OUR STORY
The History Behind Our Journey
In 2019, we were just a group of friends who started this as a small school music club. Throughout our freshman year, we always dreamed of creating a club that would give light to music as its importance is often forgotten. As we held free performances for senior centers throughout the year, our club members realized that we have a passion for performing to the community after seeing the happy faces of the elderly audience.
After seeing success in our club in the first year, we envisioned a plan to create a non-profit organization to empower the community with music to a further extent. Follow us to see our journey!
Organization Directors
Alicia Kang
Co-Founder and McLean Chapter President
Alicia is an incoming freshman at Washington University in St. Louis and a dedicated musician. In high school, she was a part of McLean's Philharmonic Orchestra as a violinist/pianist as well as President of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. In her senior year, she received McLean Orchestra's Director’s Award for her deep passion and commitment to music and the community. During her free time, Alicia interned at DC Strings, a newly formed music non-profit organization. Also, she continues her passion for teaching music in low-income public schools. While attending WashU, Alicia plans to study business while following the pre-dental track. Even after high school, Alicia hopes to expand Youth Harmony's vision nationally.
Alicia Kang
Julia Tan
Co-Founder and McLean Chapter President
Julia Tan is an incoming first year at the University of Virginia who has been playing the flute for 8 years and the piccolo for 4 years. During her time in high school, she was an active member of the McLean High School Symphonic Band and Chamber Ensemble Program. Julia was also a Drum Major of the McLean Marching Band during the 2021-22 season. She also served as the Vice President of McLean’s Tri-M Music Honor Society for the 2021-22 school year. In 2022, Julia was also a recipient of the McLean Symphonic Band Director’s Award for outstanding dedication, commitment, and performance. Since 2016, Julia has been involved with the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras. She has been performing with AYP,their top orchestra, as their co-principal flutist since 2019. Julia was also accepted into the Virginia District 12 Wind Ensemble in 2020, 2021 and 2022, where she ranked first place in the district out of approximately 100 flutists. She was also accepted into the Virginia District 12 Symphonic Band in 2019. She also was accepted into the All-Virginia Symphonic Band in 2019 and 2022 and the Concert Band in 2020. In addition to her commitment to her musical activities, Julia is planning on studying finance and international business at UVA.
Julia Tan
Christina Wu
Director of Logistics
Christina Wu is a senior at McLean High School and a passionate cellist in McLean’s Philharmonic Orchestra. She has participated in multiple Regional and All-State orchestras, as well as the Capitol Symphony Youth Orchestra’s Symphonic Orchestra for three years. Aside from her interests as a solo and orchestral player, Christina also expresses her passion for teaching music as the co-director of the McLean Music Buddies Club. She continues working with other musicians in hopes of seeing the influence of music spread throughout her community.
Christina Wu
Cristina Pak
Director of Public Relations
Cristina Pak is a junior at Langley High School and has been playing the violin for 8 years. She has performed with the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras and American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras. In the past two years, she has also played with the District 12 All-District Orchestra and the Regional Virginia Orchestra. Cristina has been a mentor for Music Buddies since freshman year and has discovered her fondness for teaching students through this program. She now looks forward to privately tutoring students in violin, English, and math. Outside of school, she likes to listen to music, teach herself guitar, and read. She loves meeting new people and learning about who they are, thus being Director of Public Relations. She strives to become her best version of herself by helping others connect through music and the arts.
Cristina Pak
McLean Branch Directors
Abby Chung
Co-President of MYH
She is a rising senior at McLean High School. She has been heavily involved in choir since 3rd grade and has been a part of McLean Madrigals since sophomore year. She has held many leadership positions such as Vice President of Madrigals, Choir representative of Tri-M Music Honor Society, and will be president of the Youth Harmony branch at McLean. Abby is passionate in music as well as serving her community, as seen through her active participation as vocalist in her church’s praise team at Open Door Presbyterian Church. In addition, she has participated in community events, such as McLean Day, with her band, G’NASH, and together they have raised money for the humanitarian organization Save the Children. Outside of music, Abby enjoys playing competitive volleyball, dancing, and traveling with her family. She hopes to impact her community through many aspects of her life, and strives to use music as one avenue for this goal.
Abby Chung
Christina Wu
Co-President of MYH
Christina Wu is a senior at McLean High School and a passionate cellist in McLean’s Philharmonic Orchestra. She has participated in multiple Regional and All-State orchestras, as well as the Capitol Symphony Youth Orchestra’s Symphonic Orchestra for three years. Aside from her interests as a solo and orchestral player, Christina also expresses her passion for teaching music as the co-director of the McLean Music Buddies Club. She continues working with other musicians in hopes of seeing the influence of music spread throughout her community.
Christina Wu
Donghwa Shin
Vice President of MYH
Donghwa Shin is a rising senior at McLean High School and an active violinist in the McLean High School Philharmonic Orchestra. Having played violin for over 7 years, he has been part of the Northern Virginia Senior Regional Orchestra and the All-Virginia Orchestra for the past 2 years. Aside from orchestras in Virginia, he has also performed as part of an ensemble in Korea that performed in hospitals in 2018. Having truly enjoyed performing in front of patients, he hopes to continue sharing music with the community in the U.S. through Youth Harmony.
Donghwa Shin
Richard Montgomery Branch Directors
Desiree Chen
Richard Montgomery President
Desiree Chen is a senior at Richard Montgomery High School in Maryland with a passion for music. She has been mastering piano for over a decade and has played cello when she was younger. Desiree has received her ARSM diploma, won numerous state and international awards, and is very excited to be performing at Carnegie Hall in 2022. She loves to spread the joy of music, especially in senior houses, and hopes to do the same with Youth Harmony. Outside of music, Desiree is heavily involved with her community, especially in empowering girls interested in the business and finance sector, and loves to read and take nature walks. In the future, she hopes to major in business or economics (as well as sustain her love for music)!
Desiree Chen
Langley Branch Directors
Cristina Pak
Langley Branch President
Cristina Pak is a junior at Langley High School and has been playing the violin for 8 years. She has performed with the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras and American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras. In the past two years, she has also played with the District 12 All-District Orchestra and the Regional Virginia Orchestra. Cristina has been a mentor for Music Buddies since freshman year and has discovered her fondness for teaching students through this program. She now looks forward to privately tutoring students in violin, English, and math. Outside of school, she likes to listen to music, teach herself guitar, and read. She loves meeting new people and learning about who they are, thus being Director of Public Relations. She strives to become her best version of herself by helping others connect through music and the arts.