Division 1 (ages 7-9)
Matthew Chang, 1st Prize
Final Round Performance Piece: Italian Concerto in F Major, BWV 971 (I. Allegro) by Johann Sebastian Bach
Matthew Chang, eight years old, has been studying piano with Dr. Kuei-I Wu for three years. He won first place at the Maryland State Music Teachers Association 2015 Spring Festival Piano Solo division and first place in the 2015 Miriam S. Gottlieb Memorial Piano Competition. At the beginning of 2016, Matthew won first place for all movements at the Gertrude S. Brown Memorial Piano Concerto Competition, and he had his first performance with the Washington Conservatory Orchestra in Great Washington DC. Matthew's 2016 achievements also included a first-place sweep at the American Protégé-International Music Talent Competition Spring, Golden Era of Romantic Music International Competition, International Music Competition 'Salzburg' Grand Prize Virtuoso, 31st International Young Artist Piano Competition, Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition 2016, and American Protégé International Competition Romantic Music 2016. In 2017, he won first place and the Gold Medal at the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition and AADGT Festival Passion of Music 2017. He has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York four times and at Metallener Saal Musikverein in Vienna, Austrian in 2016. Matthew always says: "Playing the piano makes me feel energetic and happy!"
Matthew Chang, eight years old, has been studying piano with Dr. Kuei-I Wu for three years. He won first place at the Maryland State Music Teachers Association 2015 Spring Festival Piano Solo division and first place in the 2015 Miriam S. Gottlieb Memorial Piano Competition. At the beginning of 2016, Matthew won first place for all movements at the Gertrude S. Brown Memorial Piano Concerto Competition, and he had his first performance with the Washington Conservatory Orchestra in Great Washington DC. Matthew's 2016 achievements also included a first-place sweep at the American Protégé-International Music Talent Competition Spring, Golden Era of Romantic Music International Competition, International Music Competition 'Salzburg' Grand Prize Virtuoso, 31st International Young Artist Piano Competition, Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition 2016, and American Protégé International Competition Romantic Music 2016. In 2017, he won first place and the Gold Medal at the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition and AADGT Festival Passion of Music 2017. He has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York four times and at Metallener Saal Musikverein in Vienna, Austrian in 2016. Matthew always says: "Playing the piano makes me feel energetic and happy!"
Kalan Warusa, 2nd Prize
Final Round Performance Piece: Nocturne in B Major, Op. 32, No. 1 by Frédéric Chopin
Kalan Warusa is a second grader from Haycock Elementary School in Virginia. He has studied with Dr. Marjorie Lee for over three years. In the past, Kalan won honors at the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association (NVMTA) Sonata Festival, Maryland State Music Teachers Association Piano Concerto Competition, NVMTA Piano Concerto Festival, Piano Ensemble Competition Festival, and Asian American Music Society International Competition. Other than piano, Kalan also plays chess and is working hard to earn a Taekwondo black belt.
Kalan Warusa is a second grader from Haycock Elementary School in Virginia. He has studied with Dr. Marjorie Lee for over three years. In the past, Kalan won honors at the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association (NVMTA) Sonata Festival, Maryland State Music Teachers Association Piano Concerto Competition, NVMTA Piano Concerto Festival, Piano Ensemble Competition Festival, and Asian American Music Society International Competition. Other than piano, Kalan also plays chess and is working hard to earn a Taekwondo black belt.
Anna Bray, 3rd Prize & Audience Award
Final Round Performance Piece: The Snow Is Dancing (from “Children’s Corner”) by Claude Debussy
Anna is eight years old and loves discovering the joy of music, especially the diversity of piano repertoire. She started playing at the age of six, and over the past two years, the piano has become an indispensable part of her life. Her response when asked what her favorite aspect of the piano is, "sharing music by performing and studying with my amazing teacher, Dr. Marjorie Lee." Her greatest achievements this year have been to play at the Hungarian Embassy and winning third place in the Robert Spencer Concerto Competition. She also received an Honorable Mention at her first judged recital. In her free time, Anna enjoys writing, riding her bicycle, reading, and swimming.
Anna is eight years old and loves discovering the joy of music, especially the diversity of piano repertoire. She started playing at the age of six, and over the past two years, the piano has become an indispensable part of her life. Her response when asked what her favorite aspect of the piano is, "sharing music by performing and studying with my amazing teacher, Dr. Marjorie Lee." Her greatest achievements this year have been to play at the Hungarian Embassy and winning third place in the Robert Spencer Concerto Competition. She also received an Honorable Mention at her first judged recital. In her free time, Anna enjoys writing, riding her bicycle, reading, and swimming.
Michelle Wang, Honorable Mention
Final Round Performance Piece: Rondo on Argentine Folk Tunes, Op. 19 by Alberto Ginastera
Michelle Wang is seven years old and a second grader at Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School in Howard County, Maryland. She has studied piano with Mrs. Olga Kuperstein for two years and enjoys her piano lessons very much. Music become part of Michelle's life and playing piano make her extremely happy. It is Michelle's dream that she can use her music talent to serve the community someday. This year, Michelle won first place in the Maryland State Music Teachers Association (MSMTA) Piano Ensemble Competition and the Howard County Piano Ensemble Competition, she also won third place in the 2016 Young Musicians Inspiring Change Competition. In 2014, she won third place in the MSMTA Piano Ensemble Competition and MSMTA Piano Solo Spring Festival, second place in the Miriam Shields Gottlieb Memorial Piano Solo Competition, and the Howard County Piano Solo Competition.
Michelle Wang is seven years old and a second grader at Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School in Howard County, Maryland. She has studied piano with Mrs. Olga Kuperstein for two years and enjoys her piano lessons very much. Music become part of Michelle's life and playing piano make her extremely happy. It is Michelle's dream that she can use her music talent to serve the community someday. This year, Michelle won first place in the Maryland State Music Teachers Association (MSMTA) Piano Ensemble Competition and the Howard County Piano Ensemble Competition, she also won third place in the 2016 Young Musicians Inspiring Change Competition. In 2014, she won third place in the MSMTA Piano Ensemble Competition and MSMTA Piano Solo Spring Festival, second place in the Miriam Shields Gottlieb Memorial Piano Solo Competition, and the Howard County Piano Solo Competition.
Annie Yuan, Honorable Mention
Final Round Performance Piece: Variations in A Minor, Op. 40, No. 2 by Dmitri Kabalevsky
Born in Ellicott City, MD, Annie Ming Yuan, seven years old, began playing piano at the age of five with Ms. Olga Kuperstein. Annie won first place in the 2016 Maryland State Ensemble piano competition and the second place in the Carmel Debit International Piano Competition 2015. Annie won the first place in the 2015 Maryland State Solo completion and the first place in the 2015 Howard County Ensemble piano competitions.
Annie is a second grader at Manor Woods Elementary School, MD. Besides piano, Annie also plays cello. She enjoys drawing, reading, dancing, rope jumping, rock climbing and making riddles and traveling with family. Through piano study, Annie not only learns how to play music notes, but also express herself in a musical way. She also starts to understand and appreciate hard working ethics, which is the key for successful playing.
Born in Ellicott City, MD, Annie Ming Yuan, seven years old, began playing piano at the age of five with Ms. Olga Kuperstein. Annie won first place in the 2016 Maryland State Ensemble piano competition and the second place in the Carmel Debit International Piano Competition 2015. Annie won the first place in the 2015 Maryland State Solo completion and the first place in the 2015 Howard County Ensemble piano competitions.
Annie is a second grader at Manor Woods Elementary School, MD. Besides piano, Annie also plays cello. She enjoys drawing, reading, dancing, rope jumping, rock climbing and making riddles and traveling with family. Through piano study, Annie not only learns how to play music notes, but also express herself in a musical way. She also starts to understand and appreciate hard working ethics, which is the key for successful playing.