Division 1 (ages 7-9)
Matthew Chang, 1st Prize & Audience Award
Final Round Performance Piece: Sonata in C Minor, Op. 13 "Pathetique," mvt. 3, by Ludwig van Beethoven
Matthew Chang, nine years old, has been studying piano with Dr. Kuei-I Wu for four years. Since 2015, he has been receiving an impressive array of awards and prizes from International Piano Competitions, which include sixteen first prizes, two second prizes, and one third prize. Most notably, Matthew received the Exceptional Young Talent Special Prize and The Kern Foundation "Aspiration" Award from the Rosalyn Tureck International Bach Competition. Although just nine, Matthew has already played with the Washington Conservatory Orchestra, made his debut at the Metallener Saal Musikverein in Austria, and performed in Carnegie Hall six times. He has also performed in the Poland and German Embassies in Washington DC as one of the winners of the Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Competition. Matthew's performances are always enhanced by his obvious love of music projected through his playing. For example, the New York Concert Review praised Matthew's performance: What struck one about this young player was not just that he possessed command and polish in every regard, but that he projected the life of each distinct phrase with a joyful and intense involvement. His rhythm was not merely solid, but also full of dance-like energy!
Matthew Chang, nine years old, has been studying piano with Dr. Kuei-I Wu for four years. Since 2015, he has been receiving an impressive array of awards and prizes from International Piano Competitions, which include sixteen first prizes, two second prizes, and one third prize. Most notably, Matthew received the Exceptional Young Talent Special Prize and The Kern Foundation "Aspiration" Award from the Rosalyn Tureck International Bach Competition. Although just nine, Matthew has already played with the Washington Conservatory Orchestra, made his debut at the Metallener Saal Musikverein in Austria, and performed in Carnegie Hall six times. He has also performed in the Poland and German Embassies in Washington DC as one of the winners of the Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Competition. Matthew's performances are always enhanced by his obvious love of music projected through his playing. For example, the New York Concert Review praised Matthew's performance: What struck one about this young player was not just that he possessed command and polish in every regard, but that he projected the life of each distinct phrase with a joyful and intense involvement. His rhythm was not merely solid, but also full of dance-like energy!
Felix Xu, 2nd Prize
Final Round Performance Piece: Invention No. 6 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Felix Xu, currently a third grader in Colvin Run Elementary school, loves school and enjoys great friendship inside and outside of Colvin Run Elementary. Even when he was very little, Felix was very interested in music. He started piano lesson with Ms. Margarita Gramaticova at the age of five, and he has won a number of prizes in the past few years. He recently won first place in the Asian American International Music Competition Peewee Division and honors in a judged recital organized by the Virginia Music Teachers Association. In addition to his love of music, Felix likes reading and tennis.
Felix Xu, currently a third grader in Colvin Run Elementary school, loves school and enjoys great friendship inside and outside of Colvin Run Elementary. Even when he was very little, Felix was very interested in music. He started piano lesson with Ms. Margarita Gramaticova at the age of five, and he has won a number of prizes in the past few years. He recently won first place in the Asian American International Music Competition Peewee Division and honors in a judged recital organized by the Virginia Music Teachers Association. In addition to his love of music, Felix likes reading and tennis.
Caroline Su, 3rd Prize
Final Round Performance Piece: "La Separation" Nocturne in F Minor by Mikhail Glinka
Caroline Su, 9 years old, is a 3rd grader at Haycock Elementary School. She started her piano studies at age 5. Her teacher is Ms. Margarita Gramaticova. Caroline has already won many awards such as first place at the Maryland State Music Teachers Association Spring Festival Piano Solo and the YMIC Metropolitan Festival Piano Solo, third place at the Washington Music Teachers Association Bartók Competition, second place at the YMIC International Competition Piano, and she has been chosen for the Honors Recital at the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association Sonata Festival. In addition to playing the piano Caroline also enjoys playing softball and tennis, and is an avid reader. Playing piano has greatly inspired Caroline's interest in classical music, and participating in piano competitions has helped Caroline achieve more self confidence.
Caroline Su, 9 years old, is a 3rd grader at Haycock Elementary School. She started her piano studies at age 5. Her teacher is Ms. Margarita Gramaticova. Caroline has already won many awards such as first place at the Maryland State Music Teachers Association Spring Festival Piano Solo and the YMIC Metropolitan Festival Piano Solo, third place at the Washington Music Teachers Association Bartók Competition, second place at the YMIC International Competition Piano, and she has been chosen for the Honors Recital at the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association Sonata Festival. In addition to playing the piano Caroline also enjoys playing softball and tennis, and is an avid reader. Playing piano has greatly inspired Caroline's interest in classical music, and participating in piano competitions has helped Caroline achieve more self confidence.
Anna Bolotova, Honorable Mention
Final Round Performance Piece: Etude from Children's Album, Book 1, by Aram Khachaturian
Nine-year-old Anna Bolotova has been studying music since the age of seven. She first learned piano while in Russia at the Moscow Music School named after Sergei Prokofiev. She has found learning the piano to be the best way to study music and learn music theory. Mastering the piano requires a tremendous amount of effort, and with that effort, and she has found that piano study brings many useful skills. Playing the piano has given Anna an emotional and creative outlet, and has provided her a ready-made opportunity to perform.
Nine-year-old Anna Bolotova has been studying music since the age of seven. She first learned piano while in Russia at the Moscow Music School named after Sergei Prokofiev. She has found learning the piano to be the best way to study music and learn music theory. Mastering the piano requires a tremendous amount of effort, and with that effort, and she has found that piano study brings many useful skills. Playing the piano has given Anna an emotional and creative outlet, and has provided her a ready-made opportunity to perform.