Beatrice Makdah, a Northwestern University graduate, began studying with Mary Ann Covone at the age of 13. Since then, she has competed and performed many times throughout the Chicago area. In May of 2016, she was one of the winners of Hinsdale Central High School’s concerto competition. Later that year, she performed the concerto again at the Accordionists & Teachers Guild (ATG) festival in Lisle. She has played accordion in Hinsdale Central High School’s and Chicago Christian High School’s pit orchestras as part of their productions of Fiddler on the Roof. Additionally, she performed as a soloist with Sigma Alpha Iota in February 2018 and has won many ATG competitions.