Gala Night at Carnegie Hall • Winter 2024

January 7th, 2024

Hailing from the farthest reaches of the United States, a group of 30 young musicians embarked on a monumental journey to New York City, their destination set: Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Despite the harsh bite of winter’s cold and the relentless drift of snow, their determination burned brightly, fueled by a shared passion for classical music.

Each performer brought with them a unique musical perspective, a distinctive melody shaped by their upbringing and life experiences. Yet, in spite of their differences, they found unity in their common love for music, and quickly forged bonds that transcended geography and background. As they navigated the bustling streets of New York, their excitement mingled with anticipation, each step bringing them closer to their moment on stage. Rehearsals became their sanctuary, where the timeless notes of classical compositions filled the air, weaving a tapestry of sound that was sure to echo throughout the hallowed halls of Carnegie and beyond.

After much anticipation, the day of their performance finally arrived—a culmination of months of preparation and dedicated study. On stage at Weill Recital Hall, they poured their hearts and souls into each chord and phrase, their music a testament to the power of collaboration and camaraderie. Despite the chill that seeped through the city streets, their performance ignited a warmth that enveloped the audience, drawing them into a world of beauty and emotion. And as they took their final bows, bathed in the glow of applause, they knew that their journey – from distant shores to the iconic stage of Carnegie Hall – had been a triumph of both talent and spirit.

Alexander Vu

Alexander Vu discovered his passion for piano when he was only five years old. He composed his own pieces and gave them creative names, such as “The Turtle”, “The Garden”, and “The Car Ride”. He also sang along with the melodies he played. He joined the Little Chopin Piano Studio with his two sisters and participated in various workshops, rehearsals, recitals and concerts. He has won several awards from competitions such as the United States International Duo Piano Competition, Southwestern Youth Music Festival, Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition, IAPMT Concours International Piano Competition, and Joyeux Music International Festival. He has been studying piano for about eight years with Ms. Molly Nguyen, Ms. Ruby Shih, and Ms. Ting Chuan Huang. He prefers playing pieces from the romantic and contemporary periods, especially by Chopin and Barber. His favorite pianist is Lang Lang. He is currently an eighth-grader at the Orange County School of the Arts, Piano Conservatory, where he has learned from masterclasses by Dr. Sarkis Baltaian, Mrs. Kelly Neff, Prof. Bernadene Blaha, and Ms. Fureya Unal. They have also helped him improve his musical skills and expression.

Allison Phan

Allison Phan, a 12-year-old pianist, is currently attending the Pianist Program at the well known Orange County School of the Arts. Her musical journey started at the age of six under the talented instructors Ms. Ting Huang and Ms. Molly Nguyen at the Little Chopin Piano School. Since the age of eight, Allison has won numerous top prizes in both national and international competitions. The most well-known are the Pacific Stars International Piano Competition, the International Piano Professionals Association Conero Competition, the Southwestern Youth Music Festival, the Satori Summer Music Festival, the United States International Duo Piano Competition, and the International Association of Professional Music Teachers Competition. This year, Allison has won multiple Solo and Ensemble First Prizes, notably, two Grand Prizes, one at the International Association of Professional Music Teachers competition and one at the Satori Summer Music Festival. Allison was also honored with the title of The Young Kawai Artist after being awarded First Place in the Virtuoso Solo category at the IAPMT competition. This recognition is a true reflection of her exceptional skill and passion for piano. Allison has also been invited to showcase her talents at many Winner Concerts for Solo and Ensemble Performances in distinguished venues such as Soka Performing Arts Centers, Azusa Pacific University, and the upcoming Carnegie Hall. Outside piano, Allison is an active Girl Scout Cadette. She earned her Bronze Award at the age of ten, and her Silver Award at the age of twelve.

Art Yao

Art Yao, 14 years old, from Southern California began his musical journey by discovering a profound passion for music through the piano at the young age of seven. Beyond piano, he actively pursues mastery of additional skills and techniques through violin playing. Art is currently studying with Dr. Janet Favreau for piano and Mrs. Gail Mellert for violin. Art has participated in the finals of California Regional Bach Festival multiple times and won many awards in the Southwestern Youth Music Festival, first place in the Chamber Duo category at the Satori Summer Music Festival, and second prize in the Rising Talents of Americas International Music Competition. He has earned State Honors and Convention selection in the Music Teachers Association of California Certificate of Merit. He also played with the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic Orchestra with his violin skills and performed in Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. He is a member of the South Bay Music Students Service League, a group of young musicians who perform in senior houses so they can spread love and joy through their music. Outside of performing music, Art enjoys listening to different types of music, working out, and hanging out with his buddies.

Arthur Tsagaan

Arthur Tsagaan, from Palo Alto, CA, is currently 13 years old. He started learning piano at the age of six with Ms. Nancy Ko of Bravo Conservatory of Music and has been under tutelage of Dr. Yuhan Yeh since 2019. Arthur Tsagaan attended the 2023 Juilliard summer piano program and studied under Dr. Vivian Chang, Dr. Scott Holden, and Dr. Mika Sakaki. He was the Third Place Winner at 2022 Concours International de Musique Online and the First Place Winner at 2023 Concours International de Musique Online. Arthur also enjoys playing electric guitar and has a Rock band with his brothers.

Ashley Tran

Ashley Tran, born in 2010, developed a passion for piano at the age of five. She has been studying at Little Chopin Piano School for seven years and has won several national and international piano competitions with her impressive performance, flawless technique, beautiful expression and flair for the dramatics. Some of these prestigious competitions include the United States International Duo Piano Competition, Southwestern Youth Music Festival, Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition, Rocky Mountain Ensemble Competition, Satori Young Pianist Contest, Conero International Piano Competition and IAPMT Concours International Competition.
She graduated from Peter’s Elementary School’s Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program and was accepted into the Piano Conservatory at the renowned Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) in Southern California for seventh grade. In 2023, Ashley won multiple first place prizes in the IAPMT Concours International de Musique de Chambre and the Grand Concours International competitions, earning a coveted invitation to perform at the Soka Performing Arts Center in August 2023. These achievements have led to her remarkable opportunity to make her debut at Carnegie Hall in January 2024. Besides playing piano, Ashley enjoys reading and swimming. She is a multi-talented artist who can also do graphic design, gaming, cross stitching and knitting. She earned her Girl Scout Bronze award in 2022 and participated in a benefit concert to support musicians with disabilities.

Aven Ko

Two of Aven’s great passions in life are classical music and piano. Through piano, he seeks to document his own personal emotions as well as capturing the beauty and diversity of his own unique musical interpretation. After discovering his love for piano at the age of seven, Aven has dedicated every opportunity to communicate and connect with others by performing at various venues. He has participated in The National Guild Piano Auditions through American College of Musicians with a Superior plus rating for 2 years in a row. In addition, he has worked with Peter Klimo (2nd place recipient of the 2014 International Franz Liszt Competition, award recipient of Bartok World Piano Competition) and is currently studying with
Rosanna Marzaroli from the Marzaroli Piano Studios. At 12 years of age, Aven placed first at 2023 Satori Piano Competitions in Chopin Solo category and won this year’s Grand Concours International Competition from the IAPMT Foundation, placing first in the Chopin Liszt Category at the live in-person final round. As a result, he was invited to perform at Soka Performing Arts Center. Furthermore, Aven was accepted into the highly selective Pianist Program at the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA). He will be studying under world-renowned visiting artist teachers, enabling him to receive ample performance experience and the highest level of education to further equip himself as a pianist. Now at the age of 13, Aven has been recently invited to perform at the IAPMT winners’ concert at the prestigious Carnegie Hall.

Ayleen Min

Ayleen Min is a fourth grade student who just turned 10 years old. She lives happily with her parents and her cute dog. She started learning piano at the age of 8, and when she was 9, she met her current teacher, Irene Park, and she became very interested in the piano. She gained her stage experience by participating in Satori and IAPMT competitions, which also gave her the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall. She will continue to plan an even greater piano journey with her teacher.

Bella Dang

Bella Dang is a 15-year-old sophomore at Mater Dei High School in Orange County, California. She lives with her parents, who work as a healthcare provider and a professional entertainer. Bella has a passion for law and hopes to pursue a career as a lawyer. She also has many hobbies, such as swimming, surfing, dancing, volleyball and playing the piano. She is particularly talented at the piano and has been learning it since she was 4 years old. Her teacher, Ms. Molly Nguyen, has helped her achieve a high level of proficiency and recognition. Bella is a young and talented musician who has won several prestigious awards and performed in various renowned venues. She started her musical journey in 2018, when she received the Exceptional Young Talent award from The Virtuoso International Music Competition and played at the Musikverein Glaserner Saal Auditorirum in Vienna. The following year, she achieved the first place in the Young Musicians Concerto Competition and had the opportunity to perform with the Orchestra Collective of Orange County and at the Carnegie Hall in New York. In 2022, she was invited to Italy to join the Recanati City Orchestra under the direction of Lorenzo Di Bella, in a concert that was attended by the city officials. Bella also enjoys playing chamber music with her fellow pianists and winning various national and international awards with her team. She has appeared on local Vietnamese television several times, accompanying her mother’s singing with her piano skills. Bella loves these opportunities to meet and learn from other talented musicians and professionals. She has developed more focus and self-confidence through her musical experiences. Her dream is to travel the world and explore different cultures. She is determined to continue improving her skills while pursuing her education and becoming an outstanding individual.

Benjamin Hoang

Benjamin Hoang started to learn piano when he was 6 years old. Realizing his passion for piano, his parents decided to have Ben join Little Chopin School of Music and take lessons with Ms. Melody Chiang. Ben loves to perform at school’s recitals, and he loves to compete in piano competitions where he travels to new places and meets new friends/competitors. Under the guidance of Miss Chiang, Ben’s love for classical music grew stronger and stronger. At Little Chopin School of Music, he had chances to compete in many piano competitions, to name a few: Southwestern Youth Music Festival competition, International Association of Professional Music Teachers competition, United States International Duo Piano competition, International Mozart Competition Vienna, International Piano Professionals Association competition, etc. Aside from the love for music, Ben loves to swim competitively and to play chess as well. At school, Ben has been a part of the school’s philharmonic orchestra, he usually skips lunch to hang out with his music friends in the practise room. Ben is also an active boy scout, he believes that boy scout helps him build characters and shape up his leadership. No matter what the future holds, music will always be a part of Ben’s life, like what water is to fish.

Chloe Park

Chloe Park is a Korean-American cellist from L.A. who started playing when she was 7 years old. She is currently a freshman in high school. Chloe first started her passion for music by playing piano, but quickly realized her deeper passion for cello. She competes in Satori competitions every year and has won many first place trophies. She has also participated in orchestras such as SCSBOA and has done several performances with her music academy’s ensemble. She would like to continue her journey of healing people with music like how music heals her.

David Khachatryan

Greetings! I’m David Khachatryan, a passionate pianist living in Los Angeles, CA. I was born on April 1st, 2008. My love for music was fostered in a family that had always loved music and expected their children to be involved in the community of musicians. From a young age, I was captivated by the enchanting world of piano. Nurturing my musical talents from age five, I attended the American International Music School based in Glendale, CA, for five years. After, I started to go to a private piano teacher, Gayane Simonyan, whom I still go to to this day. My repertoire spans various genres and composers, some of which include pieces from the 20th century and Contemporary, Baroque Era, Classical Era, and much more. Along the way, I have been participating in MTAC with the Certificate of Merit program and National Piano Playing Auditions through the National Guild Of Piano Teachers. The piano, for me, is not just an instrument; it’s a gateway to emotions and self-expression. One of the most important lessons I have learned throughout these years playing piano is that hard work and determination will help one get anywhere, even in music. I focus on practicing the piano and eventually getting into more advanced competitions and other programs. I eagerly anticipate my performance at the Weill Recital Hall in the prestigious Carnegie Hall. Reflecting on my piano journey, I am immensely grateful for all the support from my family, piano teacher, and community. I am dedicated to growing and progressing further in my musical talent.

Eddy Yao

Eddy Yao, 16 years old, from the South Bay of California, began playing piano at the age of 9 years old and has loved every moment of it. He is currently studying with Dr. Janet Favreau. Alongside performing at competitions, he is a member of multiple honor societies and enjoys learning science and technology, especially robotics. In 2022 and 2023 he won awards in the Southwestern Youth Music Festival along with a first prize in Chamber Duo at the Satori Summer Music Festival. He has also been a regional winner in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival in 2022 and 2023. In 2022 he won Second Prize in the Rising Talents of Americas International Music Competition. He has earned Branch Honors, State Honors, Theory exemption, and Convention selection in the Music Teachers Association of California Certificate of Merit. He is also a member of the South Bay Music Students Service League, serving his community by bringing music and love to senior homes. In his free time, he loves playing video games and hanging out with his friends.

Evangeliya Delizonas-Khukhua

Born in 1992 into a family deeply rooted in music, Evangeliya’s journey with the piano began at a tender age of three. Her talent quickly caught attention, and by the age of five, she performed her first concert with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra. Her musical prowess led her to the prestigious Moscow Central Music School and later to the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where she studied under the guidance of esteemed professors. She completed her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and postgraduate degrees in Piano Performance, solidifying her foundation in classical music. Evangeliya’s dedication to her craft and her exceptional skills garnered recognition and opportunities worldwide. She represented the International Vladimir Spivakov Charity Foundation in performances at renowned venues across Moscow. Her musical journey also took her to Park University in Missouri, where she pursued an Artist Diploma in Piano Performance under the tutelage of Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Professor Stanislav Ioudenitch. In 2021, she continued her pursuit of excellence by enrolling in the USC Thornton School of Music to pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance. Alongside her studies, she has participated in master classes with esteemed artists and professors, further enriching her musical knowledge and skills. Evangeliya’s talent has been recognized through numerous awards and competition wins, including being the 1st Prize Winner of the Les Grandes Concours Internationales D’été in Los Angeles in 2023 and the 3rd Prize Winner of the Sixth NTD International Piano Competition in New York in 2022. Beyond her solo performances, Evangeliya is a dedicated collaborative pianist, frequently partnering with her husband, Igor Khukhua, a renowned violinist. Together, they have graced stages worldwide, captivating audiences with their musical synergy. In addition to her performance career, Evangeliya has embraced teaching and accompaniment roles at prestigious institutions both in Russia and the United States. Fluent in multiple languages, she is a versatile musician with a passion for sharing her artistry and enriching the lives of others through music.

Hayden Park

Hayden Park, 15, started learning piano at age five. She is currently studying piano under Hae-Young Moon and Dr. Ick-Choo Moon, Professor Emeritus at Seoul National University. Recently, she won First Prize in the Charleston 2023 World Music Competition, First Place in the Concerto Division of the 2023 Les Grands Concours Internationaux d’Ete, First Place in the 2023 Southwestern Youth Music Festival (SYMF) Concerto Division and Second Place in the Chopin Scherzo Solo Division. Her past distinctions include First Place in the American Protégé International Music Talent Competition, Grand Prize and Audience Award at the Satori Summer Music Festival, Grand Prize at the Concordia Piano Competition, and First Place awards at various MTAC music festivals. She has also achieved the MTAC Certificate of Merit, Advanced Level. Hayden also studies violin with Cristian Fatu, concert violinist and educator. She has enjoyed performing with the OCSA Chamber Orchestra and with chamber ensembles for OCSA and the Colburn Community School of Performing Arts. She is currently a member of the OCSA Symphony Orchestra. Outside of her music life, Hayden’s other passions include avidly writing in multiple genres including film, prose fiction, and poetry.

Ian Park

Ian Park began his piano journey at age six under the guidance of his accomplished parents, Dr. Andrew and Irene Park. Currently, he refines his skills at the renowned Colburn Academy with Fabio Bidini and Hyejin Kim. Recently, Ian received a prestigious invitation to perform with the IAPMT Philharmonic Orchestra at the Soka Performing Arts Center after winning the Grand Prize at the IAPMT Concerto Concours 2023. Throughout his development, Ian has received guidance from esteemed pianists like John Perry and Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Noteworthy achievements include performing with the Recaniti City Orchestra in Italy and earning the Gold Medal in the Seattle International Piano Competition. His exceptional talent has garnered numerous accolades from competitions worldwide, including the ‘Grand Prix’ from the International Piano Festival Competition for Children and Youth in Mexico. Ian debuted at Carnegie Hall in 2017 and achieved First Prize at the MTAC Concerto Competition in Los Angeles. Ian’s performances extend beyond solo engagements, showcasing his talents in prestigious venues like Zipper Concert Hall and Thayer Hall at the Colburn School. Apart from piano, he enjoys playing the cello and engaging in chamber music performances during his leisure time.

Jacob Hong

Jacob is an eighth grader of Chaparral Middle School in Diamond Bar, CA. Jacob loves Chopin’s works. He started to play the piano at the age of 5 with Ms.Seongyun Park in Fullerton and has studied at Dr. Andrew Park’s studio for over 5 years. He received numerous awards in piano competitions including SYMF, Satori Music Festival, MTAC Sonata Festival and Scholarship competition, IPPA Conero International Piano Competition, and IAPMT. He attended Montecito Summer Music Festival in 2021 and 2022. Besides piano, he focuses on club water polo, school musical theater, and playing guitar. He got cast as Prince Eric in his school musical ‘Little Mermaid Jr.’ last year. He also enjoys coding and playing video games in his spare time. On a side note, Jacob is a Black Diamond skier who loves going to the mountains every winter season.

James Lee Healey

Meet James, a down-to-earth 16-year-old junior at Corona Del Mar High School, who’s been immersed in the world of music since the tender age of five in both cello and piano. For the past five years, he’s been an integral part of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, fine-tuning his cello skills with dedication and passion. Beyond the world of music, James enjoys a diverse range of interests, including golf, weightlifting, and exploring the creative possibilities of 3D printing. Alongside these hobbies, he finds joy in crunching numbers in both math and the stock market and takes on the role of anchorman for his school’s local television station. James is honored to been able to share his love for music on the prestigious stage of Carnegie Hall, thanks to an invitation from the IAPMT music organization.

Jennifer Vu

Jennifer Vu, age 15, is a sophomore student in the piano conservatory at Orange County School of the Arts. She has been taking piano lessons under the guidance of Ms. Ting Chuan Huang and Ms. Molly Nguyen at Little Chopin Music School for eight years and has enjoyed playing the piano since she was seven years old. She has won several competitions locally and internationally, including the United States International Duo Piano Competition, Southwestern Youth Music Festival, Indonesia International Piano Competition, Diamond Bar Performing Arts Contest, Golden Classical Music Awards, Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition, Conero International Piano Competition, International Association of Professional Music Teachers (IAPMT) Concours International Piano Competition, Satori Summer Music Festival, Indonesia Global Music Championship, and Joyeux Music International Festival.

Jessica Lee

Jessica Lee recieved her Bachelor degree in Organ Performance from the Chongshin University in South Korea and Artist Certificate in Piano Performance from the Azusa Pacific University under the guidance of Dr. Andrew Park. Jessica has earned awards in the ICA International Piano Competition, Piano Ensemble Festival of Fullerton College, US Golden
State Piano Competition. She is currently a member of Texas Music Teachers Association and teaches diverse students including talented disabled students in the North Dallas area and many of her students got awards in IAPMT Piano Concours in 2022 and 2023.

Jumyeong Lee

Jumyeong Lee is an aspiring Doctor of Music Arts candidate specializing in piano performance at Texas Tech University, where she holds a Teaching Assistantship. In addition to her doctoral studies, she is pursuing graduate certificates in Piano Pedagogy and Collaborative Piano. Lee earned her Master of Music degree in piano performance from Temple University and completed her Bachelor of Music at The University of Suwon in the Republic of Korea. She also participated in the Master’s program at Sookmyung Women’s University.
Jumyeong Lee excels in various fields, including Piano Performance, Piano Pedagogy, and Collaborative Piano.

Kaitlynn Farkas

Kaitlynn Farkas is a current sophomore at Phillips Exeter Academy, where she studies with Silvana Sokolov-Grubb. She began playing piano at the age of 5, studying with Dr. Svetlana Transky at the Colburn Community School. She is a varsity rower on the Exeter Girls’ Crew team and competed at the Head of the Charles in Boston, MA this past fall. She enjoys spending her free time volunteering with kids in the Exeter community, swimming, writing for the science magazine on campus, and hanging out with friends.

Kara Iong

Kara Iong is 10 years old. A 5th-Grade student. She lives with her parents, a younger brother named Ryan and a little sister Josephine in San Dimas, California. Kara started learning Dance since she was 4 years old. Gold award for Show Stopper in 2020. Top First Place of K&R in 2020. Group dance 1st Place of K&R in 2020. At 6, Kara embraced the piano under the guidance of Dr. Lucy Nargizyan and added the violin to her repertoire with Samvel Chilingarian. Alongside her musical pursuits, Kara enjoys swimming, basketball, and reading over a million words annually since 3rd grade. Kara’s passion for the piano has led to numerous accolades Honor student in MTAC Contemporary Festival 2021 . Honor Student in MTAC Open Adjudicated Festival 2022. 3rd Place Orchestra Performance Competition in 2022. 3rd Place SYMF Baroque Category in 2022. Honor student in MTAC Contemporary Festival 2022. 2nd Place in 2023 CAPMT Baroque and Romantic Competition. Honor Award in 2023 CAPMT Sonata Competition. 1st Place in 2023 CAPMT district Concerto Competition. CAPMT 2023 State Finals Concerto Competition 3rd Place Winner Category A. MTAC Bach Concerto Festival 2nd Place. IAPMT 2023 competition open choice category Expert Level 1st Place. IAPMT 2023 concerto competition Expert Level 2nd Place. IAPMT 2023 fall competition Romantic and Impressionism category Expert Level 1.

Katelyn Vo

Katelyn Vo, born in 2008, started her musical journey at the age of five. At the age of 6, she enrolled in the Little Chopin School of Music in Orange County, CA. Under the guidance of her dedicated instructors, Katelyn’s passion for the piano began to flourish, laying the foundation for her musical endeavors. Since 2019, Katelyn has been actively competing in various piano competitions across the United States. Notable among her achievements are First Prize at the 2022 United States International Duo Piano Competition in Colorado in both duo and quartet, First-Place wins at the 2022 and 2023 Satori Young Pianist Contest in the solo categories, First Absolute Prize Winner, 30th Young Musician International Competition ‘Citta di Barletta’, Italy, Category A, Piano Ensemble, 2nd Place, Conero Final Round Youth Piano Duo/Duet, 2022, along with a recent First Prize at the Online London International Music Competition. In addition to her musical pursuits, Katelyn is a sophomore at the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, CA, where she participates in their Piano Program. Driven by a genuine desire to make a positive impact, Katelyn aspires to work in the medical field to extend a helping hand to those in need. Her goal is to contribute to the well-being of individuals, leveraging her skills and compassion to provide support and care within the healthcare community.

Rachael Vu

Rachael Vu, age 17, is a senior student in the pianist program at the Orange County School of the Arts. Rachael has been taking piano lessons under the guidance of Ms. Ting Huang and Ms. Molly Nguyen at Little Chopin Piano School for twelve years. She has received recognition in solo, quartet, duo, and duet competitions, locally, nationally, and internationally. She is a winner of several piano competitions: Los Angeles International Liszt Competition, Satori Summer Music Festival, Joyeux Music International Festival, Indonesia International Piano Competition, Golden Classical Music Awards, Musical Arts, SYMF, Carmel Klavier International Competition, DBPAC, MTAC Concerto, United State International Duo Piano Competition, Fullerton College Piano Ensemble Festival, International Association of Professional Music Teachers (IAPMT) Concours International de Musique Online, International classical Music Talent Competition, Indonesia Global Music Championship. At OCSA, she is dedicated to her chamber and ensemble groups, where she performs with strings and winds players under the guidance of Dr. Nicholaus Yee and Dr. Wenjing Liu. She also enjoys accompanying classical singers. She has participated in masterclasses with the following well-known pianists: Dr. Eva Polgar, Dr. Phoenix Park-Kim, Dr. Vlada Vassilieva, Dr. Anatoly Zatin, Dr. Rufus Choi, Professor Shun-Lin Chou, Dr. Sarkis Baltaian, Ms. Fureya Unal, Dr. Judy Huang. She is highly committed to community service, creating a club, “Music To My Ears,” with her friend, where they perform monthly musical concerts at a local senior home. Her favorite composers are Mozart and Chopin.

Sahana Srinivasan

Sahana Srinivasan is currently a junior at Clarksburg High School. She has been studying piano since 2012 and has been with her teacher, Anita Yuthasastrkosol, since 2016. She is a Local, District, State, National, and International winner of the National Guild of Piano Teachers’ Exam and was recognized as the 2021 Rockville Competition bronze musician. She is a winner of the IAMPT Grand Concours International Competition and was selected to play at The Soka Performing Arts Center in August 2023. She has played the flute since 2016 and is the first chair in her school’s symphonic band and the vice president of her high school’s Tri-M Music Honors Society. Sahana performs at events and fundraisers to raise money for the school’s music department. She also volunteers for the Tacy Foundation, an organization inspiring hope through music to children and patients. She has played the piano at several hospitals and senior centers and has helped with various projects. Sahana is a competitive badminton player and has been playing since 2018. She was selected and competed at Junior Nationals in 2022 and is a winner of several local/state tournaments.

Sau In Tiana Wong

Tiana Wong holds a Masters of Piano Performance degree from Southern Oregon University, where she studied under the tutelage of Dr. Alexander Tutunov. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Tiana received her B.A. (Honours) in Music Performance degree from Hong Kong Baptist University. She is also the recipient of numerous scholarships, including Evans Family Scholarship, Leon Mulling Music Scholarship, Allan A. and Katherine M. Alsing Scholarship, HKSAR Government Talent Development Scholarship, and HKBU Academy of Music Honourable Mention for Outstanding Music Performance. Tiana was the winner of the Brookings Harbor Friends of Music Competition in 2022. She was selected to participate and play in a master class with Vladimir Feltsman. Also, Tiana was a finalist of the Memphis International Piano Competition. During her study, she participated in masterclasses of Andrew Cooperstock, Bart van Oort, Andrew Parr, Amato-Landini Duo, Kevin Orr, Anthony de Mare and Latsos Piano Duo. Besides, Tiana has performed in a range of works as a collaborative musician. She was the pianist for SOU Wind Ensemble, Rogue Valley Symphonic Band and Siskiyou Violins. She is the choir accompanist of Eagle Point School District. Tiana recently participated in Ashland Chamber Music Workshop and musical theatre production “Cabaret” with Camelot Theatre. In August 2019, Tiana took part in the Music Fest Perugia in Italy. She had the privilege to study with renowned pianists and has performed in the Marathon Recital at Sala dei Notari. In Summer 2022, Tiana participated in the University of Florida International Piano Festival in Gainesville, on full scholarship, where she performed both solo and collaborative repertoire in recitals.

Tramy Nguyen

Born in 2008, Tramy Nguyen discovered her love for music at a young age when she took singing after her mother. She later began studying piano at the age of 7 in 2015. She has been studying piano for 8 years first starting with an individual instructor for a few months before transferring to Little Chopin Piano School, where she continues her piano study with patient and dedicated teachers. Under the guidance of her of her piano instructors, Tramy received the opportunity and participated in her first international competition in 2017, the Carmel Klavier International Competition, where she performed in a quartet. Since then she has attended local competitions such as the Southern Youth Music Festivals and international competitions. She has won multiple awards with her teams, including first and second place: First Prize London International Music Competition, IAMPT, 2023, 2nd Place, US Concours International 2022-2023, 2nd Place Winner, United States International Piano Duo Competition and more. Through these experiences, Tramy not only gained invaluable performance experience but also had the opportunity to learn from other musicians and judges, further improving her skills and musical interpretation. She is always seeking new challenges and opportunities for growth. She enjoys expressing herself through music and loves the friendships she has made through her musical journey. Aside from piano, Tramy takes interest in arts but also enjoys reading, listening to music, singing, and spending time with family and friends.

Yan Shun Joseph Wong

Yan Shun Joseph Wong is a young pianist originally from Hong Kong that is actively pursuing a career in piano performance. Wong started professional training from an early age and holds a B.A. (music) degree in piano performance from Hong Kong Baptist University, as well as a Masters of Music in Piano Performance from Southern Oregon University. During the course of pursuing the Masters Degree, Mr. Wong was awarded multiple scholarships, and studied with concert pianist and pedagogue Dr. Alexander Tutunov at Southern Oregon University. Since his arrival to Ashland, Mr. Wong has enjoyed multiple achievements. Mr. Wong has performed in many festivals. In the Summer of 2018, he participated in the International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York City, where he had the opportunity to play for Nina Lelchuk, Mykola Suk, Massimiliano Ferrati and Jeffrey Swann. In the Summer of 2019, Mr. Wong was recommended by Steinway artist Yoonie Han to have his orchestra debut in Perugia Music Festival, Italy, in which he played Chopin’s Piano Concerto 2 with the Virtuoso Brunenses Orchestra under the baton of maestro Gaddiel Dombrowner. During the Festival, Mr. Wong played in masterclasses for Nino Merabishvili, Arthur Greene, Ron Trachtman, Alexey Sokolov and Masahiro Kawakami. In 2022, Mr. Wong was awarded a full scholarship to cover his expenses during the University of Florida International Piano Festival, where he had multiple performances. As of 2023, Mr. Wong has received numerous invitations to perform in venues across the US, some of which included Carnegie Hall in New York, SOKA Performing Arts Centre in Los Angeles, Azusa Pacific University, Portland State University, University of Florida, the Rogue Valley Manor, Mountain Meadows community, as well as SOU’s Music Recital Hall. In the 2022 MTNA national competition, Mr. Wong was selected as the alternate for the State of Oregon. Mr. Wong is also a young Kawai artist for the International Association of Professional Music Teachers. In addition, Mr. Wong took part in masterclasses and worked with artists as Corey Hamm, Andrew Von Oeyan, Andrew Cooperstock, Sze Yau Chan, Eric Fung, David Fung, Dirk Mommertz, etc.

Yena Oh

The biography for Yena will be available soon.

Yilin Kang

Yilin Kang, 14 years old, is a talented and enthusiastic young pianist. She is currently a freshman at the piano conservatory at California School of Arts – San Gabriel Valley. She started her path of learning piano at the age of 4 and yet has made her way across the globe, from China to the USA. Initially, she won the Singapore International Piano Competition in China at the age of 6. She also achieved first place in the Steinway Piano Competition in the province round at the age of 10. After she moved to Los Angeles in September 2023, she started taking lessons with Dr. Joel Clifft, which brought her to her first competition in California: IAPMT.