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< Back Previous Joanna Chow Next Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall November 24, 2025 WATCH VIDEO Joanna Chow began her musical journey at the age of four, discovering a deep connection to the piano early in life. At nine, a new passion for tennis led her to train full-time, temporarily stepping away from music to pursue excellence in sport. Yet, her love for the piano never faded. Now 23, Joanna has returned to her first calling with renewed purpose and dedication. For nearly two years, she has been studying under the guidance of Dr. Anna Ouspenskaya, refining her artistry and preparing to share her music with audiences. Drawing on the discipline and focus developed through years of athletic training, Joanna brings a unique blend of strength, sensitivity, and creativity to her performances. She is committed to building a career as a performing artist, inspired to connect with others and to share her journey through music.

< Back Previous Ayla Moreno Next Pianist Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall November 26, 2024 WATCH VIDEO Ayla began studying piano and violin at the age of three, making her orchestral solo debut at six with the Tucson Civic Orchestra performing Berkovich’s Piano Concerto. The following year, she performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra and with the Tucson Repertory Orchestra during their tour in Japan. In 2022, at age ten, she performed Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra, followed in 2023 by Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Orquestra do Algarve in Portugal under Maestro Maurizio Colasanti. Ayla has participated in numerous prestigious music festivals, including the Cleveland Institute of Music Young Artist Seminar, the Chopin Festival in Poland, the Philadelphia International Music Festival, Heifetz PEG, Colburn Piano Seminar, Sima Classics in Poland, and the Piano Concerto Festival, studying with distinguished teachers and performing in orchestral and recital settings. She also enjoys performing at the annual Tucson Folk Festival. Ayla has won awards in national and international competitions, including the Chopin International Piano Competition (Hartford, CT), the Young Artists’ Competition by the Civic Orchestra of Tucson, the Dorothy Vanek Youth Concerto Competition (Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra), the Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition, the WPTO Spain International Piano Competition, the Sound Espressivo Competition, the Frantz Liszt Center International Piano Competition, and the Charleston International Music Competition, among others. She is an active member of the Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra and studies piano with Dr. Kyungsun Choi and violin with Dr. Laura Tagawa. Outside of music, Ayla enjoys playing chess and taking dance classes.

< Back Previous Karim Said Next Conductor Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall November 26, 2024 WATCH VIDEO Karim Said is an award-winning pianist, conductor, and composer known for his expressive depth and distinctive artistic voice. Described by The Independent as a “born communicator,” he has been recognized since childhood for his rare ability to connect deeply with audiences. His early breakthrough came in 2009 with major concerto appearances at London’s Barbican Centre with the English Chamber Orchestra under Sir Colin Davis, and at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall with Daniel Barenboim—who, upon first hearing the ten-year-old Said, remarked: “what you cannot learn, he already knows.” Karim has since performed at leading concert halls and festivals around the world, including the Philharmonie Berlin, Philharmonie de Paris, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, the Great Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, the Musashino Concert Hall in Tokyo, and the Aldeburgh Festival in the UK. His affinity for the Second Viennese School inspired a major performance of Schoenberg’s complete solo piano works at London’s Southbank Centre as part of The Rest Is Noise festival. Equally committed to his musical roots, Karim regularly performs in Jordan, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates, maintaining a strong artistic presence in the Middle East. His work bridges eras and traditions, a quality reflected in his critically praised album Legacy—described by The Guardian as “exceptionally thoughtful”—which traces connections between the music of William Byrd and Arnold Schoenberg. His discography also includes Echoes from an Empire (2015) and a 2024 release featuring works by Mozart, Schoenberg, Webern, and Beethoven. Driven by a deep fascination with sound, structure, and artistic collaboration, Karim expanded his work into conducting and composing at an early age. He was featured in the BBC4/Allegro Films documentary Karim’s Journey, following his development at the Purcell School of Music, where he studied on full scholarship. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Karim founded the Amman Chamber Orchestra as its Principal Conductor and became Director of Music at the newly established Amman Institute of Performing Arts, initiatives of the Bank al Etihad Foundation. His mission is to build a thriving cultural environment in Jordan—one that celebrates both Western and Middle Eastern classical traditions. Karim has been an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (London) since 2017.

< Back Previous Laura Tagawa Next WATCH VIDEO Violinist Dr. Laura Tagawa is active as both a performer and teacher. She is a member of the Arizona Opera Orchestra, Sierra Vista Symphony Orchestra, Tucson Repertory Orchestra and previously with orchestras in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, British Columbia (Canada), and Hiroshima (Japan). She currently freelances in Arizona where she performs with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and Tucson Pops Orchestra. She has performed at opera festivals in Mexico and Colombia with the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra. She serves as orchestra librarian for the Arizona Opera Orchestra and is a member of the Major Orchestra Librarians’ Association. In addition, she has played baroque violin with the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra and with members of Tafelmusik at the Scotia Festival of Music as well as in master classes for Stanley Ritchie, Rachel Podger, and Marc Destrube. As a chamber musician she has performed with her husband, Toru, and son, Max, in their groups, Duo Tutti and the Tagawa Trio in the United States, Canada and Japan. Laura maintains a private violin studio in Tucson, Arizona and is a registered Suzuki violin teacher and Past-President of the Arizona Suzuki Association. She completed long term Suzuki training in violin at Northern Arizona University with Dr. Louise Scott. She has taken additional Suzuki training courses with Ronda Cole, Winifred Crock, Bill Dick, Daphne Hughes, Susan Kempter, John Kendall, Laurie Scott, Kathleen Spring, Beth Titterington, and attended Summer School in Matsumoto, Japan. Laura received a Bachelor of Music in Performance from Northern Arizona University, a Master of Music in Performance from Florida State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance (Minor in Education) from the University of Arizona. Her main teachers include Louise Scott, Karen Clarke, and Mark Rush.

< Back Previous Areti Giovanou Next Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall November 24, 2024 WATCH VIDEO Areti Giovanou is a classically trained pianist holding a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Vocal Accompaniment, as well as a Professional Studies Diploma in Piano Performance from the Mannes College of Music, The New School. Equally at home as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral pianist, she has appeared in many of New York City’s leading venues, including City Hall, Steinway Hall, the Morgan Library, Opera America, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Goethe Institute, and the Grolier Club. Ms. Giovanou has also served as a coach and performer for operas such as Norma and Rigoletto, musicals including My Fair Lady, operettas like The Godson, and theatrical productions including Crisis and The Princess Goes to War. In 2023, she joined Teatro Grattacielo as a staff pianist for La Vestale. Internationally, her performances have taken her to Greece, Italy, and France. She has toured with the Archdiocesan Metropolitan Youth Choir of New York, performing at the Presidential Palace of Cyprus, Zappeion Hall in Athens, and at the White House in Washington, D.C. In 2021, she took part in the worldwide live-stream celebration of the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence Day. Most recently, Ms. Giovanou completed a series of performances featuring excerpts from Cherubini’s Medea with Fusion Theatre Company, where she also served as Music Director. Since 2022, she has collaborated regularly with Alexandra Lynch in various New York venues. A proud recipient of the Hellenic Republic Scholarship Foundation for Postgraduate Studies, Ms. Giovanou is currently an active freelance pianist.

< Back Daniel Ihasz Lyric Baritone Voice Learn More Videos About Lyric Baritone - Daniel Ihasz, earned a Master of Music degree in Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music, along with the prestigious Performer’s Certificate. From 1992 to 2022, he was a member of the voice faculty at the State University of New York at Fredonia and achieved the rank of Full Professor. For the past two years he served as the Interim Director for the School of Music and previously served as the former Chair of the Voice Area. In 2013, he was awarded the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. An active performer he has performed with the Carolina Chamber Chorale, which debuted at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival and completed a new recording of Menotti’s The Unicorn, Gorgon and Manticore (Albany Records). The Carolina Chamber Chorale returned to the Piccolo Spoleto Festival and completed two additional recordings including a world premiere by Dan Locklair along with other works by Anthony Davis and Ronald Perrera. Recent highlights include Lee Hoiby’s The Last Letter Home with the composer at the piano, Mozart’s Requiem, The Abduction of Figaro with Peter Schickele and the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, Hansel & Gretel with the Buffalo Philharmonic, Messiah with the New York State Baroque, several performances of The Telephone, The Mahler Festival in Boulder, Co., The Jumping Frog of Calavaras County (Foss Festival) with the Buffalo Philharmonic and selections from Elijah and The Five Mystical Songs with the Rochester Oratorio Society. Other performances include concerts in Puerto Rico and in Venezuela at the International Canticum Festival as Artist in Residence, Strawberry Fields tour with Glimmerglass Opera, Fiesta de la Posada with Dave Brubeck, the North American premiere of Caedmon by Richard Shepherd with Opera Sacra, Glimmerglass Opera (including the world premiere Central Park taped for PBS - Great Performances), ArtPark, Central City Opera, Buffalo Philharmonic, Fredonia Chamber Players, Rochester Chamber Orchestra, Genesee Baroque Players, Madison Opera and Madison Symphony. Mr. Ihasz has been the recipient of several awards, including the 1988-89 Metropolitan Opera Auditions (Milwaukee) and first place in the 1989 Society of American Musician's Competition (Chicago). “... The trumpet shall sound, Ihasz delivered the most expressive performance of the afternoon. ... an expression of transcendence and wonder that eluded most artists.” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle “...Ihasz’s strong, well-defined voice providing the best-articulated performance of the evening.” Buffalo News Previous Next

Sign up now for Sound Espressivo, 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. Register here! Performer 1. Fill out the form below to reserve your spot. Be sure to review and check the box for Broadcast Consent Form! You and your parent/guardian must give us a permission, in order for us to broadcast your performance 2. Pay Preliminary Round registration fee 3. After you submit your application we will be in touch to confirm details of your Preliminary Round Audition *Entry fees for the Preliminary Round go towards the producers working to run video and audio checks before your preliminary round and the judges that listen to you and give you feedback. Judges' decisions are final. If you advance to the Semifinals Round, we will be in touch regarding your participation in the Nomination Round and Finals in December 2021 which are broadcast in real time on our live show at VCHs. Fees go towards covering the costs of work of producers running the event and co-coordinating the streamed live show, with all participants judged by our panel of exceptional musicians. Application Form Preliminary Round Fee: $100 Live Broadcast Performance Video submission First Name Date of your live broadcast prelims Choose an option Last Name Enter URL if submitting video in place of live perferomance* (recordings are only accepted for Preliminary Round. Semi Final and Final Rounds are virtual Live performances) Email Age Group Choose an option Select Your Instrument and Category Choose an option Voice Choose an option What is your time zone? Your repertory choices Competitive or non-Competitive Choose an option Ensemble* pay ONE application fee per ensemble, not per member of the group Choose an option Teacher (if not a student, add your own name) Teacher's email (if not a student, add your own name) By checking this box, I state my understanding that, although every effort will be made to accommodate the date(s) I select for my live performance, another date may need to be chosen. I understand that the judges' decisions are final and will abide by the judges' decisions. * I understand Teacher's website School's website I agree to the terms & conditions View Privacy Policy I reviewed the release form and I accept terms & conditions of the live public broadcast View terms of Broadcast Proceed to Checkout Thank you for applying to Sound Espressivo 2021 Preliminary Round! We will be in touch to confirm your performance date/time and to schedule your video/audio preparation session with our producer. If submitting a pre-recorded video, it will be premiered on Sound Espressivo Channels and website

< Back František Brikcius Cello Learn More Videos About Czech cellist František Brikcius was born in Prague, into a family with a distinguished cultural background. He has been playing the cello since early childhood. Following his cello studies at the Prague Conservatoire, he completed his Master's degree at the Janáček Academy of Music (JAMU) in the Czech republic. He furthered his cello skills at the Toho Gakuen Academy in Japan and later under the guidance of legendary cellist Prof. Anna Shuttleworth (student of Pablo Casals) in the United Kingdom (Eton Cello Master Classes and the University of Leeds). He won the 2nd prizes at the Anglo-Czech Competition in London (1999), the International String Competition London (2000) and the International String Competition Jihlava (2003). He has been awarded many scholarships and fellowships, including the Czech Music Foundation (CHF), the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the Music Foundation OSA, the Socrates-Erasmus, and the Gideon Klein Foundation for the propagation of works written by Jewish Holocaust Composers. František chose to dedicate his life to the interpretation of cello compositions written by composers of the 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, giving special consideration to compositions for solo cello. His favourites are cello suites by Johann Sebastian Bach, Max Reger, Ernest Bloch and Benjamin Britten. He is particularly involved in researching, studying and performing works by Czech (Antonín Dvořák, Leoš Janáček, Bohuslav Martinů, Josef Suk and Irena Kosíková), Jewish & Terezín (Gideon Klein, Erwin Schulhoff, Zikmund Schul, Jaromír Weinberger, James Simon and David Popper) and contemporary composers (Conrad Beck, Luciano Berio, Pierre Boulez, Benjamin Britten, Henri Dutilleux, Wolfgang Fortner, Alberto Ginastera, Cristobal Halffter, Hans Werner Henze, Heinz Holliger, Klaus Huber and Witold Lutoslawski), playing on a " George Kriwalski " cello made in 1904. Together with his sister Anna Brikciusová, he is a founder member of the "Duo Brikcius". He is artistic director of Festival Brikcius - Chamber Music Concert Series in Prague, Bach Festival Gers in France and Waltham Forest Cello Fest (the 1st London Borough of Culture meets Classical Music) in London. František works as independent film-maker as well. His first music documentary film MAKANNA (in the cooperation with the Jewish Museum in Prague and under the auspices of Sir Tom Stoppard and Václav Havel) was already screened in the Czech republic, China, Mexico and Portugal. He is currently working on new music documentary film eSACHERe (2022). As a soloist František has performed at many festivals in Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liberland, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey, Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom. František has been teaching cello for many years. He is experienced at taking students at all levels, able to give master classes as well as support beginners. He is giving cello master classes in the United Kingdom, France, Italy and remotely online via Zoom/Skype. Served as a jury member in various competitions including the Berliner International Music Competition in Germany, the Music and Stars Awards, the Music International Grand Prix, the Sound Espressivo Global Competition, the Palm Beach International Music Awards, the King's Peak International Music Competition and the Baku International Cinema Festival in Azerbaijan. More information about František Brikcius and his many cello projects is available on the websites https://www.Brikcius.com , https://www.Brikcius.com/CelloTutor and https://www.Twitter.com/Brikcius Previous Next

Miriam Davis < Back Miriam Davis Previous Next Miriam Davis 🇬🇧 United Kingdom VIOLINIST Miriam Davis is a British concert violinist who has performed throughout the world as a soloist and chamber musician. Lately she has been featured by Classic FM and won 1st Prize in the Agimus Padova International Competition 2021. Recently she has enjoyed performing as a soloist at Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Stoller Hall Manchester, Stavanger Konserthus Sommerkonsert Series, Temppeliaukio Church Helsinki, Parco Della Music Rome, St Martin in the Fields London and Sage Gateshead Hall 1. As concerto soloist she has performed with conductors such as Jose Miguel Rodilla, Peter Szilvay and Oliver Weder.

< Back Previous Calliope Smith Next Upcoming Concert with Butler Philharmonic Orchestra, March 7, 2026 WATCH VIDEO Calliope Smith, violin (14), is a ninth-grade student at Stanford Online High School and studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre-College Academy, where she works with Simon James and Chen Zhao in violin and Hiro David in applied musicianship. Calliope has received top prizes in numerous national and international competitions, including the Arthur Grumiaux International Violin Competition, Vancouver International Music Competition, Odin Competition, Chicago International Music Competition, Nouvelles Étoiles Competition, American Virtuoso International Music Competition, California MTNA Competition, New York International Artists’ Association Praelusio Competition, Pacific Musical Society Competition, and the Enkor Competition. As a soloist, she has performed with the Uniart Orchestra in Paris, the New York Concerti Sinfonietta at Merkin Hall, and the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra. A dedicated chamber musician, Calliope recently appeared at Barbro Osher Recital Hall with her piano quartet Cadentia, which won Grand Prize at the Enkor Competition. She also serves as first violinist in the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. Calliope has participated in masterclasses with distinguished artists including Midori, Gilbert Kalish, Kim Kashkashian, Erin Keefe, Ariana Kim, Kenneth Renshaw, and Kirill Troussov. In the summer of 2025, she performed in the Music@Menlo Young Performers Program, the Sarasate Academy in Spain, and Center Stage Strings in Michigan. Outside of music, Calliope enjoys writing stories, baking, learning languages, and participating in Model United Nations.

Szabó < Back Lilla Nóra Szabó Jan 29 at 10:00am EST (26+) Cello Concerto No.1, Op.33 (Saint-Saëns, Camille), 3rd Movement: Molto allegro Lilla Nóra SZABÓ was born into a family of culture and classical music lovers in Hungary in 2003. In 2012 she began her cello studies as a student of the cellist teacher Gabriella Dikáczné Kanfi at the Kispest School of Art in Budapest. In addition, she receive regular coaching from cellist professor Ádám Jávorkai until today. Since 2018 she was taught by the great hungarian cellist prof. Péter Szabó at the Leó Weiner Catholic School and High School of Music in Budapest. Lilla Nóra Szabó has attended masterclasses hosted by prof. Claudio Bohórquez, prof. Xenia Jankovic, prof. Sandro Meo, prof. Peter Bruns and prof. Adrian Brendel, at VI. Virtuoso & Belcanto Festival in Lucca (2021), and prof. Peter Askim at the 3rd Waltham Forest Cello Fest (2021), prof. Ildikó Szabó and Péter Szabó at Cellissimo Academy Budapest (2019, 2020) and Prof. Reinhard Latzko, Ádám Jávorkai and Mr. Zoltán Onczay at Gutensteiner Meisterklassen, Austria (2018, 2019). Lilla Nóra Szabó is the winner of several international music competitions in 2021, including the absolute 1st prize of the „International Competition for Young Musicians Citta di PENNE”and „15th Concorso Internazionale per Giovani Musicale DIAPASON” in Italy, further 1st prizes of the “Prima Volta International Music Competition (PVIMC)” and „San Francisco International Innovative Music Competition 2021 (SFIIMC) – Saeson Sommer and Spring" also "KPIMC Competition King's Peak International Music Competition" in the USA, the "London Young Musician Online Seasonal Music Competition & Award 2021-2022 – Season 1 and Season 2" and the "London Young Musician Online Seasonal Music Competition & Award 2020-2021 – Season 3 and Season 4" in the UK. Lilla Nóra Szabó performed with Prof. Johannes Moser and Ádám Jávorkai in a Trio and in the cello orchestra of the course at the final concert of the Gutensteiner Master Classes in Austria (2021), as well as with the Budapest String Orchestra and the Leo Weiner Orchestra you will enjoy an active and multifaceted presence on stage. As sensitive and creative soloist and enthusiastic chamber musician she makes it her goal to build bridges between each work and the audience, enabling the listener to completely engage with the music. Previous Next

< Back Previous Albena Petrovic Next Composer Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall February 20, 2025 WATCH VIDEO Albena Petrovic is a Luxembourgish composer of Bulgarian origin and a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg ( L’Ordre de Mérite du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg , 2013). She has also been honored with the Médaille de Mérite en Argent de l’Union Grand-Duc Adolphe (2017), the Médaille en Argent de l’Union Saint Pie X (2018), and the Cultural Award 2007 from the Municipality of Hesperange. In 2007, she served as a jury member of the International Composition Competition “Valentino Bucchi” in Rome. Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, Albena earned her Master’s degree in Composition and Music Writing and a Diploma in Concert Piano Performance. Since 1996, she has made her home in Luxembourg, where she has become one of the country’s most prolific and influential composers. Albena has written more than 600 works spanning a wide range of genres, including eight operas and three concertos for orchestra. Her compositions are published by SCHOTT MUSIC International, Luxembourg Music Publishers, Éditions L’Octanphare, and Furore Verlag. Her five integral CDs— Crystal Dream , The Voyager , Bridges of Love , Dreamlover , and Sanctuary —released by solo.musica.de , have enjoyed international acclaim and received Opus Klassik nominations in 2019, 2020, and 2022. Albena is also the President and Founder of the International Composition Competition “Artistes en Herbe” ( Budding Artists ), held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture of Luxembourg. Now in its sixth edition, the competition is unique in Western Europe, offering both a Junior Category for young children and a Senior Category for adult composers, with the goal of enriching the pedagogical repertoire for young performers. www.albena-petrovic-vratchanska.com