
Elementary 1st Prize
Zhongshu Chen
China (9)
Piano Teacher: Teguh Sukaryo
At the age of eight Zhongshu Joshua Chen won his first Gold Prize at an international competition. As a result he received an invitation to perform at the Carnegie Hall, NYC; Soon after another First Prize with an invite to grace the stage of Wiener Zaal Mozarteum, Salzburg. Within the same year Joshua harvested more than a dozen First Prizes from various international competitions around the world. Born on the third of August, 2011 in China, Joshua study piano with Teguh Sukaryo at Teguh Sukaryo International Music School (TSIMS), Jakarta, Indonesia.

Elementary 2nd Prize
Andrew Yin
USA (9)
Piano Teacher: Hans Boepple
Andrew Yin, 9, began studying piano at age of 5 and currently studies with Professor Hans Boepple. He is a 3rd grader at Valley Christian School in San Jose, USA. Andrew was the first prize winner at Spotlight National Youth Music Competition, KAMSA Piano Competition 2021, honorable mention in the 2021 Music Teachers' Association of California State Concerto Solo Competition Regional Audition. Andrew also performed and received various awards at USOMC, USIMC, New Star, Youth Focus. Besides piano, Andrew enjoys violin, reading, chess, swimming. Andrew is also an impact soccer player at the LFC academy team at Los Gatos.

Elementary 3rd Prize
Chelsea Gu
Canada (9)
Piano Teacher: Dr. Michael Esch
Roy Li is a Grade 10 student. He has won multiple scholarships from Edmonton Kiwanis Festival, Fall Festival, St. Albert Rotary Music Festival, and placed 2nd at the Alberta Provincial Music Festival Finals. He completed his Level 10 RCM Piano exam with honours with distinctions and have received his ARCT diploma in Piano Performance. Roy volunteers with the Heart of the City Edmonton to provide piano lessons for free to children who would otherwise not have the opportunity to learn to play piano. In his free time, Roy enjoys reading and playing soccer.

Elementary Honorable Mention
Isabel Feng
USA (9)
Piano Teacher: Carol Chuang, Ilana Vered
Isabel Feng, a 9-year-old 4th grader from Folsom, California, started learning piano at age four with Ms. Carol Chuang. She is also studying with Ilana Vered.
Isabel was awarded 1st place in CAPMT Honors Competitions State Final and Contemporary Competitions State Final at the age of 6 and 7. She is the Grand Prize winner of Xinghai Cup National Piano Competition in Anhui, China. Isabel is also the 1st prize winners of many other local, national, and international piano competitions including USIMC Young Artist Award, USOMC Showcase Piano Solo, Crescendo International Music Competition, and Auburn Symphony Young Artist Competition. Her recent achievements include winner of Pacific Musical Society & Foundation 2021 Competition, 1st place of CAPMT 2021 Concerto Competition State Final, 1st place of MTAC 2021 Piano Concerto Solo Competition State Final, and 1st place of 2021 San Jose International Piano Competition.
At the age of 7, Isabel made her orchestral debut with Folsom Lake College Youth Chamber Orchestra and was invited to perform in five concerts. In 2019, Isabel opened the Prodigy Concert with Florence Conservatory Orchestra at Music Fest Perugia in Italy. This summer Folsom Lake College Youth Chamber Orchestra is inviting her back to perform Bach Keyboard Concerto No.2 in a special virtual concert.
While not practicing piano, Isabel can be found with her nose in a book, or playing ‘school’ with her sister and 56 stuffed animal students and chaperones in her ‘school’. Her dream is to be a teacher when she grows up.

Elementary Honorable Mention
Wa Tiger Kaiyi
Canada (9)
Piano Teacher: Henri-Paul Sicsic
Nine-year old pianist Tiger Wu began his piano studies in 2017 with Tara Quan and Matthew Ming Li. He made his concerto performance debut with orchestra in 2018 at the age of six. Since then Tiger has participated in the Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival and the Steinway Competition where he received first place results and silver medal respectively.Tiger has been studying under the guidance of Dr. Henri-Paul Sicsic since 2018.

Elementary Audience Favorite
Chanya Bayla Somboonvechakarn
Thailand (9)
Piano Teacher: Dr. Pornphan Banternghansa
Thalit Pakittawatanasiri was born in Thailand, On June 2012. He began to learn music courses at the age of four. And started learning piano when he was about 6 years old. He has a chance to participated in various music festivals and piano competitions.

Junior 1st Prize
Taige Wang
USA (10)
Piano Teacher: Ariel Yang
Taige Wang (piano), 10, is from Irvine, California, and in the fifth grade at Tarbut V’Torah Community Day School. He studies piano with Ariel Yang at Opus 119 The School of Music. He also studies composition with Vera Ivanova. Taige already has many musical accomplishments under his belt. Most recently, he received 1st place in the Los Angeles Liszt International Competition and two Best Performance Awards of Concert Etude and Hungarian Rhapsody, winning amongst all age categories.
His first public performance was at the age of 4, and at the age of 5 he was performing in a live show broadcast on China Central Television. At the age of 7, he gave his solo concert by invitation of Steinway & Son, Dalian, CN. In 2020, Steinway & Sons shared Taige’s performance of Liszt’s Gnomenreigen on their global social media, and it received 87,000 views by the end of the year. Taige was on the American NPR’s From the Top show this may, and Steinway global social media again shared his List’s Hungarian Rhapsody No.11.Outside of music, Taige enjoys math and is an expert at solving the Rubik’s Cube.

Junior 2nd Prize
Chanya Methaprayoon
USA (11)
Piano Teacher: John Weems
Chanya Methaprayoon (11), a rising 7th grader from Beckendorff Junior High School, began studying piano at the age of five and currently studies under the guidance of Mr. John Weems. Her past achievements include 1st place in the Bangkok Young Pianists’ Piano Concerto Competition in 2018, 1st place in the Steinway Piano Competition in 2019, 1st place in the Houston Forum Young Artist Piano Competition in 2019 and 2021, 1st place in the Blinn College Young Pianist Competition in 2020 and 2021, 1st place in Texas State University’s Young Pianist Piano Competition in 2020, the title of Houston Young Artist in 2019 and 2020, and 1st place in the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition in 2021. She also received 2nd place in the Rochelle Liebling Kahan Competition for Child Piano Prodigies in 2019, 2nd place in the Symphony North of Houston Young Artist Competition in 2019, 2nd place in Texas at the Music Teachers National Association Competition in 2020, and the Jury Discretionary Award in the Weatherford College International Piano Competition in 2021. Chanya is also accomplished academically, receiving the President’s Award of Outstanding Academic Excellence in 2020. She has voluntarily performed at senior facilities around the Houston area and enjoys drawing, reading and math in her free time.

Junior 3rd Prize
Victoria Bi
USA (13)
Piano Teacher: Yifan Liu
Roy Li is a Grade 10 student. He has won multiple scholarships from Edmonton Kiwanis Festival, Fall Festival, St. Albert Rotary Music Festival, and placed 2nd at the Alberta Provincial Music Festival Finals. He completed his Level 10 RCM Piano exam with honours with distinctions and have received his ARCT diploma in Piano Performance. Roy volunteers with the Heart of the City Edmonton to provide piano lessons for free to children who would otherwise not have the opportunity to learn to play piano. In his free time, Roy enjoys reading and playing soccer.

Junior Honorable Mention
Zhi Xuang Wang
China (11)
Piano Teacher: Xin Ning Zhang
Zhixuan Wang (11 years old) was born in Xiamen, China. Now studying in the fifth grade of Primary School affiliated to Central Conservatory of Music. Zhixuan started to learn piano at the age of 4 and played on stage at the age of 5. At the age of 6, he was admitted to the Xiamen Music School with the first place in her professional placement, under the tutelage of Mr. Gai Ying, the director of the Music School's Arts Education Department. In 2019, she was admitted to the fourth grade of the Central Conservatory of Music Affiliated Middle and Primary School with excellent achievements, under the tutelage of the famous piano educator Professor Zhang Xinning, the piano director of the Central Conservatory of Music.At the age of 9, she successfully held a personal piano solo concert in Xiamen. She has appeared on stage in Beijing National Grand Theater, Beijing Zhonwhgshan Concert Hall, Hefei Grand Theater, Qingdao Art Museum, Jiageng (Poly) Theater, Hengshui Poly Theater, Xiamen Gulangyu Concert Hall, Xiamen Wuyuan Concert Hall, Xiamen University Art Academy Concert Hall, Xiamen Hongtai Concert Hall and other performances.

Junior Audience Favorite
Weetiwat Siriwattanakorn
Thailand (14)
Piano Teacher: Dr.Pornphan Banternghansa
I started playing the piano at the age of 4. I am now under the guidance of Dr. Pornphan Banternghansa until present. I have won many awards from international competitions, starting from 1st place “GOLD PRIZE AWARD” from Osaka International Music Competition at the age of 8, BEST PERFORMERS AWARD at The 6th ASEAN International Chopin Piano Competition in Malaysia, GOLD MEDAL PRIZE at AADGT’s International Young Gifted Musicians Festival 2016, and 1st PLACE WINNER of the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition 2016, both perform at Carnegie Hall, New York. My most recent success is the 3rd PRIZE WINNERS AWARD of the 2nd International Robert Schumann Competition Düsseldorf for Young Pianists 2019 which I performed Haydn’s piano concerto in D major for the Final Round at Robert Schumann Hall, Museum Kunst Palast. I also won THE ROYAL SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT AWARD from Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati on October 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemics on 2020-21, I also submit to online competitions and won several awards from United States, European countries and South East Asia.

Advanced 1st Prize
Duru Erdogan
Turkey/UK (17)
Piano Teacher: Marcel Baudet
Duru Erdogan was born in Turkey in 2004 and began to play the piano when she was six years old. She began her studies at the Bilkent University Junior Music School with Gamze Kirtil and when she was 11 she won 2nd prize in the Pera International Piano Competition in Istanbul, and also at the Mozart Academy International Piano Competition in Izmir. In 2016 she won 2nd prize at the Bursa Nilufer Piano Competition, and in 2017 she performed as a soloist with the Izmir State Symphony Orchestra.
In September 2017 Duru was accepted with a generous scholarship at The Yehudi Menuhin School in London, where she is currently studying with Marcel Baudet. In May 2017 she was selected to join a tour of Scotland with a small group from the school, and gave performances in Blair Atholl, New Lanark and Edinburgh. She has also performed in The Menuhin Hall many times, as soloist and accompanist. In October 2017 she was invited to perform at the PianoDuo Festival in Amsterdam with another student from the school, and later in the year she made a further visit to Holland, participating in sonata masterclasses at the Akoesticum Centre for Arts.
In 2019, Duru won 1st prize and the title “Young Pianist Of The North” in the Young Pianist Of the North International Competition (participants aged under 21) . In 2021 she won 1st prize in Franz Liszt Center Online Competition and an “incentive award” in the Arte Piano e-competition (age 16-25), being the youngest participant of the competition.

Advanced 2nd Prize (tie)
Angela Lee
USA (17)
Piano Teacher: Ariel Yang
New York Concert Review writes Angela Lee “knocked everyone’s socks off and demonstrated the sensitivity, maturity, power and pianism that one often misses in pianists twice her age.” 17 year old Angela, a current highschool Junior at Pacific Academy, is the President, Director, and Producer of the Youth Board of the Opus Music Foundation that runs a masterclass series with world renowned artists. She was privileged to receive the most promising Junior Award at the 2015 Virginia Waring International Piano Competition. Since then, she was named the Evgeny Kissin Grand Prize winner at the Fourth Rosalyn Tureck International Bach Competition. Angela made her radio debut on New York public radio WQXR. She is also the prize winner of numerous awards, including First Prize Winner at 2013 San Jose International Russian Music Piano Competition, Gold medalist at 2013 Seattle International Piano competition, First Prize Winner at 2014 Glendale Piano Competition, Grand Prize and First Prize Winner at 2015 and 2019 MTAC State Solo for the State of California Piano Competition, First Prize Winner at 2016 MTAC State Concerto for the State of California Piano Competition, First Prize Winner at 2016 CAPMT State Concerto for the State of California Piano Competition, First Prize Winner at 2016 Young Artists Concerto Competition, Winner at 2017 Young Stars Of The Future, 2nd prize 2018 Los Angeles International Liszt Competition Longer Works (Youngest contestants for up to age 35), 1st prize at the 2019 The American Liszt Society Music Festival, and Gold Medalist at the 2020 Piano League Piano Star International Competition. Angela has also had the privilege of working under Maestro William Grant Nabore, Ann Schein, Garrick Ohlsson and Menahem Pressler in various masterclasses. Since the age of 7, Angela has been studying piano with Ariel Yang at Opus119 School of Music in Orange County, CA. She also enjoys reading, writing, drawing and doing track and field in her free time.

Advanced 2nd Prize (tie)
Marie Wurtz
USA (17)
Piano Teacher: Inesa Sinkevych
Marie Wurtz is a senior at the Hackley School and at the Manhattan School of Music precollege where she is a piano student of Inesa Sinkevych. In the summer of 2018, she participated in the Bowdoin International Music Festival in the studio of Peter Serkin. Earlier, she had taken part in the Manhattan in the Mountains festival in 2017 and Kinhaven music camp programs, where she gave both chamber and solo performances. She has performed at Merkin Hall, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the Hackley School, and various halls in the Manhattan School of Music. Recently, she and two other students from her school were finalists in the Chamber Music Society Young Musicians’ Chamber Competition. Marie has taken part in masterclasses with Yong-Hi Moon and Shai Wosner.

Advanced 3rd Prize
Sophia Si
USA (16)
Piano Teacher: John Weems
Sophia Si is a 10th grader at St John’s School in Houston and studies the piano with John Weems. She earned top prizes in competitions that include the Texas Music Teachers Association Performance Contest, Weatherford College International Piano Competition, Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition, Seattle International Piano Competition and International Keyboard Odyssiad Competition.

Advanced Honorable Mention
Bokun Liu
Canada (16)
Piano Teacher: Ilya Takser
BoKun Liu, born in New Zealand in July of 2004, is a piano student living in Vancouver, Canada. BoKun Liu debuted at Carnegie Hall in New York at the age of 11. Since then, he has gone on to win various international music competitions and festivals in North America, Europe and Australia - including the 2021 Brisbane International Youth Piano Competition (Australia), Wiener Klassiker International Piano Competition (Hungary), the 2nd International D-Competition (Russia), and Kings Peak International Piano Competition (USA). He is also the top prize winner of the 2020 Anton Rubinstein International Youth Competition (Germany), 2020 World Piano E-Competition “Napolinova” (Italy), 2021 Euregio International Piano Competition (Germany), and many others. BoKun Liu is the winner of the 2020 Steinway Piano Competition (Gold Award, Senior Division) and the Canadian Young Artist Standard of Excellence Award. Additionally, he is the recipient of multiple grants and scholarships. BoKun Liu has participated in numerous masterclasses with distinguished artists, such as Gary Graffman, Richard Raymond, Michael Kim, Wu Han, Ilana Vered, Jonathan Biss, Louis Lortie and others. Some of his past piano teachers include Keiko Alexander and LayTuan Tan of VSO School of Music. Since 2018, BoKun Liu has been studying at Fedorova&Takser Piano Studio, under the guidance of pianist Ilya Takser. Besides music, BoKun Liu is also an art lover and proficient skier.

Advanced Audience Favorite
Angela Lee
USA (17)
Piano Teacher: Ariel Yang
New York Concert Review writes Angela Lee “knocked everyone’s socks off and demonstrated the sensitivity, maturity, power and pianism that one often misses in pianists twice her age.” 17 year old Angela, a current highschool Junior at Pacific Academy, is the President, Director, and Producer of the Youth Board of the Opus Music Foundation that runs a masterclass series with world renowned artists. She was privileged to receive the most promising Junior Award at the 2015 Virginia Waring International Piano Competition. Since then, she was named the Evgeny Kissin Grand Prize winner at the Fourth Rosalyn Tureck International Bach Competition. Angela made her radio debut on New York public radio WQXR. She is also the prize winner of numerous awards, including First Prize Winner at 2013 San Jose International Russian Music Piano Competition, Gold medalist at 2013 Seattle International Piano competition, First Prize Winner at 2014 Glendale Piano Competition, Grand Prize and First Prize Winner at 2015 and 2019 MTAC State Solo for the State of California Piano Competition, First Prize Winner at 2016 MTAC State Concerto for the State of California Piano Competition, First Prize Winner at 2016 CAPMT State Concerto for the State of California Piano Competition, First Prize Winner at 2016 Young Artists Concerto Competition, Winner at 2017 Young Stars Of The Future, 2nd prize 2018 Los Angeles International Liszt Competition Longer Works (Youngest contestants for up to age 35), 1st prize at the 2019 The American Liszt Society Music Festival, and Gold Medalist at the 2020 Piano League Piano Star International Competition. Angela has also had the privilege of working under Maestro William Grant Nabore, Ann Schein, Garrick Ohlsson and Menahem Pressler in various masterclasses. Since the age of 7, Angela has been studying piano with Ariel Yang at Opus119 School of Music in Orange County, CA. She also enjoys reading, writing, drawing and doing track and field in her free time.