LIVE | Anna Huelke, 18, flute

A live flute recital is this morning’s Introductions: Anna Huelke is a principal in Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras and a student of Hideko Amano. She brings music selections highlighting her Czech heritage, joined by pianist Kay Kim and fellow CYSO Principal Flute Destina Sarussi.

Anna Huelke, 18, is an aspiring flutist with great potential as a performer as a student of Hideko Amano. She has competed in prestigious competitions such as the Walgreens National Concerto Competition and the DePaul Concerto Festival. She was named the second place winner of the 2023 Chicago Flute Club Student Competition and received an Honorable Mention in the 2024 Lakeview Orchestra Young Artist Competition.

Anna has had the honor of participating in masterclasses with renowned performers such as Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson, Demarre McGill, and Nancy Stagnitta. In 2023, Anna was chosen to play in Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras’ flagship ensemble, the CYSO Symphony Orchestra. She is also a part of CORE, CYSO’s handpicked Classical Orchestral Repertory Ensemble.

Destina Sarussi, 17, is a senior at Lemont High School and has studied under Dr. Jennifer Gosack-Darwell for four years. Destina has been a Principal Flute of Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras for three years. She is also a member of CYSO’s premier woodwind quintet, the Windy City Winds, and the Classical Orchestral Repertory Ensemble (CORE).

Destina has been a winner in the Chicago Flute Club Student Competition, the Southwest Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, the Wisconsin Flute Festival Young Artist Competition, and the Floot Fire Virtual Soloist Competition. Destina was also selected principal flute of the ILMEA All-State Honors Orchestra for two of the three years she participated. She has played in masterclasses for Denis Bouriakov, Amy Porter, and Jenny Shin.