2026 COMPETITION SEMI FINALISTS

City/Country: Conroe, Texas, USA
Age: 12

Evan was born in Palm Springs, California in July 2013. At four years old, his father started teaching him piano in many different styles, from classical to modern. At age nine, Evan started taking lessons from Maria Khachikian at Muse Mantra School of Music and Arts in Texas, USA, and focused exclusively on classical music. At age 12,  Evan also began lessons with Jia Choi at the Muse Mantra School of Music and Arts, where he was introduced to modern styles, such as jazz, funk, bossa nova, and other genres. Evan has already won first prize at three different international piano competitions, has played in Carnegie Hall, New York, and will be performing in Salzburg, Austria together with other first prize winners. Evan also plays percussion and is composing his first piano pieces.

City/Country: Brea, California, USA
Age: 11

Angela Lin is a young musician from Brea, California. She began studying piano at age seven and currently studies with Ms. Jenny Shin. Her recent achievements include being named First Alternate in the 2026 MTAC State Piano Concerto & Solo Competition, Honorable Mention in the 2025 MTAC State Piano Concerto & Solo Competition. First Place in the 2025 JCM Chamber Music Competition (Elementary Division), and First Place in the Southwestern Youth Music Festival SYMF (Category Young Pianist 1), which included a performance with the SYMF Festival Orchestra conducted by Hector Salazar. She has also received Gold Medal honors in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival （Keyboard Concerti category）and First Prize in the Final Round of the Pacific Stars International Piano Competition. Angela enjoys sharing music with audiences and continues to pursue artistic growth through study and performance.

City/Country: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Age: 11

Samuil McArthur has performed in Carnegie Hall twice: in 2024, as one of the grand prize winners of the Piano Star International Competition; and in 2026, as the first prize winner of the American Virtuoso International Music Competition. In 2026, he also performed in New York City’s Merkin Concert Hall, as the first prize winner of the Elite International Piano Competition. Most recently, he received second prize at the 2026 WPTA Australia International Piano Competition and gave performances in Erbar Saal and Mozarthaus in Vienna, Austria. Samuil has received first prize awards at many international competitions, including: Franz Liszt Center International Piano Competition (Spain, 2025); Orbetello International Piano Competition (Italy, 2026 and 2024); International Piano Competition “Bach au Jazz” (Greece, 2025); Pacific International Youth Music Society Gala Challenge (Canada, 2025); Virtuoso Artists Festival (Seattle, WA, 2024). In addition to piano, Samuil enjoys reading, karate, biking, cooking, and traveling with his family.

City/Country: Plainview, New York, USA
Age: 9

Loren Pei is a fourth-grade student who began learning piano at age five. Since 2023, he has been studying piano with his current teacher, Mr. Baichao Lan. He is curious, enthusiastic, and especially enjoys learning new pieces. He is honored to participate in this competition and looks forward to sharing his music with the audience.

City/Country: Johnston, Iowa, USA
Age: 10

Faith Eugenia Villar-Córdova Scott is ten years old. She has been a first prize winner of the Memphis International Piano Competition, Saint-Saëns, Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn, Franz Liszt Center, Colors of Chopin, The Royal and Carmel Klavier International Piano Competitions among others. Ms. Scott made her debut with orchestra at the age of seven playing a complete Haydn Concerto under the baton of Maestro Alberto Bade. In that same year, she performed at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. In 2025, she was a winner of the Central Iowa Symphony Concerto Competition and in 2026 she won the Orchestra Omaha Young Artists Concerto Competition performing concerti by Mozart and Bach under the batons of Maestros Eric McIntyre and Kenneth Meints. Faith studies piano with Dr. Marion and Rosa Scott. This year she obtained third prize at the National Level in MTNA Elementary Composition. Ms. Scott is a recipient of the Coral Gables Music Club Scholarship.

City/Country: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Age: 13

Semifinalist in Solo Level A and Junior Young Artist Complete Concerto Divisions.

Fengtian Wang studies piano with Charlotte Hu. She is a winner of the 2024 Philadelphia International Piano Competition and was invited to perform both solo and concerto repertoire at the 2025 PYPA Music Festival. She received First Honorable Mention at the 2025 West Chester University Pre-Collegiate National Piano Competition. At the age of 10, she was admitted to the MSM Precollege as a recipient of the Rochlis Family Foundation Scholarship (2023). Fengtian began her piano studies with her mother at the age of four. She has received awards in competitions, including the Shanghai Open Competition, Mendelssohn International Piano Competition, Pearl River–Caesarburg International Piano Competition, Xinghai National Elite Competition, and Huaxia International Piano Open Competition. She has performed at major venues worldwide, including the Sydney Opera House, the Melbourne International Music Festival, Gordon K. and Harriet Greenfield Hall at the MSM, the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, and Shanghai Symphony Hall.

City/Country: Englewood, Colorado, USA
Age: 12

Victoria Yue is a seventh grader at Campus Middle School and studies piano with Jooeun Pak, MSU/Denver.  Early on she was recognized at the Columbine Music Teacher Association Honor Recitals (2021, 2023), meanwhile winning the Foothills Music Teachers’ Association Sonatina Festivals in 2022, 2023, & 2024.  Victoria has also been recognized in Colorado’s state-level competitions, winning 1st  place in the Yamaha Piano Competition (Division Il) in 2024,  honorable mention in the CSMTA Competition, honorable mention at the 2025 Rising Stars Festival (Upper Elementary Category), and second place in the 2026 Colorado Peaks Piano Competition (Division II). Over the years, Victoria has enjoyed using piano as a medium for expression. She is dedicated to continuing her technical and musical growth as a classical pianist.

City/Country: Los Angeles, California, USA
Age: 18

Born in Santa Monica, California, Kai Canton started taking piano lessons at age three. Kai was five when he performed the first movement of Mozart’s Piano Sonata K.545 at a preschool recital. At seven, while living in Japan, Kai performed the first movement of Haydn’s Piano Concerto in D with the Mozart-Kammerochestre in Osaka’s famed Izumi Hall. He was at that time the youngest pianist ever to be given this opportunity. Kai relocated to the United States at age twelve and has since consistently placed among the top performers in both domestic and international competitions. Kai currently studies piano with Ivana Grubelic Malo at the Colburn Community School in Los Angeles. Kai has performed in master classes with Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Fabio Bidini, Pedja Muzijevic, and John Perry among others. Kai is honored to delight audiences wherever he performs and can proudly state that he has delighted audiences in Europe, Asia, and the USA.

City/Country: Englewood, Colorado, USA
Age: 15

Semifinalist in Solo Level B and Junior Young Artist Complete Concerto Divisions.

Lucy (Yuze) Chen began studying piano at age six and has received classical training in both China and the United States. She currently studies under Ms. Jasmine Lee Steadman. Lucy has earned numerous awards in major competitions. In 2024, she won 1st and 3rd place in both the Yamaha Competition and the Rising Star Competition, and was also a semi-finalist in the International Keyboard Odyssiad® & Festival (2024). In 2025, she received 1st Place in the MTNA Colorado Competition and advanced to the regional level,serving as an alternate in the Western Hemisphere. She also won 1st Place (Concerto) and 3rd Place (Solo) at the Carmel Klavier International Competition (2025), and was an invited performer with the CU Boulder Orchestra. In 2026, she again placed in both the Yamaha Competition and the Rising Star Competition (3rd Place). Beyond performance, Lucy serves nonprofit organizations as a co-founder and music director of Inspire Movement Arts; a board member of For Change; and organizing concerts at senior centers, children’s hospitals, Musicians Unite, and local communities. Through music, she seeks to connect communities and express the depth of human emotion and cultural understanding.

City/Country: New York, New York, USA
Age: 17

Semifinalist in Solo Level B and Junior Young Artist Complete Concerto Divisions.

Elle is an accomplished pianist and composer. Most recently, she won the Concerto Competition at Special Music School with Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 1 and will be performing it with the Park Avenue Symphony in June. Elle is a Special Music High School junior focusing on piano. She also studies composition at the Juilliard Pre-College program. At 17 years old, she completed a musical, Kid of New York, on commission by the New Music Theatre Project, which is set to premier at 54 Below in September. Elle has previously appeared on the theater stage and on screen. She won accolades and rave reviews for her solo role in Marnie at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

City/Country: Morgan Hill, California, USA
Age: 17

Semifinalist in Solo Level B and Junior Young Artist Complete Concerto Divisions.

Bridget Hoang is an incoming senior at Ann Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill, California and currently studies piano with Olya Katsman. This year, she was inducted into the selective 2026 Young Artist Guild of the Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC). She has performed as a soloist with the Palo Alto Philharmonic, the GSYO’s Camilla Kolchinsky Orchestra, the Coeur d’Alene Symphony and the Central Texas Philharmonic. Among her awards are winner of the 2026 and 2025 Northern Region CAPMT Concerto Competition, the 2025 Celia Mendez Young Pianists Beethoven Competition, the 2025 Creative Artist Review Panel Award from the Bay Area Creative Foundation, the 2025 Henry and Carol Zeiter Piano Competition, and the 2024 MTAC State Solo Competition. Bridget has participated in many summer piano festivals including PianoTexas, Southeastern, TSIPF, Vivace Music Foundation, and Bay Piano Fest. She has had master classes with Alexander Kobrin, Michelle Cann, Boris Slutsky, Marina Lomazov, and many more. Besides piano, Bridget also loves reading, writing, and poetry. She enjoys making connections between the music she plays and the literature she reads.

City/Country: Chino Hills, California, USA
Age: 14

Kylie Kim is an eighth-grade student at the Orange County School of the Arts who began studying piano at the age of six. She currently studies with Ms. Jenny Shin, whose mentorship continues to inspire and challenge her artistic growth as a young pianist. Kylie gave her first solo recital at age twelve and has earned recognition in numerous Regional and international piano competitions. In 2023, she was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall as a competition winner. Through her musical journey, Kylie has come to believe that music has the power to connect people beyond language and cultural differences. She hopes to one day share what she has learned through music with her community and use it to positively impact others.

City/Country: Markham, Ontario, Canada
Age: 14

Louis Li, a Hong Kong-born pianist based in Toronto, Canada, is recognized for his musical sensitivity, refinement, and expressive depth. He studied with Dr. Michael Berkovsky and previously trained with Ms. Vanessa Wai Yin Wong at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Louis has participated in masterclasses with distinguished artists including Dang Thai Son, Vanessa Latarche, John O’Conor, and Alexander Korsantia. He has won top prizes at major international competitions, including the Steinway Piano Competition Canada, Young Euregio Piano Award, International Artepiano Competition, IPPA Conero International Piano Competition, and Philadelphia International Piano Competition. As concerto soloist, he has performed with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Karlovarský Symfonický Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra, and North York Concert Orchestra. Louis has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Roy Thomson Hall, and festivals in Europe, Asia, and North America. He is also dedicated to charitable concerts supporting music education and pediatric healthcare initiatives.

City/Country: Allen, Texas, USA
Age: 17

Minyang Xu began studying piano at age five and started working with Dr. Jiayin Liu at eleven, an experience that greatly enriched his musical understanding and artistic development. Through his studies, he has cultivated perseverance, discipline, and resilience. He also enjoys sharing his passion for music by helping younger students learn piano and accompanying string instrumentalists. Since 2022, Minyang has earned recognition in regional, state, national, and international competitions. Recent achievements include First Prize at the 2025 Texoma Piano Competition (Senior Division), First Place at the IAMPT Virtuoso Level Competition, First Place at the 2024 Dallas Symphonic Festival Concerto Competition, Bronze Medal at the 14th International Chopin Youth Competition (2025), and Final Performance Winner of the 2025 UT Arlington Piano Contest.

City/Country: Erie, Colorado, USA
Age: 16

Bobby Yuan is a 10th grader at Peak-to-Peak Charter School in Lafayette, Colorado. Since May 2022, he has been studying piano with Dr. Jennifer Hayghe from the University of Colorado Boulder. Bobby was the first-place winner of the Schmitt Music 2023 Piano Competition (Division II), the 2024 & 2025 Colorado State MTA Piano Concerto Competition (Junior & Senior Division), resulting in two piano concerto performances with the Boulder Chamber Orchestra. He also won the first prize at the 2026 Charleston International Piano Competition and 2025 Colorado State Rising Stars Festival, and the second-place prize at the 2024 & 2025 Colorado State MTNA Piano Competition. Bobby has volunteered by performing piano at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital since 2024, bringing comfort and joy to people. Beyond piano, he plays violin in Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras and participated in Colorado All State Orchestra Symphony (2026). Bobby also enjoys basketball and chess.

City/Country: Nacogdoches, Texas, USA / China
Age: 21

Antonio “Nio” Ajero has garnered many accolades, including the 2021 and 2022 National YoungArts Award for Classical Piano, as well as numerous piano, pedagogy, and collaborative scholarships from Oberlin College and Conservatory, such as the Howard Karp 3rd Prize Award at the 2024 Peter Takacs Beethoven Competition and The Deborah Lipton Hanna ’69 Endowed Collaborative Piano Prize. He has studied in masterclasses and lessons with renowned teachers such as Kirill Gerstein, Alexander Kobrin, Alexander Korsantia, Norman Krieger, Jeremy Denk, Logan Skelton, Julian Martin, Vadym Kholodenko, Yakov Kasman, Gilles Vonsattel, William Grant Nabore, and Alexander Moutouzkine. Nio earned his Bachelor's in Piano Performance at Oberlin College and Conservatory under the tutelage of 2001 Van Cliburn gold medalist, Professor Stanislav Ioudenitch. This fall, Nio will begin his graduate studies at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University under the guidance of Professor Hieyon Choi.

City/Country: Ann Arbor, Michigan,  USA / South Korea
Age: 26

Hyerim Cho will begin her Artist Diploma at the University of Michigan in fall 2026 as a full-scholarship recipient and Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) under Christopher Harding. Cho gained international recognition as a quarterfinalist (Top 25) in the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition. Her awards include First Prize at the Indianapolis Matinee Musicale Competition and the MTNA Indiana State Young Artist Performance Competition, the Larry Davis Memorial Award at the NSAL Competition. She has appeared in the Kumho Art Hall Prodigy Concert Series and performed as soloist with the Seoul Orchestra. She has also worked as a collaborative pianist for the Shinhan Music Awards at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. Cho earned her Bachelor of Music from Yonsei University under YungWook Yoo and her Master of Music from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music under Spencer Myer, where she received full scholarships and served as an Associate Instructor.

City/Country: Newton, Massachusetts,  USA / South Korea
Age: 24

Nayeon Gu, from Seoul, South Korea, began studying piano at the age of five and received her early education at Yewon School and Seoul Arts High School. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory, where she studied with Haesun Paik. Currently, she is pursuing the Artist Diploma program at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music under the guidance of Sofya Gulyak. She attends the program on a full scholarship and serves as an Associate Instructor in the Piano Department. Nayeon made her solo debut at Kumho Art Hall in Seoul and has performed at prestigious venues in both the United States and South Korea. She has participated in masterclasses with distinguished artists including Jan Jiracek von Arnim, Alexander Korsantia, Wu Han, Yuri Slesarev, and Vincent Coq. Her recent achievements include Second Prize at the Chicago International Piano Competition and Third Prize at the Lancaster International Piano Competition in 2024.

City/Country: Okemos, Michigan,  USA / South Korea
Age: 31

Ye-Eun Hyun is a South Korean pianist and the grand prize winner of the 2025 Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition. She also received second prize at the 2024 ArsClassica International Music Competition and has earned numerous scholarships and awards. She has performed in prestigious venues such as Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Jordan Hall, Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra in Italy, and Seoul Arts Center, among others. She pursued her early training at the Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts and later attained both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees under the guidance of Minsoo Sohn at the Korea National University of Arts. She completed her second master's degree at New England Conservatory in Boston under the tutelage of Wha Kyung Byun. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance at Michigan State University, where she holds a full scholarship as a graduate assistant.

City/Country: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA / South Korea
Age: 27

Inhwa Lee is a Korean pianist who recently earned her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Dr. Dror Biran. She graduated from Seoul National University with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, studying under Dr. Minjung Lee. She also completed a second major in Fashion and Textiles. Having begun her piano studies at a young age, she has developed her career as a soloist, chamber musician, and collaborative pianist. Lee has performed in Korea and the United States and has received awards in both piano and chamber music competitions, including the 2026 Tuesday Musical Annual Scholarship Competition and the 2025 Ariel Quartet Chamber Music Competition. She is also passionate about sharing music with others through education and outreach. This interest led her to participate in music projects in Nepal, where she taught and shared music with children.

City/Country: Rochester, New York, USA / South Korea
Age: 28

Sol Park, a native of South Korea, is a pianist pursuing a Master of Music degree at the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana in Lugano, Switzerland under the guidance of Alexander Kobrin. Beginning in fall 2026, she will continue her studies at The Juilliard School under Soyeon Kate Lee. Sol earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music and previously studied with Jack Winerock at the University of Kansas after moving to the United States. She began piano studies at age five and, at eleven, made both her solo recital debut and concerto debut with the Busan Neo Philharmonic Orchestra. Since then, she has appeared with ensembles including the Topeka Symphony Orchestra, Heritage Philharmonic, and TIMM Ensemble. Sol has participated in masterclasses with distinguished artists such as Jerome Lowenthal, Jeremy Denk, Boris Petrushansky, Robert McDonald, Alexander Korsantia, Jan Jiracek von Arnim, and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet.

City/Country: Loveland, Colorado, USA / Indonesia
Age: 30

Reynaldi Raharja is an Indonesian classical pianist pursuing a Master's degree in Piano Performance at Colorado State University where he studies with Bryan Wallick.. Although he was introduced to piano at a young age, Reynaldi's commitment to classical music deepened more recently. After a period of reflection led him to rediscover his passion for performance, Reynaldi left a molecular biology major to dedicate himself fully to music. Growing up in a multicultural environment, Reynaldi developed a deep appreciation for diverse perspectives and traditions. These experiences continue to shape his musical voice, influencing the way he approaches interpretation, expression, and performance. He seeks to bring sensitivity, thoughtfulness, and authenticity to every piece he plays. As he continues his studies, Reynaldi aspires to refine his artistry and connect meaningfully with audiences everywhere, believing that music has the power to transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries.

City/Country: Boston, Massachusetts, USA / China
Age: 24

Peter Yide Shi started his journey with piano at the age of five. When he was nine, he started his professional music study with Professor Chang at Central Conservatory of Primary School in Beijing. He started studying with renowned pianist Meng-Chieh Liu from 2017. He was then accepted into New England Conservatory in 2021 and was awarded with The Presidential Distinction Awards upon enrollment. He graduated from New England Conservatory with a Bachelor Degree in 2025. He has appeared at many festivals and venues, including the Oxford Philharmonic Piano Festival, the PYPA Festival in Philadelphia, the Miami International Piano Festival, the East Carolina Piano Festival, Salle Cortot in Paris, Jacqueline du Pre Music Hall in Oxford, the Field Concert Hall in Philadelphia, the Adolfo and Marisela Cotilla Gallery in Miami, the AOVA Concert Hall in Philadelphia, and the Jordan Hall of New England Conservatory in Boston. He is also a winner of multiple prestigious piano competitions, including 5th prize in the National CCTV Piano and Violin Competition in Beijing, 2nd prize in the International Philadelphia Piano Competition Group A in Philadelphia and 3rd prize in the Fou Ts’ong International Concerto Competition.

City/Country: Los Angeles, California, USA
Age: 24

Victor Shlyakhtenko’s recent debuts have included performances with the Panama City Symphony in Florida and the Delta Symphony Orchestra in Arkansas, and recitals for the Grand Piano Series in Naples and the Palm Springs International Piano Competition. He has appeared with over a dozen orchestras in concertos by Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Grieg, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, and Clara Schumann. His solo performances have brought him to Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, and Leipzig Gewandhaus. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he began his training at the Colburn School of Performing Arts, continuing his studies at the Oberlin Conservatory. His teachers have included Fabio Bidini, Stanislav Ioudenitch, and José Ramón Méndez. Victor is an alumnus of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation’s Young Scholars Program and has performed in masterclasses for artists such as Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Niel Immelman, Marios Papadopoulos, and Bruno Canino.

City/Country: New York, New York, USA
Age: 29

Pianist Joseph Vaz has performed as a soloist, collaborative artist, and chamber musician in North America and Europe, in venues from Carnegie Hall to the Arnold Schönberg Center in Vienna. Vaz is the 2025-2027 piano fellow for Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect. He has been a finalist of international piano competitions including the Pacific Stars International Competition (2nd prize), Seattle International Piano Competition, James Mottram International Piano Competition, Concours Orléans, Wideman International Piano Competition, and more. Vaz recently completed fellowships in the Aspen Music Festival, Lucerne Festival Academy, Gilmore Piano Festival, and Sarasota Music Festival. He has performed as a soloist with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Harmonia Orchestra Seattle, and other orchestral ensembles. His debut album, Galanteries, was released on PARMA Recordings in January 2025. With degrees from Indiana University and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Joseph is currently a doctoral candidate at the CUNY Graduate Center, studying with Julian Martin.

City/Country: New Haven, Connecticut, USA / China
Age: 23

Jiusi Zhang recently graduated from the Yale School of Music, where he was awarded the Elizabeth Parisot Prize for Outstanding Pianist upon earning his Master of Music degree. He will return to Yale next fall to pursue a Master of Musical Arts degree on full scholarship under the guidance of Professor Wei-Yi Yang. Born in 2002, he began his musical journey at the age of four in his hometown, Langfang, China. It wasn't until 2020, at the age of eighteen, that he began formal and intensive musical study upon his admission to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he studied with professor Dang Thai Son. He graduated in 2024 with a Bachelor of Music degree and was nominated into the National Music Honor Society. His recent accolades include First Prize at the 2025 Lancaster International Piano Competition, Silver Medal at the 2025 Rubato International Piano Competition, Bronze Medal at the 2025 International Keyboard Odyssiad® & Festival Competition, First Prize (Marilyn Fischer & Joan Marie Scherer Scholarship) at the 2024 Tuesday Musical Association Scholarship Competition (where he also received the John M. Ream Jr. DDS People’s Choice Award at the winners’ concert), and Winner of the 2022 PianoTexas Concerto Competition. He was also awarded scholarships from the Feltsman Piano Foundation and the Evelyn Bonar Storrs Piano Scholarship from the Musical Club of Hartford.

City/Country: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Age: 21

Sunny Lin Kai Zhang has performed in some of the foremost venues in the world, including New York's Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall and Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage), Steinway Hall, Benaroya Hall in Seattle, Beijing Concert Hall, Van Cliburn Concert Hall, Vancouver Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Chan Centre, and Orpheum Theatre. He has performed with the Rimsky-Korsakov String Quartet, the Grosseto Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Opera Orchestra, and the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra. His international achievements include First Prizes at the Seattle, Carmel Clavier in solo and concerto categories, Orbetello, and the Pacific International Piano Competition. He won top prizes at Fou Ts’ong, Steinway, San Jose, Sviatoslav Richter, Lancaster, and Enkor International Piano Competition, among others, and became a Steinway Young Artist at the age of 16. He recently graduated from The Juilliard School and will pursue a Master of Music at the Yale School of Music under the tutelage of Boris Slutsky. His former teachers include longtime mentor Eugene Skovorodnikov, Matti Raekallio, and Hung-Kuan Chen.

City/Country: East Lansing, Michigan, USA / China
Age: 27

Jingwei Yuan is a talented pianist known for his refined technique and expressive interpretations. He began his formal music training at Oberlin College, studying under the esteemed pianist Robert Shannon, where he developed a strong foundation in classical piano performance. After completing his undergraduate studies, Jingwei continued his musical journey at Indiana University, where he earned his master’s degree, working with renowned pianists Arnaldo Cohen and Roberto Plano. Their mentorship further deepened his technical skills and broadened his artistic vision. Currently, Jingwei is pursuing his D.M.A. at Michigan State University, where he studies under the guidance of Eric Zuber. Throughout his academic career, Jingwei has given numerous solo and chamber recitals, showcasing his versatility as both a soloist and a collaborative musician. His performances have been noted for their emotional depth and technical precision, drawing audiences into the heart of the music.

City/Country: New Haven, Connecticut, USA / China
Age: 22

Jiusi Zhang studied under professor Dang Thai Son at Oberlin Conservatory of Music and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in spring 2024. Currently, he is pursuing a Master of Music degree under Professor Wei-Yi Yang at Yale School of music with full scholarship. In 2024, he received an Honorable Mention at the Wideman Concerto Competition in Shreveport, Louisiana, and was a finalist at the Los Angeles Liszt International Piano Competition. Earlier that year, he won first prize (Marilyn Fischer & Joan Marie Scherer Scholarship) at the Tuesday Musical Association Scholarship Competition in Akron, Ohio. In the subsequent winners’ recital, he received the most audience votes, earning the John M. Ream Jr. DDS People’s Choice Award. Previously, he was awarded full scholarships to attend the 2022 PianoTexas International Piano Festival, where he was selected as one of three winners of the PianoTexas Concerto Competition.