Selected Participants
Artem Kuznetsov
Hailing from the village of Novopokrovskoye, Russia, pianist Artem Kuznetsov has been acclaimed for his artistry, virtuosity, lyricism and electrifying energy as an award-winning concert pianist as well as an enthusiastic chamber musician.
He has won first prizes in more than fifteen international competitions and his upcoming concert engagements for the next few years include more than ten countries in Europe, Asia, North and South America. In addition, through collaboration with music organizations in the U.S., he has been actively involved in musical activities for underserved communities, as well as educational events for young musicians.
Artem Kuznetsov has been part of organizations and concert series that have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities, including the “Multiple Sclerosis” society and Direct Relief's “Response to Covid-19”. In 2020, he was named Emissary to the Muses for the City of San Antonio by Mayor Ron Nirenberg.
Juan Sebastian Collazos
Pianist Juan Sebastian Collazos Valencia, regarded as "The Best Young Pianist in Colombia 2018" after winning first place in the "First National Piano Competition Teatro Colón 2018," has also been awarded in various competitions in Colombia, the United States, Spain, and Costa Rica. He has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in Sweden, Hungary, Spain, Italy, Costa Rica, the United States, Mexico, and the most important venues in Colombia. Additionally, he has been a soloist with various orchestras, including the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, the Schwob Philharmonic (USA), and the Cali Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. He has studied at the "Antonio María Valencia" Conservatory, Schwob School of Music, and Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. Juan Sebastian maintains an active artistic career as a soloist and chamber musician, primarily performing in different theaters in Colombia and Hungary. He is currently affiliated as a piano instructor and accompanist at the University of Valle and the "Antonio María Valencia" Conservatory in Cali, Colombia.
Tiene estudios realizados en el Conservatorio “Antonio María Valencia”, Schwob School of Music y Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. Desarrolla una actividad artística frecuente como solista y músico de cámara en diferentes teatros de Colombia y Hungría principalmente. Vinculado actualmente como docente de piano y pianista acompañante en la Universidad del Valle y el Conservatorio “Antonio María Valencia” en Cali, Colombia.
Peng Lin
Peng Lin is the first prize winner of the 2023 Massarosa International Piano Competition. She made her New York Lincoln Center debut in 2015 with the Juilliard Orchestra conducted by Peter Oundjian. She had won the first prize winner of Rhodes International Piano Competition, and the Bach prize of Rina Sala Gallo International Piano Competition. She has performed on the stages of Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Weill Hall, Muziekgebouw and Shanghai Concert Hall. Born in Kulangsu, the ‘piano island’ of China, Peng made her orchestral debut with Mozart Concerto K 467 at the age of 9. She received a full scholarship to attend the Juilliard School at the age of 16. She subsequently received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School, a Master of Musical Arts from Yale School of Music and an Artist Diploma from the Royal College of Music in London. She worked closely with Dmitri Alexeev, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Hung-Kuan Chen, Ian Jones and Peter Serkin, and Benedetto Lupo.
Noah Zhou
Based in London, British-Chinese pianist Noah Zhou began his musical career at the age of 5.
Supported for years by the Eileen Rowe Musical Trust, he completed his undergraduate degree at the Royal Academy of Music, where he received the Sir Elton John Scholarship. He is currently pursuing a master's degree at the same institution, studying with Christopher Elton, Head of Piano Emeritus. Noah has received numerous awards, including second prize in the YPF European Grand Prix (2022) and the Royal Philharmonic Society Duo Award for Best Young Instrumentalist (2018).
He has also won first prizes at the Valsesia Musica International Competition (2021), the Euregio Piano Award (2021), the Rio International Competition (2022), the Horowitz International Competition (2019) and the Campillos International Competition (2021).
Noah performs frequently and has collaborated with orchestras such as the Phion Orchestra, the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine and the National Symphony Orchestra of Brazil, among others, performing under the baton of conductors such as Antony Hermus and Roberto Tibiriçá.
Kangeun Lee
South Korean pianist Kangeun Lee is pursuing a doctoral degree at the Jacobs School of Music, where she is also an associate professor of piano.
He began playing the piano at the age of four and made his international debut at the Mozarthaus in Vienna. Since then he has performed in cities such as Budapest, Chicago and New York. He completed his undergraduate studies at Seoul National University on a full scholarship, graduating summa cum laude and receiving the prestigious University President's Award. In the United States, he pursued a master's degree at the Jacobs School of Music, where he was awarded the John Winston Spanier Scholarship.
Lee has won numerous competitions in Korea, including the Sungjung Music Competition, and has received multiple awards in the United States, including the 2023 Indianapolis Matinee Musical Collegiate Award. He was also a finalist in the American International Piano Competition in D.C. and a semifinalist in the Ke'alohi International Piano Competition in Hawaii.
Quang Vo
Quang Vo, an 18-year-old pianist from Vietnam, is currently a sophomore piano performance major at Florida Gulf Coast University where he studies with Dr. Michael Baron. During his studies, Mr. Vo has won many First Prizes and Special Prizes at domestic and international music competitions. His most recent competition win was the Kayserburg International Piano Competition where he was awarded first prize as the best pianist in Vietnam, and was given a piano as part of his award. He has also participated in many solo performances as well as performances as soloist with orchestras in Vietnam and Malaysia. Besides multiple performances in his native Vietnam, he has also performed in Thailand, Malaysia, China, Hungary, Germany, and the United States. He previously studied with Prof. Dao Trong Tuyen at the Vietnam National Academy of Music.
Zhiqiao Zhang
Zhiqiao Zhang, born into a musical family in China, began taking piano and singing lessons with his father. He is a versatile and accomplished pianist who has performed in such prestigious venues as Boston's Jordan Hall, Shenzhen Grand Theatre and Shanghai's He Luting Concert Hall.
Zhiqiao has won numerous international piano competitions, including first prizes at the Giulio Rospigliosi International Piano Competition and the Lancaster International Piano Festival Competition. She earned a Performer's Diploma at the Jacobs School of Music and is pursuing a master's degree in Specialized Music Performance at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana.
In addition to performing as a soloist, Zhiqiao is an avid chamber musician and composer. His CD, released by KNS Classical, and a debut recording of Yigiang Sun's composition highlight his recording achievements. As an advanced music educator, he has been invited to teach a piano master class on the topic of “The Art of Sound” at Henan Normal University and Henan Institute of Science and Technology School of Music in 2021. Zhiqiao also excels in teaching, and her students have won multiple awards. Her passion extends to vocal and organ performances, demonstrating her multifaceted musical ability.
Elisabeth Pion
A curious and innovative artist, pianist Élisabeth Pion leads a creative career as a soloist, chamber musician and artistic collaborator. She recently released her first recording, “Femmes de légende”, with ATMA Classique, and made her debut with the Orchestre Métropolitain & Kensho Watanabe, with the Garuta concerto. She won the Bita Cattelan Prize at the Concours musical de Montréal 2024 and 3rd prize at the Rio Piano Festival 2023, performing Rachmaninov's 3rd Concerto with the Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira & Roberto Tibiriçá.
Her second recording, a collaboration with Arion Orchestre Baroque on period instruments, will be released in June 2024. Élisabeth is an alumna of the Imogen Cooper Trust and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where she studied with Ronan O'Hora and was appointed Junior Fellow in 2022/2023, having previously obtained the Artist Diploma and Artist Masters with highest honors.
She continues her artistic development with Benedetto Lupo and benefits from the mentorship of Gabriela Montero. Her interests in literature, writing, composition, repertoire research and Tai Chi nurture her musical practice. Élisabeth performs regularly with orchestras such as the Toledo Symphony, the Victoria Symphony and the Montreal Classical Orchestra. She has performed at major venues such as Wigmore Hall and Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, and is often heard on CBC/Radio-Classique and BBC Radio 3.
Yongqiu Liu
Chinese pianist Yongqiu Liu has performed successfully in Asia, Europe, Australia and North America. Since her solo debut at age 13 at the Polish Consulate General in China and her concert debut with the Novosibirsk National Symphony Orchestra in Russia at age 15, she has performed in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Poland, Serbia, Malta, Russia, Australia and China, among other countries.
He has performed at Steinway Hall in New York, Symphony Hall in Boston and Britten Hall in London. Liu has performed with such prestigious orchestras as the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra, the National Radio Symphony Orchestra of Serbia and the Armenian Symphony Orchestra. She has been invited to participate in festivals such as the Rome International Music Festival and the Shanghai International Piano Festival.
She has won numerous international piano competitions, including the Malta International Piano Competition and the Carles and Sofia International Piano Competition in Spain. Yongqiu received his early musical education at Shanghai Conservatory Middle School. After her graduation with First Place in 2018, she moved to Boston and studied at the New England Conservatory of Music on a full scholarship. Currently, she is pursuing her Master of Music on a full scholarship at the Yale School of Music with Boris Berman.
Tomás Alegre
Thanks to Martha Argerich, the promising young Argentinean was able to study in Europe. From then on, he began his most important performances, receiving the Distinction of Honor from the Queen of Spain, the Lodovici Prize, recording at Fazioli Hall and even being conducted by András Schiff.
In his reappearance at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, the press defined: “A direct expressiveness contoured with the subtlety of a goldsmith (...) Owner of an expressiveness that reveals the true essence of what he interprets”.
Estudió con Nelson Goerner (Haute École, Genève) y Dmitri Bashkirov (Escuela Reina Sofía, Madrid). Premiado en concursos internacionales como Manhattan, Ferrol, Orpheus Swiss Chamber Music.
His performances include stages at Festival Argerich Lugano, Serate Musicali Milan, Ciclo Ciudades Patrimonio de la Humanidad España, Teatro alla Scala, Academia Liszt, Auditorium Radiotelevisione Svizzera, Teatro Real and Fundación Juan March, among others. He made a concert tour in Spain with András Schiff.