Starry Night Entertainment

We are deeply grateful for our collaborations with Howard Lam and the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, which have enriched our event with live musical performances. Our heartfelt thanks go to the talented musicians whose contributions have truly elevated the experience.

Musicians

Howard Lam

Howard Lam is a dedicated pianist, music educator, and Steinway Educational Partner with performances across China, Japan, and the U.S. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, he has inspired students of all ages in the Chicagoland area.

Mr. Lam holds a Master’s degree in Piano Performance & Pedagogy from the Chicago College of Performing Arts and has studied Music Therapy at the University of Miami and Jazz Improvisation at Berklee College of Music. His teaching blends traditional techniques with therapeutic principles, emphasizing both technical skill and a love for music.

His credentials include certifications from London Examinations, ABRSM Music Theory, and an ABRSM Piano Performance Diploma, as well as Musikgarten Early Childhood Music Education. Outside of teaching, he is a devoted father to twin children, who have won multiple awards in piano competitions.

Music Institute of Chicago Academy

The Music Institute of Chicago Academy, located at the MIC Lake Forest Campus, is a nationally recognized training center for gifted pre-college pianists and string players. The Academy offers comprehensive music education, including private lessons with esteemed faculty, chamber music, orchestra experiences, and advanced music theory classes. Students also benefit from master classes with renowned pedagogues, and many are national and international medal winners who progress to top conservatories and universities. On April 5, they will be providing the Caspian Quartet for our event.

The Caspian Quartet, coached by Rodolfo Vieira, is composed of Merit Scholarship Fellows at the Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago. Caspian means miraculous or dazzling in Latin -- which the group hopes their music will evoke similar feelings for audiences. The ensemble has had a rewarding and successful spring season, winning the 2025 Rembrandt Chamber Musicians Annual High School Chamber Music Competition, the 2025 Chicago National Chamber Music Competition (Open Division, Overall Winner and Strings and Piano Category Winner), and advancing to the finals at the 12th Annual Coltman Competition at The University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music. The four seniors are off to prestigious music programs across the country to fulfill their musical ambitions.

Lily Sullivan, 17, is a distinguished violinist studying under Grigory Kalinovsky at the Music Institute of Chicago's Academy. She has secured top honors in numerous competitions, including the 10th International Louis Spohr Competition for Young Violinists and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Maurer Young Musicians Contest. Her chamber music achievements feature first-place awards in the Barnett, Rembrandt, and Chicago International Chamber Music Competitions. Lily has been featured on NPR's "From the Top" and WFMT's "Introductions," and has performed with orchestras such as the Ann Arbor and Indianapolis Symphonies. She has participated in esteemed festivals like the Heifetz International Music Institute and the Music@Menlo Young Performers Program.

Tristan Zhu, 18, a violin student of Almita Vamos and Davis King at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, has won numerous competitions, including first prizes at the DePaul Concerto Competition and DuPage Young Artists Auditions. He has performed as a soloist with several orchestras, including the Chicago Arts and Fox Valley Orchestras. A winner of the MTNA State and Divisional Competition, Tristan will compete at the MTNA National Conference this spring. He earned Second Prize at the 2023 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, Gold and Haydn Prizes at the 2023 Saint Paul String Quartet Competition, and the 2024 Barnett Chamber Music Competition Grand Prize with the Seraphim String Quartet. Tristan has participated in prestigious programs like Music@Menlo, Yellow Barn, and the Bowdoin International Music Festival.

Vivian Van de Sype-Cucu, 17, a viola student of Davis King, made her solo debut with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra at age 11. She won second place in the 2025 Bolz Competition's Final Forte and served as Principal Violist for MYSO's Senior Symphony. Vivian has earned multiple honors at the Wisconsin School Music Associations (WSMA) and was Principal Violist in the WSMA State Orchestra. As a member of the Elysian String Quartet, she won the Gold Medal and BIPOC Prize at the 2024 St. Paul String Quartet Competition. Vivian is also a co-founder of Musicians for Hope, raising over $30,000 to support underfunded school music programs. She has participated in prestigious summer programs, including Heifetz International Music Institute, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and Interlochen Center for the Arts.

Jan Vargas Nedvetsky, 18, studies cello performance at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy and the Academy of Music in Liechtenstein, where he is a scholarship recipient. He has won numerous competition awards and performed as a soloist with orchestras in the U.S. and Europe. Jan is nominated for the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts and will have upcoming performances, including recitals on WFMT Introductions and From the Top, soloing with the Academy Chamber Orchestra and Northbrook Symphony Orchestra, and a recital in Liechtenstein. He recently won the 2025 West Suburban Symphony Solo Competition and will perform with the orchestra in June. Jan has attended prestigious summer programs, such as Musica Mundi, Meadowmount, CIM Chamber Music Intensive, and Gstaad String Academy. He is a founding member of Musicians for Hope, supporting music education in public schools, and performs regularly at senior homes, schools, and community events.