Dogwood 2025

Everett Ha is a senior at Oakton High School and a violinist in their Chamber orchestra. He has been playing violin for 9 years, piano for 11 years, and has participated in the solo and ensemble festival twice achieving top marks both times. He has participated in ITZArt for every fall, spring, and summer session since its founding and loves mentoring to help others find and build their passions. In his free time, he loves reading, swimming, and listening to music.

Ella Kang is 16 years old, and a junior at Oakton High School. She has been playing the piano for over 10 years and has studied with Gabe Churray. Her favorite pieces to play on the piano are ragtimes, and she enjoys listening to pop music outside of piano. In her free time she enjoys baking, hanging out with friends, and watching her favorite tv shows.

Jonathan Liu is currently a junior at Chantilly High School, and has always enjoyed creating art since childhood. He attends art classes both inside and outside of school, and is also a violinist in Chantilly’s Chamber Orchestra. This will be Jonathan’s fourth year as a mentor working with ITZArt4you, and he looks forward to meeting new students and running the art program at Dogwood Elementary. In his free time, Jonathan enjoys listening to music and sketching.

Ranbir is a junior at Chantilly High School with a growing passion for the violin, which he has been playing for eight years. In addition to playing with the Chantilly Chamber Orchestra, he also enjoys sharing his love of music by giving private lessons to beginner students. In his free time, Ranbir likes riding his bike, sleeping, and spending time with family.

Kerala Ryan, age 16, lives in Fairfax, Virginia and is currently a junior at Oakton High School. Kerala has been playing viola for six years and has studied with Nancy Kredel and Liz O’Hara Stahr. She currently studies with Brett Walfish. Kerala has participated in many musical opportunities in the area, including Senior District Honors Orchestra and The Capital Symphonic Youth Orchestra’s sextet. She has also been principal viola of The Junior District Honor Orchestra and principal viola of The Capital Symphonic Youth Orchestra. In the past, Kerala has attended The Lamont Summer Academy and the Rushmore Music Festival. Outside of music, Kerala enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with friends.

Lily is a senior at Chantilly High School and she has been playing cello since 3rd grade. Lily has been apart of her school’s orchestra for 4 years now. She has been volunteering for ITZArt for about 4 years and has other experience teaching kids like at her church’s children ministry. Outside of cello, Lily loves art, video games, volunteering, and reading.

Winner of the Berta Rojas Grand Prize of the 2023 MGI Myrna Sislen Youth Guitar Competition, Ethan Kim  has been playing and performing the classical guitar for 5 years. As grand prize winner, Ethan opened the concert for internationally renowned guitarist Bokyung Byun at the John E. Marlow Guitar Series. In 2023, Ethan was invited to perform for WETA Classical’s Annual Leadership Circle Salon Series at the Embassy of Sweden, where he had the opportunity to perform for the Ambassador of Sweden and friends of Washington DC’s classical radio station. More recently, Ethan had the honor of performing at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea for the Korean Ambassador’s event commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the US-ROK Alliance. Outside of music, Ethan enjoys fishing, watching movies, and is a black belt in Taekwondo.

Angelina Chen is a freshman at Chantilly High School. Angelina has been playing the piano for 9 years, since she was 5 years old. She has participated in many piano competitions including ‘The Viola Hartman Piano Performance Awards’, ‘NVMTA Sonata Festival’, and more! She won third place in the 2025 Bach/Baroque Competition. Angelina also plays the viola and is in Chantilly High School’s Chamber Orchestra.

Hi, I’m Eshika, a senior at Chantilly High School. I’ve been creating art for around 5 years now, and I really like to make portraits of people using charcoal and paint!

Lover of teaching and a 21st century music hippie, Etaash Verma, 13, is a guitarist at heart. He is in 8th grade as of 2025. He started guitar after listening to his idols play, such as Kurt Cobain, Noah Kahan, and Johnny Cash. After that, he decided to pick up an Epiphone and start twanging away. He has been playing guitar for three years and plays several other instruments (although he still debates whether the melodica counts). He mostly specializes in jazz/blues improv and always thinks that there is something new to learn every day. When he is not being a musician/hippie, he is an avid eater, is a practicing Taekwondo black belt, and loves learning (and learning about!) languages. His favorite thing to do is lay in bed with a good comic strip collection and Johnny Cash and/or Slipknot playing in the background. He is very honored to be part of the ITZArt4you team.

Ireh is a sophomore at Westfield High School and plays the violin. She is currently in the chamber orchestra and has been playing since she was 8. In her free time, she loves playing volleyball, drum, guitar, and running.

Jeremy is currently a junior at Oakton High School. He has been playing piano for seven years, and also plays the viola and guitar. He enjoys playing duets with his friends, and creating videos. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, weightlifting, and spending time with friends.

Navneet Kashyap is an 8th grader at Rachel Carson Middle School. He has been playing piano for 7 years and is the first chair trumpet in the school’s Symphonic Band. In his free time, he enjoys creating music using the DAW software, Ableton Live. In addition, he has won numerous awards in science competitions and also loves Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Hello! I am an artist who has had a passion for art since I was a little girl. Some of my favorite hobbies are reading books and binge watching shows and movies. I love seeing other people show their creativity through drawing, dance, music, and all other forms of self expression! 

Summer Lee is a sophomore in Oakton High School. She has been playing piano for 7 years as her primary instrument. She is deeply interested in engaging with children and their learning. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering and unwinding.

Zaina Sabir, 16 years old, attends Chantilly Highschool as a Junior and has been playing the piano for 9 years. She also played the violin and has been doing art for 10 years. In her free time, Zaina enjoys reading mystery/horror books, hanging out with friends, and trying new desserts.