2024 Kansas ASTA Solo Competition Winners

This year’s KASTA Solo Competition took place Thursday, February 22nd, 2024 (5:00-7:00 pm) at the Century II Convention Center in Wichita, KS as part of the KMEA In-service Workshop. During this competition, we seek to recognize exceptional performances on string instruments in the State of Kansas at three levels: the Preparatory Division (Grades 8 and below), Junior Division (Grades 9-12), and the Senior Division (college/university undergraduate or graduate student, age 29 years or younger).

The overall winner, Ryan Byun, performed on Friday, February 23rd at the annual KASTA awards luncheon. Congratulations to all who performed!

Preparatory Division Winner

Jiarong Michele Wang
Salina South Middle School
student of Leonardo Rosario

Senior Division Winner

Karla Lugo
Wichita State University
student of Leonid Shukaev and Mark Laycock

Junior Division & Overall Winner

Ryan Byun
Andover Central High School
student of Elizabeth Lane and Kathy House

Junior Division Honorable Mentions
Rony Castro, Dodge City High School
student of Quinn Lake, Susie Yang, Jane Lindamood, and Anna Draper

Solomon Wu, Blue Valley Northwest High School
student of Susie Yang and Mike Arbucci

HarAnsh Singh Gugnani, Blue Valley Northwest High School
student of Johnny Hamil and Mike Arbucci

Maho Gibbs, Blue Valley Northwest High School
student of Tamamo Someya Gibbs and Mike Arbucci

Susanna Beckman, Heartland Preparatory School
student of Quinn Lake

Blue Valley High School String Quartet
students of Amy Fear