Solo Division Level A

Name: Lucy Chen
City/Country: Englewood, Colorado, USA
Age: 13

Lucy started to play piano at age six and has received training in China and America. She studied with Ms.Yanling Lou in China and Ms. Jasmine Lee Steadman in the U.S. since August 2023. With competitive success in China, Lucy has also been in the Broomfield Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition, 2nd place in the CSMTA Concerto Competition, and 1st place in both the YAMAHA and Rising Star competitions. As a graduate of 8th grade from Campus Middle School, she loves all subjects, especially history; her other interests include painting, dancing, and photography. Lucy is a storyteller who uses the piano to tell stories and is super excited for IKOF!

Name: Stephen Chen
City/Country: Glen Allen, Virginia, USA
Age: 11

Growing up in the greater Richmond area of Virginia, U.S.A, Stephen S. Chen studies with Dr. Yinfei Wang. During the past five years, Stephen won competitions at international, state, and district levels, including 1st place in the V International Chopin Competition in Vienna, XV Savshinsky International Music Competition, OPUS Music Competition, American Protégé International Competition, Stockholm Tenth International Music Competition, Carles & Sofia International Piano Competition, Vienna Virtuoso International Competition, Charleston International Competition, Elite International Music Competition, International Youth Music Competition, and American Music Talent Competition. He won 1st place in the VMTA (Virginia Music Teacher Association) State Auditions in 2022, second in 2021, and 3rd in 2023. Additionally, he won 1st place in RMTA (Richmond Music Teacher Association) Central Virginia District Auditions in consecutive years (2021-2024), the Bach Competition, and the Sonata Competition. Stephen received the Student of the Year 2022 Achievement Award and the 2023 Summer Music Camp Scholarship from RMTA. Stephen was invited to perform at the Washington International Piano Festival 2023 and the III International Gloria Artis Talents Festival in Vienna 2024. He had masterclasses with Professor Vladimir Kharin and Daniel Adam Maltz. Stephen loves reading and math and received the grand award (99%) from the John Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth Testing in 2020.

Name: Urvi Dhenge
City/Country: Longmont, Colorado, USA
Age: 13

Urvi Dhenge has been learning piano with Ms. Crystal Lee since age nine. She participated in the Schmitt Music Competition, won the position of Alternate in the CSMTA Concerto Competition two years ago, and placed 3rd in the Yamaha piano competition in the same year. In 2023, she won 1st place in the CSMTA Concerto Competition and performed with the Aurora Symphony Orchestra. She also advanced to the semifinal round of the International Keyboard Odyssiad® and Festival and won first place in the Pueblo Keyboard Arts Festival for her group. Urvi loves reading books and enjoys biking.

Name: Luka Gekić
City/Country: Peachtree City, Georgia, USA
Age: 13

Luka Gekic demonstrated having perfect pitch at age two and began performing piano at age three. Recent awards include Overall Grand Prize Winner at the 2021 Young Talent Big Dreams contest of Miami-Dade County, 1st prize in the Kiwanis Club of Peachtree City’s 2022, 2023, and 2024 Music & Art Talent Showcase, the Excellence in Artistry Award at the 2022 GFMC Junior Club Festival, winner of the Outstanding Performer Alternate II and Alternate I Awards at the 2023 and 2024 GMTA State Auditions, the Janice Broadhurst Artistry Award by AMTA at the 2022 Atlanta Piano Festival, 2nd place in 2022 and Outstanding Performer in 2023 at the AMTA’s Romantic Impressionistic Piano Competition, 1st place Piano Solo in Musically Advanced I at the 2024 FFMC Junior State Convention, winning the Casey Lisk Memorial Endowment Award. Luka also writes music and recently won 1st place at the GFMC Junior Composers Class III.

Name: Victoria Huang
City/Country: San Jose, California, USA
Age: 13

Victoria Huang is in 8th grade at Miller Middle School in San Jose, California. She began piano lessons at age five and studies with Hans Boepple. Victoria’s honors include the 2024 MTAC Concerto II Competition North Regional Winner; 3rd place at the 2024 CAMPT State Finals Concerto and Contemporary Music competitions; 2024 Marilyn Mindell Piano Competition Junior Division Winner; 1st place at the 2023 International Grand Virtuoso Competition; 2022 Pittsburgh International Piano Competition; 2021 Chambana International Music Competition; 2nd place at the 2023 Contra Costa PAS Sturm-Page Competition; and 2021 Young Stars International Piano Competition; Honorable Mention at the 2021 San Jose International Piano Competition Rising Star category; 2021 Virtuoso International Music Competition; 2nd Alternate and Honorable Mention in the MTAC North Region Solo I Competition in 2022 and 2023. Victoria performed twice at the Junior Bach Festival and had her orchestral debut with GSYO’s Camerata Orchestra in 2022. In addition to piano, Victoria enjoys competitive math.

Name: Maxwell Ji
City/Country: Sandy, Utah, USA
Age: 9

Maxwell Ji has been playing piano since age five and is studying with Drs. Ning Lu and Jie Lu. He won 1st prize in the University of Utah SummerArts Piano Solo Competition (2021, 2022, 2023) and Concerto Competition (2022), UMTA Piano Concerto Competition (2022, 2023, 2024), Ogden Piano Concerto Competition (2022), Salt Lake Piano Solo Competition (2023) and Concerto Competition (2024), the Helen Taylor Johannesen International Piano Festival Solo Competition (2023), and the  OPUS Piano Competition State Level (2024). He received 2nd prize in the XV Chopin International Piano Competition, Hartford (2024), and the Merit Prize in the OPUS Piano Competition (2024). In 2022, he performed with the American West Symphony and the American Fork Symphony for the Salute to Youth Concert. In 2023, he performed with the Chamber Orchestra Ogden in the Ogden’s Prodigy Concert and with the American West Symphony.

Name: Jayden LaBarbera
City/Country: Aurora, Colorado, USA
Age: 12

Jayden has studied piano for five years with Mrs. Carolyn Shaak and has focused on piano techniques and music theories with Mrs. Jamie Shaak for one year. He has earned several awards, including an honorable mention in the 2020 Schmitt Music Piano Competition. In 2022, he won 2nd place in the Schmitt and Yamaha Piano Competitions and 1st place in the 21st Century Talents Keyboard Competition in Ottawa. In 2023, he placed 2nd in the Schmitt Music Piano Competition and the CSMTA Rising Star Piano Solo Competition. He recently secured 3rd place in the Yamaha Piano Competition and the CSMTA Rising Star Piano Solo Competition. Jayden’s achievements showcase his dedication and talent.

Name: Marianne Rose Villar-Córdova Scott
City/Country: Johnston, Iowa, USA
Age: 11

Marianne Rose Villar-Córdova Scott has been studying piano since age four. Ms. Scott won her first international piano competition at age six and made her solo debut with orchestra at age seven, performing a Haydn Concerto in C Major. She has received top prizes at the Great Masters International Piano Competition, 6th Propiano International Competition, Princeton International Piano Festival, Radda Rise International Piano Competition, Clara Schumann International Music Competition, and the Franz Liszt Center International Piano Competition. Marianne Rose studies with Dr. Marion and Rosa Scott and performs regularly at community concerts and recitals as part of the University of Miami Frost Preparatory Program. She recently participated in the Royal Winter Festival at The Juilliard School where she performed at masterclasses with professors Hung-Kuan Chen and Mika Sasaki. She is the youngest recipient of the prestigious Coral Gables Music Club Scholarship in Miami, Florida.

Solo Division Level B

Name: Alexander Brown
City/Country: Davie, Florida, USA
Age: 17

Alexander Brown was born in Miami, Florida, and began his formal music education with Daniel Venegas at Doral Piano Studio at age 11. Since then, he has studied and performed internationally for numerous festivals in the United States, Italy, Spain, and San Marino. He is also a laureate of national and international competitions. In 2022 and 2023, he was chosen amongst select participants to study in Italy for the Miami International Piano Festival Academy at the historical Villa-Medici Giulini. He studied with artists such as Francesco Libetta, Stephen Beus, Dmitry Ablogin, Kemal Gekic, Josu de Solaun, Misha Dacic, and Florian Noack. Alexander has also performed for television, collaborating with pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and composer-singer Aymée Nuviola to produce a video for the 2022 Latin Grammy Awards. Alexander also shares interests in literature, cinema, opera, and painting.

Joanne Choi
City/Country: Jupiter, Florida, USA
Age: 14

Joanne Choi started playing piano at age six. She is a 9th-grade piano major at A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts. Before that, she attended Bak MSOA for three years as a piano major. She won 3rd place in the Tampa Young Artist competition in 2022 and 2023 and 1st place in 2024. She won 3rd place in the Florida division of the MTNA Junior Piano Competition in 2022 and 2023. In Jan. 2024, she won 3rd place in the Great Miami Concerto Competition. She also was part of the Bak MSOA Advanced Orchestra as a cellist and performed in Carnegie Hall, Anaheim, and various performances as part of the orchestra. On cello, she participated in the Florida All-State Middle School Orchestra in 2023 and 2024 and in Palm Beach’s All-County Orchestra in 2023 as principal cellist. She enjoys playing the music of various classical composers and performs them in recitals, competitions, and nursing homes as a volunteer. She studies with Ruo Quing Huang and Michael Ruiz.

Name: Enni Harlan
City/Country: Los Angeles, California, USA
Age: 17

Enni Harlan studies with Bernadene Blaha of the USC Thornton School of Music. Enni has performed in various music festivals, including the Amalfi Coast Music Festival, Paris International Music Academy, and Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Summer Piano Academy. She has performed in the Salle Cortot in Paris and in Maiori and Minori, Italy. Enni was recently inducted into the Young Artists Guild of the Music Teachers Association of California and was awarded a scholarship by the Chopin Foundation Scholarship Program for Young Pianists. She has received top prizes in piano competitions, including the Kathryn Gawartin Chopin Competition, SoCal International Piano Competition, CAPMT Honors Competition, MTNA State Competition, and OPUS National Music Competition. Enni is passionate about writing and author of Remember the Flowers, published through the Children’s Art Foundation in 2022.

Name: Kevin Ho
City/Country: Dallas, Texas, USA
Age: 16

Kevin developed a keen interest in piano from a young age, embarking on his music journey at age seven under the guidance of Professor Yifan Liu. Recognizing the intricate and challenging nature of piano music as a performance art, Kevin dedicated himself to daily practice and drew inspiration from observing other pianists during live concerts. Kevin has earned the following performance achievements and awards: International Keyboard Odyssiad & Festival Piano Solo (4th place, 2022); 1st place in 2024 Collin County Young Artist Competition (Senior Division), Baylor/Waco Piano Competition Concerto (2nd place, 2023), TMTA (Texas Music Teacher Association) Music Festival Performance Contest Piano Solo (2nd place, 2022), Dallas Symphonic Competition Piano Solo (1st place, 2022), and the Dallas Piano Solo Competition (2nd place, 2021).

Name: Eric Kim
City/Country: Englewood, Colorado, USA
Age: 16

Eric Kim is a junior at Cherry Creek High School. He started taking piano lessons at age five and is studying under Ms. Jasmine Steadman and Larry Graham, former Professor of Piano at the University of Colorado. Eric’s musical achievements span from 2020, when he placed 6th at the Krystian Tkaczewski International Piano Competition in Poland, to the present. Among awards, a distinct stepping stone was in 2022, when Eric won the Broomfield Concerto Competition and performed the Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23, K.488. Additionally, in 2023, Eric won the Schmitt Music Competition and performed the Rachmaninoff Piano Trio No.1 with members of the National Repertory Orchestra. Most recently, in 2024, he won the CSMTA Rising Stars. Eric has participated in charity concerts and education for the community as a board member of ‘Musicians United for Change’ for four years. Eric believes in the amazing influence of music.

Name: Wei-Ning Isabella Ko
City/Country: Irvine, California, USA
Age: 15

Wei-Ning Isabella Ko is a junior at the Orange County School of Arts. She started her musical journey at Yamaha Music School at age six and was chosen to perform her composition at the Yamaha Junior Original Concert. Isabella started her formal piano training at age ten and is currently studying with Yu-Hui Jen. Isabella has received many prizes in competitions, such as Los Angeles Music Center's Spotlight Award, CAPMT South Region and State Final Competition, MTAC State Solo Competition, MTNA National Competition, and the OPUS National Music Competition. She was named a 2023-2024 NPR’s From the Top Fellow and was featured on Show 444. Isabella has worked with world-renowned piano pedagogues, including Olga Kern, Viennese Piano Duo, Kevin Fitzgerald, and Antoinette Perry in various master classes, and was a selected participant for the Tanglewood Institute Young Artists Pianist Program in 2023.

Name: Eric Qian
City/Country: Plano, Texas, USA
Age: 16

Eric Qian is a junior at Plano West Senior High School in Plano, Texas. He began piano lessons with Ms. Yang Jiang at age five and is currently studying with her husband, Mr. Yifan Liu. Eric has been active in the competition scene, achieving notable placements including 3rd at the 2024 North Texas Young Artists Piano Competition (Division 4, 8-10th grade), 3rd at the 2024 Collin County Young Artists Competition (Senior Piano), 1st at the 2022 Dallas Symphonic Festival (Intermediate Concerto), 3rd at the 2022 Collin County Young Artists Competition (Junior Piano), finals at the 2021 Spotlight International Piano Competition (Junior Piano), and 2nd at the 2021 Texas Music Teachers Association Performance Contest (7th grade piano Solo). Eric also enjoys debating and singing pop and classical music; he is a member of Plano West’s Syncopation Show Choir and the 2024 Texas All-State Mixed Choir.

Name: Jack Roueche
City/Country: Dallas, Texas, USA
Age: 17

Jack Roueche began piano lessons at age five and is currently studying with Dr. Alex McDonald and Mrs. Marcy McDonald. He has excelled at the Dallas Piano Solo Competition and Dallas Symphonic Festival, including 1st place in the 2024 Senior Piano Concerto category. Jack has won numerous state competitions, including 1st place at the 2023 Baylor/Waco Competition, 1st place at the 2023 and 2024 TMTA State Level Competition, and first alternate at the 2023 Texas MTNA Senior Piano Competition. His most significant achievement was winning the grand prize at the 2023 Lynn Harrell Concerto Competition, leading to his debut with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Jack is a rising senior at Townview’s School for the Talented and Gifted. When not studying or practicing, he enjoys spending time with friends, family, and his three rescue dogs. He also likes to volunteer and travel.

Name: Kento Sugiyama
City/Country: Iowa City, Iowa, USA
Age: 15

Kento Sugiyama began playing piano at age five and is currently studying with Dr. Jack Winerock and Feilin Lin Murray. He is a recipient of the Chopin Scholarship from the Chopin Foundation of the United States in 2023/2024. He was a 1st place winner of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) State Piano Competition in the Senior (2024) and Junior (2023) divisions. He performed as a soloist with Orchestra Omaha in 2023 as a winner of the Young Artist Competition. This year, he won 1st place at the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Young Artist Concerto Competition and will appear as a soloist. He was the prizewinner of the Franz Liszt Center International Piano Competition (2023), the Bruce P. Carlson Student Scholarship Competition by Schubert Club (2022), and the Krystian Tkaczewski International Piano Competition (2021).

Name: Kellen Trice
City/Country: Frisco, Texas, USA
Age: 16

Kellen is a junior passionate about music. She has played piano for almost ten years and plays flute in her school band. Kellen also enjoys exploring science and mathematics. With a strong interest in arts and academics, Kellen is ready for new challenges and opportunities in the upcoming school year.

Eric Wang
City/Country: Plano, Texas, USA
Age: 16

Eric Z. Wang, a talented pianist and violist, has cultivated a passion for music from a young age, resulting in impressive accomplishments. In 2024, Eric claimed 1st prize at the Texoma Piano Competition and the International Music Competition “Vienna” Grand Prize Virtuoso, earning a performance at Gläserner Saal, Musikverein. In 2023, he won 1st place at the Elite International Music Competition, making his debut at Weill Recital Hall. Eric has excelled in piano competitions, securing 2nd place in the Collin County Young Artist Competition twice, and has been a frequent top finisher at the annual Dallas Symphonic Festival Competition. He was 5th chair viola in the All-State Symphony Orchestra for two years; he recently earned 1st place in the concerto category for strings at the 2024 Dallas Symphonic Festival Competition and was selected for the 2024-2025 Greater Dallas Young Orchestra. Eric’s academic achievements include induction into the National Honor Society and AP Scholar from CollegeBoard. His interest in science and mathematics was recognized with a 2nd place at University of Texas STEM Camp. He is committed to community service, volunteering regularly at food banks and libraries, and organizing performances at senior living facilities.

Name: Eddie Zhou
City/Country: Schaumburg, Illinois, USA
Age: 16

Eddie Zhou started studying piano at age four. Under the insightful instruction of Jon Ensminger, a graduate of piano pedagogy at the University of South Carolina, Eddie showcased his musical abilities in numerous competitions and performances, such as performing as a soloist with the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra and placing second in the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition. Upon moving to Illinois, under the new and rigorous instruction of Brenda Huang, Eddie has continued to refine his piano playing and won 1st place in his Solo and Concerto divisions of the 2023 Carmel Klavier Piano Competition and performed with the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra. Eddie also enjoys competitive math and spending time in nature.

Solo Division Level C

Name: Celine Chen
City/Country: Valencia, Califonia, USA
Age: 20

Celine Chen is in her second year at the University of Southern California, studying piano with Bernadene Blaha. Celine has been awarded prizes from the MTNA National Competitions, The Music Center’s Spotlight, the Celia Mendez Young Pianists Beethoven Competition, the Young Musicians Inspiring Change International Competition, and the Kaufman Music Center International Piano Competition. Other honors include the Colburn School Herbert Zipper Scholar Award, the William Grant Still Arts Center Scholarship, and the National YoungArts Merit Award. Outside of performing, Celine shares her love for music through her work in the Back to Bach Project, which aims to provide a music and arts education to inspire the next generation. At USC, Celine works as a research assistant at the Brain and Creativity Institute, where she explores the relationship between music and the brain. She hopes her work will have future applications to musicians and non-musicians alike.

Name: Jiarui Cheng
City/Country: Nanjing, China
Age: 25

Jiarui Cheng is known for his blend of artistic nuance and bravura pianism, and is hailed for his affinity for a wide range of stylist traditions. Jiarui Cheng has performed as concerto soloist and recitalist in China, the United States, and Europe. He has been featured as concerto soloist with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra for the Conservatory’s 70th Anniversary Celebration Concert, performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in the Shanghai Symphony Hall and subsequently with the Grossetto Symphony Orchestra in Italy. Jiarui Cheng has been a prizewinner in multiple competitions, including the Scriabin International Piano Competition and the National Piano Competition in Shanghai. In 2019, he performed the Rachmaninoff 3rd Piano Concerto to great acclaim with The Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra as the CIM Concerto Competition winner. As recipient of the Niu Ende Piano Scholarship, Jiarui Cheng studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music with Professor Jin Tang. He also studied at The Cleveland Institute of Music as an Artist Certificate candidate with Kathryn Brown. He was a semifinalist in the Cleveland International Piano Competition and Santander International Piano Competition. In 2023, he performed the Grieg Piano Concerto with the Aspen Conducting Academy Orchestra as the Aspen Concerto Competition winner. He also performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.4 with the Tongyeong Music Festival Orchestra as prize winner of the ISANGYUN International Piano Competition.

Name: Daria Ionkina
City/Country: Moskva, Russia
Age: 32

Daria Ionkina, a graduate of the Moscow State Conservatory and Conservatorium van Amsterdam, has performed as a soloist with The Saint-Petersburg Music House, including the "River of Talents" project with the State Symphony Orchestra and the Piano Marathon at Mariinsky Concert Hall. Her 2018 performance at the XXXII International Festival of Classical Music in Brest was highly praised. In 2023, she debuted at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall. Daria has attended masterclasses with renowned professors and has won numerous international piano competitions, including the "Viva-Music USA" International Competition of Classical Music (2023, New York, 1st prize), XIX International Competition "Music Without Limits" (2019, Lithuania, Grand Prix), and the International Competition of Young Pianists named after M. Yudina (2018, Saint-Petersburg, 1st prize).

Name: Seolyeong Jeong
City/Country: South Korea
Age: 32

Pianist Seolyeong Jeong is a prizewinner in numerous competitions such as the 2023 American Virtuoso International Music Competition (1st prize), 2022 International Keyboard Odyssiad® & Festival (Bronze Medal in Complete Concerto and Solo Division), 2022 Young Texas Artists Music Competition (1st prize and Audience Choice Prize), and 2022 Shepherd School Concerto Competition (1st place). Following her solo debut at age thirteen, Seolyeong has performed internationally in various concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, Morse Recital Hall, Stude Concert Hall, and Seoul Arts Center. Seolyeong graduated summa cum laude from Seoul National University and received an M.M. and M.M.A. from Yale University. In May 2024, she earned a D.M.A. from Rice University, where she studied with Jon Kimura Parker. Composer Pierre Jalbert advised her doctoral thesis on Chopin’s Études, Op. 10. Seolyeong is an Affiliated Artist at MIT’s Music and Theater Arts and will start working at Boston Conservatory at Berklee this fall.

Name: Seonghun Jeong
City/Country: South Korea
Age: 27

Seonghun Jeong started playing the piano at age 15. Considering his relatively late start, he made an extra effort to catch his peers. Six months later, he was accepted to Gyeonggi Art High School, where his talent and passion for music became evident as he studied tone and musical atmosphere, his strengths! Jeong has won prizes in many competitions, including the Korean Liszt Association Competition, the Weatherford College Piano Competition, Music Journal National Competition, Music Chunchoo Competition, Nanpa Piano Competition, Music Education News Competition, Buam Music Competition, Korea Universal Competition, and many more. As a soloist and collaborative pianist, he has performed at Lotte Concert Hall, Kumho Art Hall, Youngsan Art Hall, Mozart Hall, Lium Studio, Buam Art Hall, Concert Hall at Yonsei University, Korea National University of Arts, Ewha Womans University, and Seoul National University. Jeong’s interest in chamber music has led to frequent collaborations with other musicians, and he has been selected to perform in the Meadows Chamber Music Honors concerts. As a 2023-2024 winner of the SMU Concerto Competition, he recently played the Schumann Piano Concerto with the Meadows Symphony Orchestra. Jeong holds a Bachelor of Music from Yonsei University in Seoul on full scholarship. He has completed the Performer's Diploma Program at SMU Meadows and is continuing at SMU in the Artist Diploma Program in the studio of Dr. Carol Leone.

Name: Simon Karakulidi
City/Country: Siberia
Age: 26

Born in Siberia, pianist Simon Karakulidi continued his piano studies in the United States from 2016-2022. In 2022, Simon moved to Germany to immerse himself in the European musical tradition with Professor Oliver Kern. An accomplished polymath with interests ranging from poetry to philosophy, he received his Master’s in Piano Performance from the Yale School of Music in 2021. Simon is enthusiastic about American classical music and is engaged in learning the complete piano works of David Lang and Nico Muhly. He is also passionate about exploring and commissioning new musical directions. Simon has been a prize winner in more than 20 International Piano Competitions. In 2023, Simon was awarded 1st prize at the Piano Campus Competition in Cergy-Pontoise, France. In addition to the top prize, he received five Special Awards. Simon is a 2024 fellow at LAMP Academy (Lunenburg, Nova Scotia). Simon is a U.S. “green card” holder and enjoys reading and long walks in his spare time. His teachers have included Stanislav Ioudenitch, Wei-Yi Yang, Diego Prigollini, and Oliver Kern.

Name: Artem Kuznetsov
City/Country: Novopokrovskoye, Russia
Age: 33

A native of the village of Novopokrovskoye, Russia, pianist Artem Kuznetsov, has been hailed for his artistry, virtuosity, lyricism, and electrifying energy as an award-winning concert pianist and enthusiastic chamber musician. He has won 1st prize in more than fifteen international competitions, including the Santa Cecilia International Competition, San Remo International Piano Competition, Valsesia Musica International Competition, Heida Hermanns Music Competition, the Seattle International Piano Competition, and his concert engagements for the next few years include more than ten countries across Europe, Asia, and North and South America. Mr. Kuznetsov has been featured on several prominent radio and TV stations in the U.S. and globally, including “Texas Public Radio” in San Antonio, “King FM” in Seattle, Medici TV, and Euronews in Dubai. Mr. Kuznetsov has been actively involved in musical outreach for underserved communities and educational events for young musicians. He has participated in organizations and concert series that have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities, including the “Multiple Sclerosis Society” and “Direct Relief Covid-19 Response”.

Name: Soohyun Lee
City/Country: South Korea
Age: 21

Soohyun Lee is a second-year Master’s student at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music (JSoM), where she studies under the tutelage of Evelyne Brancart and Jean-Louis Haguenauer. At JSoM, Ms. Lee has been awarded a full scholarship and holds the position of Associate Instructor in Piano. When she was 16, she came to the United States to pursue her Bachelor’s under the direction of Dr. Luis Sanchez at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Soohyun’s numerous competition awards include 2nd prize at the American Virtuoso International Music Competition, Music in the Classical Period, 1st prize at the Texas Music Teachers’ Association competition, Grand Prize Winner of the TAMU-C Concerto Competition, and honorable mentions at the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition and the Texas MTNA Competition. In addition, she has performed in masterclasses with Arnaldo Cohen, Anne Epperson, Olga Kern, Petronel Malan, Kariné Poghosyan, Andrey Ponochevny, and Nancy Weems.

Name: Gregory Martin
City/Country: Rock Springs, Wyoming, USA
Age: 26

Gregory Martin, an American pianist, has graced global stages with his musical prowess. He has performed ten piano concertos with renowned orchestras like the 

Fort Worth Symphony, New Mexico Symphony, and the Russian State Academic Orchestra “Evgeny Svetlanov.” A laureate of prestigious competitions, including the 8th International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians and the Jackie McGehee competition, Gregory is celebrated for his “disciplined, controlled approach to his music making, and yet at the same time, a fiery musical temperament.” Besides his solo work, he’s an active chamber musician, performing more than five major piano quintets, among many other chamber works.

Name: Yiying Niu
City/Country: Anyang, China
Age: 26

Pianist Yiying Niu has appeared internationally in venues in China, the United States, and European countries, such as Austria, Holland, and Spain. In the 2022-2023 season, she performed multiple recitals in China and the U.S. Yiying won the Thousand Islands International Piano Competition in 2022. Yiying became the “Best Performance on Commissioned Work” prize winner at the Ninth New York International Piano Competition 2018 and the 2nd prize winner of the Munz Scholarship Competition. She also won the Helen Cohn Chamber Music Award in 2020 and the Lillian Fuchs Chamber Music Competition in 2023. Yiying is a D.M.A. candidate at the Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of Marc Silverman. She finished her Master’s at The Juilliard School under the tutelage of Julian Martin.

Name: Chong Zheng
City/Country: China
Age: 27

Showing his musical talent at an early age, Chong Zheng has participated in many national competitions, performances, and masterclasses. He won 1st prize in the Xinghai Cup National Junior Competition in 2010 and subsequently performed at the National Center for Performing Arts and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall. He has participated in the masterclasses of Barry Snyder, Nelita True, Boris Berman, and Kevin Fitz-Gerald. In high school, Chong shifted his studies toward academics and graduated from Peking University with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science. For graduate study, he returned to music and finished a Master’s in Performance at USC Thornton School of Music with Bernadene Blaha, where he is continuing in the D.M.A. program. In the summer of 2023, he participated in European music festivals and performed extensively in Italy, France, and Poland.