who is your favorite rock band?
Not really rock, but Autechre

How much do you practice every day?
2 hours

Describe your most successful performance
Any where I really feel like the piece has become a part of me

Describe your most embarrassing performance
There is no need to ever be embarrassed by a performance, as long as you focus and give your best effort

Why are you a musician?
Do you have  a suggestion for anything even close to being as fulfilling?

Monica Won

What is your favorite food?
Ravioli di Portobello

What is your favorite color?
Baby blue

How old were you when you began lessons?
4 years old

Who is your musical idol?
Jascha Heifetz

Who is your favorite composer?
Pablo de Sarasate

How much do you practice?
One to two hours

Describe your most successful performance
Performance at the Kennedy Center last year without making any mistakes!

Describe your most embarrassing performance
When I was in 8th grade, I tried out for All State and during my audition, I dropped my bow.

Why are you a musician?
It gives me a sense of achievement and joy.