< Back Previous Alan Ma Next Pianist Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall April 30, 2025 WATCH VIDEO Alan is a dedicated 13-year-old pianist with a deep appreciation for music and artistic expression. He began studying piano at the age of seven and has since built a strong foundation in both classical and contemporary repertoire. Through consistent practice and a love for performance, Alan continues to refine his technique and broaden his musical understanding. Beyond his musical pursuits, Alan maintains an excellent academic record and enjoys exploring literature, technology, and time with family and friends. He aspires to continue his musical journey by composing original works and pursuing a professional career in performance.

< Back Stephen Stirling French Horn Learn More Videos About Stephen Stirling is a renowned horn soloist. Since studying at the Royal Northern College of Music with Ifor James and later with Julian Baker, he has worked mostly in the rather rarefied world of chamber music. He enjoys an enormously varied career travelling all over the world, particularly relishing playing in unusual and far-flung places. Stephen is the Principal Horn of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. He has broadcast concertos on BBCTV and Radio 3, and appeared with orchestras such as the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Orchestra of St John’s, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales with Richard Hickox, Sir Neville Marriner, Heinz Holliger, Iván Fischer and Douglas Boyd. His recordings of the complete Mozart Horn Concertos with the City of London Sinfonia are frequently broadcast on Classic fM. He has also recorded the virtuosic Double Horn Concertos by Vivaldi. Gary Carpenter’s marvellous new Horn Concerto was written for him and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and given its world and broadcast premiere in April 2005. Other recent first performances have included solo works by Martin Butler and Stephen Dodgson. Stephen has a world-wide reputation as a chamber musician being in constant demand at festivals in the UK and abroad. He is a member of Endymion Ensemble, The Fibonacci Sequence, Capricorn, Arpege and the New London Chamber Ensemble. His many critically acclaimed CDs include the first recordings with Endymion, of York Bowen’s Horn Sonata and his beautiful Quintet for Horn and Strings, and Mozart’s entire output for wind ensemble with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. CDs of horn quintets by Stanford and Dunhill have just been released. His second recording of the Brahms Horn Trio, with the Florestan Trio, was nominated for a Gramophone award and in the USA, Fanfare described it as the equal of any recording whether modern or ‘Golden Age’. Spring 2007 saw the release by Deux-Elles of Horn – rare works of chamber music featuring the horn, with the Fibonacci Sequence. Stephen is a professor at Trinity College of Music, London, on the faculty of the Yellowbarn Summer School in Vermont and a seasoned participant at the Dartington International Summer School. More information at www.stephenstirling.com Previous Next

Prominent Pianists Festival APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 7, 2023 June 4, 2023 - A djudications Live Stream June 25, 2023 - in-Person and Remote Hybrid Live Concer t at Penny Burchfield Art Gallery Auditorium in Buffalo, NY. Reguations Apply Open to Student Pianists of all ages and levels PIANO SOLOISTS, DUOS, & PIANISTS ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR TEACHERS MAY PARTICIPATE All adjudications will take place online Each pianist will receive a performance evaluation from an adjudicator during a live stream broadcast, and will receive a certificate of participation and achievement APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 7, 2023 Apply Reguations Divisions Ages 5-7 Ages 8-10 Ages 11-14 Ages 15-18 Adult Amateur division Collegiate Undergraduate division Collegiate Masters division Collegiate Doctoral division Repertory All pianists may play one or multiple selections within time limit. See Rules and Regulations for details Apply by May 7 The registration fee $35 Apply Reguations Recital In person & by remote simultaneously SELECTED PIANISTS WILL BE INVITED TO PERFORM ON OUR LIVE HYBRID RECITAL A newly innovative opportunity for pianists to perform live in person OR by REMOTE on the exact same program. The in person performances with a live audience will take place in the Penny Burchfield Art Gallery auditorium in Buffalo, NY. See MORE in REGULATIONS Apply Reguations PRIZES All participants will receive a certificate of participation and achievement. Other prize considerations will include… A live online performance opportunity produced by Virtual Concert Halls. This opportunity is a live performance given by remote, which will be live streamed for our audiences around the globe (SEE FULL REGULATIONS FOR DETAILS). A performance opportunity produced by Progressive Musicians and Virtual Concert Halls in the 2023-2024 season on the Laureate Gala at Carnegie Hall See MORE in REGULATIONS Apply Reguations JURY The Jury Panel is sponsored by Progressive Musicians. See website to learn more about Jury members www.progressivemusicians.com/judges Contact Feel free to contact us with any inquiries or questions Email: director@progressivemusicians.com Call/Text: +1-716-800-9819 See MORE in REGULATIONS Apply Reguations

< Back Michelle Lynne Piano Learn More Videos About Canadian pianist Michelle Lynne is known for her dynamic and exciting performances, connecting with audiences in a personal and touching way. Based in the Netherlands, she has performed across Canada and Europe. A frequent chamber musician, she is also in demand as a collaborative pianist and festival adjudicator. She is regularly invited to give masterclasses in International Schools across Europe with violist Deanna Petre as part of the Juilliard Global program. As Artistic Director of the concert series Opus 16 Concerten , she creates concert programs with other young professionals to connect and inspire audiences. She is the Co-Founder of The Fearless Artist Mastermind , a coaching program for professional musicians with co-facilitator Deanna Petre, where they work with musicians to equip them with skills needed to build successful careers as classical musicians. The recipient of numerous awards, she is a laureate of the Prix d’Europe, the Helene Roberge Competition (ARAM), the Canadian Music Competition, the Kiwanis Competition, the Shean Competition. Michelle has attended summer festivals across Europe, studying with renowned professors such as Julian Martin (Julliard), Claudio Martinez Mehner (Basel), Dominique Weber (Geneva), Klaus Hellwig (Berlin), Ferenc Rados, Marian Hahn (Peabody) and André Laplante (Conservatoire de Montréal). She received a Professional Studies Diploma and a Masters degree in piano performance from the Université de Montréal, studying with Dr. Jean Saulnier. She is inspired by new ideas, good conversation, travel and long walks with her cyprus poodle. Canadees pianiste Michelle Lynne is bekend vanwege haar dynamische en opwindende optredens. Ze verbindt zich met haar publiek op een persoonlijke en ontroerende manier. Ze ontving talrijke prijzen en is gelauwerd als winnares van Prix d’Europe , de Helene Roberge Competition (ARAM) , de Canadian Music Competition , de Kiwanis Competition , de Shean Competition en de University of Alberta Concerto Competition . Mevrouw Lynne trad op door heel Canada en eveneens in Nederland, Zwitserland, Duitsland, Kroatië, Spanje, Italië en Frankrijk. Michelle nam deel aan zomerprogramma’s in Italië, Banff, Spanje, Duitsland, en het Orford Arts Center, waar ze studeerde met befaamde professoren als Julian Martin (Julliard), Claudio Martinez Mehner (Bazel), Dominique Weber (Geneve), Klaus Hellwig (Berlijn), Ferenc Rados, Marian Hahn (Peabody) en André Laplante (Conservatorium van Montreal). Ze speelt regelmatig als kamermuzikant. Als veelgevraagd samenwerkend pianiste en jurylid, werd ze uitgenodigd om samen met violiste Deanna Petre masterclasses te geven in Zwitserland. Daarnaast is ze samenwerkend pianiste in de zangstudio van de vermaarde Gemma Visser (Eijsden). Michelle ontving een Professional Studies Diploma en een mastertitel in Piano Performance van de Universiteit van Montreal, waar zij studeerde met Jean Saulnier. Daarvoor studeerde ze aan de Universiteit van Alberta. Ze kreeg een LCCM (masterdiploma) van het Conservatorium van Canada en de Performers ARCT van de Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Ze is de artistiek directrice van Opus 16 Concerten , in Limburg, Nederland. Previous Next

< Back Previous Roma Joshi Next Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall November 24, 2025 WATCH VIDEO Roma Joshi began studying piano at the age of six and developed a deep love for classical music by age nine. She currently studies under Tzuyi Chen and has performed works by composers from the Baroque to the Romantic era, with a particular admiration for Chopin. Outside of music, Roma is a STEM-focused student whose appreciation for classical music reminds her that structure and creativity can coexist in perfect harmony.

< Back Previous Charlotte Chan Next Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall November 25, 2025 WATCH VIDEO Charlotte Chan began her musical journey at the age of five and commenced masterclass studies with Olga Khroulevitch at age nine. Driven by a deep passion for the violin, she has rapidly developed as a performer and has earned awards in numerous regional, national, and international competitions, including the Metropolitan Music Festival, Opus Competition, New Asia International Music Competition, American Virtuoso International Music Competition, and the Young Soloist International Competition. Charlotte regularly collaborates with the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and has served as Assistant Concertmaster for AYPO’s Prelude Strings and Prelude Violins. She has received chamber music masterclasses at the Peabody Institute and the Maryland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, and is actively involved in chamber music, performing in ensembles at Immanuel Christian School and the Maryland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. She has also participated in string and orchestral programs at the Greater Washington Suzuki Institute. In 2025, Charlotte made her solo debut with a Manhattan orchestra and performed as a soloist at Carnegie Hall. She also enjoys sharing music in community settings such as churches, schools, and nursing homes. She enjoys sharing music through both solo performance and chamber music.

< 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

< Back Previous Noam Faingold Next Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall April 1, 2024 WATCH VIDEO Composer Noam Faingold (b. 1984) is committed to composing and collaborating across traditional, multidisciplinary, and cross-genre projects. His music has been described as “lyrical,” “exhilarating,” and “a tour-de-force of jazz melded with classical” by The New York Times, The BBC, and Downbeat Magazine, among others. Recent highlights include works written for Leilehua Lanzelotti (Pulitzer Prize finalist), cellist Inbal Segev (Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center), oboist Rob Botti (New York Philharmonic), violinists Domenic Salerni (Attacca Quartet), Jesse Mills (Horszowski Trio), and Itamar Zorman (Lysander Trio), as well as for the Appalachian Chamber Music Festival. His music has been performed by the Argus Quartet, PubliQUARTET, Fidelio Trio, pianists Michael Brown (CMS) and Peter Dugan (host of NPR’s From the Top), and featured in arrangements for the London Symphony Orchestra, OK Mozart, and Pentatone Records. Faingold thrives on multi-stakeholder collaborations and special projects. Current work includes a new piece for Washington, D.C.’s Sumner Museum in celebration of its 150th anniversary in partnership with students and faculty of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. His “A Prayer for Those Who Look Away,” written for Inbal Segev, became a video collaboration with YouTuber The Cello Doll and later an installation at the Sumner Museum. “The Defiant Poet: Elegy in Memory of Yevgeny Yevtushenko” united the late poet’s family with orchestras and Navona Records to honor his legacy. “We Persist”—one of the earliest original virtual orchestra projects—was produced with the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Tulsa Symphony and has been viewed over 50,000 times across platforms. Faingold’s work also appears in the Sphinx catalogue of Latin American Cello Works and in the Latin Orchestral Music catalogue. Equally dedicated to education and mentorship, Faingold creates opportunities for young artists to compose and engage with new music. In 2023, the U.S. Navy Band performed a piece he co-composed with nine D.C. Public Schools students, and he mentored a student composer’s first orchestral work for the district’s 100-plus member Honor Ensemble. He serves as composer-in-residence with Washington Musica Viva and with Oklahoma State University’s Community Music School and Cellofest, and as an arts mentor with the Mid-America Arts Alliance and the Music Teachers National Association. Previous roles include Visiting Artist in Composition at the University of Tulsa and founder/director of the composition programs at Tulsa Community College and The bART. Faingold has received fellowships from the Salzburg Global Seminar, the Bowdoin International Music Festival, the Atlantic Music Festival, and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, which supported his Ph.D. in Music Composition at King’s College London. Where Our Voices Hide When We Must Speak Where Our Voices Hide When We Must Speak was written in response to the feeling of needing to speak up for vulnerable people but staying muted. I Imagine a hidden place where our voice goes. The piece attempts to create a rendering of the invisible tensions present in situations that make us feel that it is unwise or even advantageous to stay silent.

< Back Previous Brian Ganz Next WATCH VIDEO Brian Ganz is widely regarded as one of the leading pianists of his generation. A laureate of the Marguerite Long Jacques Thibaud and the Queen Elisabeth of Belgium International Piano Competitions, Mr. Ganz has appeared as soloist with such orchestras as the St. Louis Symphony, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the Baltimore Symphony, the National Philharmonic, the National Symphony, the City of London Sinfonia, and the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra, and has performed with such conductors as Leonard Slatkin, Marin Alsop, Mstislav Rostropovich, Piotr Gajewski and Yoel Levi. The Washington Post has written: “One comes away from a recital by pianist Brian Ganz not only exhilarated by the power of the performance but also moved by his search for artistic truth.” For many years Mr. Ganz has made it his mission to join vivid music making with warmth and intimacy onstage to produce a new kind of listening experience, in which great works come to life with authentic emotional power. As one of Belgium’s leading newspapers, La Libre Belgique, put it, “We don’t have the words to speak of this fabulous musician who lives music with a generous urgency and brings his public into a state of intense joy.” In January of 2011 Mr. Ganz began a multi-year project in partnership with the National Philharmonic in which he will perform the complete works of Frédéric Chopin at the Music Center at Strathmore. After the inaugural recital, The Washington Post wrote: “Brian Ganz was masterly in his first installment of the complete works [of Chopin].” This year’s February recital marked the tenth in the series. (For four excerpts from that recital, see “Videos.”) The next recital in the series will take place on February 27, 2021. Mr. Ganz is on the piano faculty of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where he is artist-in-residence, and is also a member of the piano faculty of the Peabody Conservatory. He is the artist-editor of the Schirmer Performance Edition of Chopin’s Preludes (2005). Recent performance highlights include Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 at the Alba Music Festival in Italy and with the National Philharmonic at Strathmore, Mozart’s Piano Concerto K. 466 with the Virginia Chamber Orchestra and the Annapolis Symphony, Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto with the Billings Symphony, and a solo recital for the Distinguished Artists Series of Santa Cruz, California.

< Back Previous William Toutant Next Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall April 1, 2024 WATCH VIDEO William Toutant was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. He earned his BA and MA from The George Washington University and his Ph.D. in music theory and composition from Michigan State University. In 1975, he joined the faculty of California State University, Northridge, where he taught in the Department of Music and held a variety of administrative roles, including Dean of the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication. For eighteen years, Toutant wrote and hosted the weekly radio program The KCSN Opera House. He became Professor Emeritus in May 2013. His compositions are available on North/South, Capstone, Centaur, Phasma, Ariel, and Navona Records. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Ligia Toutant. Quarantine Quartet I wrote this piece during the quarantine/lock down order caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The piece reflects my varied emotions during this time of enforced confinement. Structurally, the piece consists of a germ motif heard at the beginning and a short theme that begins with the ascending sixth of the germ motif. This short theme is immediately fragmented and imitated among the four instruments. There are two slower fugato sections; the subject of each is a rhythmic variant of the short theme. In the second fugato, each entry of the subject is varied rhythmically. At the end of the piece each of the three ideas (the first theme and the two fugato subjects) is played successively in stretto. Near the end of the piece, all three ideas are twice played simultaneously. The opening motif is heard at various points in the piece and very prominently at the end.

< Back Diego Imperiale Voice (Countertenor) Learn More Videos About Diego Gabriel Imperiale, born in Buenos Aires Argentina. Singer, actor, voice coach and musician. Since he was young, around 2005, he began writing songs and performing on stages in Argentina. In 2010 he founded his band “Absurda Atracción” and in addition to playing in several legendary places in the city, he began to appear on the musical theater scene as a vocal coach, composer and assistant director of local musicals. As an actor, he was the face of “Coca Cola” for the celebration of 125 years as a lead role for Spain and several places in Europe. He was selected by Oscar winner Armando Bo for this role. He is also in the movie “Christmas In Miami” on Amazon Prime. Between 2010 and 2020 he portrayed Paul McCartney in different bands of the Latin American Beatle scene, participating in Beatle Week festivals in Latin America and also in different cities in Brazil. In 2014, he celebrated a successful tour with the band Quantica, a Pop Art Discos and Sony Music signed project, as a backup vocalist, keyboardist and sequencer. He is an Estill Voice Training certified singing teacher (Estill Voice Master Trainer) at Estill Voice International. He studied with Kim Steinhauer, the president of the method, and assisted her in some of her international courses. He was certified by Alejandro Saorín Martínez (renowned opera voice teacher from Italy) and is also an assistant for his international courses in Spanish. He is one of the few Latin American Master Trainers in the world. In 2018, he directed, headlined and produced “Avenida Broadway”, a musical theater concert series in Buenos Aires that ran for a year and a half and had two shows in Columbus, Ohio, United States. He participated in shows at Tecnópolis, Buenos Aires, as a singer and musician with his former pop/rock band “Absurda Atracción” under the production company Club Media Networks, awarded by YouTube as one of the most important influencers’ agents in Latin America. “Avenida Broadway” had its new installment at the end of 2022 as “A Night At Broadway” in Fort Lauderdale. Diego is a former counter tenor opera singer, cross-trained to sing tenor roles as well. In 2019 he played Jesus as a counter tenor lead in a baroque opera version of Jesus Christ Superstar and Marius in Les Miserables. He also starred in the Opera Gianni Schicchi in the role of Rinuccio, the lead tenor, in California. In mid-2023. At the end of 2023, he returned to the musical theater stage in South Florida with West Side Story, where he performed two different roles singing, acting and dancing in a professional cast for the Wynmoor Theater. Previous Next

< Back Giacomo Franci Piano/Conductor/Orchestra Learn More Videos About Maestro Pianist Giacomo Franci is the Artistic Director and the Conductor of The New York Chamber Players , an organization he founded in 2004. For the 2010-11 season Maestro Franci was elected Guest Maestro of Escuela de Direccion de Orquesta in Cordoba , Spain. Giacomo Franci is world renowned as the leading interpreter of the music of Aaron Copland . He earned this highly coveted position based on the merits of his acclaimed world premiere recording “The Complete Edited Piano Works by A. Copland”, a triple CD released by Fone’ Classics .Maestro Franci performed at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, for the centennial of Copland’s birthday in February 2000, receiving rave reviews for his performance. In December 2010 his World Premiere Recording “Igor Stravinsky: The Complete Published Piano Works” was released by Fone’ Classics . The double CD recording was praised by Audio Review Magazine as “… the Great Igor Stravinsky in the outstanding performance by Giacomo Franci” In the year 2016 he started the Recordings of The Complete Piano Sonatas by Beethoven on Sheva Collection Record Company, this year(2020) he has in program the 3rd CD Recording In 1998 Franci debuted at the Carnegie Recital Hall and the Italian Music Magazine “Musica” compared him to Glenn Gould and Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. Mr. Franci hails from Tuscany and now resides in New York City . When not performing he works at The Tribeca Music Studio, a teaching studio for aspiring pianists and singers. Read More Franci started his Concert Career in Italy with appearances at Teatro Comunale “Guglielmi” , Teatro San Filippo di Torino , Circolo della Musica di Bologna , and Teatro Comunale di Ferrara . When Franci is not performing as a featured pianist/soloist he devotes his time to conducting his new chamber orchestra. He is very excited about the recent attention which he and the orchestra are receiving. The Chamber Orchestra had their debut at the CAMI Concert Hall in New York City in May 2004 , performing the Bach Piano Concerto in D minor , and they have been in growing demand ever since. Franci who is constantly looking to interpret new works, studied with Gaetano Gaeta and Giampiero Semeraro while earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Piano from the Boccherini Music Institute in Lucca . He was awarded his Master’s Scholarship from the Scuola di Alto Perfezionamento Musicale in Saluzzo , studying with Jean Fassinat and the famed Aldo Ciccolini . He also studied conducting with Piero Bellugi and Gustav Kuhn at Teatro Comunale di Pisa . Over the last few seasons Franci has been a featured soloist for engagements throughout the USA, Italy, England, Finland, France,Bulgaria,Chile,Turkey, China, Hungary . He is a returning soloist with : Philharmonic Orchestra of Veneto, Orchestra Sinfonica di Grosseto (where he has been featured as Soloist/Conductor), La Grande Ronde Symphony Orchestra, ISO Symphony, Turkey State Symphony in Istanbul, Richmond County Orchestra, New York Chamber Players, Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina, Bacau Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble Orchestral de Bordeaux and The Beijing Symphony Orchestra ( where he has been featured as Soloist/Conductor). Since the year 2004 when he founded his Orchestra in New York , he has conducted many great Orchestras such as :The Shanghai Baroque Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra Sinfonica di Grosseto, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, New York Chamber Players , Concepcion Symphony Orchestra,Orchestra dei Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano,Orchestra Modigliani,Boston Chamber Orchestra in Tanglewood and Richmond County Orchestra . Very recently he has been featured in 2 Radio Programs by David Dubal : “Piano Matters” on WWFM Radio and “Reflections from the Keyboard” on WQXR . For some of you that might not know , these radio programs feature the most legendary pianists of today and of all times . He has also appeared on radio and television shows carried by New York One, ABC, WPIX, Manhattan Cable, Hofstra University Radio, Blusat Radio 2000 (an hour long interview broadcast to an audience of over 2 million people) and Antenna 3 . In 2008 Maestro Franci was selected to the Cambridge Who’s Who Registry which lists the most accomplished professionals in the U.S. Previous Next