ONLINE CLASSICS COMPETITION 2020
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Sunday December 27th @ 1:00pm EST
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OUR TALENTED HONORABLE MENTION RECIPIENTS
Felix Suo, piano
International Competitions: 10/2020: First Prize Winner, 1st place of Melbourne International Piano and Strings Competition, Australia; Exceptional Young Talent Special Prize Winner and First Prize Winner of Bonn International Music Competition Grand PrizeVirtuoso, Germany; 07/2020: First Prize Winner of "Golden Classical Music Awards" International Competition, being invited to perform at Carnegie Hall 2021, USA; First Prize Winner of International Music Competition ‘Salzburg’ Grand Prize Virtuoso, Austria; Exceptional Young Talent Special Prize Winner of International Music Competition ‘Salzburg’ Grand Prize Virtuoso, Austria; 06/2020 First Prize Winner of Asia International Arts Competition, China.
Media: 08/2020: my Instagram post Bach prelude A flat major from Well-Tempered Clavier book was shared by famous concert pianist Lang Lang in the event of LangLangFanVariations; 06/2020: Performing the Flight of the Bumblebee by Rachmaninoff-Rimsky Korsakov in the international event Make Music Day with AMEB; “Bee-rilliant playing Felix” by AMEB official Facebook, 1.6K views Facebook; Youtube; & Instagram.
Amelia Baisden, cello
Amelia Baisden is nine years old and attends fourth grade at Hearst Elementary School in Washington, DC. She has held the position of principal cellist for the past four years across various regional youth orchestras and ensembles, currently leading the String Ensemble cello section of the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras, with whom she competed at the 2020 American String Teachers Association National Orchestra Festival and was awarded the Middle School Grand Champion prize in March. Amelia has won several regional and national solo competitions (2019 YMIC Washington National Competition, 2020 Joseph & Goldie Feder Memorial String Competition, and 2020 GCCS Best Tchaikovsky Competition, to name a few), and has recently been named Runner-Up for “2020 Artist of the Year” at the International Greatest Composers Competition Series and received third prize in the 2020 Melbourne International Piano and Strings Festival Competition. She has performed in masterclasses with renowned cellist, including Hai-Ye Ni, the Principal Cellist of The Philadelphia Orchestra. In addition to her music studies, Amelia enjoys hiking and creative writing.
Noah Thomas, piano
Noah Thomas is 9 years old and is currently a student of Debora Sanchez. He started playing the piano when he was 4 years old with Dr Judy Huang. He is homeschooled and is currently in grade 4. He plays Tennis and is a Taekwondo Black Belt.
Natalie Rabon, piano
Natalie has various interests. She is on Level 4 gymnastics team and a black belt at taekwondo. She also enjoys playing soccer and tennis. She speaks fluently two languages - English and Russian and is in a gifted program at school. Having a busy schedule, she still carves out time for piano and singing lessons. She enjoys performing and hopes that you will enjoy these pieces of music she have chosen for this competition. Thank you!
Dario Grazzini, cello
Dario Sone Grazzini was born in October, 2011. He has been studying cello with Professor Helen Ford at Indiana University String Academy. Besides cello, he has enjoyed learning to play piano with Professor Paola del Negro. Last year, he won a first prize at Carmel Klavier in 2019 and a first prize in the music of the 20th century in GCC (2019). He also loves to play competitive chess. In his spare time, he loves to care for his little brother Ciro and baby sister Koto.
Mateo Hurtado Castillo, piano
Eleven-year-old pianist Mateo Hurtado-Castillo started playing piano at a young age with his parents who are also musicians He has performed in front of audiences in both the U.S. and Mexico. He is in the Sixth grade at Ecademy and just recently got second prize in the 2020 International Gran Virtuoso Piano Competition in Bonn, Germany.
JianLing Shi, piano
My name is JianLing Shi,from GuangZhou China. In 2020 summer I learn piano with my teacher Lily Li in America through the Internet. I like to play piano and I won the prize. 1. 2018 Internationaler Deutscher Rönisch-Klavierwettbewerb/Group of 3rd Piano Class/First Prize; 2. 2020 Asia International Art Network Competition/Piano Children B Class Gold Award; 3. 2020 The Third US Music Certification Piano Open Competition (Asian Pacific Cloud Finals)/Group of 8th Piano Class/First Prize. I also like to participate in public welfare activities. On 6 October 2018.Guinness World Records .The largest piano ensemble consists of 639 participants and was achieved by Blüthner Piano Group(China)in Hengshui,Hebei,China. I like to play with my kitten and I can play the piano for it.
Nathan Wang, piano
Nathan is a 11 year old boy who has been learning piano for about three years. He is very into computer programming and types with only two fingers. Fortunately he uses all his fingers while playing piano.
Rebecca De Souza, piano
Brief particulars of musical accomplishments: 2016 - Released her very own Gospel Kids Praise Music Album at the age of 7 years, called “Wonderfully made’’ the proceeds of which go to an NGO called STARS that works with orphanages, underprivileged children & old age homes. It was widely covered by the newspapers / magazines / TV including the Examiner – Mumbai.
2017-2018 - Recorded 8 hymns with Goodness TV and Divine TV - Kerala, besides singing for their Annual Christmas Program; CCRTV - Goa made a music video of one of the songs of the album. Performed live with her troupe for the 50th Anniversary celebrations of her school, Church Services and programs, CFC and community Events.
2019 - Selected to perform ‘Minuet in G’ (BWV Anh. II 116) from the Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook, for the prestigious “Da Capo Sammelan 2019” – Goa’s Western Classical Music Festival showcasing young musical talent. She was auditioned by Ms. Patricia Rozario (acclaimed Soloist - UK) and Mr. Mark Troupe (renowned Pianist - UK); Was facilitated on 29th Dec 2019 at the Youngathon Utsav 2019 as a Young Achiever; Completed Grade 4 from the Trinity College London with Distinction.
2020 - Successfully completed the Fado de Goa Workshop conducted by Fadista Sonia Sirsa; Selected by the prestigious Stop Gaps Cultural Academy Mumbai to perform online (due to Covid 19 restrictions) for the Budding Brigade Concert 2020.
Tomasz Fatla, violin
I started playing the violin when I was only 12 years old. This means that I am only studying for the fifth year. From the beginning, I played pieces that were much higher than the difficulty level during my education. I have been to numerous competitions in the country and I plan to participate in many competitions. My plans for the future are numerous trips to master classes and competitions.
Giulia Schmidt, violin
I started playing the violin when I was 4 years old. One and a hald year ago I started to take lessons from Ralf Kröger. I am not sure if i want to study the violin but for sure music is a big part of my life and i love to play. I also take piano lessons. i am member of a youth orchestra.
Danielle Tsai, violin
Violinist Danielle Tsai began musical training when she was 5 years old. Danielle has won top honors at the American String Teachers Association and Satori Music Competitions and has been a member of the PYSO Philharmonic since 7th grade. She is a strong believer of activism through the arts and enjoys performing for nursing homes, churches, and charitable organizations. She studies with Dr. Cheryl Scheidemantle in Pasadena, CA and is currently a 9th grader at the Flintridge Preparatory School. Besides violin and piano, Danielle also plays the electric bass and guitar.
Jolyn Lai, violin
Jolyn Lai from Kirkland, Washington was encouraged by Prof. Christian Neacsu from Walla Walla University to enter her first music competition in 2020. She won 2nd prize on Grand Prize Virtuoso International Competition. She is a concertmaster Lake Washington High School Symphony Orchestra, violin 1 at Sinfonia orchestra of Bellevue Youth Symphony. Jolyn studied violin for 9 years. She is currently study for ABRSM grade 8 exam. Twice a month, Jolyn brings the joy of music to Lakeview of Kirkland for assisted living community. Besides violin, Jolyn explored her music interest to learn other instruments like piano, guitar, Ukulele, and vocal. For the past 6 years, Jolyn played violin at AiMusic, CPYO, and BYSO. When Jolyn is not playing music, she loves to play golf and won 2nd place in 2020 summer golf championship.
Neil Stringer, cello
My name is Neil Stringer and I am a 10th grade student from Canandaigua Academy. I have been playing cello since the age of 9 and have studied under the guidance of Kathleen Kemp and Cora Swenson-Lee at Hochstein School of Music since 6th grade. I am a member of Hochstein’s prestigious Youth Symphony Orchestra as well as a member of The Tri-M Honors Music Society. In addition, I am a member of Canandaigua Academy’s Chamber Orchestra, and have been a member of the Hochstein Chamber Music Connection for three years. In March of 2020 I was asked to be guest soloist and part of the Hummingbird Theater’s Production of Broken Glass performed at MuCC Community Theater in Rochester as well as in the Pit Orchestra for the CA Production of Mama Mia. My passion for music and the cello has as led me to become a part of Hochstein’s Honors Certificate Program, a Hochstein Merit Scholarship winner as well as being a Guest Conductor each year at the Canandaigua City Schools Concerts since I was in 5th grade. In my free time I enjoy listening and playing classical music, swimming, cross country, skiing and reading. My passions aside from the cello are neuroscience and astrophysics. My future aspirations are to one day become a Neurosurgeon as well as to play in a professional Symphony Orchestra.
Anna Sonkin, soprano
I was born in the USA into a Russian family who moved back to Moscow when I was 8 years old. I am a medical doctor and educator specialized in palliative care and healthcare communication. I have been studying singing for 2 years and perform in an amateur opera studio in Moscow. I am divorced and have two daughters.
Iris Prcic, soprano
Iris Prcic, soprano, is known for her rich Eastern European color and signature arias, Mesicku na nebi, from Dvorak’s Opera, Rusalka and Daleko je moj Split from Ivo Tijardovic’s, Mala Floramye. She is of Serbian and Bosnian heritage. Currently, she is a cantor at St. Valentine’s church in Bloomfield, New Jersey and a section leader at The Armenian Presbyterian Church in Paramus, New Jersey. She has sung in New Jersey, New York, California, Macedonia, Serbia and in Italy. She was a guest soloist at the World Federation for Chess Composition in 2016 & 2018 which was held in Serbia and Macedonia. Her opera credits include singing with the New York Lyric Opera Theater in the role of Donna Elvira. Meche Kroop from Voce di Meche said this about Ms. Prcic’s performance of Donna Elvira: “There is a steely core to her tone that made her just right for the role. The difficult "Mi tradi" with its wide skips was well handled." Ms. Prcic previously sang with the company for a gala concert in November of 2015 at Weil Hall. She was a Riverside Opera Company audition winner in 2017 and sang in their annual Popera 2017 concert with the Richmond County Orchestra under maestro, Alan Aurelia. Concert engagements include guest soloist with the Bergen Philharmonic, New Jersey, under the baton of David Gilbert in 2014. She was an American Concert Alliance winner in 2005, New York City, finalist in the 20th annual Long Beach Mozart Festival Voice Competition, California, in 1992 and winner of the 1992 Conejo Valley Symphony Young Artist competition in California. Ms. Prcic regularly performs with Le voci internazionali, a New Jersey based performance group under musical director, Patrizia Cioffi, who is also her voice teacher of over twenty-five years.
Mariah Berryman, soprano
Mariah Berryman is a soprano from Dearborn, Michigan. She is currently working towards her B.A. in Music Performance with a graduate certificate in Liturgical Music at the University of Dayton where she studies with Dr. David Sievers. Previous stage credits include Mona and Ensemble in Chicago, Jo in scenes from Little Women (Opera), Dolcina in Suor Angelica, Barnaby in Babes in Toyland, and the Third Spirit in Die Zauberflote. She is a part of University of Dayton's Opera Workshop, Undergraduate Music Ministers, and Chorale. She also cantors regularly at parishes in the Metro-Detroit area and sings with the Liturgy Choir at Historic St. Mary's Church in Dayton. Currently, she is learning the roles of Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Eleanora in Prima la Musica e poi le Parole, and is building an Honors Thesis about soprano roles in American opera. While her summer plans to attend the Vocal Academy of Orvietto were postponed to summer 2021, she was a part of Opera Steamboat's and Premiere Opera Vocal Arts Institute's online programs. She is now back on the University of Dayton's campus as a senior, and is looking forward to continuing her work on her senior recital, thesis, and graduate school applications.
Hannah Cain, soprano
Hannah, who graduated from the Welsh International Academy of Voice, studied singing with Dennis O’Neil. Hannah went to Chetham’s School of Music, where she obtained her Dip ABRSM in Singing. She then took a degree in Philosophy at Nottingham University at the same time as singing with various opera groups when she decided to make singing her career and gained further experience on the English National Opera’s Opera Works programme. Opera performances to date include: Queen of The Night and Madame Hertz (The Impresario) for Kennet Opera, The title role in Lakmé for Guildford Opera, Grisette/ cover of Olga in The Merry Widow for Ryedale Festival Opera, Anne Page The Merry Wives of Windsor for Brent Opera, Bessie Throckmorton Merrie England and Annina for Chelmsford City Opera, Belinda Dido and Aeneas for Benslow Baroque Opera. Future roles include: Karolka (Jenufa) for Aylesbury Opera.
Olivia Ottinger, mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano Olivia Ottinger hails from Westchester, New York. Most recently she was a member of New York Dramatic Voices Winter Institute where she performed the role of Schwertleite in Die Walküre and scenes from Falstaff as Meg Page. Her past roles include Mother Marie from Dialogues of the Carmelites, Olga and Filippyevna from Eugene Onegin, Le Prince Charmant from Cendrillon, Purcell’s Dido, Dritte Dame from Die Zauberflöte and many more. This Summer she was to be a member of the ensemble of the east coast premiere of Juana with Dell’Arte Opera Ensemble, however it was postponed to 2021 due to Covid-19. Holding a Bachelor’s of Voice from Mannes School of Music, she studies voice with Beth Roberts, coaches with Cristina Stanescu and has participated in many concerts in conjunction with Mannes, including the Mannes Sounds Festival 2018, and two of Mannes’s main stage operas. In their apprentice artist program she has performed scenes from Cosí Fan Tutte, Werther, Der Rosenkavalier and Orfeo Ed Eurudice. She has been a member of young artist programs throughout the country, including Dell’Arte Opera Ensemble (postponed due to Covid-19), Savannah Voice Festival, the International Vocal Arts Institute, Institut Canadien d’art Vocal, Manhattan Opera Studio and the Eurasia Festival.
Yun-Huei Jen, string bass
Yun-Huei earned the Master of Music from University of North Texas and recently studying Graduate artist of from University of North Texas. Yun-Huei studying with Jeff Bradetich and Dr. Raschen.
Michael McAvoy, baritone
Baritone Michael McAvoy is acclaimed as demonstrating “range, resonance and interpretive skill.” His most notable operatic roles include Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Top (The Tenderland), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Thomas Putnam (The Crucible), Belcore (L’elisir d’amore) and the title role in Don Giovanni. Recently, he was seen singing in Josh Groban’s backup quartet at Radio City Music Hall, the Nassau Coliseum, Madison Square Garden, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Good Morning America. Mr. McAvoy was the New York Classical Music Society’s Gold Prize Winner in their international vocal competition, first prize winner of the Amici Vocal Competition, a Grand Finalist in the International Talents of the World Competition and first prize winner in the oratorio division of the Lyra New York International Vocal Competition. Having graduated with his degree in Vocal Performance from The University of Connecticut, Mr. McAvoy continues to study voice with UCONN’s Dr. Constance Rock.
Julian Debreuil, baritone
Julian Debreuil has garnered praise from critics in recent years for his ‘rich and powerful’ voice. He sings a broad range of operatic and concert repertoire, with a focus on the Romantic era. Julian studied in London with Adrian Thompson and in Italy with Paolo Speca. During this time he was the recipient of awards from the Wingate Foundation, English Speaking Union, Musicians Benevolent Fund, Royal Society of Musicians, Josephine Baker Trust, Countess of Munster Trust and was a finalist in the Schubert Society of London, London Song Festival, John Warner Memorial Award and Hampshire National Singing Competitions. In addition, he was highly commended by the Wagner Society of London as having 'a powerful, attractive sound with a great deal of vocal colour'. Engagements in the 2020 and 2021 seasons include Fra Melitone in La Forza del Destino Verdi with Opera Frabriken Malmo; Ninth Symphony Beethoven with the London Mozart Players at St John’s Smith Square; Mass in C Minor Mozart with Islington Choral Society at LSO St Luke’s; Ein Deutches Requiem Brahms with the Henley and Stratford-upon-Avon Choral Societies respectively; a recital of Italian Arias with the London Choral Sinfonia. Last season Julian sang Dottore Grenvil in La Traviata Verdi at Il Teatro Comunale Giuseppe Verdi in Trieste, Italy; Lord Talbot in Maria Stuarda Donizetti and Colline in La Boheme Puccini for OperaUpClose; The Gardener in the The Gardeners Hugill at London’s Conway Hall. The 2017-18 season saw Julian sing the Oracle of Neptune in Idomeneo Mozart for the Buxton Opera Festival; Sarastro in Die Zauberfloete Mozart at the Soho Theatre; Prince Gremin in Eugene Onegin Tchaikovsky at The Arcola Theatre. Prior to this Julian has sung roles for the Ravenna Opera Festival, Longborough Opera Festival, Iford Arts Festival, Le Theatre l'Italienne Cherbourg and Le Theatre du Passage Neuchatel. Recent concert work includes Messa da Requiem Verdi with the Philharmonia Orchestra, The Apostles Elgar with the BBC Concert Orchestra, The Dream of Gerontius Elgar with the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, Missa Solemnis Beethoven with the Southbank Sinfonia and Johannes-Passion Bach with the London Handel Players.
Christine Brandt, soprano
Lyric soprano Christina Brandt is an emerging professional with a deep love for transporting her audience with emotion and finesse. Her roles include Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte with Brigham Young University and Manhattan Opera Studio, Madame Lidione in Dialogues des Carmélites with La Musica Lirica, and Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus with Brigham Young University - Idaho. Christina graduated with her Master of Music from Brigham Young University in 2020 studying with Robert Brandt (no relation). She received her Bachelor of Musical Arts from Brigham Young University - Idaho in 2012 studying with Jon Linford and Kristine Ciesinski.