The Music Institute of Chicago is thrilled to announce that the Commission on Presidential Scholars has named Andrew Guo, a piano student in the Music Institute's prestigious Academy for gifted pre-college musicians, a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Guo is one of 20 YoungArts Winners from 10 states, representing eight artistic disciplines, to receive this high honor based on artistic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership, and service activities.
Guo, 18 years old and a resident of Chicago, has been a Music Institute student since 2003, when he began Suzuki piano with faculty member Kate Nir at age four, and a member of the Academy since 2007. After 16 months of instruction, Nir arranged an audition with esteemed teacher Emilio del Rosario, who had a reputation for developing young talent. After del Rosario retired, Guo moved to the studio of Music Institute and Northwestern University faculty member Alan Chow. He also studies advanced composition with Matthew Hagle, whom Guo believes had a major impact on his winning this honor. Guo has won many national and international awards as a composer, soloist, and chamber musician in his 14 years at the Music Institute, including first place in the Music Teachers National Association Senior Composition Competition for his piece Seven Images. Guo joins an illustrious group of YoungArts and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts alumni, including Tony Award-nominated performer and choreographer Desmond Richardson; Los Angeles Music Center President Rachel S. Moore; novelist and National Book Award Finalist Allegra Goodman; Grammy Award-nominated violinist Jennifer Koh; Bravo's "Work of Art" winner Abdi Farah; Obie Award-winning actress Donna Lynne Champlin; and RCA Records award-winning singer-songwriter and Grammy Award-nominated artist Chris Young.Videos