Members
Jenny Yu, violinist
Founder, Artistic Director
Jenny Yu is a freshman at Thomas S. Wootton High School and a dedicated multi-instrumentalist. She has studied the violin since age six and currently serves as the Co-Concertmaster of the MCYO Symphony Orchestra. As a distinguished orchestral performer, she has been consistently selected for the Maryland All-State and County Orchestras. In September 2025, she founded the Capital Youth Outreach Club (CYOC) BreezeWood Strings and oversees the activities of the initiative.
Jenny is also accomplished on the piano, having earned her Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Level 10 certification with First Class Honors. As an award-winning composer, her creative work spans various genres and styles. Her compositions and arrangements have been showcased at the National Music Educator Conference in Connecticut and the National Opera Center in New York City, and featured at international cultural exchange programs in Singapore.
Ruichen Feng, violinistÂ
Co-Founder, Operational Director
Ruichen R. Feng is a sophomore at Thomas Wootton High School and co-founder of Breezewood Strings. He began studying the violin at the age of seven and has been a member of the Potomac Valley Youth Orchestra (PVYO) and his school orchestra since sixth grade, developing both his musicianship and a deep appreciation for orchestral and chamber ensemble performance.
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Through Breezewood Strings, he is dedicated to creating meaningful performance opportunities for young musicians while introducing children—including preschool and elementary school students—to the beauty of live classical music.
In addition to his passion for music, Ruichen is actively involved in STEM education and community service.Â
Leeann Sun, violinist
Chief Music Officer
Chief Media Officer
Olivia Li, violist
Leeann Sun is a freshman at Thomas S. Wootton High School and a violinist. She was the concertmaster of the Robert Frost Middle School Orchestra, and has been in MCYO and MMEA All State for several years alongside Jenny.Â
As Chief Music Officer, she handles and organizes music for community performances, preschool performances, and other events. She hopes to introduce music to the next generation of musicians through BreezeWood Strings.
Olivia Li is a sophomore at Richard Montgomery High School. She started playing viola in 6th grade, and has continued this passion in her school’s orchestra. In addition to this, she attended the MMEA 2026 All State Junior Orchestra. In her spare time, she plays competitive volleyball for her high school and club team, which placed 23rd in the nation at USAV Girls Junior National Championships this year! She also enjoys doing community service, writing, baking, and listening to music.
Judy Wu, violinist
Chief Financial Officer
Sophie Zhu, violinist
Judy Wu is a freshman at Thomas Wootton High School. She has been studying violin for 4 years and has taken lessons since 6th grade. Over the years, she has been a member of MCYO’s Young Artists and Concert Orchestra and has been selected for the Maryland All-State and All-County Junior Orchestras. Outside of violin, she does competitive swimming and enjoys creating art and listening to music. Through CYOC Breezewood Strings, she hopes to bring classical music to new audiences and share the joy of cultural exchange through music.
Social Media Officer
Sophie is a freshman at Thomas Wootton High School. She has played violin for five years and has taken lessons for three years. She has been a member of MCYO Young Artists and Concert Orchestra, and she especially enjoys sharing her love of violin with the community. Outside of violin, Sophie also plays piano and participates in club volleyball. Through CYOC Breezewood Strings, she hopes to inspire others and help bring the joy of music to new audiences and communities.Â
Steven Gong is a 9th grader at Thomas Wootton High School. He began taking violin lessons in 5th grade and has participated in the MCYO Concert Orchestra and the Robert Frost Middle School orchestra, which was accepted to the world-renowned Midwest Clinic. He helps out at many community events, leading and attending them, bringing new cultures to others. Moreover, he also has a passion for music and cultural exchange.Â
Steven Gong, violinist
Selena Zhang, violist
Selena Zhang is a sophomore at Richard Montgomery High School. She started taking violin lessons in 7th grade, and plays viola for CYOC BreezeWood Strings and the ACS orchestra. Before she played violin, she played piano for 6 years, and also had some experience with clarinet and flute. Besides music, she does martial arts and she likes to read. She looks forward to helping bring music and Chinese culture to more audiences with CYOC.
Aric Deng is a sophomore at Damascus High School. He has been playing the violin for five years, and was a member of the PVYO Symphony Orchestra in 2025. He loves playing the violin and his years spent playing with ensembles like Breezewood Strings have helped grow his passion even more. When he's not playing violin, you can usually find him working with his 3D printers and if he's not at home, you’ll find him on the nearest roller coaster.
Aric Deng, violinist
Angela Li, cellist
Angela Li is a freshman at Thomas Wootton High School and has been playing cello for five years. She was a member of the PVYO Symphony Orchestra last year and selected for the MCPS Jr. Honors Orchestra. She has performed in Carnegie Hall with cello sextet VivaStrings and won the Concert Artists International (CAI) award. She is a huge fan of artistic expression, and likes to show off her expression to others, and being a part of Breezewood Strings has helped her become more confident in expressing herself. When she's not playing cello, you can find her singing, dancing, or drawing.
Albert Song, bassist
Alex Zhan, violinist
Albert Song is a freshman at Thomas S. Wootton High School. He started playing bass in 6th grade and has been in MCYO for 2 years along with the Junior Honors Orchestra and 1 year in the Maryland Music Educator's Association All-State Orchestra. He plays bass because he loves it, and it is one of his main hobbies along with swimming and badminton. CYOC has brought me joy with playing music with my friends.
Alex is a curious and motivated 7th grade student at Covenant Life School with a strong passion for music, STEM, and creative problem solving. He plays both violin and piano and has performed in orchestras, chamber ensembles, school concerts, and community events.
Beyond music, he has been an active member of FIRST LEGO League Team Dakiwi for four years. His team has earned recognition in Robot Performance, Robot Design, and Innovation Project competitions, including participation in the FIRST World Championship in Houston.