Veniamin Blokh was born in 1993 in St. Petersburg (Russia) and has been playing piano sincethe age of four. From 2001-2012, he studied at the Special Music School of the St. PetersburgRimsky Korsakov Conservatory. He earned his bachelor’s degree with honors (summa cumlaude) from the prestigious St. Petersburg Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in 2017. Aftergraduation, Veniamin has continued his education in the United States where he received hismaster’s degree with honors (summa cum laude) at Texas Tech University as well as graduatedfrom the artist diploma program at Texas Christian University. Currently he is pursuing his DMAdegree in Piano Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music on a full-tuitionaward, where he also serves as a collaborative musician for singers, instrumentalists, andorchestras. In his free time, Mr. Blokh enjoys teaching piano and theory to people of all ages.Throughout his musical career, he has pursued his passion for vocal and instrumental chambermusic. Veniamin is a laureate of many international piano competitions and festivals. Heparticipated in numerous piano masterclasses with many great artists. He actively givesconcerts as a soloist, and he also collaborates with renowned orchestras and smallerensembles. Along with classical music, Veniamin also enjoys jazz improvisation.During the pandemic, Veniamin composed a piece for treble choir and piano - “When We Facean Unknown Future” - that was performed at TCU.Competitions/awards/achievements:- 1st prize at the International Festival-Contest "Window to Europe" - chamber ensemble (2009)- Special prize for the best performance of Julian Cochran’s compositions in the InternationalJulian Cochran Piano Competition (2015)- Winner of the “Opportunity” grant sponsored by Education USA (2016)- Winner of the Concerto Competition in the Keyboard Area playing the Rachmaninov’s FirstPiano Concerto (2017)- One of the four finalists of the Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition (2019)- 1st Prize in the Tuesday Musical Club Young Artist Competition (2020)- An invitation to participate in the Manchester Music Festival (2020)- Winner of the Prelude No. 12 Challenge organized by the International Julian Cochran PianoCompetition (2020)- Judith Solomon Award in Vocal Accompanying at TCU (2020)- 3rd Prize in the 6th International Music Competition Triomphe de l'Art (2020)- 1st Prize in the MTNA–Stecher and Horowitz Two Piano Competition (2021)- 3rd Prize in the Weatherford College International Piano Competition (2021)- 3rd Prize in the Lancaster International Piano Competition (2021)- 1st Prize in the Wonder Keys International Piano Competition (2023)- An invitation to give a recital at the Rochester Piano Teachers Guild (2023)- 2nd Prize in the Jessie Kneisel Lieder Competition - collaborative pianist (2024)

Born in Taiwan, pianist Huan-Ching Chou has won several international piano competitions, most recently the Philadelphia International Piano Competition in 2021. In the past few years, performing as an active soloist and collaborative pianist, he has given recitals at The Kosciuszko Foundation under the “Salon De Virtuosi” series in New York City, the Steinway Piano Gallery in Toronto, and the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. Always a determined musician, Huan-Ching has attended and performed at numerous summer festivals, including the Philadelphia Young Pianists’ Academy and the Gijón International Piano Festival in Spain. As a full scholarship recipient, he has made appearances at the Aspen Music Festival and School and Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival in Florida. His experience is enriched further through masterclasses with esteemed pianists such as Gary Graffman, Robert McDonald, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Dang Thai Son, Christopher Elton, Arie Vardi, and Pierre-Laurent Aimard. Besides performing, Huan-Ching is also a recording artist. In May 2023, his debut studio album was released worldwide on major music platforms, featuring substantial compositions by Haydn, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Prokofiev, Kapustin, and Jianzhong Wang. Currently, Huan-Ching is pursuing his Bachelor of Music degree under the tutelage of Prof. Jerome Lowenthal at The Juilliard School in New York City.

Lin Deng, originally from China, has been passionately engaged in musicsince the age of four when she began learning the piano. Currently, she is athird-year undergraduate student at the Royal College of Music in London.
Her achievements include winning the Gold Award in the solo pianocompetition at the 2017 British International Festival in Cardiff and securingthe first prize in the Sevenoaks Young Musician of the Year Competition in theUK in March 2024. Additionally, she earned the Gold Award in theProfessional Artist Category Group A of the United Kingdom Division at theIPPA Conero International Piano Competition in May 2024.
Lin will also perform George Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F major with theLydian Orchestra at their December 2024 concert.

Gregory Martin, an American pianist, has graced global stages with his musical prowess. He'sperformed 10 piano concertos with renowned orchestras around the globe including the Ft.Worth Symphony, New Mexico Symphony, Russian State Academic Orchestra “EvgenySvetlanov”, and Moscow City Symphony Orchestra. A laureate of prestigious competitions,including the 8th International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians, MetropolitanInternational Piano Competition, and the Jackie McGehee competition, Gregory is celebratedfor his "disciplined, controlled approach to his music making, and yet at the same time, a fierymusical temperament". Besides his solo work, he's an active chamber musician, havingperformed over 5 major piano quintets amongst many other chamber works.

Praised by the critics as “…Delicate yet powerful…” (Lander University Press), Chinese pianist Zehao has established himself as one of the prominent rising stars on the concert scene today. Following major recognitions from the Seattle International Piano Competition, National Society of Arts and Letters, Long Island International Piano Competition, Thousand Island International Piano Competition, Zehao has given major concerts throughout the United States and China. Born into a family full of musicians and music lovers, Zehao began hisjourney with piano at three years old, made his debut concert at the age of 14. At the year of 2012, Zehao came to the States and continued his piano study with Dr. Washington Garcia. Zehao was admitted to the studio of distinguished artist, Marina Lomazov for his undergraduate study and continued his master and doctoral study at the prestigious Eastman School of Music where he studies with Steinway Artists Marina Lomazov and Joseph Rackers. In recent years, Zehao has acquired gold medals from the GOCCA International Piano Competition; NASL International Piano Competition; Texas State Concerto & Aria Competition; Haiman Cup Young Artist Piano Competition. In addition to these, he also holds prizes from Seattle International Piano Competition; American Virtuoso International Competition; Thousand Island International Piano Competition; Long Island International Piano Competition; MTNA Young Artist Division; Golden Age Artist Piano Competition.As an active chamber musician, Zehao performed as soloist with the Virtuosi Brunenses Symphony Orchestra (Italy), Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra (USA), and Texas State Symphony Orchestra (USA), and with his chamber and life partner, Ke’er Wang, together they presented concert throughout the country, notably as guest artists at the opening concert of Southeastern Piano Festival, Lander University, Texas State International Piano Festival, and Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra. Zehao is currently a doctoral candidate at the Eastman School of Music majoring in Piano Performance and Literature where he served as piano instructor, teaching assistant and a faculty member of the Eastman Community Music School. He has served as jury member for the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition, Miaomiao Rising Star Piano Competition, and many more. In a testament to their commitment to musical education and community enrichment, Zehao and Ke’er co-founded the Miaomiao Piano Festival in Wuhai, China, serving as artistic directors and program coordinators since its inception in the summer of 2016.

Yixuan Han, an aspiring pianist, is advancing his studies in the Doctor of Musical Arts program at the University of Michigan under the esteemed Professor Arthur Greene. His musical education is a journey marked by engagements with distinguished mentors and involvement in globally recognized festivals. His academic path includes a Master of Music from the New England Conservatory, under the tutelage of Dang Thai Son, Alexander Korsantia, and Gabriel Chodos, and a Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory, guided by Professor Angela Cheng. His early foundation was laid at Shenyang Conservatory with Professor Danwen Wei.Yixuan's performance history is illustrious, featuring appearances at notable venues such as the Rebecca Penneys Music Festival in the U.S., Beijing Music Festival in China, and Perugia Music Festival in Italy. He has also been highlighted at recent events like the Sicily Music Festival and Borromeo Music Festival in Switzerland. His excellence is further acknowledged through grand prize victories in esteemed competitions including the NSA International Music Competition, Charleson International Music Competition, and Concert Artist International Competition.Yixuan Han is dedicated to continual improvement and passionate about sharing his musical gifts globally, as he navigates a promising career in the classical music.

Pianist Robert (Bobby) Levinger possesses the qualities of humility, honesty, and confidence as an artist. He has been praised for bringing depth, conviction, and authenticity in his performances. He plays “with considerable dramatic flair, thunderous power, dazzling speed and technical excellence” (The People’s Critic).  Since his orchestral concerto debut at age 14, he has been recognized for his concerto playing. He has engaged with orchestras around the U.S., including Madison Symphony, Mississippi Valley, Austin Symphony, Moores Symphony, and La Crosse Symphony Orchestras. His performance of the Grieg Concerto with the Madison Symphony in Overture Hall was presented as a live broadcast on Wisconsin Public Television and Radio. Most recently, Robert received a return engagement with the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, performing Beethoven’s Fourth Concerto on multiple occasions.In recent years, Robert has succeeded internationally in competitions in San Jose, Los Angeles, and New Orleans in the U.S. Musical journeys in 2019 included competitions in England and Spain, the latter of which earned him a recital and masterclass tour around historic Barcelona. Other honors of Robert’s in the past include being named a national finalist in the 2016 MTNA Steinway and Sons Young Artist Competition, and a semi-finalist in the 2017 San Jose and 2018 New Orleans International Piano Competitions. His four years in Texas also garnered him great success, as he received medals in the Young Texas Artists’, Houston Tuesday Musical, San Antonio Young Artist, and TMTA Collegiate Competitions. In the past, Robert’s recordings and performances have been heard and presented on WPR in Wisconsin. He has performed in solo masterclasses for artists including Paul Lewis, Boris Berman, Anton Nel, Boris Slutsky, Abbey Simon, Lang Lang, Alessio Bax, and Ignat Solzhenitsyn. In addition, he has performed in chamber masterclasses for the Takács Quartet, Joel Krosnick, Ieva Jokubaviciute, Raman Ramakrishnan, duo526, and the Claremont Trio. As a chamber musician, Robert as engaged with fine musicians from around the world. He was twice invited to the historic Kneisel Chamber Music Festival in Maine, performing trios, quartets, and quintets in 2019 and 2021. In 2022, Robert completed a five-month chamber residency – known as Lincoln Center Stage – aboard a Holland America Line cruise ship, performing as part of a piano quartet ensemble. Six days a week, Robert performed solo, duo, trios, and quartets while traversing the seas. Above all, exploring underplayed works by familiar and unfamiliar composers in chamber and solo settings has become something of great importance to him. With Robert’s duo partner, Chihiro Kakishima, they have explored the duo sonatas of Nikolai Medtner, performing recitals at the University of Michigan, duo526’s Sonata Seminar at Indiana University, and at the Eastman School of Music. Delivering honest, convincing performances of unheard works continually inspires and motivates Robert to remain humble in the face of music. Robert has studied with notable teachers including Nancy Weems, Logan Skelton, and Roberto Plano, Wei-Yi Yang, and Paul Wirth. Robert will be commencing doctoral studies at Northwestern University in the Fall of 2024, studying with James Giles at the Bienen School of Music.

Juchan Lee is a prize winner of numerous piano competitions, including the Music Education Newspaper Competition, the Korean Piano Pedagogy Association Competition, the 2023 MMTA collegiate Piano Duet Competition, the 2024 Conero International Piano Competition Midwest region, and the 2024 Conero International Piano Competition Final Round Silver Medalist.He was invited to participate at the 2019 ASIA International Piano Academy and frequently gave chamber concerts as a guest artist at the Seocho Art Center in Seoul, Korea. Lee is in much demand as an accompanist and a chamber musician. He recently served as an accompanist at the 26th Hellam Young Artists' International Competition, the Ozark NATS competition, the Galloway Chamber Orchestra, the National Federation of Music Clubs Festival, the MSHSAA Festival, and performed with renowned saxophonist Dr. Matthew Tracy. He also served as a counselor at the Young Artists Keyboard Academy (Missouri State University).

Born in Manila, Philippines, Chance Elan Israel discovered a passion for the piano at age six, but began formal training when he was eight. Twenty years since then, Chance has graduated with a Doctorate in Musical Arts in Piano Performance from Florida State University, and garnered several awards and scholarships. Some of his most notable successes include: top prizes at the Osaka International Competition, Lyric Chamber Society Competition, Rockwood Piano Competition, and the Tampa Bay Concerto Competition. Additionally, throughout his years of experience, Israel has performed internationally, including venues in the U.S., Japan, Italy, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Prior to his studies at FSU, Chance earned his M.M and B.M. degrees at the Lynn Conservatory of Music. Chance is a dedicated music educator. He has taught piano for over ten years and has worked in several music institutions in the U.S. and the Philippines. His daily routine involves sharing his love of music with students ranging from five to eighty-five. Outside his musical endeavors, he enjoys reading and strolling outdoors.Israel owes his musical growth to his former mentors Stijn De Cock, Roberta Rust, and Carmencita Arambulo.

Youjin Kim had her first solo recital at 15 in Kumho Art Hall after winning the Kumho Prodigy Audition. She graduated from the prestigious Sunhwa Arts School and Sunhwa Arts High School with Artistic Excellence Scholarships. While attending Sunhwa Arts High School, she won the audition for the Regular School Concert and, at the age of 17, performed with an orchestra at the prestigious Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. She has earned acclaim and recognition in numerous competitions, including the 71st Wideman Competition, NSAL Competition, Jacobs Concerto Competition, Grand Prize at the Arizona International Music Competition, Grand Prize at the Concert Artists International Competition, Grand Prize at the New York Laureate International Music Competition, and WPTA Italy Piano Artist 1st Prize with the Best Prokofiev Sonata Special Prize. Recently, she became a finalist in the Washington International Piano Competition held in Washington, D.C., and competed at the Kennedy Center. She won first prize at the Global Philharmonic Competition, first prize at the IAC Competition, and the grand prize at The Muse Competition. She has performed on prestigious stages, including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. As a reward for winning first place in the WPTA Italy competition, she is scheduled to perform at a gala concert in Piacenza, Italy, in October 2024 and another gala concert in Madrid, Spain, in 2025. She earned her Bachelor's degree at Seoul National University, studying under the guidance of Professor Hyoung Joon Chang. She then completed her Master's degree at Indiana University. Currently, she is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Cincinnati, where she is studying under the esteemed mentorship of Dr. Dror Biran.

Manuel Vizurraga is an emerging concert pianist who has been captivating audiences with his brilliant performances and heartfelt interpretations of classical piano music. He has gained recognition for his expressive playing style, ability to connect with listeners on an emotional level, and his desire to establish a name for himself in the classical music world. Hailing from a Peruvian-American background, Vizurraga embarked on his classical music journey relatively late in life but displayed exceptional talent from the start. He pursued a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of West Georgia, studying under the guidance of Carol Gingerich. During his time there, he showcased his skills by winning the institution's Concerto, Honors Day, and Wright Scholars competitions. He was also actively involved in the Opera program, serving as a soloist and rehearsal pianist. Continuing his education, Manuel went on to pursue two Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy at Florida State University. Under the mentorship of Read Gainsford for performance and Diana Dumlavwalla for pedagogy, he further honed his musical abilities. Manuel's talent was recognized when he emerged as a winner in FSU's Young Artist Concerto Competition. Recently, Manuel completed an Artist Certificate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, where he studied performance with Sean Chen and pedagogy with Christopher Madden. During his time at UMKC, he achieved success in various international piano competitions and built a thriving studio of students of all ages and skill levels. Manuel's dedication to his craft has led him to accept a Graduate Enrichment Fellowship at The Ohio State University, where he is pursuing a Doctor of Music degree in Piano Performance under the guidance of Caroline Hong. During his time, he has been a medalist in several competitions in the international level. These competitions include The Barum International Piano Competition, American Virtuoso International Music Competition, Charleston International Music Competition, and The Nevada School of the Arts International Music Competition. During his time at OSU, he has received invitations for upcoming solo performances in places such as the Worlds Resort (Las Vegas, Nevada), and Carnegie Hall (New York, NY). He has participated in several masterclasses with world-renowned teachers such as Christopher Harding, Spencer Meyer, and Uta Weyand. His repertoire encompasses works from a wide range of composers from various eras. Manuel's performances are characterized by a genuine passion, sensitivity, and a personal touch. Throughout his journey, Manuel has received several awards and recognitions, including first prize in the Master's division of The International Association of Professional Music Teachers' Concours International de Musique Online (2023). He also achieved recognition by placing 3rd in the American Protege International Piano and Strings Competition (2016), which granted him the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In 2022, he was a finalist and secured 2nd place in the Chopin/Liszt Special Division of the International Piano Professionals Association Competition.  He recently was awarded 2nd place in the Barum International Piano Competition. In addition to his performance career, Manuel Vizurraga is devoted to sharing his knowledge and experience as a teacher, working with aspiring pianists of all backgrounds and ages. He has been highly sought after as a teacher for his approachable personality, effective teaching, and unique ability to relate music to students. He has served as a piano instructor and collaborative pianist at the UMKC Conservatory Academy, and many of his students have scored highly in music festivals, won piano competitions, and successfully gained admission to prestigious music programs and universities. Whether performing on stage or sharing his expertise as an instructor, Manuel Vizurraga approaches his work with genuine artistry, passion, and steadfast commitment. He is a rising talent in classical piano, and his performances are not to be missed.

With praise for her technique and musicality coming from audiences and critics alike, Maria Narodytska is described as having “a perfect sense of style and character,” and “a talented artist with a strong perspective”, as she continues to be met with enthusiasm worldwide for performances that are rich in the finest traditions of the instrument.  Born in Ukraine, she is a graduate of the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine in the studio of Professor Natalia Tolpygo for Piano, and Iryna Aleksiychuk for Composition.  Currently living in Germany, she has studied there and in Austria under professors Ralf Nattkemper and Stephan Simonian at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, as well as with Milana Chernyavska at Kunstuniversität Graz.  Recent performances include appearances at the Philharmonie Berlin, Wiener Konzerthaus, Brucknerhaus Linz, Hamburg’s Laeiszhalle, and Rexam Hall in Takamatsu with the Seto Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Takuo Yuasa.  A prizewinner of Takamatsu, Sant Cecilia, and WorldVision International Music Competitions, she also boasts wins in more than fifty other major competitions while continuing to concertize worldwide, in addition to being a much sought after teacher and adjudicator.  Narodytska’s ever-growing discography includes four albums dedicated to Brahms, Schubert and Beethoven released under the OnClassical label for further worldwide distribution by Naxos of America, which have already brought her nearly half a million streams on Spotify.