SugarStrings
joyful music for a new generation
About SugarStrings
In 2004, SugarStrings emerged from the developing artistry of three talented young cousins, Mira Williams, Adé Williams, and Ayanna Williams. The group formed while all were students of the Hyde Park Suzuki Institute, founded by Lucinda Ali. Both Mira and Adé began formal instruction at HPSI at age 3. In 2006 and 2007, Adé, Mira, and Ayanna trained on full scholarship with leading orchestral members of major symphony orchestras from around the country at the Triada Music Festival in Ludlow, Vermont. In 2007, SugarStrings was inducted into the prestigious Chicago Musicians Association as junior members.
Adé Williams, 11, is 1st violinist for the group. She is the 2005 winner of the Early Music Category of the Walgreen’s National Concerto Competition’s Junior Open Division. In 2006, she became the first recipient of the William Warfield Memorial Scholarship at the Music Institute of Chicago, won the Junior Division of the Sigma Alpha Iota String Camp Scholarship Competition and was awarded a Rachel Elizabeth Barton Foundation Education Grant. Adé made her debut in 2004 at the age of six, performing the Bach Double with the Chicago Sinfonietta and Maestro Paul Freeman as that orchestra’s youngest ever soloist. In February 2007, she will perform the Meude-Monpas with the Highland Park Strings at Ravinia. Adé studies with Almita Vamos, Rachel Barton Pine and Marko Dreher. She performs on a half-size violin by Michael Puzak and a half-size bow by William H. Lee, on generous loan from the Rachel Elizabeth Barton Foundation.
Mira Williams, 10, plays 2nd violin and viola with SugarStrings and is a student of Marko Dreher (primasmarko@aol.com). Early training blossomed with summers at Suzuki camp in Deerfield, IL. Mira served as concertmaster for the Chicago Youth Debut Orchestra (2005-06) and first violist for the Chicago Youth Concert Orchestra (2007-08), both under the direction of Terrance Oliveras-Gray. She ended 2005 as a featured performer on the televised Christmas Glory, starring Al Jarreau and Brian McKnight.
Ayanna Williams, 16, is SugarStrings' cellist. She began cello instruction in Spring Brook Elementary School's fifth grade orchestra program (Naperville, Illinois). Ayanna won "Best of Day" and top honors for strings performance at the 2008 Illinois High School Association Solo/Ensemble competition. She was awarded merit scholarships from the Northwestern University High School Music Institute, the Ravinia Festival, and the Music for Life Foundation. She studies with Paul Ghica under the direction of Richard Hirschl of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. A CYDO member during the 2005-2006 season, Ayanna also attended the Sphinx Performance Academy at Walnut Hill School (Natick, Mass.) on full scholarship during the summer of 2005. Currently, Ayanna is a junior in the International Baccalaureate honors program at a top 10 Chicago public high school.
Together, the cousins’ youthful exuberance and skill have thrilled audiences at impressive venues and events. Career highlights include:
• Performance for the Women's Board of Ravinia.
• Jazz debut at the renowned Jazz in the Alley with Kelan Phil Cohran. Under the tutelage of this jazz legend, SugarStrings performed "Zincali," an original composition by Mr. Cohran.
• Chicago Chamber Musicians events (return performances for Target sponsored Annual Family Concerts at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier; The Divas of Mozart’s Day at the Chicago Athletic Association; reception for Target's community partners at Millennium Park).
• Intermission for acclaimed violinist and Grammy winner Nadja Salerno Sonnenberg’s concert at Dominican University.
• United Negro College Fund’s annual Black and White Ball.
• Opened for vocalist Rachelle Ferrell and saxophonist Kirk Whalum at the Martin Luther King Peace Jam, Harold Washington Cultural Center.
• Performed the National Anthem at WNBA Chicago Sky home games (return engagements).
The Chicago Tribune (1/31/06) headlined a review, “Young string players’ talent stirs elders’ emotions.” SugarStrings will be featured in the January 2007 issue of Ebony magazine in an article on gifted and talented African American children.
Adé Williams, 11, is 1st violinist for the group. She is the 2005 winner of the Early Music Category of the Walgreen’s National Concerto Competition’s Junior Open Division. In 2006, she became the first recipient of the William Warfield Memorial Scholarship at the Music Institute of Chicago, won the Junior Division of the Sigma Alpha Iota String Camp Scholarship Competition and was awarded a Rachel Elizabeth Barton Foundation Education Grant. Adé made her debut in 2004 at the age of six, performing the Bach Double with the Chicago Sinfonietta and Maestro Paul Freeman as that orchestra’s youngest ever soloist. In February 2007, she will perform the Meude-Monpas with the Highland Park Strings at Ravinia. Adé studies with Almita Vamos, Rachel Barton Pine and Marko Dreher. She performs on a half-size violin by Michael Puzak and a half-size bow by William H. Lee, on generous loan from the Rachel Elizabeth Barton Foundation.
Mira Williams, 10, plays 2nd violin and viola with SugarStrings and is a student of Marko Dreher (primasmarko@aol.com). Early training blossomed with summers at Suzuki camp in Deerfield, IL. Mira served as concertmaster for the Chicago Youth Debut Orchestra (2005-06) and first violist for the Chicago Youth Concert Orchestra (2007-08), both under the direction of Terrance Oliveras-Gray. She ended 2005 as a featured performer on the televised Christmas Glory, starring Al Jarreau and Brian McKnight.
Ayanna Williams, 16, is SugarStrings' cellist. She began cello instruction in Spring Brook Elementary School's fifth grade orchestra program (Naperville, Illinois). Ayanna won "Best of Day" and top honors for strings performance at the 2008 Illinois High School Association Solo/Ensemble competition. She was awarded merit scholarships from the Northwestern University High School Music Institute, the Ravinia Festival, and the Music for Life Foundation. She studies with Paul Ghica under the direction of Richard Hirschl of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. A CYDO member during the 2005-2006 season, Ayanna also attended the Sphinx Performance Academy at Walnut Hill School (Natick, Mass.) on full scholarship during the summer of 2005. Currently, Ayanna is a junior in the International Baccalaureate honors program at a top 10 Chicago public high school.
Together, the cousins’ youthful exuberance and skill have thrilled audiences at impressive venues and events. Career highlights include:
• Performance for the Women's Board of Ravinia.
• Jazz debut at the renowned Jazz in the Alley with Kelan Phil Cohran. Under the tutelage of this jazz legend, SugarStrings performed "Zincali," an original composition by Mr. Cohran.
• Chicago Chamber Musicians events (return performances for Target sponsored Annual Family Concerts at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier; The Divas of Mozart’s Day at the Chicago Athletic Association; reception for Target's community partners at Millennium Park).
• Intermission for acclaimed violinist and Grammy winner Nadja Salerno Sonnenberg’s concert at Dominican University.
• United Negro College Fund’s annual Black and White Ball.
• Opened for vocalist Rachelle Ferrell and saxophonist Kirk Whalum at the Martin Luther King Peace Jam, Harold Washington Cultural Center.
• Performed the National Anthem at WNBA Chicago Sky home games (return engagements).
The Chicago Tribune (1/31/06) headlined a review, “Young string players’ talent stirs elders’ emotions.” SugarStrings will be featured in the January 2007 issue of Ebony magazine in an article on gifted and talented African American children.
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