Concert 4

Keira Cromwell, cello
Keira Cromwell is cellist from Iowa City and a sophomore at Laurel Springs Academy. She began her musical journey at the age of three with Laura Shaw at the Preucil School of Music and has steadily grown her skills and passion for music over the years. Keira has been an active member of the Preucil Orchestra since she was six and has participated in the Preucil Cello Choir for ten years.

In 2023, she joined the Quad City Youth Symphony Orchestra, where she now serves as the principal cellist. She also studies piano with Chiaki Kubota and flute with Sasha Garver. Recent performances include the Quad City Symphony Orchestra and the Central Iowa Symphony Orchestra as a winner of their young artist competitions, the Suzuki Youth Orchestra and, in 2024, a solo performance at Carnegie Hall as a winner of the Pan-American Music Awards.

Keira has attended the Ascent Music Cello Festival, Interlochen Center for the Arts and the International Cello Institute, among others. In addition to her musical pursuits, Keira is a dedicated competitive fencer and enjoys cooking with her family.

James Garcia, clarinet
James Garcia is a junior at Iowa State University studying Music Performance. A graduate of Denison High School, James is a member of Iowa State Unversity’s student representative council, Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Quintet, the first Reed Quintet and currently is a student of Dr. Gregory Oakes. Away from music, James is involved on campus with TRIO and MVP, both multicultural programs that help uplift people of color.

Sean Lee, violin
Sean Lee began studying violin with Yoon Koh at the age of ten and is currently a student of Linda Swanson. Sean has served as concertmaster with the Des Moines Symphony Youth Symphony, is a member of their Honors String Quartet and was principal violinist of the Drake Honors Orchestra in 2024.

Sean was selected as a member of the Iowa All-State Orchestra in both 2023 and 2024 and received the Concetta Morales Memorial Scholarship from the Des Moines Symphony Youth Symphony for the 2024-2025 season. Sean has performed as soloist in Vivaldi’s Winter from The Four Seasons and participated in a masterclass with violinist Geneva Lewis.

Sean has also lent his musical talents to community service, performing for numerous events hosted by the Korean-American Society of Iowa (KASI), which earned him the 2024 KASI Service Award.

Allie Pauly, soprano
Allie Pauly is a senior Vocal Music Education major at Iowa State University, where she is actively involved in the university’s musical community. A dedicated soprano with a passion for opera and solo performance, Allie has been a member of the ISU Opera Studio and The Iowa State Singers since 2021. In addition to her performances, she is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, a music fraternity on campus, fostering her commitment to music and sisterhood. Allie plans to graduate in Spring 2025 with a Bachelor of Music degree and aspires to share her love for music through teaching high school choir.

Kendra Prindle, piano
Kendra Prindle is a sophomore majoring in piano and violin performance at Drake University. She has been nominated as a string scholar at St. John’s Lutheran Church, received the Paul Stoye Piano Performance Award, and placed as a runner-up in the 2024 Drake University concerto competition. She frequently performs as a violinist with the Drake Symphony Orchestra and is involved with chamber music groups and accompanying on and off campus. Outside of music, Kendra enjoys making boba tea, traveling, and long-distance running. Kendra is also an alum of the Des Moines Symphony Youth Orchestras at the Des Moines Symphony Academy.