2010 Seattle International Piano Competition Winners, Finalists, and Semi-finalists

Professional
Collegiate
Amateur
Youth, Ages 9 and Under
Youth, Ages 10-13
Youth, Ages 14-18

Professional

Hee Sung Jang, Korea (2010 Professional Gold Medalist)
Pianist Hee-Sung Jang, born in Korea, received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in piano performance from the Seoul National University, where she studied with Soo-Jung Shin. She obtained her degrees with an ‘Award of Honor’ by presenting a thesis ‘A Study on the Literary Effects of E. T. A. Hoffmann in Schumann Kreisleriana, Op.16’. She also graduated with high distinction and earned master’s degree in piano performance from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she worked with Arthur Greene. As a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist, she has performed in Austria, Spain, UK, Korea and the United States. Her recent performance in this season includes in the UK at the Worthing Theatre and in Texas at the Steinway Hall. She also has performed in master classes given by renowned artists; John Perry, Oxana Yablonskaya, Hae-Sun Paik and Barry Schneider. She has won in several competitions in Korea, and a prize winner of the 5 Towns Piano Competition and the Bradshaw and Buono Piano Competition. Ms. Jang is currently pursuing her doctoral program at the University of Texas at Austin, as a student of Anton Nel.

Edward Park, Australia (2010 Professional Charles & Judy Bowlby Silver Medalist)
Edward Park was born in Seoul, Korea in 1973. He started playing piano at the age of 3 and gave a first public performance at the age of 12, playing Beethoven’s third piano concerto with Seoul Symphony Orchestra. Edward Park established himself by winning many national and international piano competitions such as Kawai Piano Competition, BHP Scholarship Competition, Australian National Chopin Piano Competition, Salerno International Piano Competition, Sydney International Piano Competition, Florestano Rossomandi International Piano Competition and Seattle international piano competition. He has studied at Sydney Conservatoire, Moscow Tchaikowsky Conservatoire, Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatoire, USC, Mannes School of Music and currently studies at the University of Washington. His past teachers include Elizabeth Powell, Lev Vlasenko, Valery Kastelsky, John Perry, Jerome Rose and is currently studying with Craig Sheppard. He also appeared with many orchestras such as Korean Philharmonic orchestra, Sydney symphony orchestra, Melbourne symphony orchestra, Washington D.C. Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic orchestra, Bolshoi symphony orchestra and Czechoslovakian Philharmonic orchestra and Olympia symphony orchestra. Edward Park made numerous recordings for Korean, Australian, Italian, and Russian radio and television.

Min-Kuei Yang, Taiwan (2010 Professional Bronze Medalist)
A native Taiwanese, pianist Min-Kuei Yang has appeared as recitalist and collaborative pianist throughout Taiwan and the States. Ms. Yang has won numerous piano competitions, including First Prize in Changhua Piano Competition, Taipei Piano Competition, and medalists of Taiwan National Piano Competition and Hsin-Tien Gong National Talented Artists Piano Competition. Listed as excellent student, Ms. Yang obtained her bachelor degree at National Taiwan Normal University and graduated with the highest honor in 2004. Both active as soloist and chamber musician, Ms. Yang has been invited as guest artist by NTNU Orchestra, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan Vocal Artist Society, and Taiwan Modern Music Society. In 2009, Ms. Yang is the only pianist-recipient of the prestigious Scholarship of Distinguished Scholars awarded by Taiwan Government, R.O.C. This year, Ms. Yang is selected as Rising Young Artist by Taiwan Classical Music Society. Ms. Yang holds a masters degree from Eastman School of Music where she studied with Dr. Nelita True. As a recipient of full scholarship and Clara Ascherfeld Award, she is currently pursuing doctoral degree at Peabody Conservatory of Music of Johns Hopkins University, studying with Mr. Alexander Shtarkman. She is also participating in the 65th Geneva International Piano Competition in November, 2010.

Other Awards and Honorable Mentions
Audience Favorite award:
Teachers’ Favorite award:
Best Performance of a work by Frederic Chopin: Min-Kuei Yang

Professional Finalists
In-Sun Bang (Korea), Hee-Sung Jang (Korea), Eunbae Lee (Korea), Edward Park (Australia), Alex Peh (USA), Min-Kuei Yang (Taiwan)

Instructors of the Finalists
Arnaldo Cohen, Anton Nel, Craig Sheppard, and Alexander Shtarkman

Professional Semi-finalists
Michael Angelucci (USA), I-Hsuan Cheng (Taiwan), Hyojung Huh (Korea), and Suk-Yi Hyun (Korea)

Instructors of the Semi-finalists
Christopher Taylor

Collegiate

Joshua Wright, USA (2010 Collegiate Gold Medalist)
Acclaimed for his “sparkling and sensitive” performances, twenty-two-year-old Joshua Wright has delighted audiences across the US and in Europe. Josh currently attends the University of Utah under Dr. Susan Duehlmeier, working on his Master of Music degree. Josh has won many top honors in various competitions. He recently competed in the International Chopin Piano Competition Preliminary Round (Warsaw, Poland), the Gina Bachauer International Artists Competition (Salt Lake City, Utah), and the National Chopin Competition (Miami, Florida). He has won top honors and competed in numerous competitions including the Music Teachers National Association National Competition, the New York Piano Competition, the Louisiana International Piano Competition, the Julia Crane International Piano Competition, the National Federation of Music Clubs Competition the Pinault International Recording Competition, The Stravinsky Awards International Piano Competition, the National Music Teachers Association Stillman Kelly competition, and the Eastman International Piano Competition. Josh has appeared eight times with symphony orchestras including: the Utah Symphony, the Salt Lake Symphony, the Summer Arts Orchestra, and the University of Utah Student Chamber Orchestra. Josh has participated in master classes with numerous concert pianists, including Menahem Pressler, Garrick Ohlsson, Nelita True, and Ian Hobson. Josh was also the piano double on the TV show “Everwood.”

Alexander Ullman, United Kingdom (2010 Collegiate Silver Medalist)
Alexander Ullman was born in 1991 in England and began formal piano lessons when he was six. He was under the guidance of Juliana Markova until he joined the Purcell School of Music in 2002 with the Music and Dance scheme scholarship where he studied with the Head of Keyboard, William Fong. Alexander has also studied composition under Haris Kitos, Dai Fujikura and Jonathan Cole. In 2009 he was offered a place at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and is currently studying with Leon Fleisher, Ignat Solzhenitsyn and Robert McDonald. International competition successes include 1st prize at the International Marlow Computers in Personnel Concerto Competition, Grand Prize at the Evangelia Tjiarri International Piano Competition, 2nd prize at the International James Mottram Piano Competition and Hans Romney prize at the Tunbridge Wells International Young Concert Artists Piano Competition. Composition awards include EPTA UK Composers Competition Franck Martin Memorial Prize. Alexander has played in concert halls throughout the UK including Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, the Sage Theatre in Gateshead, Purcell Room and at Clarence House in the presence of the Prince of Wales.

Xuerong Zhao, China (2010 Collegiate Bronze Medalist)
Xuerong Zhao is one of the brilliant young pianists on today’s musical scene. She projects both the exciting virtuosity and the poetic lyricism of the music she offers to her audiences. Ms.Zhao has performed throughout Europe, Asia and The United States. She began her piano studies at age of five. In 1994, she was awarded the first prize at the “Beijing Young Pianist Competition”. In October of 2003, she captured second prize in the “International Chopin Piano Competition” in Rome. In 2006, She traveled to the United States, and her talent won her a full scholarship,as a Bachelor of music Degree candidate, to the Mannes College of Music in New York City. She is also supported by the LCU Foundation and receives the C.V.Star scholarship. She studies there with Dr. Ju-Ying Song. In 2007, She won third prize in the “Five Town Piano competition” in New York City. In 2008, She performed the Chopin F minor Piano Concerto after winning a concerto competition. She played solo concert at Weill Hall of Carnegie Hall on May 31, 2010 presented by New York Eastern Chamber Orchestra and Columbia Promotions LLC.

Other Awards and Honorable Mentions
Audience Favorite award:
Teachers’ Favorite award:
Best Performance of a work by Frederic Chopin: Xuerong Zhao

Collegiate Finalists
SunMi Han (Korea), Hyuntak Lee (Canada), Nanyi Qiang (China), Alexander Ullman (United Kingdom), Xuerong Zhao (China)

Instructors of the finalists
Susan Duehlmeier, Leon Fleisher, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Craig Sheppard, Henri-Paul Sicsic, and J. Y. Song

Collegiate Semi-finalists
Daniel Anastasio (USA), Yoshiko Arahata (Japan), Juliana DʼAgostini (Brazil), Akane Iida (Japan), Charles Szczepanek (USA), Shuo Yang (Canada)

Instructors of the semi-finalists
Xak Bjerken, Kevin FitzGerald, Robert Hamilton, Eduardo Monteiro, Elvin Rodriguez, and Barry Snyder

Outstanding Amateurs(semi-competitive; listed in alphabetical order)

Jane Gibson King, USA (2010 Amateur Gold Medalist)
Born in Long Beach, California, Jane King began her piano studies with Florence Zook, and later Robert Turner. She was awarded a piano scholarship to Brigham Young University where she studied with Reid Nibley and Robert Smith. While at BYU, Jane was active as a performer in recitals, masterclasses, competitions and as an accompanist. She was a semi-finalist in the Gina Bachauer piano competition, MTNA state collegiate winner, and prize winner in the Palm Desert piano competition. Mrs. King was soloist with the Utah Symphony, BYU Orchestra on two occasions, and with the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara where she studied with Jerome Lowenthal. After completing her Masters Degree in 1981, Mrs. King also studied with Van Cliburn winner, the late Steven De Groote. Jane married Stuart W. King MD, a violinist. She enjoyed teaching and performing during her husband’s medical training in AZ, UT, and NY. She is the mother of four children. Fifteen years ago, Mrs. King put teaching and practicing on hold when her youngest son Michael, was diagnosed with autism. Since early this year, Jane has resumed practicing and is privileged to study with master teacher Eugene Watanabe in Salt Lake City.

Mari Shiakawa (Jacobson), Japan (2010 Amateur Gold Medalist)
Mari Shiokawa was born in Western Japan and started playing the piano at age four. She studied piano, voice, and music theory with private teachers and attended the Music Division of Baiko Girls School in Shimonoseki, Japan. She was then accepted to Kunitachi Music College and Conservatory in Tokyo, Japan, where she studied with Professor Vladimir Takenouchi. Mari graduated Kunitachi with a piano performance major in 1978. Mari next spent 4 years in the US, where she did advanced studies in classical piano performance with Dr. Carpenter at the Music Department of California State University at Sacramento, and was organist and pianist for local churches. Returning to Japan, Mari performed periodically at charity venues and occasionally attended Summer programs for adult pianists in the US, but she was primarily busy as a mother and wife, and as an officer of her family sand business in Western Japan. In 2003 Mari came again to the US and joined the adult extension program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, studying with Prof. William Wellborn. She has performed occasionally at adult extension recitals, but this Seattle International Piano Festival is the first time Mari has participated in a competition for adults.

Kayla Wong, Canada (2010 Amateur Gold Medalist)
Canadian pianist Kayla Wong has performed in Canada, the United Sates, and Asia. She has performed as a soloist with professional orchestras in Canada which include the Regina Symphony Orchestra, Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, University of Victoria Symphony Orchestra, Timmins Symphony Orchestra, and the Prince George Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her performances as a soloist with orchestra, Kayla has served as principal keyboardist for the Prince George Symphony Orchestra. Kayla holds an A.R.C.T. Piano Performance Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto, a Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria, and a Master of Music from the University of Southern California.

Amy Tanaka, USA (2010 Amateur Gold Medalist)
Pianist Amy Tanaka was born in Chicago, Illinois and currently resides in the small town of Poulsbo, Washington. Amy was initially intending to use piano as a springboard to learn another instrument. However, she soon realized her God-given talent and has continued to study piano for the last thirteen years. From 2008-2010, she participated in the Seattle Young Artists Music Festival and received two Outstanding Achievement Awards. She also represented West Sound Chapter at the Washington State Music Teachers Association Honors Recital in 2008. Recently, Amy also performed movements from Bach’s Concerto for Four Keyboards with her three sisters for an audience of over 2,000. She is currently learning her favorite piece by her favorite composer – Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 – and is preparing for a solo recital next spring. Amy is grateful for her teacher, Dr. Irene Bowling, for inspiring her to pursue excellence and for reminding her that music is a gift. She is also indebted to her parents for their investment. Piano has become a different springboard for Amy – an instrument to bless her community and church, to reach out to diverse audiences, and to reflect the artistry and beauty of her Creator.

Christine Foster, USA (2010 Amateur Gold Medalist)
Attorney, business-owner, pianist, wife, and mother of five fabulous kids in a blended family residing in Mukilteo, Washington. Christine received her Juris Doctorate degree with Honors from Seattle University School of Law, after which she became employed with the Office of the Attorney General as an Assistant Attorney General. She began her own private practice of law in 1992. Her law firm, now Foster | Staton, P.C., currently has 15 employees and is devoted exclusively to representing catastrophically injured workers. Long before she studied law, she began piano lessons at the age of 7 and competed in and won numerous local, state, and regional piano competitions. She studied with Judy Baker and Steven Hesla and just recently resumed lessons with Judy Baker after a lengthy estrangement from the piano for over 25 years. She has often wondered how her life would be had she spent all the time, discipline, and passion she has dedicated to practicing law instead to practicing piano.

Carl Rosser, USA (2010 Amateur Gold Medalist)
Carl Rosser (USA) Carl grew up in Colorado Springs, where he studied piano with Ben Gahart. When he went to college, he decided to major in literature, his other passion. Eventually, he went on to get a Ph.D. in English at the University of Iowa. Nevertheless, along the way, he never abandoned the piano, but continued taking lessons from a number of outstanding teachers. He probably has learned most, however, from his two piano-playing brothers, who are more than happy to criticize his playing–constructively, of course–whenever the family comes together. Six years ago, Carl discovered the world of amateur piano competitions, which he has found stimulates him to practice more and do his best. He has played in competitions in Colorado Springs, Washington D.C. and Fort Worth. Professionally, for the past twenty years, Carl has been a teacher of English as a Second Language at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. He is married with three children, and enjoys reading, fishing, and camping.

Other Awards and Honorable Mentions
Audience Favorite award:
Teachers’ Favorite award:
Best Performance of an étude by F. Chopin: Mari Shiokawa (Jacobson)
Best Performance of a nocturne by F. Chopin: Carl Rosser
Best Performance of a miscellaneous work by F. Chopin: Jane Gibson King
Best Performance of a polonaise by F. Chopin: Christine Foster
Best Performance of a ballade by F. Chopin: Carl Rosser

Amateur Finalists Not Appearing Above
Gantuya Ganbat (Mongolia), Yuan Chung (Canada)

Instructors of the finalists
Judy Baker, Irene Bowling, Odonchimeg, Galina Shastakowski, Eugene Watanabe, and William Wellborn

Youth, Ages 9 and Under(semi-competitive; listed in alphabetical order)

Alice Zhang, USA (Gold Medal)
From Vernon Hills, Illinois, Alice Zhang just turned 9 and will enter 4th grade this fall. At age 4, she started her piano lesson with Brenda Huang, who is on the piano faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago. Since then she has learned a wide range of piano repertoires from Baroque to Contemporary music period. Chopin is her favorite composer. Alice has won first prizes in many piano competitions in the Chicago area including the Awards Competition sponsored by Northwest Suburban Music Teacher Association (NWMTA), North Shore Music Teacher association (NSMTA) piano competition, the Roberta Savler Piano Competition by Chicago Area Music Teachers Association (CAMTA), the Confucius Festival Competition and gold medals at the Sonata-Sonatina Festivals. This is the first time Alice entered a competition that is outside of Illinois. The experience of coming to SIPF will bring her to a new level in her very young music career. Alice is also a violin player and the youngest member of the orchestra in her elementary school. Aside from music, Alice also loves reading, playing tennis, and swimming.

Eriko Darcy, USA (Gold Medal)
Eriko, 8, is in the third grade at The Catherine Cook School in Chicago. Her piano teacher is Mrs. Sueanne Metz. Eriko won gold medals in the Chicago Area Music Teacher Association’s Sonata Sonatina Festivals in 2008 and 2009. She also won gold in the North Shore Music Teachers Association Sonata Sonatina Festival in 2009. This January, she was the youngest winner of the Steinway Young Artist Competition, Piano Solo, Junior Division. In April, she won First Place at the Roberta Savler Piano Competition Level B. In June, she performed at Carnegie Hall as a winner of the American Fine Arts Festival. Besides piano, she enjoys traveling, skiing, playing tennis and snorkeling.

Melodey Soong, USA (Gold Medal)
Melodey Soong, 9 years old from Alhambra, California, has been taking piano lessons with Mrs. Michelle Jo Santoso since she was 4 years old. She has won numerous piano competitions: CAPMT State Final Bartok and Contemporary Music Festival, Callie D. McGrath Scholarship Competition, Cypress College Piano Competition, Glendale Piano Competition, MTAC Pasadena Branch Theme Festival, Southwestern Youth Music Festival, International Young Musicians Competition, Southern California Junior Bach Festival. She was selected as one of the winners for Young Musicians Foundation Scholarship Awards. She also performed in International Category for Guild Audition for the past 4 years. Melodey made her Carnegie Hall debut solo performance in May 2010 recently and she currently won a third-prize winner in The International Russian Piano Competition 2010. She always performed in Honor Recital for the California Federations of Music Clubs for piano solo, piano concerto and piano duet. Melodey is a member of Tuesday Musical Juniors and performed in TMJ Winter Recital annually. She also often performed for the senior homes. Melodey performed in a Piano Master Class with concert pianist Rueiben Chen from Austria few times. Besides music, she enjoys reading, drawing, swimming, and playing with her younger brother.

Parker Van Ostrand, USA (Gold Medal)
Parker, 7 years old, began playing the piano at the age of four. He has been studying with Linda Nakagawa in Sacramento, CA. At the age of 5 he won a gold medal at the AADGT Piano Competition and was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall. This year he was awarded second place winner at the American Protege Piano Competition and the Bradshaw and Buono Piano Competition. He currently attends second grade at Merryhill Country Day School. Besides the piano, he loves to play garbage trucks, trains and airplanes with his older brother and younger sister. He also loves to put together puzzles.

Andrew Liu, Hong Kong (Gold Medal)
Nine-year-old Andrew Liu started piano lessons at the age of five with Mr. Kinwai Shum. He has won numerous prizes in local and regional piano competitions, among which are the winner of Grade 7 Piano Solo Class in the 62nd Hong Kong Schools Music Festival in 2010, the first prize of Grade 7 Piano Solo and second prize winner of the Youth & Children Class in the 15th Hong Kong-Asia Piano Open Competition 2009, the first prize of Bach Class in Swayer Hong Kong Youth & Children Piano Competition in 2008, the first prizes in the 71st Steinway & Sons International Youth Piano Competition (Hong Kong & Macau regional), and the International Schumann Youth Piano Competition (Asia / Pacific regional) in 2007. Andrew has performed for the Radio 4 of the RTHK, and in the master classes conducted by esteemed pianists including Edward Auer, Therese Dussaut, Karl-Heinz Kammerling, Francoise Thinat, James Tocco and Andreas Weber. Andrew attends the St. Paul’s Co-educational College Primary School in Hong Kong. He is also a student in the Junior Music Program of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, with double major in flute and composition.

Angela Chuang, Canada (Gold Medal)
Eight-year-old Angela Chuang is a fourth grader at Maple Lane Elementary School in Richmond, B.C., Canada. She began to learn the piano with her mother Julia at the age of four and has been under the guidance of Alda Lee since the end of 2006. Angela has won numerous medallions and scholarships in local music festivals, both on the piano and the violin. She has been chosen by adjudicators to perform at several festivals’ Gala Concerts and has won grand prizes, including the Award of Excellence at the 2009 Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival and the Tom Lee Music Trophy for the Best Performer of All Divisions at the 2009 Richmond Music Festival. Angela was a First Place winner for two consecutive years at the Canadian Music Competition National Final in 2009 (7 Years and Under Piano) and 2010 (8 Years and Under Piano). She was also a Fifth Place winner in the 8 Years and Under Strings category this year. Beside her musical studies, Angela is an active figure skater at the Connaught Skating Club in Richmond. Angela also enjoys ballet and other sports like swimming and tennis.

Ethan Tan, USA (Gold Medal)
Ethan Tan (USA) Ethan Tan is a Seattle native and started formal piano training under Ms. Anahit Nagdyan when he was five years old. In his short eight years, Ethan’s sights have always been set high: he excels at Chinese, tennis, taekwondo, and is on the competitive Issaquah swimming team. In April 2009, Ethan placed first at the Northwest Festival and performed at the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Music Center. Besides piano, Ethan enjoys skiing and traveling. This fall Ethan will enter third grade at Issaquah Grand Ridge Elementary School participating in the SAGE program.

Other Awards and Honorable Mentions
Audience Favorite award: Andrew Liu and Parker Van Ostrand
Teachers’ Favorite award: Andrew Liu
Best Performance of an étude by F. Chopin: Alice Zhang
Best Performance of a waltz by F. Chopin: Angela Chuang

Amateur Finalists Not Appearing Above
Naran Gantuya (Mongolia)

Instructors of the finalists
Brenda Huang, Munkhtuya, Sueanne Metz, Anaida Nagdyan, Michelle Jo
Santoso, and Kinwai Shum

Youth, Ages 10-13

Jun Lin Wu, China (2010 Youth, Ages 10-13 Gold Medalist)
Jun Lin Wu began his relationship with the piano at the age of four through his own youthful improvisations of popular tunes at the keyboard. Seeing an affinity for music, his parents soon enrolled him in lessons with renowned Chinese pianist Qi Li, Professor of Piano at China’s prestigious Xinghai Conservatory of Music. Wu progressed in leaps and bounds and quickly began to make a name for himself in national level competitions including the 2008 Xinghai National Piano Competition (2nd prize), the 2008 Irmler Germany-China Piano Competition (1st Prize), the 2009 Wesberg International Competition Chinese National Finals (2nd Prize), and the Pearl River Kayserburg Piano Competition (2nd Prize). In the fall of 2009, Wu was formally accepted to the Middle School Attached with Xinghai Conservatory of Music where he currently continues his junior high school studies with Professor Li.

Christopher Richardson, USA (2010 Youth, Ages 10-13 Silver Medalist)
Twelve year old Christopher is a student of Dr. Frederick Weldy. Having performed in venues in the San Francisco Bay Area, Weill Hall at the Carnegie, and in honors recitals at the MTAC State Convention, Christopher won first prize in the 2008 SF Chopin and 2009 East Bay competitions as well as summa cum laude first place in all three categories he entered in the “Kids Play The Darndest Things” competition and was chosen the best performer at the winners’ concert. He placed 2nd in the Bradshaw and Buono in 2009 and 2010 international competition. He participated in the Piano Fest master classes with Andrew Russo and Hans Boepple at the Portland Piano International Festival in 2009/10. His other honors include second prize in the Junior Showcase Piano Solo at the US Open Competition and performances in the 2010 Junior Bach Festival, as well as gold medal at the Carnegie Hall International Young Musician Festival. He was a winner at the American Fine Arts Festival 2010 and was selected to perform again at Weill Hall Carnegie Hall in June 2010 . He will be performing at the prizewinners’ recital at the Kosciuszko Foundation Auditorium this September in NYC.

Vanessa Meiling Haynes, USA (2009 Youth, Ages 10-13 Bronze Medalist)
Vanessa moved from the US to Beijing, China at age 5 and began her piano career with the Kindergarten Music Conservatory of China. She then studied with the famous pianist Lang Lang’s first teacher Professor Ya Fen Zhu’s. At age 9 she was accepted into the pre-college division of The Central Music Conservatory of China under Professor Jin Zhang. At age 12 Vanessa returned to the US with scholarship to the Cleveland Institute of Music under Antonio Pompa-Baldi. Vanessa has won competitions in several countries. She was second prize winner at the 2010 Spain Burgos International Music Festival. In the USA she was first prize winner at the 2009 Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition and Gold Prize winner at AADGT’s 2009 Passion for Music International Piano Competition. In China she won “Outstanding Performance Award” at the 2007 Second Kawai China National Piano Competition and won 2nd place in the 2006 China International Hope Cup. Vanessa was specially accepted into many outstanding music and piano festivals around the world, such as the 2010 Piano Texas, 2010 Perugia Music Fest in Italy, 2010 Burgos International Music Festival Spain, and 2009 Alexander & Buono Music Festival Albano Italy.

Other Awards and Honorable Mentions
Audience Favorite award:
Teachers’ Favorite award:
Best Performance of a work by F. Chopin: Vanessa Meiling Haynes
Best Performance of a work by R. Schumann: Christopher Richardson

Youth, Ages 10-13 Finalists
William Chiang (USA), Vanessa Meiling Haynes (USA), Thomas Kim (USA), Christopher Richardson (USA), Sean Tang-Wang (USA), Alexandra Woo (USA), Jun Lin Wu (China)

Instructors of the finalists
Qi Li, Sueanne Metz, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Andrey Ponochevny, Robert Schwartz, and Jenny Shin

Semi-finalists
Tiger Lee (USA), Millicent McFall (USA), Jarrett Takaki (USA), and Tristan Teo (Canada)

Instructors of the semi-finalists
Peter Mack, Sueanne Metz, and Sasha Starcevich

Youth, Ages 14-18

Alison Chiang, USA (2010 Youth, Ages 14-18 Gold Medalist)
Alison began playing piano at age five and, two years later, won first prize in the 1999 St. Charles Illinois Music Competition. In 2000, she moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where she studied piano with Ms. Olga Radosavljevich at Cleveland Institute of Music. In 2005, Alison had her concerto debut playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 with the Lakeside Symphony, conducted by Mr. Robert Cronquist. In 2007, she played Beethoven’s 2nd Piano Concerto with the Cleveland Women’s Orchestra and the Lakeside Symphony, both conducted by Mr. Cronquist. Alison was an honored recipient of the Olga Radosavljevich Scholarship throughout her studies at CIM. After moving to Plano, Texas in 2007, she studied piano with Dr. Pamela Mia Paul at University of North Texas. In 2008, Alison won Grand Prize in Vernell Gregg Young Artists’ Competition and played Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Lewisville Lake Symphony, conducted by Mr. Adron Ming. In 2009, she won Grand Prize in the Collin County Young Artists Competition and performed Chopin’s Piano Concerto in F minor with the Plano Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Hector Guzman. Now 18, Alison is studying piano with Ms. Nelita True at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York.

Christopher Lu, USA (2010 Youth, Ages 14-18 Silver Medalist)
Fourteen year old Christopher Lu from Redmond, Washington was the gold medalist in the Seattle International Piano Competition’s Junior Youth category in 2008. In March 2010, after placing first in both Washington State and the Northwest Region, Chris became one of the seven national finalists in the MTNA Junior Piano Competition in Albuquerque. Also in 2010, Chris performed Chopin’s first concerto with the University of Puget Sound Symphony Orchestra, and was the winner of the Beatrice Hermann Competition. Chris and his brother Alex (also a pianist) were recently the subjects of an MSNBC story, and appeared on KOMO TV and King FM 98.1. They were presented on the Monika Clowes Memorial “Emerging Artist Concert Series” of the Seattle Chamber Music Festival. Chris has won the Northwest Chopin Festival twice, placed first in the Simon Fiset, Seattle Bach, Seattle Russian Music, CWU Sonata, PAFE Solo & Concerto and SIPF Contemporary Festivals. Chris is now a 9th grade International Baccalaureate student in the Gifted Program at Interlake High School in Bellevue, Washington. He enjoys reading, racquet sports, playing cello and chamber music. Chris started piano lessons at the age of five with James Chen and has studied with Dr. Peter Mack since 2006.

Jovian Cheng, Canada (2010 Youth, Ages 14-18 Bronze Medalist)
Eighteen-year old Jovian Cheng began his early music studies with Peggy Yip in Richmond, and has also taken classes with Ian Parker. Since July of 2006 he has been a student of Dr. Sasha Starcevich. Jovian is a gold medal recipient and winner in the 2009 Seattle Young Artists Music Festival. He was also awarded first place at the 2009 Performing Arts BC in Prince Rupert in the Senior Piano category. Jovian achieved first prize in the 2007 Canadian Music Competition Finals in Quebec and is the grand prize winner in the 2008 CBC Radio’s “Battle of Beethoven”. He has performed as a soloist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra under directions of Evan Mitchell in 2010 and Ken Hsieh in 2007. Jovian has also performed with the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra under Hsieh, the Philharmonia Northwest Orchestra directed by Roupen Shakarian and performed on the National CBC Radio in Canada. Last year, Jovian participated in the Charity Ice Breaking Society Piano Concert at the Chan Centre to raise money for remote provinces of China and the victims of the Sichuan earthquake. He was also chosen from a selection of local pianists to participate in a masterclass with Lang Lang.

Other Awards and Honorable Mentions
Audience Favorite award: Christopher Lu
Teachers’ Favorite award: Christopher Lu
Best Performance of a work by F. Chopin: Jovian Cheng
Best Performance of a work by R. Schumann: Christopher Lu

Youth, Ages 14-18 Finalists
Jovian Cheng (Canada), Alison Chiang (USA), Jade Huang (USA), Christopher Lu (USA), Jessica Ma (USA), Max Wang (USA)

Instructors of the finalists
Tien Hsieh, Ivona Kaminska, Peter Mack , Pamela Mia Paul, Jenny Shin,
Sasha Starcevich, and Nelita True

Semi-finalists
Nathan Ben-Yehuda (USA), Laura Cha (USA), Francisco Chomnalez (USA), Bryan Chu (USA), David Golub (USA), Han Lee (USA), Mi Ou Lee (Canada), Shaoai Zhang (China)

Instructors of the semi-finalists
Maria Asteriadov, Jane Coop, Katie Gueorguieva, Inessa Litvin, Peter Mack, Elena Richter, Ory Shihor, and Sasha Starcevich