Emily Rhew

Emily Rhew, 16, is a Junior at Westview High School in Northwest Portland. She began studying violin at the age of seven and currently studies with Hae-Jin Kim. Emily is in her eighth year with the Portland Youth Philharmonic, serving as a co-principal for the Camerata chamber ensemble. Emily's musical accomplishments include first place in the OMEA District Solo Competition in 2025 and first place in the OMTA Jeanette Briggs Scholarship Competition in both the high school division in 2025 and the middle school division in 2024. As a second year participant of OMEA All-State Honors Orchestra, she will be serving as an assistant concertmaster in 2026, and has previously performed with the NAfME All-Northwest Honors Orchestra. She has also been a finalist in the Oregon Mozart Players Young Artist Competition and the Oregon ASTA Solo Competition.

In the summer of 2025, Emily received $7,000 in scholarships to attend the Interlochen Center for the Arts, where she performed as a World Youth Symphony Orchestra violinist and participated in the Valade Concertmasters and Fellows Program. Throughout her violin journey, she has had the privilege of performing in master classes with distinguished artists including Benjamin Beilman, Philippe Quint, Jessica Lee, Jun Iwasaki, Adrienne Ronmark, Sunmi Chang, Mary Grace Johnson, Tami Lee Hughes, and the Calder Quartet.

Beyond solo and orchestral performances, Emily enjoys sharing music with the community as a Community Events Coordinator for Music4Harmony, and by performing regularly at nursing homes and hospices with her sister. Outside of music, Emily holds a black belt in taekwondo, enjoys baking, and treasures time spent with friends, family, and her pet rabbit, Lili Bean.