Concert Star International Music Competition LA District
Los Angeles Regional Division 2026
California • Education • Performance • International Opportunities
Date
2:00 pm, September 27, 2026
Venue
Steinway Piano Gallery Pasadena
150 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 101
Pasadena, CA 91105
Official Regional Competition
The Concert Star Los Angeles Regional Competition is an official regional qualifying event of the Concert Star International Classical Music Competition. Outstanding participants may be invited to advance to the International Finals, presented annually at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in New York City.
Unlike the Online Division, the Los Angeles Regional Competition offers a live performance experience before an internationally distinguished jury, providing participants with direct artistic feedback and valuable educational opportunities in a professional concert setting.
Beyond the Competition
Participants in the Los Angeles Regional Competition also enjoy:
* Live performance before an internationally distinguished jury
* Written adjudication sheets with judges’ comments
* Complimentary observation of selected masterclasses
* Exclusive Los Angeles Regional Trophy and Certificate
* Eligibility for the Concert Star International Finals at Carnegie Hall
* Special recognition certificates through Concert Star’s international educational partnerships (selected awards)
Distinguished Jury
Dr. Gene Moon
Professor of Music, Director of Orchestral Studies & Associate Dean of Performance and Outreach, California Baptist University
Dr. Gene Moon is Professor of Music, Director of Orchestral Studies, and Associate Dean of Performance and Outreach at California Baptist University. An internationally acclaimed conductor, he has led orchestras and conducted performances across North America, South America, and Asia, collaborating with ensembles including the Gangnam Symphony Orchestra, the Nacional Orquestra of the Dominican Republic, the Orquesta Filarmónica de Medellín, the Saigon Philharmonic, and university orchestras in Macau, Hong Kong, China, Korea, and Vietnam.
A passionate advocate for music education, Dr. Moon has served as a guest conductor and clinician for numerous All-State orchestras and the ASTA National Orchestra Festival. He currently conducts the orchestra at Riverside City College and serves on the faculty of the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. Throughout his career, he has inspired generations of young musicians through university orchestras, youth symphonies, and community music initiatives.
Prior to joining California Baptist University, Dr. Moon served as Director of Orchestral Activities at Stephen F. Austin State University, Artistic Director of the East Texas Youth Orchestras, Music Director and Conductor of the Longview Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director of the Oklahoma Youth Symphonies. His dedication to artistic excellence, orchestral leadership, and youth development has established him as one of the leading music educators and conductors in the United States.
Dr. Xiaohui Yan
Los Angeles Regional Artistic & Outreach Director
Concert Star International Classical Music Competition
Dr. Xiaohui Yan is a California-based violinist, violist, educator, researcher, and arts administrator dedicated to fostering excellence in music performance and education. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Violin Performance from the University of Kansas and is currently pursuing a second Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Viola Performance at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she performs as the violist of the Nightingale String Quartet.
Recognized for her versatility as both a violinist and violist, Dr. Yan has built an international career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral performer, and educator throughout the United States, China, and Europe. Her orchestral and festival experience includes performances with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, Reno Chamber Orchestra, Brevard Music Festival (Assistant Concertmaster), Sewanee Music Festival, University of Kansas Symphony Orchestra, Sewanee Symphony Orchestra, and the Sacramento Youth Symphony Chamber Music Workshop. She has also participated in international cultural exchange performances, including the 3rd “Let the Dream Come True” Summer Concert in Vienna, Austria.
An enthusiastic advocate for music education, Dr. Yan previously served as Violin and String Pedagogy Instructor at Missouri Western State University. She has mentored students of diverse backgrounds through private instruction, chamber music coaching, and ensemble performance, while encouraging both artistic excellence and personal growth.
Beyond performance and teaching, Dr. Yan is actively engaged in scholarly research focusing on Chinese music, cross-cultural performance practice, and the promotion of Chinese musical traditions on the international stage. Her artistic work reflects a strong commitment to cultural exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement.
As Los Angeles Regional Program & Outreach Director for the Concert Star International Classical Music Competition, Dr. Yan supports the planning and development of the Los Angeles Regional Competition through jury recruitment, educational outreach, participant engagement, and regional partnership development. She works closely with artists, educators, and institutions to expand Concert Star’s educational impact and strengthen its connections within Southern California’s musical community.
Mingxi Liu
Los Angeles Regional Marketing & Partnerships Manager
Concert Star International Classical Music Competition
Mingxi Liu is a Yangqin performer, music educator, arts administrator, and advocate for Chinese traditional music. She is currently pursuing graduate studies in the Music Industry program at the University of Southern California (USC) after earning her Bachelor of Arts in Yangqin Performance from the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts. Her musical training includes studies with Associate Professor Li Jin of the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, Professor Wang Se of the Central Conservatory of Music, and Professor Xiong Junjie of the China Conservatory of Music.
Dedicated to the performance, education, and international promotion of Chinese traditional music, Mingxi has received numerous honors, including the Gold Prize and Special Prize (Highest Honor) in the Traditional Music Division of the VIVALDI International Music Competition, the Gold Prize in the Youth Group B Solo Division at the Singapore International Yangqin Festival and Competition, and the Gold Prize in the Undergraduate Professional Group B1 Division at the 5th Yangqin Circle National Yangqin Exhibition.
An active performer of contemporary Yangqin repertoire, Mingxi participated in the premiere of the Yangqin trio Snow Like Plum Blossoms, earning the Top Ten New Yangqin Works Performance Award at the China Yangqin Forum. Through performance, teaching, and cross-cultural exchange, she remains committed to introducing the richness of Chinese traditional music to audiences around the world.
As Los Angeles Regional Marketing & Partnerships Manager for the Concert Star International Classical Music Competition, Mingxi supports regional marketing initiatives, institutional outreach, partnership development, sponsor relations, venue coordination, and artist communications. Drawing on her background in both music performance and the music industry, she helps expand Concert Star’s regional network while strengthening collaborations with universities, cultural organizations, educators, and community partners throughout Southern California.
Dr. Yaqi Wang
Founder & Executive Director
Concert Star International Classical Music Competition
Dr. Yaqi Wang is an internationally active pianist, educator, researcher, and arts administrator dedicated to advancing classical music education through performance, scholarship, and international artistic collaboration. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Kansas, following graduate studies at The Hartt School, University of Hartford, Temple University, and Tianjin Conservatory of Music.
An accomplished performer and scholar, Dr. Wang has appeared at distinguished venues including Carnegie Hall, Steinway & Sons, Pepperdine University, and universities throughout the United States. Her research has been presented at major national and international conferences, including the MTNA National Conference, the American Matthay Association Festival, and the Analytical Approaches to World Music (AAWM) Conference. She currently serves as an Associate Editor of the Analytical Approaches to World Music (AAWM) Journal and is recognized as a Steinway & Sons Educational Partner.
As the Founder and Executive Director of the Concert Star International Classical Music Competition, Dr. Wang provides the overall artistic vision, strategic planning, and executive leadership for the organization. She founded Concert Star with the mission of creating an international platform that connects young musicians with distinguished artists, educators, and cultural institutions through competitions, concerts, masterclasses, academic forums, and cross-cultural exchange programs. Since its establishment, the Concert Star International Finals have been presented annually at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in New York City.
For the 2026 Concert Star Los Angeles Regional Competition, Dr. Wang serves as the Founder, Executive Director, and Chief Planner, overseeing the overall event planning, artistic direction, venue coordination, operations, budget management, participant services, marketing strategy, jury administration, sponsorship development, and event production. Under her leadership, the competition continues to expand its educational impact while fostering artistic excellence and international collaboration for the next generation of musicians.
Through her work as a performer, educator, scholar, and arts leader, Dr. Wang remains committed to building meaningful opportunities for young artists and strengthening international connections within the global classical music community.