Faculty and COUNCIL

ORCHESTRA COUNCIL OFFICERS

Sein Lee, President

Sein Lee is a senior at Mt. Lebanon High School and began learning the violin in third grade. She currently studies with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra member Irene Cheng. Sein plays in the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra and is a Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestra alumna. In 2019, she represented Pennsylvania at the 2019 NAFME All-East Music Festival after advancing through the district, regional, and state levels of PMEA. Sein is also founder and president of the Pittsburgh Music Cross-Age Tutoring Program, where high schoolers help tutor and coach young musicians within the district as well as support underserved music programs across Pittsburgh (mtlsd.org/mcat). In addition to loving music, Sein is passionate about science – she is a two-time first place winner at the state science fair and captain of her school's Science Olympiad team. This past summer, she was one of 35 students across the world accepted to the Summer Science Program for Biochemistry at Purdue University. Throughout the rigorous six weeks, she explored her interest in biochemistry and bioinformatics by designing novel fungicides to reduce crop losses. Additionally, she is the biology team leader of Mt. Lebanon BioBalloon, a project testing atmospheric effects on gene expression by building a weather balloon. (mtlBioBalloon.com). Interested in politics and debate, Sein also serves as co-captain of the Mt. Lebanon Model United Nations team. Currently, her favorite pastimes are skateboarding, eating food with friends, and spending time with her family and dog. In college, she hopes to balance her musical endeavors with a pre-medical track.

Emma Chothani, Vice President

Emma Chothani is a senior at Mt. Lebanon High School and excited to be the orchestra Vice President. She has been a principal cello of the Mt. Lebanon orchestra since freshmen year and went on their 2017 New York and Hershey trips. Emma is currently the first chair cellist of the Three Rivers Young People's Orchestra and is looking forward to playing Stravinsky's Firebird with them this year. She also went on their Central Europe tour in 2018 and performed in Dvorak Hall. Emma is extremely involved in student council and served as Vice President for three years as well as attending numerous summer camps and conferences. She plans on majoring in environmental policy next year, but will continue to play cello.

Leila Fanien, Secretary

Leila became interested in music by listening to her brother play the piano. She began playing the violin at the age of eight and, in two years time, she was accepted to the Conservatoire De Lyon in France, where she studied music in the morning and academic subjects in the afternoon. In seventh grade, she moved to the United States, attended Jefferson Middle School, where she would gain the concertmistress position and receive a leadership award. She joined the Three Rivers Young Peoples orchestra at the age of thirteen, where she also acquired the title of concertmistress. She played there for two years until she was accepted into the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra. In eighth and ninth grade, she was a member of the Youth Chamber Connection organization, where she played first violin in the Indigo Quartet. She decided to make her own quintet with students from the high school, who perform on many occasions such as the annual Holiday Show. In her freshman year, she went on tour to Spain with PYSO, where she has been a first violinist for two years and was recently selected as concertmistress. Leila was a finalist in the Pittsburgh Philharmonic Concerto Competition. In the summer of 2018, she was accepted to the Curtis Summerfest and Boston University Tanglewood Institute. She attended the Philadelphia International Music Festival for the solo performance preparation program. Leila plays at Asbury Heights Nursing Home every week. Leila also loves painting - she has painted violins in the past that have been auctioned as various galas around Pittsburgh.

Samara Steinfeld, Treasurer

Samara is a violist and a senior! She has been a principal since sophomore year, when she joined the school orchestra. She takes lessons with Louise Farbman and participated in PYPO during ninth and tenth grade. Her favorite piece played in school is either Dvořák’s Serenade for Strings in E Major or Sibelius’ Finlandia. Samara works five days a week between Kumon, a tutoring center, and her synagogue. She is the project leader for the weather balloon project (@mtl.bioballoon on Instagram!). She was class co-treasurer for student council in tenth grade and the treasurer the following year, and she is still a student council member. These past two years, Samara has also been a co-editor of Pulse, Lebo’s literary magazine. Here are some fast favorites about her! Samara’s favorite musical period is romantic (Dvořák and Brahms!!). Currently, she wants to study physics in college and as a career. She loves watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine and John Mulaney’s Netflix comedy specials. Her favorite foods are tacos, macaroni and cheese, mangos, and Welch’s fruit snacks (except for the orange and grape ones), and she prefers wide ruled paper to college ruled but blank printer paper to both.

Anna Mares, Underclassmen Representative

Anna Mares is excited for a great year of orchestra as Underclassmen Representative. She is a 10th grader and an avid member of student council. Last year, she was Vice President, and this year she is looking forward to being a committee chair. Some other activities she enjoys are Model UN, Fashion Club, German Club, Spring Track, and, of course Orchestra. Most recently, she attended a trip to Estes Park, Colorado for a STEM Triathlon with the German Club. She is also a Writing Coach in the Mt. Lebanon writing lab and volunteers during her study halls. Her hobbies are photography, biking, and painting, in which her favorite medium is watercolor. Additionally, she is a Relay for Life captain and enjoys fundraising throughout the year with her team. She is also excited to start as a music tutor for students in the Pittsburgh area. She is looking forward to a great year of orchestra and hopes to support the legacy of excellence in the Mt. Lebanon Orchestra.