Michelle Qiu < Back Michelle Qiu Previous Next Michelle Qiu 🇺🇸 USA PIANIST Michelle Qiu, 17, has been studying piano since the age of 4. Currently, she is studying with Dr. Efrem Briskin at the Manhattan School of Music Pre-college program. Since the age of 5, Michelle has been winning top prizes at numerous piano competitions such as American Fine Arts Festival Concerto Competition, American Protégé Piano Competition, International Grande Music Competition, Philadelphia International Music Festival Concerto Competition, Summit Music Festival Concerto Competition, etc. Also, she performed at the Kennedy Center at the age of 7 and she has performed at Carnegie Hall five times since the age of 9.

Celebrating the Life and Music of Sergei Rachmaninoff 1873-1943 AUDITIONS Apply by video submission, get qualified for LIVE Audition on a world-wide Internet TV Broadcast Two Laureates will perform at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall Apply Auditions are open to Pianists and Vocalists Apply by March 1, 2024 Submit a video of yo u r performance of ONE composition by Se rgey Rachmanino ff Live Finals Audition DATES: April 5-12 , 2024 Suggested Repertory by Rachmaninoff Piano - Solo, Concerto, Chamber Ensemble Voice - Art Songs (Romances ), Operatic Arias (with or without accompaniment) If selected for LIVE Final Audition Perform ONE or TWO compositions by Sergei Rachmaninoff on LIVE Public Internet TV Broadcast Receive on-air comments from Judges right after your performance Regulations Selected Artists will be invited to perform at Laureates Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall during 2024 - 25 Season Learn More about Past Laureate Galas at Carnegie Hall HERE See 2023-24 Season Laureate Gala at Carnegie Hall July 1, 2024 Laureates Awards : ONE Laureate in a category Piano ONE Laureate in a category Voice ONE Winner in each Age Group in a category Piano TWO W inners in a category Voice Each Laureate will receive an opportunity to perform at the Weill recital Hall at Carnegie Hall OR $500. See Carnegie Gala page for more information Each Winner will receive a Masterclass with one of the SEC Judges ALL Finalists will receive a LiveStreaming for Classical Musicians" Seminar with VCHS Broadcast Engineers and Directors, prior to preforming in the Live Audition, at no additional charge LIVE Auditions April 5-12, 2024 Virtual Broadcast via Internet TV YouTube, Fb, LinkedIn, Twitter, Vimeo , other channels Categories Piano - Solo, Concerto, ensemble with piano Voice - Art Songs (Romances ), and Arias Voice - No Age Limit Piano - Age Groups: Under 10 11-18 College/Adult Fees Application/video pre-screening - $50 Live Audition (if selected ) - $100 Laureate Gala Performance Award Includes the following: Carnegie Hall Archival DIGITAL VIDEO of their performance (see Regulations for acceptable uses as per by Carnegie Hall rules) Medals; Certificates Full color brochure (digital and printed) Complimentary tickets Participate in an interview for media Photos Letters of recommendation and other support (provided upon request for applying for grants, colleges, other programs and competitions) Professional Portfolio packets available upon request All performers and their teachers will receive a certificate of merit Additional Prizes and performance opportunities may be awarded by the Judges. See Awards page Judges Vera Danchenko-Stern Learn More Avguste Antonov Learn More James Adler Learn More

< Back Piano Cello Duo Vol. 1 Cèsar Franck — Sonata in A Major I. Allegretto ben moderato II. Allegro III. Recitativo-Fantasia: Ben moderato IV. Allegretto poco mosso Felix Mendelssohn — Song without Words, Op. 109 Robert Kahn — Cello Sonata No.2, Op.56 I. Allegro appassionato II. Andante tranquillo III. Allegro energico Listen Igor Zubkovsky Anna Ouspenskaya Igor Zubkovsky's Bio Igor Zubkovsky started playing cello in his native Russia. He first appeared as a soloist with the Minsk State Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of twelve, performing the Haydn C Major Cello Concerto. Later, he studied at the Moscow Conservatory with Natalia Shakhovskaya, the Gold Medalist of the 1962 Tchaikovsky Competition. Mr. Zubkovsky won top prizes at international competitions, including the International Cello Competition in Minsk, Belarus (II prize), and the Tansman Competition in Lodz, Poland (Grand Prix). As a member of “The Brahms Trio” in Moscow, he won Second Prize at the Trapani, Italy and First Prize at the Weimar, Germany International Chamber Music Competitions. With a remarkable record of performances, awards and academic distinctions, Mr. Zubkovsky was awarded a full scholarship to the Peabody Conservatory of Music where he earned a Graduate Performance Diploma. Since 2003, Mr. Zubkovsky has been a member of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, and continues to perform extensively as a soloist and chamber musician. He has appeared at Merkin Concert Hall in New York, at the prestigious Newport Music Festival, and has performed recitals in Massachusetts and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Live recordings of those concerts are frequently broadcast on TV and over the Internet. Recent engagements include performances of the Brahms Double Concerto with the West Chester University Orchestra and Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations with the Altoona Symphony. He has performed in a series of chamber music concerts in Paris with the Marquis Ensemble as well as performances at the Moscow Conservatory Rachmaninov Hall. Trio concerts with Anna Ouspenskaya and Elisabeth Adkins (as part of the “Levine Presents” performance series) were aired on WETA, Washington’s Classical Music Radio station. Mr. Zubkovsky is the author of numerous arrangements and transcriptions of duets and trios featuring the cello. He premiered the Cello Sonata by Isaac Mikhnovsky and has several CD recordings to his credit. Anna Ouspenskaya's Bio Anna Ouspenskaya is one of the most recognized performing artists of the Washington, D.C. area. In 1991 she made her first trip to the United States, winning Second Prize in the Bach International Piano Competition in Washington, DC. Since that year Anna has been coming to the US every year to perform and give master classes which took her to 18 states. In 1993, Ms. Ouspenskaya became a finalist at the Bach International Piano Competition in Germany. She made her first CD with Altarus records, and her second is on its way on Ramsey records. Both CDs represent Russian music: the 1st of Rodion Shchedrin and the 2nd of Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky. An established chamber musician, Ms. Ouspenskaya has performed with principal members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra and Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. Native of Yaroslavl, Russia, Anna was born to a family of professional musicians. At the age of seven she made her debut with the Yaroslavl Philharmonic playing Haydn’s Piano Concerto in D Major. She graduated from the Moscow Central Music School and earned her Master’s degree from St. Petersburg Conservatory. Before moving to the United States Ms. Ouspenskaya worked at Dudelange Conservatory in Luxembourg, also giving performances in France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Scotland. Ms. Ouspenskaya made her Carnegie Hall debut in 1999 and Kennedy Center debut in 2002; she performed Saint-Saens Fourth Piano Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Second Piano Concerto in New York City and Washington, DC. A committed teacher, Anna holds a private studio in her home, and she is on the piano faculty of Levine School of Music in Washington, DC. Her students won numerous awards in local and state piano competitions. Anna and her Music Studio were featured in the TV show Rock Your Block. Previous Next

Daniel Kuzuhara < Back Daniel Kuzuhara Previous Next Daniel Kuzuhara 🇺🇸 USA PIANIST Daniel Kuzuhara is a pianist born in Madison, Wisconsin who graduated with a master’s degree in Piano Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, studying under Dr. Karen Shaw. Prior to his studies in Indiana, he studied under Professor Anthony Padilla at Lawrence University, Julie Chang, and Karen Hill. He currently studies under Mastero Sebastiaan Bijlsma of Tiziano Rosetti’s International Music Academy.

Zikai Andy Wang < Back Zikai Andy Wang Previous Next Zikai Andy Wang Canada PIANIST Zikai Andy Wang, 9-year-old, started learning piano at the age of 6 with Dr. Olga Chichova. He is self-disciplined, dedicated, and hardworking on practicing piano and won numerous awards in international competitions and local music festivals, Including the OMFA Ontario Provincial, Little Mozarts International Music Competition, Rocky Mountain Piano Competition, Peel Music Festival, etc. Andy is also an award winner of Steinway’s Canadian Young Artist Standards of Excellence Awards in 2021. In addition to music, Andy is also passionate for painting, language math and swimming.

Jeffrey Zhang < Back Jeffrey Zhang Previous Next Jeffrey Zhang Canada PIANIST Jeffrey Zhang (age 10), started to study piano performance with Dr. Olga Chichova at age 6. He has participated in many competitions, music festivals, piano recitals. In the recent years, he has played and won numerous First Places and various winner’s trophies/medals/certificates in the Peel Music Festival, the OMFA Provincial Festival, the Steinway Piano Competition, the North York Music Festival, the Unionville Music Competition, the New York Open Music Festival and Sound Espressivo Competition. Jeffrey also passed the RCM Level 8 Piano Practical Examination in December 2020 with an outstanding mark. He enjoys performing and sharing his passion for music.

Adriana Zarzu < Back Adriana Zarzu Previous Next Adriana Zarzu 🇺🇸 USA SOPRANO Adriana Mihaela Zarzu was born and raised in Brasov Romania, and now calls California, USA her home. She is a self-taught classical soprano singer, that has been fascinated with and has a strong passion for music. She also holds a degree in Arts and Science but was advancing her music career at the School of Music in Sacramento, California. Ms. Zarzu is fluent in two languages and sings without any difficulty in five languages. She has begun singing solo and acting at a young age including in school plays and has been performing at local theaters, church communities, and in Vienna Austria in 1990. She has also volunteered to perform for special needs and underprivileged children. Ms. Zarzu is the First Place Winner, (Classical Repertoire) of the American Protege International Vocal Competition 2021.

Marcela Gonyea < Back Marcela Gonyea Previous Next Marcela Gonyea 🇺🇸 USA PIANIST Marcela has played classical piano since the age of 5. Her 10-year piano experience has given her a strong foundation in music and knowledge of musical performance. Over the years Marcela has placed and qualified for several piano competitions receiving 1st, 2nd place and honorable mentions in Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association (NVMTA) piano competitions. More recently she joined her high-school orchestra and was placed in the Chamber Orchestra, the most advanced of her high-school's ensembles, as a piano soloist. In addition to piano, Marcela loves playing soccer and plays for the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), a top, league-based platform embedded with grit, collaboration and tenacity, things that both playing an instrument and a sport share.

LOUISA MARIE CORDES < Back LOUISA MARIE CORDES Previous Next LOUISA MARIE CORDES 🇩🇪 Germany VIOLINIST Louisa began playing the violin with five years in the Suzuki Class of Isabel Morey Suau in Kiel, Germany. In 2018 she changed to Ralf Krögers violin Class. During the years she played many regional Competitions in which she won first prizes with distinction in her devision. And some international Competitions with first, second and third prizes. She had Master Classes, with Prof. Lutz Leskowitz (Salzburg), with Prof. Maria Egelhof (Lübeck) and Prof. Andreas Lehmann (Weimar). From October 2019 till June 2020 Louisa was at the Network of the YARO (Young Academy Rostock) at the HTM Rostock. Now Louisa has also lessons with Prof. Daniel Sepec, Musikhochschule Lübeck and has a scholarships, one at the Konservatorium Hamburg.

Kate Lee < Back Kate Lee Previous Next Kate Lee USA PIANIST Kate Lee, 9 years old girl, has been studying piano at the age of 4 under the direction of Dr. Anna Ouspenskaya & Frane Rusinovic and music theory under Fedor Ouspensky. Recently, Kate got Honorable mention & iClassical Academy Excellence Award from Global Sound Espressivo Competition & won the first place from American Fine Arts Festival Concerto Competition in 2022. She also got Honorable Mention from 2022 William Knabe International Piano Competition. She won the first place from 2020 Forte Int. Music Competition & Festivals. She had the honor of performing at Weill Recital Hall & Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall as an American Protégé Judges’ Distinction Award (Plaque Trophies) winner of the American Protégé Int. Concerto Competition 2019 & as a First-place winner in American Protégé Int. Competition of Romantic Music 2019. Kate has been awarded prizes from piano competitions such as Glory Int. Modern & Contemporary / Romantic Music Competition, YMIC Metropolitan Music Festival, and Great Composers Competition series. She recently performed piano at Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall as the first-place winner of American Protégé Int. Piano & String Competition in June 2022. Kate has positive, passionate & exertive life attitude from piano & music theory studies. She has learned musical expression & sense of accomplishment through steady practice and has learned logical & critical music analysis.

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Doron Hazan < Back Doron Hazan Previous Next Doron Hazan 🇫🇷 France SAXOPHONIST 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. Doron participates regularly in festivals and masterclasses: Andorra, Palmela (Portugal) and Larissa (Greece) International Saxophone Festivals; Bad Homburg International Saxophone Masterclasses (Germany); Saxiana & Sotto-Voce Masterclasses (Paris); European Saxophone Academy (France). Doron won multiple scholarships and awards: America-Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarships; 1st Prize, National Paul Ben-Haim Israeli Music Competition; 1st Prize, European Saxophone Forum (Poland); 1st Prize, 7th Vitor Santos International Saxophone Competition (Portugal); 1st Prize, 1st Oberton International Solo Competition (Austria); 2nd Prize, Larissa International Saxophone Competition (Greece). Doron performed as a soloist at the Jerusalem Theater, Tel Aviv Museum, Haifa Auditorium, Tallone Hall (Italy), Kleine-Zaal of the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Solitär Hall (Salzburg) and Barocksaal (Graz). In addition, Doron performed as soloist with the Ramat Gan Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of the Portuguese Police, and the Oberton String Ensemble.