< Back Previous Matt Lepek Next Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall April 1, 2024 WATCH VIDEO Matt Lepek is a freelance multi-woodwind musician based in the New York City and New Jersey area. He earned his Master’s in Performance from New Jersey City University, specializing in multiple woodwinds. While in school, he studied with notable performers across musical theatre, rock, jazz, and classical music, including oboist Marsha Heller, studio musicians Edward Joffe and Rick Heckman, and jazz saxophonists Jim Snidero and Bob Malach. Matt has performed extensively throughout the United States and Canada on saxophone, oboe, English horn, flute, and clarinet in a variety of ensembles and arrangements. His professional experience includes numerous Broadway shows, a chair at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and he is currently a regular member of the orchestra for the Broadway musical Aladdin.

< Back Previous Cameron Wu Next Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall November 24, 2024 WATCH VIDEO Cameron, age 12, lives in Irvine, California, and began studying piano at the age of five under the guidance of Ms. Sue Farng. He entered his first competition—the Southwestern Youth Music Festival—at age seven, qualifying for his category and earning 3rd place. By age ten, he continued to gain recognition, winning 2nd place in both the Satori Summer Music Festival (qualified category) and the Pelican International Music Competition. At eleven, Cameron joined the Junior Chamber Music program in Orange County, performing a Beethoven Sonata as part of a piano–violin duo. That same year, he returned to the Southwestern Youth Music Festival and won 1st place in the qualified category. This year, at age twelve, Cameron earned 1st place in the Global Music Arts Competition (20th Century Era), 2nd place at SYMF in the open category, as well as 1st place (qualified category) and 3rd place (open category) at the Satori Summer Music Festival. He has also completed seven years of the Music Teachers Association of California’s Certificate of Merit program, passing with State Honors each year. Outside of music, Cameron enjoys playing on both a basketball league and a club team, and loves reading and playing video games in his free time.

< Back Rita D'Arcangelo Flute Learn More Videos About Rita d'Arcangelo is the first prize in numerous international competitions, she made her debut as soloist in 2011 at the Carnegie Hall in New York. She's one of the few flautists to have in repertoire the Concierto Pastoral by J. Rodrigo. She recorded for the German radios SR2, SWR and WDR, the Japanese National Television NHK and for the Vatican Radio. As a first flute she worked at the "HPAC Orchestra" and the Osaka Philarmonic Orchestra in Japan; Filharmonia Gorzowska, the United Chamber Orchestra and the Kammersolisten der Deutschen Oper Berlin. She's a flute Professor at the Department of Music of the German State University BTU – Cottbus, at the private University Akademie für Musik Berlin where she is also Head of Department for Orchestral Instruments. Rita is also guest professor at National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan and member of the jury for the Grammy Awards of the Recording Academy USA. She regularly holds masterclasses in Japan, Europe and the U.S.A. Rita D'Arcangelo is a Nagahara Flutes Artist and plays on a beautiful instrument crafted expressly for her by Kanichi Nagahara Graduated in flute, with honors, at the Conservatory of Music "L. D'Annunzio " in Pescara (Italy), she then graduated also at the "Royal Northern College of Music "in Manchester, “ the International Academy of Music in Milan " and " the Hochschule fuer Musik” in Mannheim. Rita studied with Sir James Galway for many years, following the masterclasses of the Weggis Flute Festival in Switzerland, where she won the gold Nagahara 14K flute headjoint in 2008 and was invited as Guest Artist in 2016 and 2019 Previous Next

< Back Michał Szostak Organ/Baroque Judge, Board Member Learn More Videos About I started studying the organ at the age of 17 in Warsaw, Poland. I am a graduate of the Józef Elsner Public School of Music in Warsaw in the organ class of Dr Roman Szlaużys and organ improvisation in the class of Prof. Marian Sawa. I had been studying organ performance as part of an artistic internship at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw in Prof. Andrzej Chorosiński’s class, as well as organ improvisation at the Pontificio Istituto Ambrosiano di Musica Sacra in Milan (Italy) in Maestro Davide Paleari’s class. I participated in master classes on the subject matter of organ works (Ullrich Böhme, Andrew Dewar, Pieter van Dijk, François Espinasse, Bernhard Gfrerer, François-Henri Houbart, Oliver Penin, Louis Robilliard, Daniel Roth , Jean-Claude Zehnder and others), organ improvisation (Frédéric Blanc, Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin, Thierry Escaich , Gaétan Jarry, Samuel Liégeon, Baptiste-Florian Marle-Ouvrard, Wolfgang Seifen, Sietze de Vries and others) and liturgical music (Roman Catholic and Anglican). In February 2019, I obtained an academic degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in the field of 'Instrumental Studies' in the discipline of 'Organ Performance' based on the dissertation of "Organ, as a source of inspiration in the art of improvisation and performance practice" written under the direction of prof. Andrzej Chorosiński and defended at the Białystok faculty of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. I am an international concert organist and I have the pleasure to perform regular solo recitals in countries of Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Africa: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brasil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, Monaco, Nigeria, Panama, Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, and the USA. I conduct international (Nigeria, Poland, Ukraine) didactic activities in the field of organ improvisation and practice of interpretation of organ literature from different periods, among others in cooperation with The Royal School of Church Music. I participate in international academic conferences on organ and sacred music (Belgium, Nigeria, Poland). My organological publications are issued regularly by prestigious organ magazines: British "The Organ" , Canadian "Organ Canada" , as well as American "The Diapason" and "The Vox Humana" . Since 2013 I have been a member of The Royal College of Organists, based in London, and since 2014 (as the first Pole) I have had a certificate (certRCO) from this organization. Since 2017 I have been a member of The American Guild of Organists, based in New York City, USA and since 2018 I have been a member of The Organ Historical Society based in the USA. In the years 2002-2011, I was an organist at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Warsaw; I wrote a monograph on the history of the organ (J.G. Meinert, 1782) of this church, and I recorded a CD (organ literature and improvisations) , which is the only record of the sound of this instrument which no longer exists. At that time I co-authored a series of broadcasts on “Radio Warszawa 106.2” about organs in the Warsaw-Prague Diocese. In the years 2011-2018, I held the position of Music Director and the Leading Organist at the Sanctuary of the Virgin Mary in Lichen Stary, where I played the largest organ in Poland (Zych, 157, 6M+P) located in the Basilica in Licheń Stary (the largest church in Poland). In 2017, I wrote the book "The Lichen Organ in relation to the Largest Instruments in Poland, Europe and the World" and recorded a compact disc, “Ave Regina Caelorum” with improvisations on the biggest organ in Poland (in the Basilica in Licheń Stary - can be bought on eBay ). In 2018 I recorded a second compact disc in the Basilica in Licheń Stary, Poland with French literature and improvisations, "French Inspirations: 2nd half of the 19th century" ( eBay ). In addition, I have completed Masters and PhD studies in the area of economics at the Leon Kozminski Academy in Warsaw. Since 2019, as an Associate Professor, I work at the University of Social Sciences in Warsaw, where I conduct interdisciplinary scientific and research work at the interface between management and art, as well as didactic activities for English-language BA, MA, and MBA programs and at the Polish campus of the Clark University, Worcester, USA, in the area of international finance, corporate finance, financial analysis, financial and managerial accounting, self-presentation, business presentations, marketing of visual arts, business ethics, and CSR. I am a Deputy Dean for international student affairs of the Faculty of Management and Security. Since 2021, as an Assistant Professor, I work at the Collegium Civitas in Warsaw. I am also the founder and president of the Jan Drzewoski Foundation dealing with a wide range of organ themes. For more detailed information, please visit www.michalszostak.org/cv Michał Szostak, D.Mus.A., Associate Professor Previous Next

Learn more < Back Brilliant Talent Discovery Awards Two Scholarship for any instrumentalists to take part in immersive cultural tour in Europe Dates TBD Munich-Fussen-Insbruck-Liechtenstein-Zurich Details TBC Two Scholarships for Pianists Masterclasses with professors in one of the leading music institutions in Germany Performance opportunity in one of the castles/venues (again, details TBC) Dedicated cultural tour/itinerary that involves visits to various cultural sites, concerts and/or opera theatres This Award is Sponsored by BTDA CULTURAL TOUR CONCERT & MASTERCLASSES SOUNDS OF THE ALPS Munich | Füssen | Kempten | Augsburg Artistventure Concerts, together with Brilliant Talent Discovery Awards is organizing a cultural tour with masterclasses, sightseeing and concert performance from 13 to 20 June 2023. The itinerary includes city tour in Munich, visit to Neuschwanstein Castle (yes, the one that inspired Disneyland!), cultural sites in historic Kempten, breath-taking scenery of snowy Alps (even in June), Leopold Mozart’s House in Augsburg, scenic road trip through the mountains, cultural sightseeing and of course masterclasses and concert performance. View More Visit BTDA Website Previous Next

< Back Previous Laura Ansaldi Soprano Next Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall November 25, 2025 WATCH VIDEO Laura Ansaldi is an internationally acclaimed Italian soprano, actress, and interdisciplinary artist with over 15 years of experience. She is celebrated for her powerful voice, remarkable vocal flexibility, and innovative approach to performance, blending classical opera with contemporary art. Laura is also recognized for her singular artistic vision: reimagining traditional recitals as immersive experiences. Through movement, acting, and onstage interaction, she transcends classical boundaries and invites audiences to discover opera as a vibrant, living art form. Laura has been dedicated to her education since a young age, attending prestigious institutions such as the Music Conservatory of Genoa and Milan, the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, the Music School of Fiesole, and the advanced training academy TEMA in Milan. In addition to opera singing, she holds degrees in piano and performing arts. Endorsements .pdf Download PDF • 48KB Her extensive repertoire includes lyrical roles such as Lucia di Lammermoor, Elisir d’Amore, and La Traviata, as well as more dramatic parts like Madama Butterfly, Norma, Abigaille in Nabucco, and Maddalena in Andrea Chénier. Classified as a lyrical spinto soprano with exceptional coloratura skills, Laura’s vocal and expressive range has earned her acclaim on international stages. She has performed across Europe—including Italy, France, Germany, and Switzerland—as well as in North America and the Middle East. Most famous venues include La Scala Theatre (Milano), Boston Opera House, KKL Luzern, and Carnegie Hall. Laura has collaborated with renowned orchestras, maestros, and artists such as Carlo Donadio, Giacomo Franci, Claudio Abbado, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Carlo Maria Giulini, Ottavio Garaventa, Delfo Menicucci, Lorenzo Castriota Skanderberg, Massimo De Stefano, Silvano Frontalini, Sandro Fazzolari, Marco Voleri, Daniele Anzaghi, Carlo Torriani, Vincenzo Villani, Bruno Tasso, Rossella Spinosa, Alexey Botvinov, and with prestigious ensembles including the New York Chamber Orchestra, Boston Philharmonic, Longwood Symphony Orchestra, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Alessandria Classical Orchestra, Roncole Verdi Orchestra, Bilbao Baroque Ensemble, and the Madrid Symphony Orchestra.

< Back Previous Jazzelle Ren Next Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall November 24, 2024 WATCH VIDEO Jazzelle Ren is a junior at Miramonte High School in Orinda, CA. She has excelled in Certificate of Merit and ASTACAP examinations, performed with her school orchestra and the East Bay Chamber Orchestra, and tutors elementary-level violin students. A second-place winner in the North California Young Talent Competition, Jazzelle enjoys traveling—recently visiting Europe and Southeast Asia—and is an avid skier and snowboarder, currently pursuing her Level 1 PSIA ski instructor certification.

< Back Mark Berman Piano / Jazz Learn More Videos About Mark Berman is a renowned pianist, composer and arranger. He has written music for, and played and recorded with, the proverbial who's who of jazz, pop and rock: Aretha Franklin, Carole King, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Phoebe Snow, Leslie Gore, Gladys Knight, Wycliff Gordon, Hugh Jackman, Burt Bacharach, Chita Rivera, Richie Havens, and many others. He has also performed at Carnegie Hall, Radio City, the Blue Note, Birdland, the Rainbow Room, and Merkin Hall among other notable New York venues as well as internationally. A graduate of the Hartt School of Music, Berman has written and produced music for television and film, including Sex and the City (where he played piano on the ubiquitous theme), Nurse Jackie, Royal Pains, The Bachelorette, and Bates Motel, and many others on NBC, CBS, ABC, Showtime, Comedy Central, HBO and OWN. His original music has also been featured on radio at NPR and CRN International. Mark has also been a powerful presence on Broadway, where he has conducted orchestras for Rent, Smokey Joe's Cafe and Blood Brothers, and played lead piano/keyboards on Bullets Over Broadway, The Boy from Oz, Hairspray, 42nd Street, The Life, Radio City Spring Spectacular, Aida, The Color Purple, Dream Girls, Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair and Spider-Man. Previous Next

Winners Musica Vitale Musica Vitale Musica Vitale is a professional ensemble presenting a cappella chamber works of Western European and Slavic origin from the last 300 years. Learn more The Kaboff Cello School, Bow Lightlys The Kaboff Cello School, Bow Lightlys John Kaboff's students, known as the Bow Lightlys, were featured guest artists at the World Cello Congress III Learn more Patricio Cadena Pérez Patricio Cadena Pérez 🇫🇷 France GUITARIST Patricio Cadena Pérez started playing classical guitar in Ecuador, his homeland. A few years later he joined France to learn musical reading and analysis at the Paris. Learn more Subin Lee Subin Lee Learn more Nayoung Kim & Nayoung Lee Nayoung Kim & Nayoung Lee Nayoung Kim (born August 18th, 1992) is South Korean violinist. Nayoung Lee is one of the Soloist K member in the Korea. She did her undergraduate at Kei-Myung University. Learn more Marie-Claire Giraud Marie-Claire Giraud Marie-Claire Giraud is a lirico spinto soprano, a jazz singer, musical theater singer, songwriter, composer, playwriter, actor and actvist. Learn more Ben Batalla Ben Batalla Ben Batalla offers a distinguished musicianship with a versatile background in jazz, improvisation, classical and sacred music. Learn more Aria Cheregosha & Lauren Spaulding Aria Cheregosha & Lauren Spaulding Tallā Rouge, meaning ‘The Red Gold’, was established by the fiery Persian-American & Cajun-American violists, Aria Cheregosha & Lauren Spaulding. Learn more Rachel Ginebra Rachel Ginebra Rachel Ginebra is an active classical guitarist currently based in Rochester, NY. She is originally from Pinar del Río, Cuba where she began her musical studies. Learn more Anton Machleder & Shiuen-Huang Tzeng Anton Machleder & Shiuen-Huang Tzeng he Red Creek Guitar Duo has performed around the upstate NY area for the last several years, and are in process of recording a new CD. Learn more Doron Hazan Doron Hazan Doron began his saxophone studies at Hassadna Conservatory of Music in Jerusalem, and he is currently a student of Jean-Denis Michat at the Lyon Conservatory of Music. Learn more Jean-Baptiste Gleize & Ève-Marie Boileau Jean-Baptiste Gleize & Ève-Marie Boileau Duolce Piano is a piano duo formed by Jean-Baptiste Gleize and Ève-Marie Boileau. Learn more View More

How good is your program? Find out! Sound Espressivo is the first online LIVE streaming Competition for classical musicians of all ages. Contestants and judges focus on unique artistry of every performer, awarding prizes offered by music management companies. ambassador Conquer the attention of your audience by embodying the role of an advocate of music by sharing your passion in creative ways. IN DEPTH It's essential to the arts to have people that can bring out the magic of music through their performance and pull in the attention of listeners and audiences. An artists' manner on stage and way of presenting themselves and their performance, their methods of getting the audience's interest and attention are all powerful tools. Presenters wishing to excel in this category can take advantage of prefacing their performance with talk, humor and interactions and any other creative means of expression and connection to empower their performance. General Criteria Presentation - how well do you present and hold yourself. Also how do you approach your expression on stage and how you deliver your performance. Engagement - how effective are you at grabbing the attention of your audience and holding onto it. Conviction - how convincing are you at what you're doing Innovation - how fresh and new is your presentation or how fresh does it come across.

< Back Previous Terrence Darnell Nelson Next Collaborative Pianist Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall February 17, 2025 WATCH VIDEO Terrence “Ray Boy” Nelson is a multifaceted producer, musician, and arranger whose versatility and creative vision have shaped his distinctive sound. A gifted multi-instrumentalist, he is fluent on keys, drums, bass, and percussion, enabling him to craft music from the ground up with a signature blend of innovation, groove, and emotional depth. Known for his ability to produce and perform across genres, Terrence’s work reflects a dynamic range and an intuitive ability to capture the vibe and spirit of the moment. As a producer, Terrence has contributed to projects for both emerging and established artists, with his musical reach extending beyond the United States to collaborations as far as Tel Aviv, Israel. He is widely recognized for his tenure as the resident keyboardist and bassist for Notorious, the house band for BET’s 106 & Park, a role that brought his musicianship to a national audience. Terrence is endorsed and affiliated with organizations including iStandard Producers, Urban Network, and ASCAP. Passionate about music education, he also dedicates time to mentoring and teaching students, emphasizing both the craft and the heart of musicianship, while continuing to learn from artists across generations. As the CEO of RayBoy Productions, LLC (founded in 2006), Terrence continues to produce, perform, and expand his artistic footprint. His current independent artistic endeavor, The RayTerry Project, showcases an eclectic collection of original work that he wrote, produced, and performed. Blending harmonious melodies with thought-provoking, heartfelt lyrics, the project affirms his identity not just as an artist, but a “HEARTist”—a title lovingly given to him by his supporters. A proud native of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Terrence carries his moniker “Ray Boy” in honor of his father, L. Ray Nelson—a tribute to legacy, love, and the foundation that continues to inspire his work.

< Back Previous Tango 02 Next Tango Ensemble Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall February 17, 2025 WATCH VIDEO Tango 02 Ensemble Benoît Leseure – violin Ignaas Vermeiren – double bass Pieter Baert – piano Pato Lorente (Patrick Vankeirsbilck) – bandoneón Cristina Cortés – choreographer & dancer Cristian Taffarello – dancer Many in the international tango community know Pato Lorente from his fifteen-year artistic collaboration with Alfredo Marcucci in Orquesta Veritango, performing in concerts and milongas throughout Europe. Marcucci himself was a legendary figure of the Golden Age of tango, having performed in the orchestras of Julio De Caro and Carlos Di Sarli in the 1940s and 50s—placing Tango 02 directly in the lineage of one of tango’s most influential traditions. Following Marcucci’s passing in 2010, Pato Lorente continued to expand his artistic path and founded Tango 02 in Belgium, now celebrating over 25 years of activity. The ensemble is dedicated to tango for the dance floor and for the stage, performing widely across Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Germany. In 2022, Tango 02 released an album of entirely new, original tango compositions, adding a Belgian chapter to the evolving history of Tango Rioplatense—urban music that is passionate, expressive, and alive with subtle humor and self-reflection. Around this repertoire, the ensemble created the concert production Por Eso, joined by Argentine dancer and choreographer Cristina Cortés, renowned for her fusion of tango and contemporary dance, and formerly of A.M. Stekelman’s Tangokinesis Company—a pioneering force in tango-contemporary stage work.