2021 Senior Symphony Concerto Competition Winner Cecelia Santiago has been playing violin for ten years and is a junior at West Allis Central High School, where she plays in her school’s orchestra.
Cece has been an active member of MYSO for six years, during which she has been named a Concerto Competition winner four times. She is currently the concertmaster of the Senior Symphony and co-concertmaster of the Chamber Orchestra. Cece is grateful for the opportunities she’s had performing with various MYSO orchestras and quartets, learning valuable lessons with each experience.
Cece has performed with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra as a Bach Double competition winner in middle school, and was a semifinalist in the MSO Stars of Tomorrow Competition in 2019, 2020, and 2021. She performed as concertmaster in the 2019 Stars of Tomorrow concert. Cece has earned WSMA’s State Solo and Ensemble Festival Exemplary Performance Recognition three times and won Young Artist Scholarships from the Civic Music Association in both 2020 and 2021.
During her free time, Cece enjoys running, playing video games, crafts, and spending time with her friends.
She would like to thank her private violin teacher, Pamela Simmons, for being the most encouraging, dedicated, and amazing teacher, as well as her school orchestra teacher, Casey Unger, for her constant support.
Cece is honored and thrilled to perform Beethoven’s violin concerto for you tonight, and she hopes you enjoy the show!