Kevin Ahfat

Fanny Azzuro

Tianyi Bai

Anna Bulkina

Congcong Chai

John Chen

Sisi Chen

Stijn De Cock

Xuesha Hu

Alexander Karpeyev

Adam Kim

Sina Kloke

Chun Li

Yuting Ma

Kyle Orth

Llewellyn

Sanchez-Werner

Lu Shen

Jiayan Sun

Audrey Abela

France
School: Manhattan School of Music
Teacher: Marc Silverman

Audrey Abela started playing piano at the age of 7.  She had private lessons for many years with French pianist Olivier Cazal.  When she was 14, she moved to Paris to study in Boulogne-Billancourt Conservatory with Marie-Paule Siruguet and Hortense Cartier-Bresson. There, she also received intensive chamber music training.  She received her diploma in piano performance and chamber music in 2005 and then she pursued a post-graduate cycle for 2 years.  Since 2007, she studies at Manhattan School of Music.  For 3 years, she was a student of Mrs. Svetlanova, a pupil of Neuhaus; currently, she is a Master student under the instruction Dr. Silverman.  She also took part in masterclasses with Menahem Pressler, Robert McDonald, Akiko Ebi, Julian martin, Dominique Weber, Marc Durand, David Dubal, Alon Goldstein, Frank Levy, Laurent Cabasso, Jean-Phillipe Collard, Denis Pascal and Tuja Hakkila. She participated in many music festivals, in France (Les Arcs, Academie Gyorgy Sebok), Spain (Gijon piano festival), Finland (Keski Suomen Opisto) and Canada (Banff Piano Master classes).  She is currently a recipient of a scholarship from Manhattan School of Music.  In the US, she has been invited to perform as a soloist and as a chamber musician in venues such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Symphony Space, Wall Street Trinity Church, Steinway Hall, Yamaha center in NY, Faust Harrison pianos.  In her home country, she performed at Salle Gaveau, salle Cortot, in the Chateau de Chantilly and other venues.

Solo Repertoire:
Franz Schubert: Sonata in B-flat major, D960
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sonata in A minor, K.310
Frédéric Chopin: Scherzo No.4 in E major, Op.54

Chamber Music:

Schubert: Piano Trio in E-flat major, D929
   1. Allegro
   2. Andante con moto

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Fanny Azzuro

France

School: CNSM de Paris

Teacher: Denis Pascal

Prize-winner in the 2009 World Piano Competition in Cincinnati (USA) and in the 2009 Piano Campus competition in France (SACEM Prize and Special Mention for best interpretation of modern music) as well as the SPEDIDAM First Prize at the 2008 Concours de piano in Vulaines-sur-Seine (France), the young Fanny Azzuro has already had a rich and exciting musical career which, in 2010, brought her back across the Atlantic: last May, she was asked to perform in Washington DC after a stringent selection for the semi-finals of the Washington International Competition: Piano 2011 and in May 2010, she was invited by Alexander Beridze to perform during the New York Piano Festival at the Bechstein Piano Center before taking part, in June-July, in the Bowdoin International Music Festival, one of the most prestigious in the United States, for which she received a grant. In january 2012, she won the scholarship called "Fondation Meyer pour le développement culturel et artistique". After being selected for the 'SPEDIDAM Generation' prize-winner programs, she performed at the Festival Pablo Casals in Prades (France) and at the Festival Estival d'Annecy (France) during the 'Piano Night' in August 2009. Interested by every art and musical style, Fanny Azzuro accumulates experiences aiming to break down the barriers surrounding classical concerts: in 2009, she performed alongside the jazzman Tigran Hamasyan and in 2010, created the SpiriTango Quartet, a piano-violin-double bass-accordeon tango quartet, with Fanny Gallois, Thomas Chedal and Benoît Levesque. With Pierre Azzuro, her horn-playing brother (Stuttgarter Philharmoniker), she often performs in Provence and in the southern French Alps. She has also had the opportunity to perform with André Cazalet (Orchestre de Paris) Hervé Joulain (Orchestre National de France), Matthieu Romand (Ochestre de Radio France), Vanessa Szigeti, Kristi Gjezi (Orchestre de Marseille)… In 2008, in Gap, she played Schumann's Concerto as a virtuoso soloist, accompanied by the OPUS Orchestra under the direction of Jean-Christophe Keck. In 2009 and 2010, she took part in the Beethoven Night, the Piano Night, with Guillaume Coppola and Simon Ghraichy, and the Romantic Night in Rosans (Hautes-Alpes). Some excellent teachers have helped shape her talent. These include Suzan Campbell at the Montpellier Conservatoire, Olivier Gardon at the Paris Conservatoire, then Laurent Cabasso, Théodore Paraskivesco and Denis Pascal at the Paris 'Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique'. Other encounters helped stimulate her energy and musical curiosity: Vladimir Viardo, a unique Russian pianist –who followed in the footsteps of Lev Naoumov and through him of Neuhaus–, Gisèle Magnan, who passed on her precious method of working, Jay Gottlieb, an eminent specialist of the modern repertoire, and Tuija Hakkila, a teacher at the Helsinki Sibelius Academy (Finland), whose great freedom of mind she shares. She also benefited from meeting great masters such as Dmitri Bashkirov, Aldo Ciccolini, Jacques Rouvier, Emma Tahmiziàn, Boris Slutsky, Jean-Claude Vanden Eyden, Prisca Benoit, Pascal Devoyon, during various Musical Academies, in Europe, in the USA and in Canada. In june 2010, she was awarded a Higher National Music Diploma and was accepted in Denis Pascal's Piano Master class at the Paris National Conservatoire as well as in Tuija Hakkila's class at the Helsinki Sibelius Academy.

Solo Repertoire:

Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No.6 in A major, Op.82
Isaac Albéniz: El Albaicin, El Polo, and Lavapiés from Iberia Book III
Johann Sebastian Bach: Prelude and Fugue on a Theme by Albinoni, BWV 923, 995
Nikolai Kapustin: Variations, Op.41

Concerto:

Robert Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.54

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Tianyi Bai

China
School: Eastman School of Music
Teacher: Nelita True

Pianist Bai Tianyi began her piano studies at the age of four, studying with Professor Jiayun Cao-Director of Competition at the Shenyang Conservatory Academy. At age eleven, she was accepted into the class of Professor Jifang Deng and entered the Academy attached Middle School. She then pursued further studies with Professor Zhang Jin, Head of Piano studies at the Central Conservatory in Beijing and was placed first in the high school entrance audition. She got her Bachelor degree majoring in piano performance at Texas Christian University, and she is pursuing the master of music degree at Eastman School of Music (University of Rochester) with Dr. Nelita True. Bai Tianyi has won many top prizes in competitions within China such as the Asian Toyama Cup, the Schumann Cup International Piano Competition, and 'Excellent' prize in the Gulangyu Music Festival. In 2006, she obtained the Gold Prize at the 3rd German Beethoven Music Festival. As a result of her success, she was invited back to the festival in September to perform. In 2009, she won the collegiate Silver Medalist and Teacher's favorite award at the Seattle International Piano Competition. In 2011, she won the 1st prize at 36th Pi Kappa Lambda Honors Recital at Texas Christian University. Bai Tianyi has been chosen to perform with St. Andrew's Chamber Orchestra last fall, and will perform with Greece Symphony this coming May.

Solo Repertoire:

Samuel Barber: Piano Sonata in E-flat minor, Op.26
Johannes Brahms: Six Pieces for Piano, Op.118
Franz Schubert: Sonata in C minor, D958
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto No.21 in C major, K.467

Concerto:

Edvard Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.16

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Anna Bulkina

Russia
School: Texas Christian University
Teacher: Tamás Ungár

In September 2011, 25-year-old Russian pianist Anna Bulkina garnered international recognition by winning the Second Prize in the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition. Just one month prior to the "Busoni", she won First Prize in the Concours International de Piano "Virtuoses du futur", Crans Montana, Switzerland. In 2010, she was awarded the Second Prize in both the China International Piano Competition as well as the 26th International Piano Competition "Valsesia Musica", Italy.

Anna Bulkina's previous triumphs have included the Grand National Winner of the 2009 MTNA Young Artist Piano Competition, U.S.A., First Prize in the 2009 Wideman International Piano Competition in Louisiana, and First Prize in the 50th Annual Sorantin International Competition in Texas.

Following her success in the China Competition, Anna performed at the National Center of the Performing Arts in Beijing. In the same year, she appeared with the Fort Worth Symphony, San Angelo Symphony, Northwest Florida Symphony, and the South Arkansas Symphony. Her recitals performances included the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Series in Chicago, and the Phillips Collection Sunday Concert Series in Washington, D.C. In June 2011, Anna returned to China to appear with the Wuhan Symphony performing the Mozart Concerto No.24. Within the same week she performed Beethoven Concerto No.3 with the Fort Worth Symphony under the baton of Leon Fleisher.

Anna Bulkina has also performed extensively in Russia, including appearances with the Rostov State Orchestra, the Sochi Symphony Orchestra, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, and St. Petersburg State Academic Symphony. Since 2006, she has been an annual participant in the "Superior Performing Course" in St. Petersburg, along with many other performances in various concert halls.

Her engagement for the season 2011-2012 will include recitals in San Paolo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and in Zurich, Switzerland. In addition, she will give a debut recital at the Concert Series at Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Germany - a cooperation of the Gewandhaus and Steinway & Sons and international piano competitions held exclusively on Steinway pianos.. Anna has also been invited to perform at the Schloss Elmau Concert Series. Schloss Elmau is rated as one of the most prestigious hotels in the world. It holds its own concert series presenting leading artists of today.

Solo Repertoire:

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.12 in A-flat major, Op.26
Maurice Ravel: Miroirs
Robert Schumann: Davidsbündlertänze, Op.6
Dmitri Shostakovich: Piano Sonata No.2 in B minor, Op.61    

Concerto:
Sergei Prokofiev: Paino Concerto No.2 in G minor, Op.16

Chamber Music:

Franz Schubert: “Trout” Quintet in A major, D667
   III.  Scherzo: Presto
   IV. Andantino – Allegretto
   V. Allegro giusto

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Congcong Chai

Hong Kong
School: University of Kansas
Teacher: Jack Winerock

Born in Xian, Chai Congcong started learning piano with his mother at a young age. He studied at the DongFang XingZhi Piano School with Prof. Zheng Shu Xing, and ShenZhen Art School with Dan Zhao Yi and Miao Xiao Yan. After graduating from high school, he was admitted to the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts to study with Prof. Eleanor Wong for his Diploma, Bachelor, and Master degrees. He is currently in his first year of the DMA programme at the University of Kansas with Dr. Jack Winerock. As a recipient of numerous scholarships, Chai has been awarded the Lee Shuk-chee Memorial Scholarship, The Society of APA Non-Local Scholarship, Tom Lee Music Scholarship, CE Scholarship, Baring Private Equity Asia Scholarship, HKAPA Piano Alumni Scholarship, Capps Rogers Scholarship and David & Gunda Hiebert Piano Scholarship. Chai has participated in piano masterclasses and private lessons conducted by Leslie Howard, Paul Badura-Skoda, and Vladimir Krainev, to name just a few. As a pianist, he has performed in Lawrence, Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen, and Zhu Hai. His performances have included varied repertoire for solo piano, two pianos, and piano concertos. He enjoys an association with the conductors Yang Ye and Yondani Butt, collaborating in performances of the Yellow River Piano Concerto and Grieg Piano Concerto.

Solo Repertoire:
Robert Schumann: Fantasie in C major, Op.17

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto No.23 in A major, K.488

Joseph Haydn: Piano Sonata No.46 in E major, Hob XVI: 31

Johannes Brahms: Intermezzo Op.118, Nos.1-3

Concerto:

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.4 in G major, Op.58

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John Chen

China
School: TCU
Teacher: José Feghali

John Chen was born on August 27th, 1993 in Beijing, CHINA. When he was 5 he moved to the United States and started his formal piano studies with renowned Russian pianist and piano professor Dr. Anna Balakerskaia at the Levine School of Music in Washington DC. By age 11, he had won several piano competitions, including 1st prize in the NVMTA Concerto Competition, and the grand prize at the World Piano Competition in 2005. He made his orchestra debut at age 12 performing the Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto no. 2 in g minor with the World Festival Orchestra. At age 13, he performed Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 at the State Glinka Capella Concert Hall with the State Capella-Glinka Symphony Orchestra in St. Petersburg, Russia. By now he had performed many times at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. In 2006, after a national competition he became a Young Scholar of the JKCF, which is the one of the most prestigious scholarship awards for young talents. In the spring of 2009, John won 1st prize at the Juilliard School's Pre-College concerto competition playing Franz Liszt's Concerto no.1 in E-flat Major, followed by a performance of the concerto in the Peter Jay Sharp Theater at the Lincoln Center in New York. Shortly thereafter he also won the 1st prize in the National Symphony Orchestra Young Soloist Competition performing Frederic Chopin's Concerto no.1 in E minor. In 2009 he made his debut with the National Symphony Orchestra at Kennedy Center in Washington D.C and with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra at Severance Hall. In the fall of 2010, he performed in Xia Men, China with the National Symphony Orchestra of China. He also performed at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, as well as in Xiamen, Qingdao, Wuhan and Ningbo. He is currently an Artist Diploma piano student of José Feghali at Texas Christian University's School of Music.

Solo Repertoire:

Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata in A minor, D784

Franz Schubert: Four Impromptus, D899 - Op.90

Frédéric Chopin: Piano Sonata No.3 in B minor, Op.58

Franz Liszt: Piano Sonata in B minor

Concerto:

Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.2 in G major, Op.16

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Sisi Chen

China

School: Mannes College the New School of Music

Teacher: Victor Rosenbaum

A native of China, pianist Sisi Chen began studying piano at the age of six. In 2002, she inrolled in the High School Attached to the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. During her high school studies, she won first-prize, second- prize and third-prize scholarships. In 2005, she was invited to perform for the Consulate of the Russian Federation in Beijing. In 2009, she was invited to perform at the Consulate of the German in New York. In 2010, she was invited to perform at Polish Consulate and Ukrainian Institute. Ms. Chen has participated in Shanghai, Beijing international music Festivals and Mannes College Mendelssohn, Chopin and Liszt Year Long Festivals and has performed in master classes presented by Richard Goode, Pavlina Dokovska, Seymour Bernstein, Jerome Lowenthal, Phillip N.Kawin, Solomon Mikowsky, Donn-Alexander Feder and Thomas Schumacher. She is currently a senior year Bachelor of Music degree candidate at Mannes College where she studies with Victor Rosenbaum.

Solo Repertoire:

Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata in A minor, D784 (Movements. I and II)

Franz Schubert: Impromptus, Nos.I and II, D899 - Op. 90

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op.53 "Waldstein"

Johannes Brahms: Piano Sonata No.3 in F minor, Op.5 (Movements I and II)

Concerto:

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op.58

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Stijn De Cock

Belgium

School: University of Michigan

Teacher: Logan Skelton

Hailed for his "passion and virtuosity" by the East Hampton Star, Stijn De Cock has been a major prize winner in multiple competitions, including the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition, the Ann Arbor Society for Musical Arts Young Artist Competition, the Poland International Music Festival Piano Competition and the Prix des Jeunes and Lions Club music competitions in Belgium. At just fifteen, he was admitted to the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels, and graduated with highest distinction in 2004. De Cock received his Master's Degree from the University of Michigan where he is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts. De Cock has performed in multiple music festivals, including the International Youth Music Festival in Philadelphia, the Interventions New Music Festival at the Great Gallery of the Toledo Museum of Arts, the Prague International Piano Masterclasses and the prestigious Pianofest in the Hamptons. Participation in summer festivals includes festivals in France, Greece, Belgium, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic and Spain . Also an avid collaborator, Mr. De Cock is currently recording a CD of art songs by Ignatz Waghalter with soprano Jennifer Goltz. Recent appearances include a fellowship at the Toradze Piano Institute at Indiana University South Bend and an appearance with the Naleczow Chamber Orchestra in Poland.

Solo Repertoire:

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op.42
Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata in C minor, D958
Alexander Scriabin: Fantaisie in B Minor, Op.28
Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No.12

Concerto:

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1 in B flat minor, Op.23

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Xuesha Hu

China

School: TCU

Teacher: Tamás Ungár

Hu Xuesha was born in Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, China in 1993. Her parents are musicians in major of Chinese instruments. She was very interested in music from an early age. She started to learn the piano from four years old. In 2005, she was admitted to piano performance major in the Middle School attached to China Conservatory with Professor Hu Xiaoxue. Following are some prizes she had won: 2003 Gold Meddle China Pearl River Youth Piano Competition 2007 First Prize MSCC "Dance with Black and White" Piano Competition 2008 Finalist Eastman Young Artists International Piano Competition 2009 Second Prize Beijing International Piano Festival Young Artists Concert Competition 2009 Finalist 2nd Liszt International Piano Competition for Young Musicians in Weimar, Germany 2010 Second Prize The 73rd Steinway&Sons International Piano Competition 4th China Regional Competition 2010 First Prize Oberlin Cooper International Piano Competition in China Regional Competition 2011 Honorable Mention MTNA Texas State Competition She often gives the performance on behalf of her school. She has been to Taiyuan, Jincheng and Yuncheng in Shanxi Province, Ganzhou in Jiangxi Province and Beijing YAMAHA Concert Hall for performance. In 2010, she was invited to give the performance with the famous pianist LIU Shikun at Beijing Music Hall, Forbidden City Concert Hall and National Centre for Performing Arts. She was selected twice as the young artist of Beijing International Piano Festival, and played numerous master classes. In 2011, she was invited to give performance to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Sina-Austria Diplomatic Relationship. She played lots of Chinese famous pieces where located in University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, University of Music and Performing Arts "Mozarteum" Salzburg. Xuesha is currently pursing her Bachelor of music degree at the school of music at Texas Christian University with a full scholarship, studying with Dr. Tamás Ungár.

Solo Repertoire:

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.2 in A major, Op.2, No.2

Samuel Barber: Piano Sonata in E-flat minor for Piano, Op.26

Frédéric Chopin: Ballade No.4 in F minor, Op.52

Maurice Ravel: La Valse

Concerto Repertoire:

Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No.1 in G minor, Op.25

Chamber Music:

Franz Schubert: “Trout” Quintet in A major, D667
   I.  Allegro vivace
   II.  Andante

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Alexander Karpeyev

Russia

School: Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London

Teacher: Joan Havill

Alexander Karpeyev began playing the piano at age 7, studying at the Children's Music School in Saratov, Russia. In 2000 he entered the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory where he studied with Professors Alexander Mndoyants and Vera Gornostayeva. He graduated with the highest honours in 2005 and won a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where he is a student of Prof Joan Havill. He is currently pursuing a doctorate arranged jointly with City University of London. Alexander has been a major prizewinner in many international competitions including the 1998 Ibla Grand Prize, Ragusa, Italy; the 2001 International Competition for Young Musicians, Enschede, Netherlands; the 2004 Competition «Arthur Rubinstein in memoriam», Bydgoszcz, Poland; the 2004 Adilia Alieva International Piano Competition, Gaillard, France; the 2006 Tunbridge Wells International Concert Artist Competition and the 2009 Amy Brant International Piano competition, Birmingham (UK). He won First Prizes at the 2006 Oxford Music Festival's «Professional Piano Recital» Competition, the 2007 Dudley International Piano Competition and the Norah Sande Award 2008. He was awarded The Worshipful Company of Musician's Silver Medal in 2008. Alexander has given recitals in the major venues of the UK (Purcell Room, Barbican, Cadogan, Royal Festival, Wigmore and Queen Elizabeth Halls in London; Bridgewater Hall in Manchester). Abroad, he has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in Belgium, Greece, Japan, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, United States and Ukraine. He has featured on the Performance Channel of Sky Television and BBC Radio 3.

Solo Repertoire:

Franz Schubert. Fantasy in C major, "Wanderer-Fantasy" Op.15
Robert Schumann: Humoreske in B-flat major, Op.20
Johannes Brahms: Klavierstücke, Op.118
Stravinsky/Agosti: The 'Firebird' Suite (Infernal Dance, Lullaby, Finale)

Concerto:

Johannes Brahms: Piano Concerto No.1 in D minor, Op.15

Chamber Music:

Franz Schubert:

Bei Dir Allein!, D866,  F major
Dass  sie hier gewesen, D775, B-flat major
      Chelsea Coyne, mezzo
Die Schöne Müllerin, D795
   4. Danksagung an dem Bach, G major
Ganymed, D544, A-flat major
      Matthew Valverde, tenor

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Adam Kim

USA
School: Northshore Country Day School
Teacher: Alan Chow

Adam (Seung-Joon) Kim, 18, is currently a scholarship recipient and member of the Music Institute of Chicago's Academy program for gifted pre-college musicians where he studies privately with Northwestern University professor Alan Chow since 2009. Born in 1994, Adam started playing the piano at the age of five in his native Korea. He moved to Chicago in 2007 to further his musical development. Previous teachers include Emilio del Rosario and Micah Yui at the Music Institute of Chicago and Choong-Mo Kang, Dae-Jin Kim, and Jin-Young Kwak in Korea. He has won numerous competitions in both Korea and the United States including first prize in the Seoul National University of Education piano Competition, top honors at the Music Association of Korea piano competition, 6th International Chopin Piano Competition in Asia bronze prize, honorable mention in the 2008 MTNA Illinois Competition, first prize in the 2008 Sejong Competition, first prize in the 2008 Midwest Young Artist Competition, and the winner of 2009 Chicago Symphony Orchestra Youth Auditions. He was introduced at WFMT radio `Introduction" series, and he debuted as a soloist by playing Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 with Chicago Symphony Orchestra on April 2010. He was a finalist at Southeastern International Competition and Louisiana International Competition, and was a semifinalist at International Institute for Young Musician in 2011. Adam was a winner at 2011 Illinois Music Teachers National Association. He was an alternate at Eastern Division in 2012. He is an avid reader and plays football as a defensive tackle for North Shore Country Day School.

Solo Repertoire:

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor, Op.57 "Appassionata"
Frédéric Chopin: Ballade No.4 in F minor, Op.52
Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No.3 in A minor, Op.28
Franz Liszt: Transcendental Étude No.4 in D minor, "Mazeppa"

Concerto:
Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No.1 in E-flat major, S.124

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Sina Kloke

Germany

School: The Juilliard School
Teacher: Matti Raekallio

The German Pianist Sina Kloke was born in Detmold in 1986. At the young age of 9 she was awarded the first prize of the most important national youth competition "Jugend Musiziert". After this success, many awards and prizes followed. As winner oft the 2011 International Piano Competition in Munich she got a special prize from the German music publisher "Schott", a special prize for the best interpretation of a contemporary piece and a special prize for the interpretation of a romantic piece. This year Sina Kloke has been a winner of the MET International Piano Competition in New York. She has performed on many important national and international stages, such as Bayreuth, Munich (Steinway Haus), Düsseldorf (Tonhalle), Berlin (Britz Castle). In 2008 she performed with the orchestra in the famous Semper Opera Dresden. Concert tours have brought her to Finland, New York (Steinway Hall), Poland (Krakow, Philharmonic), London (Steinway Hall) and Spain (Auditorium de Zaragoza " Großer Mozartsaal, Ejea de los Caballeros - Teatro de la Villa and Caspe - Teatro Goya). Among the many festivals that Sina Kloke has been invited to attend, highlights include recitals at the International Piano Festival Lindau, "Festival Schloss Britz" in Berlin, the "International Chamber Music Festival" in South Africa and the "Eilat Festival" in Israel. In addition to her solo activities, Sina Kloke possesses a rich repertoire of chamber music. Furthermore she studied lied accompaniment with the famous baritone singer Olaf Bär. She is a scholarship holder of Jeunesses Musicales, Stiftung Junge Musiker, Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben and the Goethe-Institut. Sina Kloke started her education in Dresden/Germany with Prof. Gunther Anger, later in Cologne/Germany with the famous russian pianist Prof. Pavel Gililov as well as at The Juilliard School in New York/USA with Prof. Matti Raekallio. Important musicians such as Prof. Karl- Heinz Kämmerling and Dimitri Bashkirov have substantially influenced her artistic development.

Solo Repertoire:
Alexander Scriabin: Piano Sonata No.3 in F-sharp minor, Op.23

Robert. Schumann: Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Op.26

Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No.2 in D minor, Op.14

Franz Schubert, Impromptus, D899 - Op.90

Concerto:
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 in E-flat major, Op.73

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Chun Li

China

School: Cleveland Institute of Music
Teacher: Paul Schenly

Paige Chun Li was born in 1990. She had been studying music since the age of seven in her hometown of Jiang Su, China. When she was twelve, Paige moved to Shanghai to attend the Middle School Affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and studied with Luo Xiao. After winning several awards, Paige was accepted by the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan at the age of seventeen. At the Academy, Paige studies piano with Thomas J. Lymenstull. In June 2008, Paige won the second prize and best audience communication award in the PianoArts competition in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She also performed the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. In the summer of 2009, Paige Chun Li graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy, and won the piano department outstanding achievement award. Paige is currently a junior at Cleveland institute of Music majoring piano performance, and studying with Paul Schenly and Daniel Shapiro.

Solo Repertoire:
Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata in A minor, D845 - Op.42

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.30 in E major, Op.109

Frédéric Chopin: Ballade No.2 in F major, Op.38

Claude Debussy: Estampes

Concerto:

Robert Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.54

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Yuting Ma

China

School:
Teacher: Chufang Huang

Began study piano at age of 4, strong ability to imitate in music. Attended PianoTexas International Academy & Festival 2011 as an observer. 2nd Place, Piano Competition of concerto in Walnut Hill Music festival, 2011.

Solo Repertoire:
Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata in C minor, D958
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op.57 "Appassionata"
Frédéric Chopin: Ballade No.1 in G minor, Op.23
Frédéric Chopin: Ballade No.3 in A-flat major, Op.47

Concerto:
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1 in B-flat minor, Op.23

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Kyle Orth

USA
School: TCU
Teacher: John Owings

Hailed as a pianist of unusual virtuosity and artistic sensitivity, Kyle Orth is praised by audiences and critics alike. Having concertized across the United States, Israel, and Mexico, Mr. Orth is widely recognized as a captivating and moving musician. The Fort Worth Star Telegram admiringly labeled him a "piano phenom" who delivers "spine tingling" performances. Since Mr. Orth's orchestral debut at the age of fifteen, he has soloed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the Richardson Symphony Orchestra, the San Angelo Symphony Orchestra, and on several occasions with the Plano Symphony Orchestra, performing under the batons of Jaap van Zweden, Vahagn Papian, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Anshel Brusilow, Hector Guzman, and others. Mr. Orth has also appeared with the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, the Lewisville Lake Symphony Orchestra, and the TCU Symphony Orchestra (as a winner of the school's concerto competition). The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reviewed his Fort Worth Symphony debut: "Orth, a piano phenom from Richardson, channeled the virtuosity of Franz Liszt in his haunting fantasy Totentanz ("Dance of Death"). Orth's melodic piano solos [were] spine tingling….The audience rewarded him with a standing ovation and a curtain call, as if to say, rightly, that they look forward to a big career." My West Texas called him as a "spectacular concert pianist" whose performance was "scintillating." A distinguished competitor, Mr. Orth holds over twenty first-place wins in local, national, and international music competitions. He was named National First-Place Winner in the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Yamaha Senior Piano Competition. Other triumphs include First Prize at the Lennox International Young Artist's Competition, First Prize at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Lynn Harrell Concerto Competition, and Grand Prize at the Midland-Odessa National Young Artist Competition. He also received top prizes in the Kingsville International Young Performers Competitions and the Corpus Christi International Piano Competition. In April of 2010, Mr. Orth was invited to perform at the Meadows Museum on the campus of SMU, for a gala honoring Texas Governor Rick Perry. He has performed for music groups such as the Fine Arts Chamber Players, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League, Pro Musica of Dallas, and Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity. In addition to attending the PianoTexas International Academy as a Young Artist, he participated in the Texas Conservatory for Young Artists and in the Tel Hai International Master Classes in Israel, where he won first place in their concerto competition. Mr. Orth has been broadcasted on WRR radio, classical 101.1 in Dallas and was invited to perform on numerous occasions for the Van Cliburn Foundation's Musical Awakenings® Program. In June of 2010, Mr. Orth gave a series of recitals in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where he returned to continue his performances in December of 2010. Over the years, Mr. Orth has performed in master classes with many world-renowned piano artist/teachers, including Julian Martin, Robert McDonald, Douglas Humphreys, Olga Kern, Vladimir Feltsman, Barry Snyder, and Robert Weirich. Mr. Orth's own past teachers were Marcy McDonald, Alex McDonald, and Justin Proffitt. Born in 1990 in Fountain Valley, California, Mr. Orth began studying the piano at the age of 8. He is currently pursuing his undergraduate degree in Piano Performance at Texas Christian University (TCU) as a student of John Owings. Attending the university with a full-tuition scholarship, he is a recipient of several music and academic awards, including the School of Music's Nordan Young Artist Award. Mr. Orth also receives regular coaching from Dr. Yoheved Kaplinsky of the Julliard School. Apart from his classical music studies, Mr. Orth enjoys reading, writing, music composition, and English Country Dancing. He is active in the Jewish community, and serves as President of Hillel at TCU.

Solo Repertoire:

Frédéric Chopin: Scherzo No.3 in C-sharp minor, Op.39
Franz Liszt: Sonata in B minor, S.178
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata No.26 in E-flat major, Op.81a, "Les Adieux"
Maurice Ravel: Oiseux tristes and Une barque sur l'ocean, from Miroir

Camille Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No.2 in G minor, Op.22

Chamber Music:

Franz Schubert: Piano Trio in E-flat major, D929
   III.  Scherzando: Allegro moderato
   IV. Allegro moderato

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Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner

USA

School: The Juilliard School

Teacher: Yoheved Kaplinsky

Llewellyn made Juilliard history at age 14 as the youngest student on record
admitted to The Juilliard School, College Division. It has been written of him, "This
young man's prodigious talent brings to mind the young Mozart and Mendelssohn."
During President Obama's first year in office, Llewellyn performed solo at the
White House. His time with the President and the First Lady strengthened Llewellyn's
commitment to public service through the arts.
In 2010, he flew into war-torn Baghdad and was the first American soloist to
perform in Iraq with the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra. They performed Gershwin's
Rhapsody in Blue and Grieg's Piano Concerto in A Minor, electrifying the international
audience of ambassadors, US soldiers, and Iraqis of all ages.
He performed at the Pentagon in a ceremony where General Petraeus and the US
Department of Defense acknowledged Llewellyn "For his courageous humanitarian
contributions through the arts" and for "strengthening the ties that unite our nations."
CNN International featured him on "Connect the World" as the Connector of the Day on
May 31, 2010.
Llewellyn performed in Rwanda for President Kagame at the Presidential
Residence, and for a gathering of humanitarian and economic leaders hosted by US
Ambassador Symington to help Rwandans continue rebuilding from the 1994 genocide.
Passionate about artistic social responsibility, he has helped raise funds for Starlight
Starbright, Griffith Observatory 75th Anniversary, Teen Challenge, the upcoming United
Farm Workers 50th Anniversary at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and others.
He has performed in Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, New York; Smetana Hall
in Prague, Czech Republic; a showcase recital at the Gijon International Piano Festival in
Spain; Ashford Castle in Ireland; the Aspen Music Festival; 3 principal recitals at the
Banff Summer Arts Festival in Canada, and many other venues in several countries.
A winner of the Chopin Foundation Scholarship Competition Award, he was given
the additional honor of two performances in the "Chopin For All" series in Florida.
Llewellyn was selected the youngest-ever Discovery Artist of the New West Symphony
and performed Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto in G Minor. He was featured on NPR's
"From the Top" in NEC's Jordan Hall.
Llewellyn was the Artist-in-Residence at the Canandaigua LakeMusic Festival in
New York. To introduce more youth to the power of music, he performed 16 concerts for
20,000 students in the USA and in Canada (with the New West Symphony in California
and the National Academy Orchestra of Canada). He was invited back to perform in
"Beethoven and the Bully" for 6,000 students for an anti-bullying campaign.
Juilliard is Llewellyn's second college experience. He became a full-time student at
Ventura College at age 5, where he completed 170 college credits for degrees in Music
and International Relations. Born in California, he currently resides in New York.
Llewellyn studies piano with Yoheved Kaplinsky and Ilya Itin, jazz with Frank
Kimbrough, conducting with George Stelluto, and composition with Lowell Liebermann.

Solo Repertoire:

Frédéric Chopin: Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, Op.61 
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata No.24 in F-sharp major, Op.78 "A Therese" 
Franz Liszt: Après une lecture de Dante (Fantaisie quasi Sonate) 
Lowell Liebermann: Gargoyles, Op.29

Concerto:

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, Op.18

Chamber Music:

Franz Schubert:

Gretchen am Spinnrade, D118, D minor

Der Jüngling an der Quelle, D300, C minor
      Allison Whetsel Ward, soprano
Winterreise, D911
   5. Der Lindenbaum, D major
Der Wanderer, D493,  D major
      Derrada Rubell-Asbell, baritone

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Lu Shen

China

School: New England Conservatory

Teacher: Alexander Korsantia

Lu Shen, a native of Jiangsu, China, has won several piano competitions abrod including first prize in the Hong Kong Open Piano Competition and second prizes in the Jingzhong Competition and the Asia Chopin Piano Competition. He also won third prize and best Chinese Musician Work prize in the Gulangyu Piano Festival. Most recently, he won the silver medal at the Wideman Piano Competition and consequently has been invited to perform a solo and chamber music concert in Shreveport, Louisiana in June 2010. Mr. Shen has a special interest in contemporary Chinese repertoire. He has performed works by Shuai Zhang, Peixun Chen, Ping Gao, and has performed the piano concerto by Anlun Huang with the Xiamen Orchestra. In terms of more traditional repertoire, Mr.Shen has performed the first concertos by Liszt and Brahms. His performance of the Saint-Saëns second piano concerto with the Central Conservatory of Music Youth Orchestra was broadcast on CCTV, the largest national television network in China. Mr. Shen has performed solo and chamber music works at the Central Conservatory of Music Hall and is a recipient of the Baogang Scholarship, the YAMAHA scholarship, and the Professional scholarship at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. He has also as a piano accompany with Central Conservatory of Music young chorus and has performed in China's National Grand Theater in Beijing. He has participated in the Julliard music school piano festival in Hong Kong and the China International Piano Festival in Beijing. Recently, Lu was the semi-final player for the No.5 China International Piano Competition in Xiamen. Also, he will go to Los Angeles to take the solo recital on Dec.19, 2010. Recently, lu also won the 2nd prize in No.4 Campillos International Piano Competition in Spain and he will be invited to go to Spain to take the solo recital. Also, he won the 2nd prize for the No.2 Florida International Piano Competition and will have the concerts tour in US including one recital in Carnegie Hall. In 2011, he won the 2nd prize for the No.25 Ferrol international piano competition in Spain. Mr. Shen is currently studying with Alexander Korsantia at New England Conservatory where he is completing a Master's degree. His previous teachers include Eryao Lin, Siying Li, and Ying Wu; his first teacher was his father, Guofu Shen. He has played in master classes for Lee Kum Sing, Arie Vardi, Boris Berman, Thomas Unger, Paul Badura-Skoda, and Stephen Kovacevich.

Solo Repertoire:
Joseph Haydn: Piano Sonata No.46 in E major, Hob XVI: 31

Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata in A major, D664 - Op.120

Frédéric Chopin: Polonaise-Fantasie in A-flat major, Op.61

Maurice Ravel: Miroirs

Concerto:

Sergei Rachmaninoff, Piano Concerto No.3 in D minor, Op.30

Chamber Music:

Erlkönig, D328, E minor
      Derrada Rubell-Asbell, baritone

Du bist die Ruh, D776, E-flat major
      Matthew Valverde, tenor
Jäger, ruhe von der Jagd, D838, E-flat major
      Chelsea Coyne, mezzo
Auf dem Wasser zu singen, D774, A-flat major
      Allison Whetsel Ward, soprano

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Jiayan Sun

China

School: The Julliard School

Teacher: Yoheved Kaplinsky

Jiayan Sun, pianist; from Yantai, Shandong Province, China Praised for his "technically flawless, poetically inspired and immensely assured playing" (Toronto Star), pianist Jiayan Sun has performed extensively in US and China. He has performed frequently with Chinese National Symphony Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Concert Orchestra, Aspen Concert Orchestra, Chinese Youth Orchestra, Shandong Symphony Orchestra, Qingdao Symphony Orchestra, among others. He has collaborated with prominent conductors such as Leon Fleisher, Xincao Li, David Hayes, Kerry Stratton, and Jinyi Jiang. He has concertized at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, Royal Conservatory's Koerner Hall in Toronto, Beijing Concert Hall and Beijing University Concert Hall, Taipei National Concert Hall, and many others. His performances have been broadcasted on China Central Television and Toronto Classical Music Radio Station. He has won many prizes in international piano competitions, including the first prize in the First CCC Toronto International Piano Competition, the second prize in the Second International Fulbright Concerto Competition for pianists (Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA), the first prize in the Second National Concerto Competition for young instrumentalists in Beijing, the first prize in the First International Seiler Piano Competition for young pianists (Rhodes, Greece), the fifth prize in the Fourth Moscow International Frederick Chopin Competition for young pianists, among others. He was named a "Sylff Fellow" by The Tokyo Foundation in 2011. He was awarded the Thirteenth Chengxian Fu Memorial Scholarship of the Central Conservatory in Beijing. During the summers, he has performed and participated in Aspen Music Festival, PianoTexas, Pianofest on Long Island, among others. Born in Yantai, Shandong Province, China in 1990, he began studying piano at the age of six. He auditioned into The Music Middle School attached to the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing in 2002 and studied with Prof. Jin Zhang. He came to US in 2006 and studied at The Juilliard School Pre-college Division with Ms. Victoria Mushkatkol. He graduated from The Juilliard School Pre-college Division with the achievement award in 2008. He currently studies at The Juilliard School as an undergraduate student on full scholarships under the tutelage of Dr. Yoheved Kaplinsky. He performs frequently at The Juilliard School as a pianist, harpsichordist, fortepianist and chamber musician. He has participated in the annual ChamberFest at Juilliard. He organized and performed concerts at Juilliard in tribute to German conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler and harpsichordist Lionel Party in 2009 and 2011 respectively. He has participated and performed in the master classes of Alfred Brendel, Leon Fleisher, Malcolm Bilson, Richard Goode, Paul Badura-Skoda, among others. His great interests in early music and early keyboard instruments led him to study harpsichord with Lionel Party and fortepiano with Audrey Axinn.

Solo Repertoire:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Sonata in C Minor, K.457

Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata in D Major, D850

Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata in A Major, D959

Robert Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op.16

Concerto Repertoire:

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.4 in G major, Op.58

Chamber Music:

Franz Schubert: Piano Trio in B-flat major, D898
   III. Scherzo: Allegro
   IV. Rondo: Allegro vivace

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Edith Widayani

Indonesia
School: TCU
Teacher: Tamás Ungár

Edith is a recipient of full-tuition scholarship from Texas Christian University School of Music, including the Langdon Music Scholarship and Happy-Bell Keyboard Scholarship. Edith started her piano education when she was three years old, back in her hometown of Jakarta, Indonesia. She was admitted to Yayasan Pendidikan Musik School of Music when she was 7, and graduated when she was 15, awarded the Yayasan Pendidikan Musik Gold Medal and also the Yayasan Pendidikan Musik Artist Award. After her graduation, she then continues her study with Dr. Johannes S. Nugroho, former Dean of the Universitas Pelita Harapan Conservatory of Music for a year before decided to pursue music. Edith then transferred to Music School attached to the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China, and studied under the guidance of Prof. Ling Yuan and graduated in 2008. Claiming the 1st prize winner of Ananda Sukarlan Award for Best Indonesian Pianist 2010, Edith is also one of the finalists for Seattle International Piano Competition in 2009 and Crescendo Awards 2010. She has also received an Award of Achievement in International Forum from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia. During the summer of 2009, she has also been offered scholarships to go to International Piano Academy Freiburg, Germany, and Adam Gyorgy Castle Academy, Budapest, Hungary. In 2011 Edith has also participated in PianoTexas International Academy and Festival, as well as Schlern International Music Festival in Italy. She has also been awarded the Judith Solomon Chamber Music Award as well as TCU Faculty and Friends Chamber Music Series Award. This summer Edith has been invited back to judge the Ananda Sukarlan Award – Bandung International Music Academy National Piano Competition as well as series of performances in Indonesia. Having performed in numerous cities in Indonesia as well as abroad, including Italy, China, Germany, Hungary, Costa Rica and U.S.A, Edith also enjoys playing Chinese zither and Indonesian gamelan, and had performed numerous times with both instruments. She is currently a senior working on her undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University School of Music and studying under the guidance of Dr. Tamás Ungár.

Solo Repertoire:
Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata in A major, D664
Robert Schumann: Fantasiestücke, Op.12, Book I

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Alan Woo

USA

School: Juilliard School

Teacher: Robert McDonald

Praised by the New York Times as a pianist with "assurance and vitality," twenty-year-old Alan Woo has already acquired considerable performance experience throughout his career since starting the piano at age four. Most recently, Alan was named the winner of the 2010 Juilliard Concerto Competition. His other accomplishments include second and audience prize at the IIYM International Piano Competition in 2009, and first prizes at the Lee University National Piano Competition and the International Young Artists Piano Competition in 2006. In December of 2010, Alan made his Lincoln Center debut at Alice Tully Hall, performing Sergei Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto with the Juilliard Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Alan has also performed in venues including Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, the Lied Center at Kansas University, Lawrence Arts Center, and at the U.S. Department of State. Born in Arlington, Virginia, Alan currently attends the Juilliard School as an undergraduate student of Robert McDonald.

Solo Repertoire:

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.28 in A major, Op.101

Robert Schumann: Symphonic Etudes, Op.13

Frédéric Chopin: Chopin: Ballade No.1 in G Minor, Op.23

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.7 in D Major, Op.10, No.3

Concerto:
Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3 in C Major, Op.26

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Xiaopei Xu

China
School: New England Conservatory
Teacher: Hung-Kuan Chen

Pianist Xiaopei Xu has performed solo recitals in New York City, Washington, DC, and Beijing and Rizhao in her native China. Praised by teachers for her “sensitive and poetic quality” and “genuine and persuasive” playing, Ms. Xu was recently chosen to perform in the Lisztomania Festival in historic Jordan Hall at the New England Conservatory. She has attended festivals including the Sarasota Music Festival in Florida, the Chinese Foundation for the Art Music Festival in Boston, and the Young Artist Piano Festival in Russia.
Ms. Xu has won prizes in a number of national and international competitions. In 2008, she won the International Young Artist Competition in Washington, DC, and the Fourth New York International Piano Competition presented by the Stecher and Horowitz Foundation. Ms Xu won 4th prize in the 2007 Oberlin International Competition, 1st prize in the 69th Steinway National Piano Competition, and 3rd prize in the 2005 Chinese National Kawai Piano Competition.
Ms. Xu is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Music at New England Conservatory in Boston, where she studies with Hung-Kuan Chen. Previously, she attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Music, studying with Xun Pan and Meng-Chien Liu. Ms. Xu began her piano lessons with her father at the age of four, and later continued her studies at the China Conservatory of Music.

Solo Repertoire:
Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata in A major, D959
Claude Debussy: Etudes, Book II
Robert.Schumann: Fantasie in C major, Op.17  
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor, Op.57 "Appassionata"

Concerto:
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.4 in G major, Op.58

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Cheng Zhang

China

School: Berlin University of the Arts

Teacher: Klaus Hellwig

Born in 1989, Zhang Cheng developed a love for music at an early age in China. From the age of 12, he studied in the Shenzhen Arts School with Professor Lu Mei and Li Jian, and then subsequently became the student of professor, Dan Zhaoyi.

Zhang Cheng’s committed and expressive music making in his playing has earned him much success and recognition. He was a prizewinner in the 11th Hong Kong-Asia Open Piano Competition, the Hong Kong Tchaikovsky Piano Competition, the Schmidbauer International Young Artist Piano Competition Junior Division, the Zhou Guangren Piano Summer Institute concerto competition, twice in the Piano Texas International Academy & Festival concerto competition, as well as a winner of the Texas Christian University School of Music’s Concerto Competition.

As a soloist, he has performed with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the Texas Christian University School of Music Symphony Orchestra and the Qingdao Symphony Orchestra. He has also played in numerous master classes given by artists such as Paul Badura-Skoda, John O’Conor, Menahem Pressler, Andrea Bonatta, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Nelita True, Arie Vardi and Piotr Paleczny. His major music festival participation includes Piano Texas International Academy & Festival, Texas; Qingdao Music Festival Zhou Guangren Piano Summer Institute, China.

Solo Repertoire:

Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata in E-flat major, D568
Maurice Ravel: Miroirs
Johann Sebastian Bach: Keyboard Concerto in D minor, BWV 1052

Concerto:

Robert Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.54

Chamber Music:

Franz Schubert: Piano Trio in B-flat major, D898
   I. Allegro moderato
   II. Andante un poco mosso

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Wanting Zhao

China
School: TCU
Teacher: José Feghali

Zhao Wanting born in Shenyang and began her piano learning since four years old. In 2006,she went into the middle school attach to China Central Conservatory of Music directly because of her excellent performance at the entrance exam as the first place. In 2004,She got the second place at the tenth “Xing Hai” cup China National Piano Competition (Amateur Group) and in 2005, she was awarded the second place at the First “Cadenza ”cup China National piano Competition (Amateur Group). In 2006, she got the sixth place at the “Oberlin” International piano Competition, the second place at the Mozart piano Works Competition for Chinese Musician (professional group), the first place at the eleventh “Xing Hai” cup China National piano Competition (Professional Group), and the first place at the 14th Hong Kong-Asia Piano open Competition ( Beijing site). In 2007, she received the first place (Beethoven Sonata class) and third place (Open Class) at the 14th Hong Kong -Asia Piano Open Competition (Final Round), the first place at the Second “KAWAI” China Nation Piano Competition (Beijing side), the fifth place at the Second “KAWAI” China National Piano Competition (Find Round) and the second prize in the 2nd “Cadenza” Cup China National Piano Competition (Professional Senior Group). In 2008, she won the 3rd place at the Oberlin International Piano Competition, and the finalist of the Eastman International Piano Competition for Young Artists. Zhao Wanting is currently a student at Texas Christian University, studying with Mr. José Feghali.

Solo Repertoire:

Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988
Chopin: 24 Preludes, Op.28
Brahms: Piano Concerto No.2 in B-flat major, Op.83
Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No.8 in B-flat major, Op.84

Concerto:

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No.3 in D minor, Op.30

:

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Meng Zhou

China
School: The Eastman School of Music
Teacher: Douglas Humpherys

Chinese pianist Meng Zhou began her professional music education at age five. In 2002, she was admitted to the music school attached to the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China and studied with Jin Zhang and PingGuo Zhao. In 2008, she received scholarships to attend Eastman, where she is now a piano performance major studying with Dr. Douglas Humpherys, the chair of the piano department. Ms. Zhou has won the piano scholarship from the music school attached to the Central Conservatory of Music from 2002-2008. Music festivals and competitions include: Young Artists Music Competition-Jefferson Symphony Orchestra (2011) the Third Beijing International Music Festival and Academy (2007), the International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York City (2006), the Fourth Moscow International Frederick Chopin Competition for Young Pianists (2004), the Ninth "Xinghai Cup" China Children's Piano Competition (first prize in 2002), the First TOYAMA Asia Teenager's Music Competition in Hong Kong (first prize in the Class Six group in 2002), and the Second Chinese Work Piano Competition in Hong Kong, where she was ranked 5th in Sonata Group (2000). She has also performed at the concert hall of Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing Normal University in China, Kilbourn Hall and Hatch Recital Hall in Rochester.

Solo Repertoire:

Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata in B-flat major, D960
Robert Schumann: Piano Sonata in F-sharp Minor, Op.11
Bach - Busoni: Chaconne (from Partita no.2 in D minor for violin), BWV 1004
Dmitri Shostakovich: Piano Sonata No.1, Op.12

Concerto:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto No.21 in C Major, K.467

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Evan Mitchell

USA

School: TCU

Teacher: José Feghali

Lauded for his “impassioned and vigorous” pianism (Pianomania), Evan Mitchell is quickly becoming a young artist to watch. Of a recent performance of Saint-Saëns’ Second Piano Concerto, the Kingsville Record praised his “perfect taste and style”.

 Evan’s performances have been heard in such venues as New York’s Steinway Hall, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, and in seven countries on three continents, and broadcast on WFHB radio (Bloomington, IN). He has appeared with orchestras including the Victoria Symphony, and the Indiana University Philharmonic and Concert Orchestras; under conductors such as Darryl One, David Effron and Kevin Noe; and in chamber music with members of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra. He is also engaged to solo with the Lima Symphony Orchestra in the 2012-13 season under the baton of Maestro Crafton Beck.

Among other honors, Evan has been awarded first prize in the Kingsville International Young Performers Competition, Lima Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition, Indiana University Concerto Competition (twice), the Texas Christian University Concerto Competition, and the Twelfth Annual Competition in the Performance of Music from Spain and Latin America (sponsored by the IU Latin American Music Center and the Embassy of Spain), in which he was also awarded the Jacques Klein Prize for the Best Performance of a Brazilian Solo Piano Work.

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