Ellicott City violinist to join National Youth Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, tour South America

“If I may suggest, make your vibrato a little bit wider,” music teacher Ronald Mutchnik told Olivia Cai.

It was the 18-year-old Ellicott City student’s final music lesson before she joins the National Youth Orchestra this summer at Carnegie Hall, where she will perform under the baton of former Baltimore Symphony Orchestra music director Marin Alsop and tour South America.

So Mutchnik wanted Cai to be at her best in such impressive company. He thought she might have a shot at being selected as the orchestra’s concertmaster...