Performers

Group of 5-11

Janet Zhang

Janet is a seven-year-old pianist whose musical journey began at the age of five. Since then, she has studied piano privately and developed a growing love for classical music. Janet enjoys exploring both lyrical melodies and technically challenging passages. Her favorite pieces often reflect her playful and imaginative personality, and she brings thoughtfulness and energy to every performance.
Outside of piano, Janet is a creative and enthusiastic second grader who enjoys drawing, reading, and math. She especially loves spending time with her younger siblings and making up stories with her friends. Music plays an important role in her daily life—not only as a discipline but also as a source of joy and expression.

Yihan Hu

Yihan Hu is 9 years old and comes from Beijing. Her father is an amateur horn player, and she grew up surrounded by music. She started learning piano at the age of 4, and now it’s been five wonderful years.

Group of 12-18

Miriam Spence

Miriam Spence began playing piano at age six and is a student of Jung Eun Hong in New York City.She received 1st place recognition in the Little Mozarts International Competition and 2nd place in the Crescendo International Competition in 2020; 2nd place in the American Protege International Piano & Strings Competition in 2021; and received a 2nd prize in the Charleston Winter Music Competition and 1st Prize in the Grand Virtuoso International Music Competition in 2024. She is honored to have had the opportunity to share her love of piano by performing at Carnegie Hall in New York and at the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
Miriam plays classical repertoire and especially enjoys works by Chopin, Liszt, Mozart and Scarlatti and more recently, Philip Glass. She is excited to learn new and more challenging pieces while she develops her technique and understanding of music theory.
In addition to playing piano, Miriam competes on her school’s varsity badminton and debate teams. Math, English and science are her favorite academic subjects.

Ruoshui Zhang

Ruoshui Zhang, 16, is a senior at the Affiliated High School of the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in China. She began piano at age 6 with teacher Wei Xin and has studied under Tao Bai since 2019. A dedicated student, Ruoshui has earned numerous awards: the Excellence Award in the Piano Youth Group at the 2022 International Music Olympiad; Silver in the Professional Youth Group Finals of the 2022 “Gathering Cup”; First Prize in the 2023 Liszt International Youth Piano Competition preliminary; and First Prizes in July 2024 at both the Washington International Music Festival (Youth Group) and the 8th Golden Hibiscus “Youth Performance” (Piano Junior Group). She has enriched her artistry through masterclasses with renowned teachers including Yang Yunlin, Zheng Daxin, Wu Chi, You Xi, Zhao Xiaohong, Chen Dan, Xian Jinsong, Xie Ming, as well as Australia’s Auro Go and Steinway artist Jerry Wong. Offstage, Ruoshui loves badminton, Hollywood films, and especially their scores, believing that music deepens storytelling and evokes a spectrum of emotions. Profoundly moved by The Legend of 1900, she resonates with the protagonist’s insight:“Take piano: keys begin, keys end. You know there are 88 of them… They are not infinite. You’re infinite… And on those keys, the music that you can make… is infinite. I like that. That I can live by.”
This conviction—that music transcends boundaries and connects deeply with the soul—guides Ruoshui’s musical path and enriches tonight’s performance.

XinRan Jiang

XinRan Jiang is a 13-year-old pianist whose musical journey began at the age of five. Over the years, her passion and dedication have earned her three consecutive gold medals at the Chopin International Youth Piano Competition and second place at the 2025 Pacific Star International Piano Competition. She loves performing pieces that combine emotional depth with technical challenges, bringing focus and vitality to every performance. Beyond the piano, she is an avid tennis player who trains regularly, building resilience and a strong competitive spirit. She also enjoys traveling, finding inspiration and joy in exploring new places. Music and sports are essential parts of her life, giving her happiness, energy, and a powerful means of self-expression.

ASSISI RALPHINE ANGEL

Assisi Ralphine Angel, 17, from Chennai, began studying piano at the age of five. She has completed all theory grades and earned her ATCL in Piano from Trinity College London, and is currently preparing for her LTCL diploma.
A prizewinner in multiple regional and international competitions, her accolades include:
First Prize, Virtuoso Interschool Competition (Chennai, 2018)
Creative Performer (Honourable Mention), Zukunftsklang Award (Germany, 2022)
Gold Medal & People’s Choice, Global Children and Youth Competitions (Hong Kong, 2022)
Third Prize, Giovanni In Crescendo (Italy, 2022) and The North International Music Competition (Sweden, 2022)
Silver Trophy, WPTA Singapore International Competition, with a concert performance in Singapore (2022)
Silver Medal, Grand Maestro International Music Competition (London, 2022)
She has studied in masterclasses with renowned pianists Gabriele Baldocci and Boris Kraljevic. Outside of piano, Assisi volunteers at cultural festivals, plays at her church, and enjoys reading, drawing, and traveling.

Kayneesa Coats

Kayneesa Coats is a passionate constituent virtuous violinist who conspicuously pledges to the violin, while her musical performances have demonstrated her musicality in rendering the audience. Her captivating performances are welded through hours of dedication. Her sensational artistry reflects her commitment to grow meticulously as a violinist. Along with her zeal as a violinist, she values all critical feedback as it contributes to the enhancement of her musical development. Through her optimistic character, she significantly conveys her profound thoughts and deep appreciation for the violin. Outside of regular academic schoolwork, you can find her working on new challenging compositions — such as Vitali Chaconne and Paganini’s Caprices. She is a proud member of her local youth chamber orchestra and partakes in the Young Artist Program at Pacific Institute Of Music. Through her profound accomplishments in the Young Artist Program — she was invited to become a member of the Student Music Honor Society where she hosts musical performances to raise money for underprivileged aspiring musicians. She believes the pleasantries of classical music bring enjoyment to the community, while fostering a sound state of mind.

Kaitlyn Jeeyul Seo

A spirited and compassionate 13-year-old, she balances her love for music with a competitive spirit. When she is not practicing the cello, she is on the fencing strip, where she connects with great friends and pushes one another to be our best selves. Both cello and fencing have taught her the value of dedication and perseverance, the importance of embracing challenges, and the joy of celebrating small victories along the way.

Rihye Kim

Rihye Kim has been immersed in music since the age of four, beginning with the violin before transitioning to the viola. Her dedication over the years has led to recognition in several prestigious competitions, including the San Francisco Competition, the Young Student Talent Competition, and the New York International Competitions. Currently serving as the first chair in her school’s orchestra, she has found the experience both challenging and deeply rewarding.
In addition to her musical pursuits, Rihye has also been a varsity cheerleader since her sophomore year. Cheerleading has offered a different kind of challenge—emphasizing teamwork, discipline, and confidence. While music remains her primary passion, the lessons she has learned through cheer have had a meaningful impact on both her personal growth and musical journey.

Ethan Park

Young Violinist. Ethan Park, 15, from Alameda, California, is a 10th grade student at Alameda High School. He has been studying violin for three years under the guidance of Mr. Seongwoo Jeong. Ethan has received recognition in several prestigious competitions, including the New York International Music Competition 2025, the Charleston Music Competition 2025, and the Young Talent Student Music Competition 2024 in San Francisco. He finds great joy in expressing emotion through music and continues to develop his artistry with dedication and passion. Most recently, he was selected as a violinist for the East Bay Youth Orchestra.

Group of 19-26

Bobby Kostadinov

Leipzig Music School; University of Music and Theatre Leipzig

Bobby Kostadinov, born in Leipzig in 1999, discovered the cello at age seven. He received his early training from Sven Schreiber at the Leipzig Music School “Johann-Sebastian-Bach” and later continued under Anna Niebuhr in the young talent program. From 2017 to 2024, he studied with Peter Bruns at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig, graduating with highest marks. Kostadinov has earned recognition both nationally and internationally. A four-time first prize winner at “Jugend musiziert,” he stood out in 2016 by achieving the highest score in both the solo and chamber music categories. His musical achievements have been honored with numerous special prizes, including those from the Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben, the Hummel Society, and the EMCY Prize.
His competition successes continued internationally: in 2021, he received prizes at competitions in Bulgaria, Vienna, and Poland, and in 2024/25, he won top prizes at the Gustav Mahler Cello Competition, Worlds Best Musicians Competition, and North International Music Competition.
Kostadinov has performed at festivals such as the MDR Musiksommer, Kurt Weill Festival, and ALLEGRA Festival, and was a frequent participant in the MDR Clara-Tour. As a soloist, he has appeared with orchestras including the Konzerthausorchester Berlin and the Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen.
He was principal cellist of the Leipzig Youth Symphony Orchestra and has been supported by scholarships from the Jürgen Ponto Foundation, Barthelsstiftung, and Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben. In 2023, he won an internship with the MDR Radio Symphony Orchestra, which led to a contract for the 2024/25 season. He performs on a 2012 Michael Stürzenhofecker cello, on loan from the German Musical Instrument Fund.

Dutch Dodge

California State University, Northridge, BA. & MM

Dutch Dodge holds Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees in Piano Performance from California State University, Northridge. He studied piano with Hak Soon Swiatkowski before university, and continued his studies with Dmitry Rachmanov while in college. He has won prizes in various competitions, the most recent being the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition, the CSUN Concerto and Aria Competition, and the 44th Annual Pasadena Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota Competition. He has performed in the United States, Japan, and South Korea, including performances at the Seoul Arts Center, the Symphony Hall in Osaka, and Yamaha Hall in Tokyo, as well as a performance at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts and numerous solo and chamber music recitals in his native Southern California.

Zhengyu Huang

University of California, Irvine, BA; New York University, MM

Zhengyu Huang is a passionate pianist and dedicated music educator currently pursuing a Dual Program in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at New York University, where she studies under the renowned pianist Jeffrey Swann. She earned her Dual Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance and Education Science from the University of California, Irvine, under the mentorship of Lorna Griffitt, where she developed both her artistic and technical skills. Zhengyu’s musical journey began at the age of five, sparking a lifelong passion for performance. Known for her expressive interpretations and musical sensitivity, she brings emotional depth and clarity to her playing. Her artistry has been shaped through intensive solo studies, annual recitals, and a broad range of collaborative experiences. She has performed in renowned pianists’ masterclasses, such as Daniel Adam Maltz and Hans Boepple, and has collaborated with chamber ensembles, orchestras, vocalists, and instrumental soloists.
Beyond performance, Zhengyu is deeply committed to music education. She believes in music’s power to foster connection, support emotional growth, and cultivate inclusive, creative communities. Currently, Zhengyu serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at NYU, where she teaches piano to both music majors and non-majors at the undergraduate level.

Yaxuan Gong

Mannes School of Music, MM; University of Kansas, DMA

Yaxuan Gong is a pianist from China, currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance at the University of Kansas. She previously studied at the Mannes School of Music at The New School in New York, where she earned her Master’s degree in piano performance.
Yaxuan has received numerous awards in international piano competitions, including First Prize at the Shanghai International Music Festival and Piano Competition for Young Artists, a Platinum Medal at the Quebec Music Competition, and First Prize at the Elite International Music Competition in New York.
Her performance experience includes solo and chamber music appearances in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and New York. She remains active on international concert stages, focusing on musical clarity, sincerity, and depth in her interpretations.

Hanrui Ma

Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, BA; University of Kansas, MM; University of Connecticut, DMA

Hanrui Ma is a doctoral candidate in Piano Performance at the University of Connecticut, studying under Dr. Angelina Gadeliya. She holds a Master of Music from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Music from Zhejiang Conservatory of Music.
Hanrui has secured top international competition honors, including First Prize in the Virtuoso Group at the 2022 Medici International Music Competition, the Silver Award at the 2023 IPPA Conero International Piano Competition, and Second Prize at the Singapore Classical Piano International Competition. Her performances span solo, chamber, and concerto engagements at venues such as Swarthout Recital Hall and Steinway Music Hall, with appearances across the United States, China, and Europe.
Hanrui was invited with full scholarship to the University of Connecticut’s Dubrovnik Piano Sessions in Croatia. She has further developed her artistry through immersive studies at the 2024 Atlantic Music Festival, 2023 Irvine Orbifold Music Festival, and 2016 New Paltz International Piano Music Festival, studying directly with renowned pianists Joseph Rackers, Marina Lomazov, Jerome Lowenthal, and Arthur Greene.

Group of 26+

Junhao Li

SIAS International University, BA; Boston Conservatory at Berklee, MM; University of Miami, DMA

JunHao Li began his musical training on the violin at the age of five and later transitioned to the viola during high school, captivated by its rich and expressive sound. For ten years, he studied under Professor Hai Cao at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, which provided him with a solid foundation in performance. He went on to earn his Master of Music degree from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Miami.
As a violist, Li has performed both as a soloist and chamber musician in concerts and festivals, collaborating with distinguished artists and ensembles. Alongside performing, he is deeply passionate about teaching. He has developed his own pedagogical system for beginner and intermediate students and aspires to share his expertise by teaching viola at the university level.

Yihao Zhang

Manhattan School of Music, BA & MM; University of North Texas, DMA

Yihao Zhang was born in a scholarly family in Shanghai. His father is Enwei Zhang, a famous Shanghai oil painter and photographer. His great-grandmother dedicated herself to education, and she established an academy in the past. He graduated from the Manhattan School of Music with a Bachelor’s degree in music and a Master’s degree in music, and is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts student at the University of North Texas College of Music. He won Silver Award in WPTA Finland International Piano Competition; First prize in World Classical Music Awards; 36th International Music Competition “Paris” Grand Prize Virtuoso; ECM Classical Music Artists Award; World Grand Prix International Music Contest; Manchester International Music Competition; International Vivaldi Music Competition; Franz Schubert International Music Competition; Beethoven International Music Competition; Diamond Prize and Masterful Interpreters Special Award in Royal Music Competition, etc.

EUNBIN PARK

Berklee College of Music

EunBin Park is a pianist and composer currently based in Chicago. Since childhood, she has loved expressing herself through writing, music, and photography, and she began studying classical piano at an early age.
She continued her education at Berklee College of Music, graduating with a dual major in Piano Performance and Film Scoring Composition. During her studies, she was actively involved in a wide range of performance and creative projects across both classical and contemporary fields, including solo piano recitals, musical theater orchestras, and film music productions.
EunBin has performed in a variety of venues and has received recognition in competitions for her expressive interpretations. Her repertoire spans from Baroque to contemporary works, with a particular interest in blending traditional tonal techniques with elements of modern composition to create her own style.
In addition to her performance activities, she is currently working on her first solo piano album, featuring original compositions inspired by cinematic narratives and classical colors.
She is honored to be invited to perform at Carnegie Hall and looks forward to sharing her music with the audience.

Wing Sze Chan

Hong Kong Baptist University, BA; California State University, Northridge, MA

Wing Sze Chan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music (Honors) from Hong Kong Baptist University and a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from California State University, Northridge. She has studied with esteemed pianists Dr. Cherry Tsang, Dr. Dmitry Rachmanov, and Jason Stoll.
She is a recipient of numerous awards, including First Prize in Solo Piano at the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival, the Prize for Best Liszt Performance at the American Liszt Society Southern California Chapter Festival, the Pasadena Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota Music Scholarship Competition, the Santa Monica College Orchestra Concerto and Aria Competition, and the CSUN Concerto and Aria Competition.
As a soloist, she has performed at notable venues including The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage at Santa Monica College’s Performing Arts Center and the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts.

Xinyi Guo

Composing Pianist, Founder of Sino-British Concert

Xinyi Guo is a UK-based concert pianist, composer, and multidisciplinary artist. Founder of Sino-British Ensemble (SBE), renowned for her improvisational East-West fusion style. She has been holding recitals and performing at iconic venues, including Westminster Central Hall, the Royal Opera House, London St. James, Cambridge Corn Exchange, and Tirana National Opera House (state visiting solo concert on China’s 74th National Day).
Xinyi’s fusion music style has aroused wide audiences and media attention across China and the Europe, Including CGTN, BBC and Tirana Diplomat etc. Notable engagements include the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the 40th-anniversary “Global Journey” concert, and hosting the 2025 Spring Sequence of New Sound: East-West Dialogue Concert, attended by Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang and British Historian Michael Wood.
Besides offline concert engagements, her original works (the Light, Munich Station, Elegy) and reimagined classics (A Lament for Fallen Flowers) resonate widely on the internet, with singles surpassing 300k views. Co-manages a piano channel with 800k+ followers.

Hainan Xu

Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University, PhD; Peabody Institute and Juilliard Extension Program

Dr. Hainan Xu is an amateur pianist and AI researcher who lives in New York City. He holds a PhD in computer science from the Center for Language and Speech Processing (CLSP) at Johns Hopkins University, where his research focused on speech processing and speech recognition. He currently works for NVIDIA on AI research in speech and language modeling—work that has deepened his appreciation for the acoustic patterns, temporal structures, and expressive nuances that define both spoken language and musical performance.
Born in Jiangsu, China, Xu came to the United States in 2013 for his PhD program at Johns Hopkins University. He began formal piano studies at 26 while pursuing his PhD through an interdisciplinary program with the Peabody Institute, where he studied with Chad Bowles and Marianna Prjevalskaya. He now continues his musical education at the Juilliard Extension program in NYC, where he has studied with Art Williford and Mika Sasaki. Beyond classical repertoire, Xu brings a unique analytical perspective to his musical interpretation, drawing from his technical understanding of sound, rhythm, and acoustic modeling. He shares his musical journey through his bilibili channel 阿瘦钢琴师, where he posts performances and insights about piano playing, bridging his dual passions for technology and music. When not at the piano or in the lab, he enjoys playing fetch with his six-year-old Shiba Inu, Kooky, in Central Park and along the Hudson River.