Introducing the NEXTGen Musician 2025 Cohort!

January 28, 2025

Midori & Friends is thrilled to welcome 12 talented high school students into the fourth cohort of the NEXTGen Teen Musician program! NEXTGen Musician is a youth leadership program that empowers teens through artistry, leadership, and advocacy training with professional musicians and mentors in the fields of finance, tech, law, arts & culture, and government. NEXTGen celebrates the creativity of young people and directly invests in participants’ artistry through private music lessons, leadership through mentorship, and advocacy training.  

Meet the new members of the 2025 NEXTGen Musician Cohort:

I’m a high school senior and this is my fourth year playing bass guitar. My favorite genres to play are rock and jazz! When I’m not practicing, I’m usually reading! 

My name is Katerina, or Kat for short, and I’m a guitarist. I’m a very curious person, so I love discovering new music genres and learning about all types of art forms! 

I’m a high school violinist and conductor, passionate about blending my love for performance with collaboration in ensembles and orchestras. I currently serve as the principal second violinist at New York Youth Symphony and am a 3rd year student at Juilliard Pre-College. 

My name is ZiQi, and I am a current student at Stuyvesant High School. I’ve been playing the violin since sixth grade and am attracted by the way it sounds, which draws me to classical music. The compelling pieces help me cope with stress and ignite my interest in the violin, inspiring me to learn more. I always look forward to learning and going beyond my current abilities in order to extend my horizons and better understand the beauty of music. 

My name is Quadiar Dunn. I am a sophomore at a Special Music School in Manhattan. I’ve been playing double bass  since the third grade which allowed me to be a part of multiple music programs that continue to strengthen my love for music. My current hobbies are art, reading, and playing sports. 

I’m a junior in high school. I play viola and bass. I enjoy playing classical music and alternative rock. When I’m not practicing, I explore new music genres and artists. 

I’m a musically enamored high school student passionate about everything music—playing, composing, listening. Additionally, I am an aspiring pianist who also dabbles in singing and the saxophone. I’m someone always eager for opportunities to further refine my skills as a musician.  

I’m a senior in high-school and I’m a passionate musician who loves piano, guitar, and singing. I share my passion through playing the piano and singing at church. As well as songwriting and creating/ producing my own music. 

I am high school guitarist passionate about all types of music, but mostly rock. I like creating my own songs and trying new techniques to improve my guitar skills! 

I am a high school drummer and I’m inspired by the way people put dedication into their instruments and how one can put so much feel into something as simple as plucking strings, blowing into an instrument, and hitting percussion instruments. 

I’m a trumpeter and a vocalist whose life is music. I breath music, its my reason of life. l love making it listening to it and anything involving music and all that it has brought to my life. 

I’m a high school guitarist and bassist eager to learn more about all types of music. I love to play with other musicians and bring all of our ideas to life through music. 

Congratulations to the 2025 Cohort! For more information about the NEXTGen Teen Musician program, click here.

To Support accessible music & advocacy training for NYC students, click here!