Composers: Ludwig van Beethoven

Garrick Ohlsson – Cliburn Concerts 2015–2016

GARRICK OHLSSON
Cliburn at the Bass
Cliburn Concerts 2015–2016

April 5, 2016
Bass Performance Hall  I  Fort Worth, Texas

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, op. 110
SCHUBERT Fantasy in C Major, D. 760 (“Der Wanderer”)
CHOPIN Scherzo No. 4 in E Major, op. 54
Etude in E Minor, op. 25, no. 5
Etude in G-sharp Minor, op. 25, no. 6
Nocturne in C Minor, op. 48, no. 1
Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, op. 23

Since his triumph at the 1970 Chopin International Piano Competition (the only American winner ever), pianist Garrick Ohlsson has established himself worldwide as a musician of magisterial interpretive and technical prowess. Although long regarded as one of the world’s leading exponents of the music of Frédéric Chopin, the Grammy® Award-winner commands an enormous repertoire, which ranges over the entire piano literature. (To date he has at his command more than 80 concertos, ranging from Haydn and Mozart to works of the 21st century, many commissioned for him.)

Youlan Ji – Cliburn Junior 2015 Semifinal Round Recital

YOULAN JI
China |  Age 16

2015 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival
June 21–28, 2015  I  TCU
Fort Worth, TX, USA

Program:
BACH Overture in the French Style, BWV 831
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 24 in F-sharp Major, op. 78
CHOPIN Rondo in E-flat Major, op. 16
CARTER “Caténaires” from Two Thoughts about the Piano

Born in Beijing, Youlan Ji moved to New York in 2012 to attend The Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division, where she studies with Yoheved Kaplinsky. She has won first prizes at the United States Open Music Competition (2011), Third International Rosario Marciano Piano Competition (2011), and Xinghai Cup Piano Competition (2008). She has been featured in recitals in Beijing, Shanghai, and New York, and performed the Beethoven Second Concerto with Juilliard’s Pre-College Orchestra as winner of its concerto competition. In her spare time, Youlan enjoys watching movies and swimming.

Arsenii Mun – Cliburn Junior 2015 Semifinal Round Recital

ARSENII MUN
Russia  |  Age 16

2015 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival
June 21–28, 2015  I  TCU
Fort Worth, TX, USA

Program:
BEETHOVEN 32 Variations in C Minor, WoO 80
SCHUBERT Moment musicaux in C Major, D. 780, no. 1
DEBUSSY Pour le piano
SHCHEDRIN Rodion, Humoresque
LISZT “Tarantella” from Venezia e Napoli

Born in St. Petersburg, Arsenii Mun began studying music at age 6 and entered the Special Musical School-Lyceum of the State Conservatory in 2010. He gave his recital debut in 2012, and has since performed throughout Russia and with the St. Petersburg State Academic Symphony, Tchaikovsky Symphony, and Tallin Chamber Orchestras. He has won prizes in the 2011 Horowitz International Piano Competition, 2012 International Televised Competition for Young Musicians “Nutcracker” in Moscow, and the 2014 Yamaha Music Award. Also interested in chamber music, Arsenii has attended the Musica Mundi festival in Belgium—where he received feedback from Daniel Barenboim, Maxim Vengerov, and Itamar Golan—the Peter de Grote Festival in the Netherlands, and the Salzburg International Summer Academy.

Misha Galant– Cliburn Junior 2015 Quarterfinal Round Recital

MISHA GALANT
United States  |  Age 17

2015 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival
June 21–28, 2015  I  TCU
Fort Worth, TX, USA

Program:
BACH Prelude and Fugue in A Minor, Book II, BWV 889
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 18 in E-flat Major, op. 31, no. 3: I. Allegro
CHOPIN Nocturne in C Minor, op. 48, no. 1
LISZT Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2

Born in California to a family of musicians, Misha Galant has already performed with the Utah, Oakland, Peninsula, and Livermore Symphony Orchestras, as prizewinner of several concerto competitions. He is one of ten recipients of the Chopin Scholarship from the Chopin Foundation of the United States. Currently studying with both his mother, Olya Katsman, and Sharon Mann at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Misha has participated in the Music@Menlo and Foulger International Music Festivals. He has had lessons with Nelita True, Boris Berman, Yu-Jane Yang, and most recently has had coaching with Yoshikazu Nagai. He also enjoys math and is an accomplished swimmer.

Gregory Martin – Cliburn Junior 2015 Preliminary Round Recital

GREGORY MARTIN
United States |  Age 17

2015 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival
June 21–28, 2015  I  TCU
Fort Worth, TX, USA

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 4 in E-flat Major, op. 7: I. Allegro molto e con brio
TCHAIKOVSKY Dumka in C Minor, op. 59
LISZT Paganini Etude No. 6 in A Minor

Born in Houston, Gregory Martin began piano lessons at age 4 while in California. At age 7, he performed with a chamber group of the Colorado Symphony, and has since also appeared with the New Mexico, Albuquerque, San Juan Four Corners, Omsky, and Yaroslavsky Academic Symphony Orchestras, among others. He has studied at the Central School of Music at the Moscow State Conservatory since 2011, under the guidance of Mikhail Voskresensky and Andrei Diev. Gregory made his Carnegie Hall debut as part of the Golden Key Music Festival in 2007, and has also participated in the Vladimir Spivakov International Festival “Moscow Meets Friends,” PianoTexas International Academy and Festival, Euro Music Festival in Germany, and Summer Music Studies in Urbino, Italy. He is a scholar of the Vladimir Spivakov International Charity Foundation.

Anastasia Magamedov – Cliburn Junior 2015 Preliminary Round Recital

ANASTASIA MAGAMEDOVA
Tajikistan |  Age 17

2015 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival
June 21–28, 2015  I  TCU
Fort Worth, TX, USA

Program:
LISZT Sonetto 104 del Petrarca
CHOPIN Etude in A Minor, op. 25, no. 11 (“Winter Wind”)
BEETHOVEN, Sonata No. 7 in D Major, op. 10, no. 3: I. Presto
RAVEL “Toccata” from Le tombeau de Couperin

Anastasia Magamedova made her Carnegie Hall debut at Weill Concert Hall in 2014 and performed with the Utah Symphony and several times with the American West Symphony. Competition awards include first prize at the International Keyboard Odyssiad, as well as finalist at the MTNA National and Yamaha USASU International Piano Competitions. A recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award, she has been featured on From the Top and on BYU Radio. Born in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Anastasia began studying piano at age 5 and is currently under the guidance of Dr. Heather Conner. Besides playing the piano, she studies violin and enjoys ceramic arts.

Tony Yike Yang – Cliburn Junior 2015 Preliminary Round Recital

TONY YIKE YANG
Canada |  Age 16

2015 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival
June 21–28, 2015  I  TCU
Fort Worth, TX, USA

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 4 in E-flat Major, op. 7: I. Allegro molto e con brio
CHOPIN Etude in A Minor, op. 25, no. 11 (“Winter Wind”)
CHOPIN Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, op. 60

Tony Yike Yang has appeared with The Cleveland Orchestra under Jahja Ling, Hilton Head Symphony with Chelsea Tipton, and the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Academy Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Sinfonietta. He has performed throughout Canada, and was honored to play for Her Royal Highness Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. He has won top prizes at the Thomas & Evon Cooper International Piano, Hilton Head International Piano, Bosendorfer and Yamaha USASU International Junior Piano, and Gina Bachauer International Junior Piano Competitions. Tony enrolled in the Pre-College Division at The Juilliard School in 2014 under the guidance of Julian Martin, having previously attended the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of James Anagnoson and taken master classes with Richard Goode, Dang Thai Son, and Dan Zhaoyi.

Clayton Stephenson – Cliburn Junior 2015 Preliminary Round Recital

CLAYTON STEPHENSON
United States  |  Age 16

2015 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival
June 21–28, 2015  I  TCU
Fort Worth, TX, USA

Program:
CHOPIN Etude in B Minor, op. 25, no. 10 (“Octave”)
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 3 in C Major, op. 2, no. 3: I. Allegro con brio
CHOPIN Scherzo No. 1 in B Minor, op. 20

Born in New York, Clayton Stephenson enrolled in The Juilliard School’s Music Advancement Program in 2007 and graduated to its Pre-College Division in 2009. He has attended the Morningside Music Bridge Festival in Calgary and the International Keyboard Festival in Manhattan, receiving lessons and master classes with Marc Durant, Krysztof Jablonski, André Laplante, and Alexander Braginsky, among others. He made his concerto debut with the Juilliard Pre-College Symphony Orchestra at Lincoln Center, and has performed with the Midwest Young Artists Symphony Orchestra as part of Chicago’s Ravinia Festival, and in concerts in Munich, Calgary, and New York. Currently a student at the Dalton School, he is involved in the Boys Club of New York, Men of Color Club, and the math team and Transformation Geometry Club at his school.

Eoín Flemin – Cliburn Junior 2015 Preliminary Round Recital

EOÍN FLEMING
Ireland  |  Age 17

2015 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival
June 21–28, 2015  I  TCU
Fort Worth, TX, USA

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, op. 13 (“Pathetique”): I. Grave: Allegro di molto e con brio
SCHOENBERG Sechs kleine Klavierstücke, op. 19
LIZST Paganini Etude No. 3 “La campanella”

Born in Dublin, Eoín Fleming began piano lessons at the age of 5 and gave his first public performance at age 7. He was honored to perform for Irish President Mary McAleese in 2009—the same year he played the part of “child pianist” in the film Parked. As a multiple prizewinner of the Feis Ceoil competitions in Dublin, he has performed in both the John Field Room and Main Auditorium of the National Concert Hall. He currently studies with John O’Conor and Réamonn Keary at the Royal Irish Academy of Music; he has played in master class for Martina Filjak, Christopher Elton, and Alexej Gorlatch. Outside of piano, Eoín is interested in languages, cooking, and film.

Yukine Kuroki – Cliburn Junior 2015 Preliminary Round Recital

YUKINE KUROKI
Japan  |  Age 16

2015 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival
June 21–28, 2015  I  TCU
Fort Worth, TX, USA

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 6 in F Major, op. 10, no. 2
LISZT Transcendental Etude No. 8 “Wild Jagd”
KAPUSTIN Prelude, op. 40, no. 1 (from Eight Concert Etudes)

Yukine Kuroki has performed with the Astana State Philharmonic, Tatarstan National Symphony, Lithuanian National Symphony, and Polish Silesian Philharmonic Orchestras. She has appeared at the International Music Festival “Stars on Baikal” in Irkusk, Russia at the invitation of Denis Matsuev, as well as the Vilnius Piano Festival and in recitals throughout her native Japan. Competition credits include top prizes at the International Balys Dvarionas, Hanoi International Piano, and International Festival “Astana Piano Passion” Competitions. Yukine studies with Fumiko Eguchi at the Showa Music University Piano Art Academy since 2008. She delights in spreading joy through music, and her hobbies include calligraphy and monochrome drawing.

Amir Siraj – Cliburn Junior 2015 Preliminary Round Recital

AMIR SIRAJ
United States  |  Age 15

2015 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival
June 21–28, 2015  I  TCU
Fort Worth, TX, USA

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 4 in E-flat Major, op. 7: I. Allegro molto e con brio
CHOPIN Etude in G-flat Major, op. 10, no. 5 (“Black Key”)
CHOPIN Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, op. 23

Amir Siraj has performed at venues such as New York’s Carnegie Hall and Boston’s Symphony Hall. He made his concerto debut in 2012 with the Metrowest Symphony Orchestra, performing Beethoven’s Third Concerto, and most recently appeared with the Quincy Symphony Orchestra playing the Liszt’s First Concerto. He is the 2015 winner of the Ruth Davidson Competition, five-time winner of the Massachusetts Music Teachers Association Competition, and three-time prizewinner at the M. Steinert and Sons Competition. Also committed to new music, Amir has performed world premieres for Larry Bell and Stephen Feigenbaum, and U.S. premieres for Lera Auerbach. Currently studying with Helena Vesterman and at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, he has taken master classes with Hung-Kuan Chen, Bruce Brubaker, and Wha-Kyung Byun. In addition to piano, he devotes his time to varsity men’s crew, choir, and Brookline High School’s Innovation Club, which he founded.

Jeong Min Kim– Cliburn Junior 2015 Preliminary Round Recital

JEONG MIN KIM
South Korea  |  Age 17

2015 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival
June 21–28, 2015  I  TCU
Fort Worth, TX, USA

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 4 in E-flat Major, op. 7: I. Allegro molto e con brio
CHOPIN Etude in C Major, op. 10, no. 1
DUTILLEUX Choral et Variations from Piano Sonata

A prizewinner of several piano competitions throughout his native Korea, Jeong Min Kim has appeared in recitals throughout Seoul and as soloist with the Atlantic Music Festival and Han Eum Philharmonic Orchestras. He studied at the Korea National Institute for Gifted Artists from 2006 to 2010, when he moved to the United States to enroll in the pre-college division at The Juilliard School. He has participated in the Atlantic Music, Sergei Babayan International Piano, and Busan Music Festivals, receiving tutelage from Martin Canin and Sergei Babayan. In his spare time, Jeong Min enjoys table tennis and golf.

Alim Beisembayev – Cliburn Junior 2015 Preliminary Round Recital

ALIM BEISEMBAYEV
Kazahkstan  |  Age 17

2015 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival
June 21–28, 2015  I  TCU
Fort Worth, TX, USA

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 7 in D Major, op. 10, no. 3: I. Presto
RACHMANINOV Prelude in G Major, op. 32, no. 5
DEBUSSY Feux d’artifice from Preludes, Book II
LISZT Paganini Etude No. 6 in A Minor

Born in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Alim Beisembayev has given recitals in London, Moscow, and Sacile (Italy), and performed with the Svetlanov Orchestra of Moscow, New Russia Orchestra, and the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, working with conductors Mark Gorenstein, Evgeny Bushkov, and Dmitry Liss. Competition credits include third prize at the 2014 International Liszt Competition for Young Pianists in Weimar and first prize in the 2008 International Televised Competition for Young Musicians “Nutcracker” in Moscow. Alim began piano lessons at age 5, and moved to the United Kingdom in 2010 to attend the Purcell School for Young Musicians, first studying with Rustem Hayroudinoff and now with Tessa Nicholson. In his spare time, he pursues ballroom dancing, acting, and learning languages.

Anna Boonyanit – Cliburn Junior 2015 Preliminary Round Recital

ANNA BOONYANIT
United States |  Age 16

2015 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival
June 21–28, 2015  I  TCU
Fort Worth, TX, USA

Program:
BACH Prelude and Fugue in E Minor, Book I, BWV 855
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 3 in C Major, op. 2, no. 3: I. Allegro con brio
CHOPIN Etude in G-sharp Minor, op. 25, no. 6
STRAVINSKY “Chez Petrouchka” from Trois mouvements de Petrouchka

Anna Boonyanit made her Carnegie Hall debut in June 2014, as prizewinner of the International Russian Music Piano Competition in 2013. She has also won first prizes and numerous special awards at the Los Angeles International Liszt, Seattle International Piano, and Music Teacher’s Association of California State Concerto Competitions. Anna has performed with Nova Vista Symphony, El Camino Youth Senior, Diablo Symphony, and Palo Alto Philharmonic Orchestras. She has appeared on NPR’s From the Top and is a National YoungArts Foundation winner. A participant in the John Perry Academy of Music, and the Music@Menlo Chamber Music, California Summer Music, and Seattle International Piano Festivals, she has taken lessons with John Perry, Wu Han, Alessio Bax, Bruce Adolphe, and Peter Mack. She is currently studying with Hans Boepple. A fan of the San Francisco Giants, Anna also writes for an arts and lifestyle magazine published by her school.

Zitong Wang – Cliburn Junior 2015 Preliminary Round Recital

ZITONG WANG
China  |  Age 16

2015 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival
June 21–28, 2015  I  TCU
Fort Worth, TX, USA

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 7 in D Major, op. 10, no. 3: I. Presto
CHOPIN Etude in G-sharp Minor, op. 25, no. 6
SCRIABIN Sonata No. 4 in F-sharp Major, op. 30

Born in Inner Mongolia of China, Zitong Wang was first introduced to piano at an early age, and made her solo recital debut at age 13 in Beijing’s Zhongshan Music Hall. She moved to Philadelphia from China three years ago to study with Meng-Chieh Liu and Eleanor Sokoloff at The Curtis Institute of Music. She has also taken frequent lessons with Beatrice Long, and master classes with Seymour Lipkin, Gary Graffman, and Ignat Solzhenitsyn. First-prize winner of the Tureck International Bach and Virginia Waring International Concerto Competitions, she most recently won second prize at the 2014 Thomas & Evon Cooper International Competition. She has appeared with the Cleveland, Hangzhou Philharmonic, Yakima Symphony, and Waring Festival Orchestras, among others. Also interested in early music, she studies harpsichord as a secondary major at Curtis with Leon Schelhase, and has participated in master class with Trevor Pinnock on antique harpsichords from the Flint Collection.

Ken Iisaka– Cliburn Amateur 2016 Semifinal Round Recital

KEN IISAKA, 47
Software engineer
Foster City, California
Japan/Canada

2016 Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition
Semifinal Round – Thursday, June 23, 2016
Van Cliburn Recital Hall
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Ken Iisaka, a Cliburn Amateur finalist in 2007 and 2011, says his previous participation was during “the most tumultuous time of my life.” But he views competing as a necessary vehicle for his musical improvement, and for his soul. Born in Tokyo, he immigrated to Canada with his family and took private lessons while studying computer science at the University of Ottawa. In recent years, he has appeared at Fullerton College Piano Ensemble Festival (2014) and at the Newport Music Festival (2015). Most recently, he performed in an ensemble concert in Tokyo with his partner, Yvonne Liu, whom he met at the Amateur Competition in 2011. Currently, he is a lead engineer for a software company whose clients are advertisers and publishers, in Sunnyvale, California. Mr. Iisaka enjoys writing concert reviews, photography, cooking, and wines from Northern California.

Program:
BEETHOVEN, Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, op. 111

Thomas Yu– Cliburn Amateur 2016 Semifinal Round Recital

THOMAS YU, D.M.D., 38
Periodontist
Calgary, Alberta
Canada

2016 Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition
Semifinal Round – Thursday, June 23, 2016
Van Cliburn Recital Hall
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

It is Thomas Yu’s belief that one can balance both a career and one’s passions. To that end, the periodontist from Calgary, Alberta, has maintained a private dental practice for seven years while successfully competing at amateur contests around the world. Dr. Yu has taken top honors at the Paris International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs (2006), Chetham’s International Amateur Piano Competition in Manchester, United Kingdom (2012), Honens Pro Am Competition in Calgary (2014), and Canada’s CBC Piano Hero contest (2015). Dr. Yu hopes to grow public awareness about amateur piano pursuits through his continued participation in contests. Dr. Yu’s greatest joy, however, is spending time with his wife. Having recently lost his mother to cancer, he is dedicating every note of his performance here to her.

Program:
DURAND , Prelude No. 1
BEETHOVEN, Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, op. 111

Lana C. Marina – Cliburn Amateur 2016 Quarterfinal Round Recital

LANA C. MARINA, 47
Stay-at-home mother
New York, New York
United States

2016 Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition
Quarterfinal Round – Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Van Cliburn Recital Hall
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Lana C. Marina spent her childhood practicing the piano, under the assumption she would become a pianist. When she was 14, she won the Van Cliburn scholarship to the National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan, where she met Mr. Cliburn at a ceremony: “He complimented my playing and, memorably, kissed my hand.” But an accident—in which she slipped on ice and broke her left wrist—during her junior year at Northwestern University sidelined her budding career, and Ms. Marina decided to pursue a law degree at Cornell Law School. For 20 years, she worked as a trademark lawyer until she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which forced her to take a step back. In participating at the Amateur Competition, Ms. Marina hopes to achieve her personal best and to be a role model for her 9-year-old daughter, Sydney, showing her that one can accomplish dreams in the face of obstacles.

Program:
BEETHOVEN, Sonata No. 3 in C Major, op. 2, no. 3: I. Allegro con brio
BALAKIREV, Islamey (Oriental Fantasy)

Colleen Adent – Cliburn Amateur 2016 Quarterfinal Round Recital

2016 Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition
Quarterfinal Round
Van Cliburn Recital Hall
Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Colleen Adent, 54
Homemaker
Vancouver, Washington
United States

A self-professed explorer, Colleen Adent enjoys “finding out how things were made, where they came from, and what I can learn that I didn’t know about before.” She received a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Biola University (La Mirada, California) in 1983. After several years as a stay-at-home mom, Ms. Adent now dedicates her time to leading her church’s music program, where she schedules musicians for services and helps lead band rehearsals as director of music. In addition, she gives piano lessons. For the last two years, Ms. Adent has appeared in “Ten Grands,” an evening showcase featuring 10 grand pianos and 10 pianists, in Portland, Oregon, and in Seattle. In her free time, Ms. Adent likes to wander through used bookstores for treasure—usually biographies of composers, statesmen, and inventors—and enjoys quilting.

Program:
BEETHOVEN, Sonata No. 18 in E-flat Major, op. 31: I. Allegro
CHOPIN, Nocturne in E-flat Major, op. 55, no. 2
GOTTSCHALK, Pasquinade, op. 59

Gregory Knight – Cliburn Amateur 2016 Preliminary Round Recital

2016 Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition
Preliminary Round
Van Cliburn Recital Hall

Gregory Knight, 53
Software engineer
Morganton, North Carolina
United States

Gregory Knight started playing piano at age 4, under his mother’s guidance. Formal instruction began seven years later, at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina, where he went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in piano performance. While in school, he participated in a master class with Guido Agosti in 1981, and placed first in the Gardner-Webb College Concerto Competition one year later. Following graduation, Mr. Knight went on to pursue a career in software engineering, yet continued to take master classes and hone his musical hobby. He looks to the Amateur Competition as a means to test his aptitude: “It gives me not only a reason to learn new, challenging repertoire, but also an opportunity to perform it for people who truly understand and appreciate piano literature.” The motorcycle buff is a father of four and grandfather of three, and has been married 18 years to his wife, Cathy.

Program:
GERSHWIN-WILD Embraceable You
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 7 in D Major, op. 10, no. 3: I. Presto

John Gutheil – Cliburn Amateur 2016 Preliminary Round Recital

2016 Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition
Preliminary Round
Van Cliburn Recital Hall

John Gutheil, M.D., 59
CEO/Medical oncologist
La Jolla, California
United States

John Gutheil recently returned to playing the piano after an absence of several decades. Originally on a musical track—he completed two years as a piano performance major at California State University Northridge—he went on to medical school and became an oncology clinical physician. Currently, he is president and CEO of SciQuus Oncology Inc. in La Jolla, California. Looking for a goal, and to give focus to his piano practice, Dr. Gutheil entered this Competition and says he has achieved much already just by preparing for the event. He notes his music has improved steadily and hopes the event will “give him additional ideas about how to continue improving my piano playing.” The avid marathoner and woodworker also enjoys Italian literature and the work of Caravaggio.

Program:
BEETHOVEN, Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, op. 2, no. 1: I. Allegro
CHOPIN, Etude in A-flat Major, op. 25, no. 1 (“Aeolian Harp”)
CHOPIN, Etude in C Minor, op. 25, no. 12 (“Ocean”)

Robert Seppy – 2016 Cliburn Amateur Preliminary Round Recital

2016 Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition
Preliminary Round
Van Cliburn Recital Hall

Robert Seppy, 58
Healthcare executive
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
United States

Robert Seppy began piano lessons at age 9 and went on to study at the Peabody Conservatory of Music and The Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts. Since 1993, he has worked at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as a charge entry manager. In 2011, Mr. Seppy placed first in the Music Minus One YouTube Video Contest. He looks to the Cliburn Amateur Competition as an opportunity to improve his playing, since it provides motivation to practice. He is also looking forward to meeting other like-minded competitors at this year’s event. Besides playing the piano, Mr. Seppy enjoys spending time with his wife and family. He also likes to attend concerts and values the increasingly important role social media plays in performing arts.

Program:
BACH-BUSONI, Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639
BEETHOVEN, Sonata No. 18 in E-flat Major, op. 31, no. 3: II. Scherzo: Allegretto vivace

Chun Lam U – Cliburn Junior 2019 Semifinal Round Recital

Chun Lam U
Hong Kong | Age 16

Semifinal Round Recital – Wednesday, June 5, 2019 – 7:30 p.m. CDT
Caruth Auditorium, SMU  I  Dallas, Texas, USA

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 18 in E-flat Major, op. 31, no. 3
CHOPIN Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, op. 60
FRANK Nocturno Nazqueño

Chun Lam U’s competition credits include first-prize finishes in the Chopin International Piano Competition Asia, Japan Hamamatsu PIARA International Piano Competition, and Steinway & Sons International Youth Piano Competition, as well as second-place prizes at the Hanoi International Piano Competition, Shenzhen Piano Open Competition, and Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Artists. He has performed in his native Hong Kong, with the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Virtus String Quartet; in Vietnam with the VNAM Symphony Orchestra; and in China, with the Salzburg Chamber Soloists, with which he made his concerto debut in 2017. A student of Rizzo Chung at the GMC Music Academy, Chun Lam also enjoys playing basketball and solving math problems.

“One of the reasons I truly love music is because I feel a sense of belonging when I play the piano, and this allows me to freely showcase my personality without fear.”

J J Jun Li Bui – Cliburn Junior 2019 Quarterfinal Round Recital

J J Jun Li Bui
Canada  | Age 14

Quarterfinal Round Recital – Monday, June 3, 2019 – 7:30 p.m. CDT
Caruth Auditorium, SMU  I  Dallas, Texas, USA

Program:
CHOPIN Nocturne in E-flat Major, op. 55, no. 2
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 7 in D Major, op. 10, no. 3 (I)
LISZT Gnomenreigen from Two Concert Etudes
CHOPIN Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante, op. 22

Toronto-native J J Jun Li Bui won his first piano competition on the day he turned 7, which cemented his commitment to music: he went on to prizes in several Canadian contests, as well as the Hanoi (Vietnam), Aarhus (Denmark), and Midwest (United States) International Piano Competitions. Currently in his third year of full scholarship at The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists at The Royal Conservatory Toronto under Michael Berkovsky, he also studies privately with Dang Thai Son. He has performed in recital across Canada, and with orchestras, including the China Guiyang Symphony, Greater Toronto Philharmonic, and Oakville Chamber. In his time away from the piano, J J enjoys cycling, reading, and table tennis.

“I feel that learning music is like a journey that never ends. A journey that is so wonderful and rewarding.”

Eva Gevorgyan – Cliburn Junior 2019 Quarterfinal Round Recital

Eva Gevorgyan
Russia/Armenia  | Age 15

Quarterfinal Round Recital – Monday, June 3, 2019 – 3:52 p.m. CDT
Caruth Auditorium, SMU  I  Dallas, Texas, USA

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 10 in G Major, op. 14, no. 2 (III)
RODRIGO “Seguidillas del diablo” from 4 Estampas andaluzas
CHOPIN Nocturne in C-sharp Minor, op, 27, no. 1
CHOPIN Polonaise in F-sharp Minor, op. 44
SAINT-SAËNS Étude en forme de valse, op. 52, no. 6

Eva Gevorgyan has received prizes in more than 40 international competitions for piano and composition—in the United States, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Estonia, Malta, Kazakhstan, Poland, Czech Republic, Georgia, Russia, and Serbia. Born and raised in Moscow, she has studied with Natalia Trull at the Central Music School of the Moscow P.I. Tchaikovsky State Conservatory, and has performed across Russia, Europe (including a Royal Albert Hall debut in April), and in the United States. She also receives a scholarship from the International Academy of Music in Liechtenstein and participates regularly in its intensive music weeks and activities. In 2017, Eva performed in front of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and she has taken part in a national television show for young talent, advancing to the final as the only pianist. Last year, she appeared on live television with Russian President Vladimir Putin and asked him about education reform. She likes composing, growing exotic plants, jogging, and playing table tennis.

“When I play, I hope people can hear words which I would never say in my real life. Being on stage at the Cliburn Junior Competition will charge me with energy and love for a long time forward.”

JiWon Yang – Cliburn Junior 2019 Quarterfinal Round Recital

JiWon Yang
South Korea | Age 17

Quarterfinal Round Recital – Sunday, June 2, 2019 – 8:54 p.m. CDT
Caruth Auditorium, SMU  I  Dallas, Texas, USA

Program:

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 11 in B-flat Major, op. 22 (I)
CHOPIN Nocturne in G Major, op. 37, no. 2
LISZT Réminiscences de Norma, S. 394

JiWon Yang made her recital debut in Seoul at age 9 and her concerto debut in Kazakhstan at 13. Among her competition accolades are several in her home country, as well as wins at the Zhuhai Mozart Competition in China, Astana Piano Passion Kazakhstan, and Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Pianists. She has participated in Russia’s International Music Festival “Stars on the Baikal,” as well as the St. Paul University Piano Festival. Notable performances include with the Salzburg Chamber Soloists and at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and Philippines Chopin Society. A current student of HyoungJoon Chang, JiWon counts traveling and flute performance among her interests outside of piano.

“Music gives me the feeling of joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure, and many different emotions. Also, music helps people to communicate with each other with our hearts.”

Benjamin T. Rossen – Cliburn Junior 2019 Quarterfinal Round Recital

Benjamin T. Rossen
United States | Age 16

Quarterfinal Round Recital – Sunday, June 2, 2019 – 8:02 p.m. CDT
Caruth Auditorium, SMU  I  Dallas, Texas, USA

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 7 in D Major, op. 10, no. 3 (I)
SCHUBERT Impromptu in B-flat Major, op. posth. 142, D. 935, no. 3
SCRIABIN Deux Poèmes, op. 32
CHOPIN Polonaise in F-sharp Minor, op. 44

New Yorker Benjamin T. Rossen has won prizes in a number of U.S. competitions, including first-place finishes in contests held by Steinway & Sons, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Music Teachers National Association, and the National YoungArts Foundation. A student of Jeffrey Cohen at the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division for five years, he made his recital debut at the school at age 9, and his concerto debut the following year with the New York Concerti Sinfonietta at Carnegie Hall. A junior at William A. Shine Great Neck South High School, Benjamin is founder and president of the Music Creators Society, which connects composers with artists to produce interdisciplinary works; plays piano in the school jazz band and French horn in operas and musicals; and is music editor for the school’s literary magazine.

“In society, music can bring awareness to many different facets of culture, from literature and art to political ideas and mathematical concepts. This medium allows for different communities to discover and acknowledge society’s achievements and challenges.”

Xiaoxuan Li – Cliburn Junior 2019 Quarterfinal Round Recital

Xiaoxuan Li
China | Age 17

Quarterfinal Round Recital – Sunday, June 2, 2019 – 7:30 p.m. CDT
Caruth Auditorium, SMU  I  Dallas, Texas, USA

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 7 in D Major, op. 10, no. 3
CHOPIN Nocturne in C Minor, op. 48, no. 1

Since appearing as the youngest competitor in the first edition of the Cliburn Junior Competition in 2015, Xiaoxuan Li—the only returning competitor—moved from Shanghai to Philadelphia, where he studies with Gary Graffman and Robert McDonald at the Curtis Institute of Music. He is a laureate of several international young artist competitions, including Cleveland (senior division, first prize, 2018); Zhuhai Mozart (first prize, 2015); Hilton Head (second prize, 2015); and Ettlingen (2012). He began piano at the age of 4 and has performed extensively throughout China, with other notable concerts including Salzburg Chamber Soloists and the orchestras of Canton, Hilton Head, Ashdod, and Macao.

“I would gladly spend the rest of my life studying the beauty and nuances of every composer, every piece, every iteration. Piano is the media of my emotion. It drives me, shapes me, and propels me to a higher place.”

Hao Rao – Cliburn Junior 2019 Quarterfinal Round Recital

Hao Rao
China | Age 15

Quarterfinal Round Recital – Sunday, June 2, 2019 – 3:02 p.m. CDT
Caruth Auditorium, SMU  I  Dallas, Texas, USA

Program:
CHOPIN Nocturne in D-flat Major, op. 27, no. 2
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 4 in E-flat Major, op. 7 (I)
DEBUSSY Revêrie
DEBUSSY Les collines d’Anacapri from Preludes, Book I
BRAHMS Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Book II, op. 35

Hao Rao grew up in the mountainside town of Jishou, China. Every week, his mother would take him on a 16-hour train ride to his piano lesson; he never tired of the trip and instead saw it as “departing for a great music journey with unknown surprises.” He now attends the Middle School of Xinghai Conservatory of Music in the sprawling city of Guangzhou, but still studies with his teacher of almost seven years, Vivian Li (Suirong). He has won three major national competitions in China, received prizes at the 2018 Ettlingen Competition and the 2019 Aarhus Competition, and—at the age of 13—presented the complete Chopin etudes in recital. He listens to opera and enjoys reading fiction, playing sports, and sampling desserts.

“I’ve been to several competitions or festivals abroad, and every time it was a life-changing inspiration with unforgettable memories, but the Cliburn Fort Worth… that’s almost like the Vatican for pianists. For me, it almost seems like a fairy tale, and I will treasure every moment of this journey.”

Scipione Sangiovanni- Cliburn 2013 Preliminary Round Recital II

SCIPIONE SANGIOVANNI
Italy | Age 25

Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Round Recital II
Bass Performance Hall

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 3 in C Major, op. 2, no. 3
FRANCK Prelude, Chorale and Fugue

Scipione Sangiovanni is a graduate of Italy’s Conservatory “Tito Schipa” of Lecce and the Mendelssohn Piano Academy of Lecce. He has performed throughout Italy, as well as in Austria, China, Croatia, France, Georgia, Portugal, Spain, and the United States. Mr. Sangiovanni has also been invited to perform as guest soloist with the Bacau Orchestra in Romania, the Orchestra of the Croatian Radio-Television, and the Orchestra Sinfonietta Italiana in Rome. Competition credits include top prizes at the Jaén, Maria Canals, Porto, and Tbilisi International Piano Competitions.

Yekwon Sunwoo- Cliburn 2013 Preliminary Round Recital I

YEKWON SUNWOO
South Korea | Age 24

Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Recital I
Bass Performance Hall

Program:
GRUNFELD Soiree de Vienne, concert paraphrase on Strauss’ waltzes, op. 56
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 13 in E-flat Major, op. 27, no. 1 (“Quasi una fantasia”)
SCHUBERT Fantasy in C Major, D. 760, op. 15 “Der Wanderer”

First-prize winner of the 2012 William Kapell International Piano Competition and 2012 Piano Campus International Concours, Yekwon Sunwoo has appeared with the Baltimore Symphony, Orchestre National de Belgique, l’Orchestre Philharmonique du Maroc, and Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, among others, with such conductors as Marin Alsop, Paul Goodwin, David Lockington, and Christopher Wilkins. He made his New York debut at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall in 2009 and performed at Avery Fisher Hall as soloist with the Juilliard Orchestra in 2012. He has also performed in Canada, France, Germany, Morocco, Switzerland, and throughout the United States. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with Roberto Diaz, Gary Hoffman, Ida Kavafian, Michael Tree, and Peter Wiley. Mr. Sunwoo currently resides in New York, where he is pursuing his master’s degree at The Juilliard School.

Marcin Koziak- Cliburn 2013 Preliminary Round Recital II

MARCIN KOZIAK
Poland | Age 24

Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Recital I
Bass Performance Hall

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, op. 13 (“Pathetique”)
BRAHMS Sonata No. 1 in C Major, op. 1

Marcin Koziak was born into a musical family in Krakow, and made his debut at the age of eleven with the Krakow Philharmonic Orchestra. He has performed with the Beethoven Academy, China National Symphony, Lodz Philharmonic, Poznan Philharmonic, and Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestras, and was invited to make appearances at the International Chopin (Duszniki-Zdroj), La Folle Jornée au Japon, La Roque d’Anthéron, and Rubinstein Festivals. He has performed extensively throughout Europe, Japan, and the United States as well. In 2011, he was privileged to give a recital in Warsaw for Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden and the first lady of the Republic of Poland, Anna Komorowska; two months later he took part in a grand concert in Rome organized for the occasion of the beginning of the Polish presidency in the European Union. Mr. Koziak currently resides in Fort Worth, Texas, where he studies at Texas Christian University.

Alessandro Deljavan- Cliburn 2013 Semifinal Recital

ALESSANDRO DELJAVAN
Italy | Age 26

Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Semifinal Round Recital
Bass Performance Hall

Program:

SOLER Sonata in F-sharp Major, R. 90 I Sonata in F Major, R. 89
MENDELSSOHN Variations serieuses, op. 54
THEOFANIDIS Birichino
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, op. 57 (“Appassionata”)

Alessandro Deljavan began studying piano before he was two years old, and went on to win top prizes at national and international competitions as a child and teenager. He has since performed in the major cities of Italy, as well as in Argentina, Colombia, France, Germany, Greece, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, and the United States, and with the Haydn Orchester, as well as the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. He has recorded the works of Alkan, Brahms, Busoni, Cramer, Rubinstein, Satie, Schubert, and Schumann for the Naxos, Brilliant, OnClassical, Piano Classics, and Stradivarius labels. He will also be featured alongside Evgeny Kissin, Antonio Pappano, and Charles Rosen in a film about Liszt, produced and broadcast by Italian RAI TV. An avid chamber musician, he has performed with the Sine Nomine Quartet, the Takács Quartet, and the Orchestra Sinfonica Verdi, with which he also conducted. He plays regularly with his violinist partner Daniela Cammarano as well. Mr. Deljavan makes his home in Pescara, Italy, and is currently a Theo Lieven Scholar at the Conservatory of Lugano.

Nikolay Khozyainov- Cliburn 2013 Semifinal Recital

NIKOLAY KHOZYAINOV
Russia | Age 20

Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Semifinal Round Recital
Bass Performance Hall

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, op. 110
PROKOFIEV Sonata No. 7 in B-flat Major, op. 83
THEOFANIDIS Birichino
LISZT-BUSONI Fantasy on Two Themes from Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro

Nikolay Khozyainov made his debut at age seven in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. He has since garnered numerous prizes, including top prizes at the Dublin and Sydney International Piano Competitions and the Moscow International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition for Young Pianists. Additionally, he was the youngest finalist competing in the International Chopin Piano Competition in 2010. He has appeared with the Sydney Symphony, Tokyo Symphony, and Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestras, among others. Mr. Khozyainov released his first CD, featuring works by Chopin and Liszt, on the Accord label in 2010. He followed this in 2012 with an all-Chopin disc released by the Chopin Institute in Warsaw and another recording on the JVC Victor label in Japan. He is currently enrolled at the Moscow P.I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory.

Eric Zuber- Cliburn 2013 Preliminary Recital II

ERIC ZUBER
United States | Age 28

Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Recital II
Bass Performance Hall

Program:
BEETHOVEN
Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, op. 111

RACHMANINOV
Prelude in B Minor, op. 32, no. 10
Prelude in G-sharp Minor, op. 32, no. 12
Prelude in G Major, op. 32, no. 5
Prelude in B-flat Major, op. 23, no. 2

After making his orchestral debut at the age of twelve with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Eric Zuber went on to perform with the Calgary Philharmonic, Cleveland, Israel Philharmonic, and Minnesota Orchestras, in addition to various others. He has also given solo recitals at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, Dublin National Theatre, the Kennedy Center, the Great Hall at the University of Leeds, and the Seoul Arts Center. He has been finalist and prizewinner at nine international piano competitions, including the Arthur Rubinstein, Bösendorfer, Cleveland, Dublin, and Honens. Mr. Zuber holds a bachelor’s degree and an artist diploma from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, as well as an artist diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music, and a master’s degree from The Juilliard School. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at the Peabody Institute.

Jayson Gillham- Cliburn 2013 Preliminary Recital II

JAYSON GILLHAM
Australia-United Kingdom | Age 26

Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Round Recital II
Bass Performance Hall

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 21 in C Major, op. 53 (“Waldstein”)
LISZT   Sonetto 123 del Petrarca
Spanish Rhapsody

Jayson Gillham has performed with the United Kingdom’s Hallé Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, China’s Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra, and in major venues throughout Germany, Italy, Scotland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He plays regularly in Australia, returning each year for recital, concerto, chamber music, and festival appearances. Mr. Gillham was named Commonwealth Musician of the Year in 2012, upon winning the Over-Seas League Annual Music Competition, and received a gold medal from HRH Princess Alexandra. A graduate of Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, he relocated to London in 2007 to pursue a master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music. Mr. Gillham is also a cultural ambassador for the Hearts for Africa (Amani) Foundation.

Claire Huangci- Cliburn 2013 Semifinal Recital

CLAIRE HUANGCI
United States | Age 24

Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Semifinal Recital
Bass Performance Hall

Program:
THEOFANDIS Birichino
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 26 in E-flat Major, op. 81a (“Les adieux”)
SCHUMANN Symphonic Études, op. 13
PROKOFIEV Romeo and Juliet before Parting, op. 75, no. 10

Born in Rochester, New York, Claire Huangci has made debuts with the Munich Chamber Orchestra, the St. Petersburg Symphony, The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, and with various other orchestras across Europe and the United States. She has appeared in recital as part of the Ravinia, Verbier, International Keyboard Institute, and Kissinger Summer Festivals, and at the Salle Cortot in Paris, Carnegie Hall in New York, Bonn Beethovenhaus, and in other venues throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States. She recently recorded her first CD for Berlin Classics, which will be released in fall of 2013. Ms. Huangci graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music in 2007 and has studied at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover since 2007.

Nikita Mndoyants- Cliburn 2013 Preliminary Recital I

NIKITA MNDOYANTS
Russia | Age 24

Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Recital I
Bass Performance Hall

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, op. 11
CHOPIN Polonaise-fantaise in A-flat Major, op. 61
PROKOFIEV Scherzo, op. 12, no. 10

Born into a family of professional musicians, Nikita Mndoyants began to play piano and compose music at an early age. He gave his first public recital when he was ten, and one year later released his first recording of a live performance at the Sibelius Academy Concert Hall in Helsinki. Since then, Mr. Mndoyants has toured throughout China, Estonia, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States. He has been invited to perform in several festivals, including the Chopin Festival in Duszniki-Zdroj, the International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York, and a festival dedicated to the World Economic Forum in Davos. His compositions are featured on two recordings released by Classical Records in 2007. Mr. Mndoyants is currently pursuing postgraduate studies at the Moscow P.I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where he also received a degree in piano and composition.

Tomoki Sakata- Cliburn 2013 Preliminary Recital I

TOMOKI SAKATA
Japan | Age 19

Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Recital I
Bass Performance Hall

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 22 in F Major, op. 54
LISZT Apres une lecture de Dante (Fantasia quasi sonata) La campanella (from Etudes d’execution transcendantes d’apres Paganini)
SCRIABIN Sonata No. 5, op. 53

Born in Nagoya, Tomoki Sakata received his first piano lesson at the age of five. A prizewinner at various competitions throughout Asia and Europe, Mr. Sakata has appeared in concert in Osaka, Tokyo, and Yokohama, as well as in Geneva, Lugano, Paris, Prague, Utrecht, Vienna, and in Moscow for the twelfth International Festival “Musical Kremlin.” He has also performed as soloist with the Hamamatsu Symphony, Lubrin Philharmonic, and Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestras. Mr. Sakata currently studies at both the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and at the International Piano Academy Lake Como.

Alexey Chernov- Cliburn 2013 Preliminary Recital II

ALEXEY CHERNOV
Russia | Age 30

Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Round Recital II
Bass Performance Hall

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, op. 111
LIGETTI Etude No. 6: Automne a Varsovie
GRIEG Waltz in A Minor, op.12, no.2
Waltz in E Minor, op. 38, no.7
Valse-impromptu in E Minor, op.47, no.1
LISZT Mephisto Waltz No.1

Born in Moscow to a family of musicians, Alexey Chernov began studying music at the age of four. A graduate of the Moscow P.I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory and the Royal College of Music in London, he has won prizes at more than twenty international piano competitions, including first prize at the 2012 International Competition for Piano and Orchestra in Cantù, Italy; second prize at the 2011 Cleveland International Piano Competition; and fifth prize at the XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition, also in 2011. Since his 2005 debut in Moscow’s Rachmaninov Hall, Mr. Chernov has performed under the batons of Mikhail Pletnev, Enrique Bátiz, Alexander Sladkovsky, and Dmitry Orlov, among others. He maintains a busy concert schedule, performing solo recitals and with orchestras throughout Russia and Europe.

Sean Chen- Cliburn 2013 Preliminary Recital II

SEAN CHEN
2013 Bronze Medalist
United States | Age 24

Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Recital II
Bass Performance Hall

Program:
Beethoven Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Major, op. 106 (“Hammerklavier”)

 Second-prize winner at the 2011 Seoul International Music Competition and Christel DeHaan Classical Fellow of the American Pianists Association, Sean Chen has performed with several orchestras, including the Indianapolis Chamber, Juilliard, New West Symphony, and Suwon Philharmonic. He has presented solo recitals in Albuquerque, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Taipei, among other cities. Additional awards include top prize at the 2010 Gina Bachauer Piano Competition at Juilliard, the 2010 Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship, Best Performance of an American Work at the 2009 Cleveland International Piano Competition, Los Angeles Music Center’s Spotlight Award, and an NFAA ARTSweek award. Born in Florida, Mr. Chen grew up in Oak Park, California, and now resides in New Haven, Connecticut, where he is pursuing his artist diploma at the Yale School of Music. When not at the piano, he enjoys tinkering with computers and composing.

Vadym Kholodenko- Cliburn 2013 Preliminary Recital II

VADYM KHOLODENKO
2013 Gold Medalist
Ukraine | Age 26

Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Round Recital II
Bass Performance Hall

Program:
BACH-SILOTI Prelude in B Minor, BWV 855a
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 30 in E Major, op. 109
STRAVINSKY Trois mouvements de Pétrouchka

 Born in Kiev, Vadym Kholodenko won first prize at both the International Schubert Competition in Dortmund in 2012, and the Sendai International Music Competition in 2010. He has worked with Yuri Bashmet, Vladimir Spivakov, and other distinguished conductors, and has performed across the globe in Austria, China, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, and the United States. He released recordings of Liszt, Rachmaninov, and Medtner on Russia’s TV Culture label in 2009. An avid chamber musician as well, he performed and recorded a CD with violinist Alena Baeva, and formed a piano duo with Andrey Gugnin, which they dubbed “iDuo.” Mr. Kholodenko currently resides in Moscow, where he attends the Moscow P.I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory.

Giuseppe Greco- Cliburn 2013 Preliminary Recital I

GIUSEPPE GRECO
Italy | Age 23

Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Recital I
Bass Performance Hall

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 18 in E-flat Major, op. 31, no. 3
LISZT Ballade No. 2 in B Minor
DEBUSSY L’Isle joyeuse

Giuseppe Greco began studying piano at the age of ten, and just five years later graduated with highest marks. He has performed at the Tuscia Opera festival with the Viterbo Orchestra and in major venues throughout Italy. He was first-prize winner at the 2009 Arcangelo Speranza International Piano Competition in Taranto, Italy, and in 2011, was awarded the Yamaha Scholarship, offered to the top Italian pianist by the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe. In 2010, he received a medal from the president of Italy. Mr. Greco recently graduated from the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome.

Yury Favorin – Cliburn 2017 Semifinal Recital

YURY FAVORIN
Russia | Age 30

Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Semifinal Round Recital – Friday, June 2, 2017 – 7:30 p.m.
Bass Performance Hall

Program:

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Major, op. 106 “Hammerklavier”
SHOSTAKOVICH Sonata No. 1, op. 12

Moscow native Yury Favorin started his music instruction at age 5, and pursued piano, clarinet, and composition at the Gnessins Moscow Secondary Special School. He continued his education at the Moscow Conservatory and at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. In 2016, he was invited to be on the faculty of the Moscow Conservatory. Mr. Favorin has won prizes at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels and the Olivier Messiaen International Piano Competition in Paris. He has played with conductors including Pierre Boulez and Marin Alsop, and given recitals in Russia, the United States, France, Germany, Austria, Norway, Hungary, Italy,  Sweden, Poland,  Japan, and more. He is a regular participant in music festivals such as Crazy Days in Nantes, France, and in Japan; and La Rocque-d’Anthéron in France. Mr. Favorin enjoys premiering works by contemporary composers. His many recordings include Liszt and 20th-century Russian composers, but also new music and improvisations. He has been part of several groups devoted to freely improvised music, including his own ERROR 404.

Rachel Kudo – Cliburn 2017 Quarterfinal Recital

RACHEL KUDO
United States | Age 30

Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Quarterfinal Round Recital – Tuesday, May 30, 2017 – 8:20 p.m.
Bass Performance Hall

Program:

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 18 in E-flat Major, op. 31, no. 3
SCHUMANN Carnaval, op. 9

A winner of the Gilmore Young Artist Award, Rachel Kudo gave her first performances with orchestra at age 16 in Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and De Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She has since performed with the Warsaw Philharmonic in Poland and the RTE National Symphony Orchestra in Ireland, among others. She has appeared in recital at Chopin’s birthplace in Poland, Salle Cortot in Paris, Musikverein in Vienna, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Aspen Music Festival, Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series in Chicago, and Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and Carnegie Hall in New York. Born in Washington, D.C., to Japanese-Korean parents, Ms. Kudo began studying piano at age 4 with Emilio del Rosario and continued at The Juilliard School and the Mannes College of Music. Her past teachers include Richard Goode, Yoheved Kaplinsky, and Gilbert Kalish, and she currently studies with Leon Fleisher. She enjoys yoga, cooking, and traveling.

Sergey Belyavskiy – Cliburn 2017 Quarterfinal Recital

SERGEY BELYAVSKIY
Russia | Age 23

Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Quarterfinal Round Recital – Tuesday, May 30, 2017 – 2:30 p.m.
Bass Performance Hall

Program:

BEETHOVEN Variations and Fugue in E-flat Major, op. 35 (“Eroica”)
LISZT Faribolo Pasteur in G Minor
PROKOFIEV Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, op. 14

Born in Moscow to a family of musicians, Sergey Belyavskiy began playing piano at age 5 and enrolled at Central Music School under the Moscow State Conservatory at age 9. He won his first piano competition at 11, and has since won prizes at the Liszt, Sydney, Canals, and eMuse competitions, among others. His concerto appearances include the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, Israel Sinfonietta Beer Sheva, the Symphony Orchestra of Valles, and the Moscow and Kazakhstan state orchestras. His recitals at major concert venues include Carnegie Hall in New York, Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, and Salle Cortot in Paris. Mr. Belyavskiy has attended master classes with Van Cliburn (in Moscow in 2011), Andrzej Jasinski, Leslie Howard, Yoheved Kaplinsky, and András Schiff, and completed studies at the Moscow Conservatory with Eliso Virsaladze in 2016. He now studies with Arie Vardi at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music at Tel Aviv University. Mr. Belyavskiy has released three solo CDs, most recently of Chopin’s 24 Etudes. Besides music, his passions include swimming, running, dancing, and reading.

Alyosha Jurinic – Cliburn 2017 Preliminary Recital

ALYOSHA JURINIC
Croatia| Age 28

Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Round Recital – Sunday, May 28, 2017 – 4:25 p.m.
Bass Performance Hall

Program:

DEBUSSY Rêverie
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 13 in E-flat Major, op. 27, no. 1 (“Quasi una fantasia”)
HAMELIN Toccata on “L’homme armé”
SCHUMANN-LISZT Widmung
LISZT Concert Etude No. 2 in F Minor “La Leggierezza”
LISZT Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11 in A Minor

Alyosha Jurinic won the International Robert Schumann Competition in 2012, and was a fifth-prize winner of the 2016 Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition and a finalist at the 2015 International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition. He won the Best Young Musician Award from the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, and is the youngest-ever recipient of the Croatian Ministry of Culture’s Vladimir Nazor Award, given annually for highest achievement in the arts. Mr. Jurinic made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2015 and has performed with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Croatian Radio-Television Symphony Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic, National Orchestra of Belgium, Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra, Kosovo Philharmonic, and others. His festival appearances include Piano Fortissimo in Zagreb, Dubrovnik Summer Festival in Croatia, Kiev Summer Music Evenings, and Serate Musicali in Milan, as well as Chopin festivals in Serbia, France (the George Sand House), and Chopin’s birthplace in Poland. Mr. Jurinic is currently studying with Grigory Gruzman at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt in Weimar. His passions include film, TV, pop music, books, fitness, and soccer tactics.

Tony Yike Yang – Cliburn 2017 Preliminary Recital

TONY YIKE YANG
Canada | Age 18

Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Round Recital – Sunday, May 28, 2017 – 10:00 a.m.
Bass Performance Hall

Program:

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 30 in E Major, op. 109
HAMELIN Toccata on “L’homme armé”
PROKOFIEV Sonata No. 7 in B-flat Major, op. 83

Tony Yike Yang is enrolled at Harvard University and the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studies with Wha Kyung Byun. He previously studied in the Pre-College Division at The Juilliard School and at the Taylor Academy of the Royal Conservatory in Toronto. Mr. Yang won fifth prize at the 2015 International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition as well as the Ewa & Włodzimierz Kamirski Award for the Youngest Finalist, and earned a Jury Discretionary Award at the First Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition in 2015. He also has won top prizes at Thomas & Evon Cooper, Hilton Head, Bösendorfer and Yamaha USASU International Junior, and Gina Bachauer International Junior piano competitions. He has appeared with The Cleveland Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic, Montreal’s Orchestre Metropolitain, and Toronto Sinfonietta. When he’s not playing piano, Mr. Yang loves badminton, ping-pong, video games, swimming, movies, and spicy food.

Georgy Tchaidze- Cliburn 2017 Preliminary Recital

GEORGY TCHAIDZE
Russia | Age 29

Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Round Recital – Saturday, May 27, 2017 – 2:30 p.m.
Bass Performance Hall

Program:

SCARLATTI Sonata in D Minor, K. 77
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, op. 110
HAMELIN Toccata on “L’homme armé”
RACHMANINOFF Étude-tableau in C Minor, op. 33, no. 3
RACHMANINOFF Étude-tableau in C-sharp Minor, op. 33, no. 9

Georgy Tchaidze was born in St. Petersburg and earned his master’s degree at the Moscow Conservatory. He has won prizes at several competitions, including first at the 2009 Honens International Piano Competition, fourth at the 2016 Cleveland International Piano Competition, and first at the 2015 Top of the World International Piano Competition in Tromsø, Norway. Mr. Tchaidze has performed throughout Europe, North America, and Asia, including at Wigmore Hall in London, Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, Konzerthaus Berlin, Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. He performed with Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra under Pinchas Zukerman and with the Cleveland Orchestra with conductor Bramwell Tovey. As a chamber artist, he tours with the Cecilia and Borodin string quartets. Mr. Tchaidze has released three recordings on the Honens label: a live recording with the Cecilia String Quartet, an all-Schubert album, and a disc of works by Medtner, Mussorgsky and Prokofiev. He studies in Berlin, where his other passions include literature, cinema, and nature.

Philipp Scheucher – Cliburn 2017 Preliminary Recital

PHILIPP SCHEUCHER
Austria | Age 24

Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Round Recital – Friday, May 26, 2017 – 2:30 p.m.
Bass Performance Hall

Program:

BEETHOVEN Fantasia in G Minor, op. 77
HAMELIN Toccata on “L’homme armé”
AUERBACH Prelude in D Minor, op. 41, no. 24
LISZT Consolation No. 3
LISZT Rhapsodie espagnole

Philipp Scheucher was born in Graz, Austria, and began music studies at age 5. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz and is now in the master’s program there under the tutelage of Markus Schirmer. Mr. Scheucher has performed in some of Europe’s most important concert halls, including the Golden Hall at the Vienna Musikverein, Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Hercules Hall in Munich, and Konzerthaus Berlin. He also has performed in France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Poland, Croatia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. He won first prizes at the 2015 Aarhus International Piano Competition in Denmark and at the 2014 Cologne International Piano Competition, and second prizes at the 2015 Ferenc Liszt Competition in Italy and the 2016 UNISA International Piano Competition in South Africa. Mr. Scheucher has performed with the Graz Philharmonic, the K&K Philharmonic, and Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestras. His other passions include books, skateboarding, movies and TV, and driving.

Tristan Teo – Cliburn 2017 Preliminary Recital

TRISTAN TEO
Canada | Age 20

Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Round Recital – Friday, May 26, 2017 – 10:50 a.m.
Bass Performance Hall

Program:

HAMELIN Toccata on “L’homme armé”
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, op. 110
LISZT Totentanz for Solo Piano

Tristan Teo was born in Vancouver, where he started piano lessons at age 6. He graduated from high school with honors at 15 and is now enrolled in the accelerated bachelor’s/master’s program at The Juilliard School, studying with Jerome Lowenthal. He is a proud recipient of a Kovner Fellowship at Juilliard, where he is also a Secondary Piano Teaching Fellow, teaching instrumentalists at all degree levels. Since his orchestral debut at age 10, Mr. Teo has performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. He has won awards at several international piano competitions, including second place at the 2016 Hilton Head International Piano Competition, and prizes at the Virginia Waring, ePiano International, Bösendorfer and Schimmel USASU, Cooper, and PianoArts competitions. Mr. Teo has given recitals in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy in venues such as Salle Cortot in Paris and the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, California. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, cooking, and watching movies.

Su Yeon Kim – Cliburn 2017 Preliminary Recital

SU YEON KIM
South Korea | Age 23

Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Round Recital – Thursday, May 25, 2017 – 4:25 p.m.
Bass Performance Hall

Program:

SCRIABIN Sonata No. 2 in G-sharp Minor, op. 19
HAMELIN Toccata on “L’homme armé”
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 21 in C Major, op. 53 (“Waldstein”)
KREISLER-RACHMANINOFF Liebesfreud

Su Yeon Kim began playing piano at age 5 and studied at the Korean Institute for the Gifted in Arts at Korea National University of Arts. Since 2013, she has continued her studies with Pavel Gililov at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg. Ms. Kim was a semifinalist at the 17th Chopin International Piano Competition in 2015 and at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2016. She also won first prize at the 2014 Johann Nepomuk Hummel International Piano Competition. In 2015, Ms. Kim performed a recital at Hercules Hall in Munich, Germany. She has appeared on KBS Classic FM (the Korean Broadcasting System) and performed extensively in Korea, Japan, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Italy, and Slovakia, including on a concert series sponsored by Kawai Piano.

Madoka Fukami – Cliburn 2017 Preliminary Recital

MADOKA FUKAMI
Japan | Age 28

Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Round Recital – Thursday, May 25, 2017 – 3:20 p.m.
Bass Performance Hall

Program:

GINASTERA Sonata No. 1, op. 22
BEETHOVEN Rondo in G Major, op. 51, no. 2
HAMELIN Toccata on “L’homme armé”
RAVEL “Ondine” from Gaspard de la nuit
CHOPIN Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat Major, op. 61

Madoka Fukami studied at the Tokyo National University of the Arts, then earned two master’s degrees at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique de Paris, and a concert artist diploma at the Ecole normale de musique de Paris. She has been artist in residence at Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium under the direction of Maria João Pires. Ms. Fukami has won prizes at more than 10 international competitions and has performed with the NHK Orchestra, Porto National Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia, and the Chamber Orchestra of Paris. Her recent recital and concerto appearances include the Théâtre des Champs Élysées in Paris and the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, among others. She has a particular passion for French music. She won the Maurice Ravel Foundation prize for her Ravel performances at the Long-Thibaud-Crespin competition, and her recital of Debussy’s complete etudes was broadcast by Radio France’s France Musique. She loves cooking, fitness, musical theater, and visiting art galleries.

Leonardo Pierdomenico – Cliburn 2017 Semifinal Recital

LEONARDO PIERDOMENICO
Italy | Age 24

Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Semifinal Round Recital – Monday, June 5, 2017 – 2:30 p.m.
Bass Performance Hall

Program:

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 4 in E-flat Major, op. 7
CHOPIN Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, op. 23
CHOPIN Ballade No. 2 in F Major, op. 38
CHOPIN Ballade No. 3 in A-flat Major, op. 47
CHOPIN Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, op. 52

Leonardo Pierdomenico is studying for his master’s degree under Benedetto Lupo at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. Born in Pescara, he graduated from the Luisa D’Annunzio conservatory there, then studied at the Fiesole School of Music. Mr. Pierdomenico won the 2011 Premio Venezia piano competition in Venice and was a semifinalist at the 2016 Queen Elisabeth Competition, where his Chopin Ballade No. 1 in G Minor was included on the best-of-competition CD, released by harmonia mundi. Mr. Pierdomenico was named a fellow of the 2016 Music Academy of the West Festival in Santa Barbara, where he worked with artists such as Jeremy Denk, Jerome Lowenthal, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Julian Martin, and Leon Fleisher. He also has played solo recitals in Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, and in the major venues of Italy, and his performances have been featured on the radio in Belgium, Italy, and Santa Barbara, California. In 2011, he was awarded a medal for his artistic achievements by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. When not at the piano, Mr. Pierdomenico especially enjoys painting and soccer.

Yekwon Sunwoo – Cliburn 2017 Semifinal Recital

YEKWON SUNWOO
2017 CLIBURN GOLD MEDALIST
South Korea | Age 28

Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Semifinal Round Recital – Saturday, June 3, 2017 – 3:20 p.m.
Bass Performance Hall

Program:

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 30 in E Major, op. 109
STRAUSS-GRAINGER “Ramble on the Last Love-duet” from Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier
PROKOFIEV Sonata No. 6 in A Major, op. 82

Yekwon Sunwoo earned his bachelor’s degree at the Curtis Institute of Music and his master’s at The Juilliard School, and also studied with Richard Goode at the Mannes School of Music. He currently studies under Bernd Goetzke in Hannover. Mr. Sunwoo won first prizes at the 2015 International German Piano Award in Frankfurt, the 2014 Vendome Prize held at the Verbier Festival, the 2013 Sendai International Music Competition, and the 2012 William Kapell International Piano Competition. He has performed with the Juilliard Orchestra under Itzhak Perlman at Avery Fisher Hall, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under Marin Alsop, Houston Symphony Orchestra, National Orchestra of Belgium, Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, and others. He has given recitals at Carnegie Hall, Hamarikyu Asahi Hall in Tokyo, Wigmore Hall in London, Radio France and Salle Cortot in Paris, and Kumho Art Hall in Seoul. Mr. Sunwoo has been featured on WQXR’s McGraw-Hill Young Artists Showcase, and has performed chamber music for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, with Ida Kavafian and Peter Wiley as part of Curtis On Tour, and with Roberto Diaz on the Bay Chamber Concerts.

Yutong Sun – Cliburn 2017 Semifinal Recital

YUTONG SUN
China | Age 21

Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Semifinal Round Recital – Friday, June 2, 2017 – 2:30 p.m.
Bass Performance Hall

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 26 in A-flat Major, op. 81a (“Les Adieux”)
LISZT Un sospiro
MUSSORGSKY Pictures at an Exhibition

Yutong Sun studies with Alexander Korsantia at the New England Conservatory. He has won awards at a number of competitions, including third prize at the 2016 Maria Canals International Piano Competition in Barcelona, first prize at the 2012 Jaén Award International Piano Competition (Spain), and second prize at the 2011 New Orleans International Piano Competition for Young Artists. He made his recital debut at age 10 in Beijing and his orchestra debut with the Orchestra of Granada in Spain at age 16. Mr. Sun has performed with orchestras and in recital in China, France, Spain, and the United States. In 2013, he released a recording of a recital performance as part of the Laureate Series on the Naxos label. When not playing music, he likes to watch movies and sports.

Julia Kociuban – Cliburn 2017 Preliminary Recital

JULIA KOCIUBAN
Poland | Age 25

Preliminary Round Recital – Thursday, May 25, 2017 – 2:30 p.m.

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 13 in E-flat Major, op. 27, no. 1 (“Quasi una fantasia”)
HAMELIN Toccata on “L’homme armé”
SZYMANOWSKI Etude in B-flat Minor, op. 4, no. 3
PROKOFIEV Sonata No. 7 in B-flat Major, op. 83

Born in Krakow, Julia Kociuban started her piano education at age 5 and graduated from the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. She currently studies with Pavel Gililov at Universität Mozarteum Salzburg. In 2015, she was the first Polish semifinalist in the history of the International Tchaikovsky Competition, and in 2016 she won third prize at the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg. Ms. Kociuban has performed at venues in Europe (Hercules Hall in Munich, Konzerthaus in Vienna, and Laeiszhalle in Hamburg), North America, and Asia. She has collaborated with the NDR Symphony Orchestra and Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, among others, and worked with conductors including Hans Graf, Neeme Jarvi, and Kristjan Jarvi. In 2015, her debut solo album, Schumann, Chopin, Bacewicz, was released on the Polish classical label Dux. Her album Karneval der Tiere with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra and Lahav Shani was released in 2016. Her other interests include art, books, movies, and cooking.

Daniel Hsu – Cliburn 2017 Preliminary Recital

DANIEL HSU
2017 CLIBURN BRONZE MEDALIST
United States | Age 19

Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Preliminary Round Recital – Friday, May 26, 2017 – 7:30 p.m.
Bass Performance Hall

Program:
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, op. 110
HAMELIN Toccata on “L’homme armé”
LISZT Réminiscences de Don Juan

A native of the San Francisco Bay area, Daniel Hsu began piano studies with Larisa Kagan at 6. He was accepted at age 10 to the Curtis Institute of Music, where he is the Richard A. Doran Fellow and studies with Gary Graffman and Eleanor Sokoloff. In 2016, Mr. Hsu was named a Gilmore Young Artist and won the bronze medal at the 9th Hamamatsu International Piano Competition. As first-prize winner of the 2015 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition, Mr. Hsu made his Carnegie Hall debut in April 2017. He made his solo debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra in June 2016, and concerto appearances this season include concerts with the Grand Rapids Symphony, New Haven Symphony, and Symphonia Boca Raton. His notable recitals include appearances at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts; Chicago’s Dame Myra Hess Concert Series; and Merkin Concert Hall’s Tuesday matinee series in New York. Mr. Hsu also is a film buff and enjoys computer programming. He contributed to the creation of the Workflow productivity app, which won a 2015 Apple Design Award and has improved the experience of mobile devices for visually impaired users.