Congratulations to the Senior Division Finalists: Raymond Feng, Adrian King, Shuming "Alan" Mao, Benjamin Rossen, Karina Tseng and Haozhou Wang.
Carrie Chen
Pianist Carrie Chen, 16, has already won many top prizes, including First Place, ‘Music Teachers National Association’ (MTNA) Senior Piano Competition’ NJ State level and Eastern Division, First Prize in NJMTA, First Prize in the ‘Concert Festival’ Solo Recital Competition, Gold Prize in ‘American Association for the Development of the Gifted and Talented’ (AADGT), and was chosen to perform in AADGT Gala Concert at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall in June. Carrie has been featured as ‘Next Generation Artist’ Omega Ensemble concerts for eight seasons. She has performed concertos with the Orquestra Clássica do Centro of Portugal and Galicia Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Spain. Carrie has concertized in Spain, France, Poland, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia and Canada, and locally in Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, Lincoln Center and Steinway Hall. Carrie studies piano with Michael Thomopoulos in New Jersey.
Raymond Feng
FINALIST
Raymond Feng, has studied piano with Elier Suarez since age 5. He is the first prizewinner of West Virginia International Piano Competition, Thousand Islands Chopin International Piano Competition, David D. Dubois Piano Competition, among others. As piano soloist, he has collaborated with orchestras in Italy, Boston, Chicago, Texas and upstate New York. His concerto performance with the Rochester Philharmonic was broadcast on NPR’s From the Top. Raymond was selected as a 2016-2018 Lang Lang International Music Foundation Young Scholar and was invited to perform at the Grammy Salute to Classical Music concert in honor of Bernstein’s 100th birthday. Major concert venues Raymond has performed at include Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, Eastman Kodak Hall, Merkin Concert Hall in NYC, Sanders Theatre at Harvard University, and Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park in Chicago. Besides piano, Raymond is the concertmaster of the Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra and was the 2017-2018 Conductor Apprentice for the HYSO.
Dimitri Galterio
Dimitri Eugene Galterio, a native New Yorker, began piano at age four with Faina Khodos, and currently studies with Victoria Mushkatkol. Recently, Dimitri was named Grand Prize Winner in the National League of Performing Arts Competition, Gold Medalist in Golden Key Festival Competition, won 2nd place in Steinway Finals Competition and was selected for the Chamber Music Society’s Young Musicians Concert at Alice Tully Hall. In 2018, he received the Judge’s Distinction Award in the American Protégé Competition, Triple Gold Medal in Golden Key Festival, and became Steinway Finalist; and in 2016 and 2017, the Rondo Vanguard Gold Medal. Also, a student of composition, one work was performed at St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice, Italy. At Trinity School, Dimitri is chapel soloist, sectional director and accompanist, and serves on Chapel Council, Community Time Council, Model Congress; and is President of the Classical Musicians Club and Founder of the Meteorology Club.
Evan Hu
Evan Hu, 17, from Potomac, Maryland, is a junior at the Science, Mathematics, Computer Science Magnet Program at Montgomery Blair High School. He began studying piano at age 6 with Dr. Marjorie Lee. Recently, he was named the Alternate Winner in the 2018 MTNA Senior Piano Performance (eastern division) and the Alternate Winner in the 2017 MTNA Junior Piano Performance (eastern division). Other notable prizes include second prize at the 2017 Future Stars International Competition, first prize at the 2017 London Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition, first prize at the 2016 American Protégé Competition for Romantic Music. Over the summer, Evan has participated in music programs such as 2018 Southeastern Piano Festival, where he participated in the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition, 2018 PianoTexas Festival, and 2017 Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI). He has also participated in a few guest masterclasses with notable artists such as Vladimir Feltsman and Tamas Ungar.
James Kim
James Kim, age 15, began his piano studies at the age of five under Anders Martinson and has studied with Max Levinson since 2016. At the age of 9, James appeared on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show, together with Lang Lang and made concerto debut with the Palisades Symphony Orchestra. James has been a winner of many competitions, including 1st place in the 2015 Los Angeles Young Musician International Competition, the Statewide Kathryn Gawartin Chopin Competition, the Alice Frazier Kitchen Competition, and the Glendale Piano Competition. James was one of finalists for the 2018 Fidelity Investments Young Artists Competition and the 2019 Waring International Piano Competition. Recently, James made solo debut recital at the Steinway hall in Natick, MA. James had master classes with Norman Krieger, Alexander Korsantia, Peter Takacs, Ming Tsu, Jean-Louis Haguenauer, and Meng-Chieh Liu. James has been recognized with scholarships from the Westside committee of the LA Philharmonic and SOL-LA Music Academy.
Jeannette Kim
Having starting piano at 5 years old, Jeannette Kim is a junior at Ridgefield High School and is enrolled in the Juilliard Pre-college program under the tutelage of Julian Martin. She made her New York debut at Zankel Hall in Carnegie Hall in 2007 and concerto debut in Lincoln Center in 2013 and has performed at various other venues including Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, Studzinski Hall at Bowdoin College, and Paul Hall at the Juilliard School. She placed first in competitions such as the Cecilian Young Artist’s Competition, Golden Key Music Festival, East Coast International Competition, and the Hamden Symphony Competition, and earned top prizes in other competitions including the American Protégé International Competition, Chappaqua International Piano Competition, and the Steinway International Piano Competition. For the past two summers, Jeannette has attended Bowdoin International Music Festival Maine, and will be attending Aspen Music Festival in Colorado this summer.
Julia Kim
Julia Kim, 15, is a freshman at Hunter College High School. Since 2015, Julia has studied with Ernest Barretta at the Pre-College Division of the Juilliard School. Julia has performed at Weill Recital Hall, the Greene Space, Merkin Hall, Steinway Hall, Engelman Recital Hall at Baruch College, and on live broadcast at WQXR. At Lincoln Center, Julia has performed at Paul Hall, Morse Hall, and Wilson Theater. She earned first place at the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition and the New York Concert Festival Solo Recital Competition. Julia was the first-place winner in the Piano Teachers Congress Honors Program and won the Dorothy and Sidney Morrow Baroque Composition Award. Julia has performed in master classes given by Angela Hewitt, Thomas Rosenkranz, Gila Goldstein, and Irina Sharapova. She also enjoys sharing her music with others as the Associate Director of Salut de la Musique and a member of Back to Bach.
Adrian King
FINALIST
Adrian King is a student of Dr. Peter Mack of Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. He lives in Silverdale, WA with his parents, two older sisters, and a Boston Terrier puppy named Dexter. Adrian is a 2019 National YoungArts Winner. In the Washington Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Junior Piano Division, he received 1st place in both the 2017-18 and 2016-17 competitions. Adrian and his sister, Mya, received 2nd place in the Senior Duet Division at both the 2014-15 and 2016-17 National MTNA Competitions. He has performed concerti with the Bremerton Symphony, the Federal Way Symphony, and the Northern Lights Music Festival Orchestra in Minnesota. In July, Adrian will be performing with the Hawaii Youth Symphony as a result of winning the 2018 Aloha International Piano Festival concerto competition. Adrian has performed both solos and duets on Classic King 98.1FM over the last few years.
Shuming "Alan" Mao
FINALIST
Alan Mao, 16, has been studying piano with Dr. Hyun-Sook Park for 11 years, and has been a member of the Piano Academy at the Peabody Preparatory for 4 years. At the Preparatory, Alan has been selected numerous times to perform in the Vella Silver Recitals and Lynn Hebden Taylor Part Recitals. In 2015, Alan received first prize at the VI Chopin International Piano Competition and won first prize this year at the Concert Artists International Virtuoso Competition IV. Alan has enjoyed working with the Peabody Wind Orchestra and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and has performed at various venues including the Miriam Friedberg Concert Hall, Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and Carnegie Weill Recital Hall. Alan also enjoys performing with his chamber group Trio Spielen, who won first prize at Levine Music’s Misbin Competition. For his excellence in piano studies, Alan was recently awarded the Victoria Gittings Prize from the Peabody Institute.
Vinh Nguyen
Nguyen The Vinh started his music studies in piano under the mentorship of Doctor, Pianist Nguyen Trinh Huong; Associate Professor, Doctor Nguyen Minh Anh at the Vietnam National Academy of Music. He has won numerous awards in many competitions, including the 2010 Asia International Piano Academy Festival and Competition in Korea, the 2nd Hanoi International Piano Competition in 2012, the 5th ASEAN International Chopin Piano Competition in Malaysia, the 2014 and 2016 Steinway National Youth Competition in Vietnam, and most recently was 2nd Prize of Schubert Club Piano Competition and selected as a 2018 Featured Round Artist at Minnesota Varsity in Minnesota Public Radio. Vinh has performed in many countries such as Japan, Korea, and USA. He appeared as soloist with Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra 6 times. Especially, he was honorably chosen by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to be the single representative of Vietnam joining the third Children's Festival of Music the 3rd “Melodic of Generations” held in the St. George Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace with the Presidential Band of the Russian Federation in 2015. Besides, he appeared in music events to raise money for poor children and people affected by droughts and floods, etc. Now, he is the student in the Pre-Conservatory Program at Shattuck-St. Mary's School, studying with Professor Alexander Braginsky.
Joshua Noronha
Joshua Noronha began his piano studies at age seven under Prof. Yoon Sen Lee. His accomplishments include 1st Prize Global International Piano Competition, China in 2018, and a contract to perform with the WuHan Orchestra; First Prize XIIth International Rotary Children’s Music Competition in Moscow, 2014, where made his concerto debut and Second prize American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competitions in 2012 and various national competitions. Joshua also obtained Licentiate Diplomas at 15 from the Australian Music Examinations Board and Trinity College, London. Joshua has performed as soloist with the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra from 2014 to 2017. Joshua has also performed at the inaugural Beethoven Sonatas Marathon Recital & Rising Stars Music on the Terrace, at Government House, Royal Schools of Music Queen’s celebrations and St George’s Cathedral Lunchtime Concerts. Furthermore, Joshua loves to share his music with all; he teaches, performs for benefit concerts, fundraising events, seniors’ homes and church outreach.
Benjamin Rossen
FINALIST
Benjamin T. Rossen is a 16-year-old pianist, composer and French hornist. He started piano at age four and currently studies with Jeffrey Cohen at the Manhattan School of Music Precollege, where he is the recipient of the Rosetta Goodkind Scholarship. Benjamin has won first prize in competitions held by Steinway & Sons, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Music Teachers National Association, NY Piano Festival & Competition and National YoungArts; he was selected to compete at the 2019 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition & Festival. Benjamin has performed as soloist with the NY Concerti Sinfonietta and the MSM Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras. Benjamin is an alumnus of the Music@Menlo Chamber Music Festival and Festival MusicAlps; he has also performed in master classes in the United States and Europe. He is the founder of his school’s Music Creators Society, where he facilitates collaboration between composers, artists and writers to produce interdisciplinary works.
Juechen Tang
Juechen Tang has been playing piano since the age of 5. He studied with maestro Zhou Ting at The Middle Music School affiliated with the Shanghai Conservatory and is currently attending the Juilliard School of Music studying with professor Matti Raekallio. He won the first price of the 18th American Music Open Competition, China in the under 8-years category. In 2014 he won the first prize of the Asian Piano Competition, Professional Youth Group category in Seoul, South Korea. In 2015 he won the first prize of the All Japan Piano Competition in Tokyo, Japan. He enjoys playing recitals as well as chamber music. In 2016 he performed a piano recital named “Music Tea” in the Shanghai Concert Hall. His other performance highlights include cooperation with maestro Tang Mu Hai and the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra playing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3.
Karina Tseng
FINALIST
Pianist Karina Tseng, 17, is currently studying with Olya Katsman and previously studied with Sujeeva Hapugalle. Karina is a first prize winner of the Pacific Musical Society, Marilyn Mindell, and multiple US New Star and US Open Music Competitions. Additionally, she placed highly at the SF Chopin, MTAC Solo, and Junior Steinway Competitions, and was a finalist of the Mondavi Young Artists Competition. Karina has played in masterclasses for Simon Trpceski, Roberto Plano, Rohan de Silva, the Miro Quartet, and the Horszowski Trio among many others. Currently, she is a member of the Fervida Trio, who have won first at the Galante Prize Competition, and recently, the 2019 Junior Fischoff National and Pasadena Conservatory Chamber Music Competitions. Over previous summers, Karina attended the BU Tanglewood Institute Piano Program, Crowden Music Center Chamber Music Workshop, and SFCM Summer Music West.
Vian Wagatsuma
Vian Wagatsuma has been playing the piano for 12 years. Her musical journey took off when she enrolled in Special Music School, where she studied with Natela Mchedlishvili. She was also a student at the Juilliard School Pre-College Division where she studied with Hung-Kuan Chen and Helen Huang. Throughout her musical career, she has attended music festivals in Cremona, Italy and Aspen, Colorado. She has participated in masterclasses with renowned artists including Inon Barnatan, Yoheved Kaplinsky, and Robert Levin. She also received prizes in the Kaufman Center International Youth Piano Competition and Cremona International Piano Competition, in addition to placing in Aspen Music Festival’s and Juilliard Pre-College’s concerto competitions. She was chosen to appear on the radio show, From the Top with Host Christopher O’Riley, and was named Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist in the summer of 2016. Vian will be attending Princeton University in the fall.
Haozhou Wang
FINALIST
Haozhou Wang started studying the piano at age of three and half. In 2014, he studied with Ignat Solzhenitsyn, Eleanor Sokoloff, and Susan Starr. Currently, Haozhou studies at Juilliard with Matti Raekallio. He won the first prize for 2018 William Knabe International Piano Competition and was the winner of the 2017 Juilliard Schools’ Bachauer and Nordmann Piano Competition. He was awarded the 2015 first prize for the 7th YAMAHA USasu International Piano Competition held in Phoenix AZ. In 2013, he was awarded the First prize and overall Grand Prize Winner of the 5th Cadenza National Cup Chinese Youth Piano Competition. Haozhou was also the first prize winner of the 2nd Italy Imola International Piano Competition held in Beijing.
Shuen Wu
Shuen started learning piano at the age of six, with his father, who had little musical training, as his first piano teacher. At the age of eleven, he began studying with his current teacher, Professor Alexander Braginsky; and immediately, he was introduced to a challenging repertoire. In 2015, he won first place in the Schubert Club Scholarship Competition and received the Best Performance of a Virtuoso Etude Award in the Kaufman Music Center International Youth Piano Competition. In 2017, he received the Best Chopin Performance prize awarded by the Chopin Foundation of the United Stated in the MTNA National Finals. Most recently in 2019, he won the first place in MTNA Senior Piano Competition. Some of Shuen’s memorable performances include masterclasses with Leon Fleisher in 2016, with Dmitri Bashkirov in 2017, Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 with Minnesota Youth Symphonies in 2018, and the Classical MPR Showcase Concert in 2019.
Marie Wurtz
Marie attends Manhattan School of Music where she is a piano student of Inesa Sinkevych. She participated in the Bowdoin International Music festival in the summer of 2018 as a student in the studio of Peter Serkin. She also took part in the Manhattan in the Mountains Music Festival in the summer of 2017 and attended the Kinhaven Summer Music Festival in 2016. She gave solo and chamber performances at those festivals and has also recently given recitals at Manhattan School of Music, the Cathedral of St John the Divine and the Hackley School. Marie took part in master classes at the Bowdoin Festival with Yong Hi Moon and at Manhattan in the Mountains with Shai Wosner.
Lukasz Yoder
Lukasz Yoder is a winner of the Lansum International Music Festival (grand prize), the Claudette Sorel International Piano Competition (1st Prize) and the Kosciuszko Chopin National Competition (3rd Prize), among many others. He has performed concerts on both coasts of the United States, Europe and Puerto Rico in venues including Zipper Hall of the Colburn School of Music, the Polish Embassy in Washington DC, Poznan City Hall, the Działyński Palace, Kosciuszko Foundation Headquarters in New York City, the Steinway Society of Puerto Rico, and Zelazowa Wola, Chopin's birthplace. He has recorded for Polish Radio and Television and been featured in Polish and American Press. Lukasz will begin studies at UCLA this fall, with Professor Inna Faliks, on full scholarship. He will continue to be mentored by pianist Garrick Ohlsson, as well as his mother, Roza Kostrzewska Yoder. Lukasz loves taking pictures of sunsets, skateboarding, and surfing perfect waves. For more information visit LukaszYoder.com.
Hans-Derek Yu
Hans-Derek Yu is a 16-year old pianist from Egg Harbor Township, NJ. He began studying piano at the age of 5 and has been a student of Professor Veda Zuponcic of Rowan University since age 7. Competing nationally and internationally, Hans has won first prize in numerous piano competitions, including the Princeton Steinway Society Competition; the NJMTA Young Artist Competition multiple times; the West Chester University Competition multiple times; the Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, Connecticut; and the Osaka International Music Competition piano solo category. At the age of 11, Hans advanced to the MTNA national finals in Chicago, the youngest to compete in the junior category. In 2017, he once again won Eastern division of the MTNA Young Artist Competition and placed 2nd at the MTNA national finals in Baltimore. Hans has performed in masterclasses with Douglas Humpherys, Lydia Artymiw, Alan Chow, Peter Mack, and Emanuel Ax.
Ethan Yuen
Ethan Yuen, 17, is a junior from Gunn High School in Palo Alto. He started learning piano when he was five and is currently a student of Professor Hans Boepple at SCU. Ethan won his first competition at age seven. As the winner of the Texas State International Piano Competition, the Peninsula Symphony Concerto Competition, AFAF International Concerto Competition, and the El Camino Youth Symphony Concerto Competition, he has performed the Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto and Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto with esteemed orchestras. Over the past few years, he has been a prize winner in the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition, Ross McKee Piano Competition, Young Pianists’ Beethoven Competition, Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition, Cooper Piano Festival Competition, MTAC Competition, and CAPMT Competition. He has attended the Music@Menlo Chamber Music Young Performers Program, Texas State International Piano Festival, Southeastern Piano Festival, Cooper Piano Festival, and John Perry Piano Festival.
