About Us
The story
Project Andante is a place for musicians to grow and give back to their communities.
From the very beginning, we wanted to create a safe space for students to have fun making music that everyone could enjoy. We wanted to expand from the traditional idea of a recital and provide a joyful, risk-free environment where everyone – both the performers and the audience – can enjoy the beauty of music.
Our talented performers are given a unique opportunity to showcase their musical and leadership skills in a positive, encouraging environment. Their music is exactly what we need to foster a beautiful community full of vibrant tunes.
And who are better listeners than our elders, who have been by our sides for every moment of our lives? Their companionship has always brought every one of us a sense of security and strength throughout our journey. Their encouragements have always been the push of motivation to pull us out of a musical rut.
For many of our performers today, countless people have always been supporting them. Project Andante is our way of returning the favor.
Christina Liu
Co-Founder
Christina is a junior at Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington. She started to organize the first concert in May 2022 -- the beginning of Project Andante -- and has been actively organizing concerts ever since. She plays three instruments: the cello, piano, and guitar. Outside of music, she enjoys winning in contest math, any kind of board sports (snowboarding, skateboarding, wakeboarding, surfing, probably fireboarding if it existed), and annihilating people at volleyball.
Nick is a junior at Newport High School in Bellevue, WA. He started performing as part of our concerts in August of 2022, and continued to host concerts starting December of 2022. He started playing violin in 6th grade and viola since 9th grade. Outside of Project Andante, he plays viola in BYSO and in Newport’s Chamber Orchestra, does swimming and cross country, enjoys volleyball, is somewhat competent at skiing, is actively grinding for Eagle in Boy Scouts, and does random musical gigs that his friends drag him into.
Nicholas Chen
Co-Founder
With each passing year (and set of concerts!), Project Andante gets larger and larger, bringing in more unique performers and performance venues every day. And with this larger scale, comes larger issues. How do we organize setlists? Ensembles? Venues? Practice times? The answer often lies in our leadership team.
Project Andante's leadership team is meant to be a group that works in the shadows to make performing and hosting as easy and accessible as possible. With jobs from contacting senior homes to MCing the concerts themselves, these individuals handle the awkward first steps, calm the jittery nerves, and aim to make the performers and audience shine as bright as possible.
Our Purpose
OUR LEADERSHIP team
Jeffrey Zhao
Music Director
Jeffrey, a junior at Interlake High School in Bellevue, WA. He has experience performing solo and with an orchestra, and has won many awards at piano competitions. Jeffrey has organized and performed at Project Andante concerts ever since August 2022.Outside of piano, He enjoys video games, skiing, and competitive math.
Ethan Hsu
Performer Outreach Director
Ethan is a student leader at Sammamish high school in Bellevue, Washington and has been performing with Project Andante since August of 2023. He is a multi-instrument player and a part-time composer and conductor currently in Newport's Wind Ensemble and Jazz band, he also enjoys ultimate frisbee and is in robotics.
Megan Liu
Venue Outreach Director
Megan, a sophomore at Newport High School in Bellevue, Washington, has been enchanting audiences with her piano skills since the age of four. Megan has been Performing alongside Project Andante in August 2022. Beyond music, she immerses herself in reading, TV shows, and games.
Caileen Wan
Music Director
Caileen is a sophomore at Lakeside School, and has been playing both violin and piano since the age of 3. She has been participating in Project Andante since March of 2024. She enjoys playing in both orchestra and chamber, and often participates in music competitions and festivals. Outside of music, she enjoys painting, ballet, baking, and cooking.
Logan Kwan
Venue Outreach Director
Logan is currently a junior at Newport High School. He has been playing flute on-and-off for 5 years. He first joined our concerts in November of 2022. His hobbies outside of music include robotics and volleyball.
James Lee
Music Director
A junior at Newport High School, James Lee is a cellist residing in Bellevue Washington. He has been a part of a multitude of musical competitions, under the direction of his cello teacher, Sounglim Lee, who is also his mother. He has been playing for 7 years now, and has been a part of Project Andante since March of 2024.
Hayden Jiang
Performer Committee
Hayden is a sophomore at Newport High School, WA. He plays both clarinet and saxophone, and is a member of both his school's wind ensemble and jazz band. He has been participating in Project Andante since June of 2024. He spends his free time gaming, sleeping, crocheting, writing, and baking. His advice: if you want someone to like you, bake them cookies!
Albert Lu
Performer Committee
Albert is a sophomore at Newport High School in Bellevue, WA. He plays the clarinet, and has been in lots of musical activities since he started in 5th grade. Outside of music, he enjoys robotics, science competitions, and doing homework because he's an insane person. He has been part of Project Andante since June 2024.
Michelle Chang
Social Media Committee
Michelle is a sophomore in Newport High School and she started cello seriously since 6th grade. Her hobbies are drawing, gaming, and playing with her dog. She has been part of Project Andante's concerts since December of 2022.
Victor Zhao
Social Media Committee
Victor is a student at Newport High School in Bellevue, Washington. He has played the piano for many years and apart from music he enjoys playing soccer, participating in boy scouts, and skiing. He has been part of Project Andante's concerts since August of 2022.
Abby Chen
Performer Committee
Abby is a student at International School in the Bellevue, Washington. She started playing violin in 5th grade. She has been part of Project Andante's concerts since December of 2022. Outside of music, she enjoys hanging out with her friends, sleeping in her bed, playing video games, playing violin in school and outside of school orchestras, and somewhat enjoys swimming.
Ava Lo
Performer Committee
Ava is a sophomore at Newport High School in Bellevue, WA. She has been playing the violin for 9 years and the flute for 5 years. She has been part of Project Andante's concerts since June of 2024. Outside of music, she enjoys baking, writing, and spending time with family and friends.
