Concerto Division (ages 18-25)
Kevin Knowles, 1st Prize
Final Round Performance Pieces:
Concerto No. 4, Op. 58, I. Allegro moderato, by Ludwig van Beethoven
Twenty-year-old pianist Kevin Knowles is the prizewinner of many competitions including the Los Angeles Franz Liszt International Piano Competition and the Redlands Young Artist Competition. He has performed on concert stages throughout the United States from Gusman Hall in Miami, Florida, to Carnegie Hall in New York City. An active and enthusiastic collaborative musician, Kevin has accompanied both vocalists and instrumentalists with repertoire ranging from pre-baroque to 20th century. He is also an experienced ballet pianist and has collaborated with the Colburn Dance Academy on several occasions. Additionally, Kevin has performed with numerous orchestras including the Colburn Chamber Orchestra, Seraphim Symphony, and Spokane Symphony. The intensely expressive power of music affected his life by allowing him to communicate the powerful, intimate and abstract ideas that cannot be said with words alone. He is an alumnus of the Colburn Music Academy and currently studies under the tutelage of Professor Santiago Rodriguez.
Concerto No. 4, Op. 58, I. Allegro moderato, by Ludwig van Beethoven
Twenty-year-old pianist Kevin Knowles is the prizewinner of many competitions including the Los Angeles Franz Liszt International Piano Competition and the Redlands Young Artist Competition. He has performed on concert stages throughout the United States from Gusman Hall in Miami, Florida, to Carnegie Hall in New York City. An active and enthusiastic collaborative musician, Kevin has accompanied both vocalists and instrumentalists with repertoire ranging from pre-baroque to 20th century. He is also an experienced ballet pianist and has collaborated with the Colburn Dance Academy on several occasions. Additionally, Kevin has performed with numerous orchestras including the Colburn Chamber Orchestra, Seraphim Symphony, and Spokane Symphony. The intensely expressive power of music affected his life by allowing him to communicate the powerful, intimate and abstract ideas that cannot be said with words alone. He is an alumnus of the Colburn Music Academy and currently studies under the tutelage of Professor Santiago Rodriguez.
William Chiang, 3rd Prize
Final Round Performance Pieces:
Concerto No. 1, Op. 23, I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso by Peter Tchaikovsky
William studies at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music as a recipient of the Premiere Young Artist Award under the tutelage of Evelyne Brancart. He began piano studies with Olga Radosavljevich at the Cleveland Institute of Music and continued studies with Andrey Ponochevny and Pamela Paul at the UNT College of Music. William has performed as soloist with the IU Student Orchestra, Plano Symphony and Lewisville Lake Symphony, and has received prizes at the Chopin International Young Artist Competition (Houston), International Keyboard Odyssiad, and Hellam Young Artists Competition. In 2014, he was awarded the title of Texas Young Master in the Arts and has attended summer festivals such as Brevard, Orford, Dublin International, Texas State International, and Art of the Piano in Cincinnati. While at IU, he has been involved in the chamber music program, collaborative piano and orchestral programs.
Concerto No. 1, Op. 23, I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso by Peter Tchaikovsky
William studies at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music as a recipient of the Premiere Young Artist Award under the tutelage of Evelyne Brancart. He began piano studies with Olga Radosavljevich at the Cleveland Institute of Music and continued studies with Andrey Ponochevny and Pamela Paul at the UNT College of Music. William has performed as soloist with the IU Student Orchestra, Plano Symphony and Lewisville Lake Symphony, and has received prizes at the Chopin International Young Artist Competition (Houston), International Keyboard Odyssiad, and Hellam Young Artists Competition. In 2014, he was awarded the title of Texas Young Master in the Arts and has attended summer festivals such as Brevard, Orford, Dublin International, Texas State International, and Art of the Piano in Cincinnati. While at IU, he has been involved in the chamber music program, collaborative piano and orchestral programs.
Jane Liu, 3rd Prize & Audience Award
Final Round Performance Piece:
Concerto in G Major, I. Allegramente, by Maurice Ravel
Born in Sydney, Australia, Jane Liu began studying music at a young age. Jane is currently pursuing a dual Master’s Degree in Solo Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She is a prizewinner of many competitions including the 2016 Kawai Music Competition, 2018 Thousand Islands International Piano Competition, 2017 Master of Sonata Piano Competition, Art of Piano Competition, Sydney International Music Festival and the ENKOR competition. She is currently a finalist for Australian Youth Classical Music Awards and the American Prize in Solo Performance. Her performances have been broadcasted on Fine Music 102.5 FM, WCLV 104.9FM and WRUW 91.1 FM . At summer festivals, she has studied with Robert McDonald, Jerome Lowenthal, John Perry, Matti Raekallio, Natalya Antonova, Alexander Gavrylyuk, Boris Slutsky, Ronan O’Hora, Benjamin Pasternack, and Kathryn Selby. Playing music in a solo or collaborative setting has provided Jane with opportunities to meet inspiring musicians from different countries, different walks of life, and has helped her realize the necessity of art and music in the world.
Concerto in G Major, I. Allegramente, by Maurice Ravel
Born in Sydney, Australia, Jane Liu began studying music at a young age. Jane is currently pursuing a dual Master’s Degree in Solo Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She is a prizewinner of many competitions including the 2016 Kawai Music Competition, 2018 Thousand Islands International Piano Competition, 2017 Master of Sonata Piano Competition, Art of Piano Competition, Sydney International Music Festival and the ENKOR competition. She is currently a finalist for Australian Youth Classical Music Awards and the American Prize in Solo Performance. Her performances have been broadcasted on Fine Music 102.5 FM, WCLV 104.9FM and WRUW 91.1 FM . At summer festivals, she has studied with Robert McDonald, Jerome Lowenthal, John Perry, Matti Raekallio, Natalya Antonova, Alexander Gavrylyuk, Boris Slutsky, Ronan O’Hora, Benjamin Pasternack, and Kathryn Selby. Playing music in a solo or collaborative setting has provided Jane with opportunities to meet inspiring musicians from different countries, different walks of life, and has helped her realize the necessity of art and music in the world.
Charlotte Tang, Honorable Mention
Final Round Performance Piece:
Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54, I. Allegro affettuoso, by Robert Schumann
Charlotte Tang, top prize winner at the Second Japan-Hong Kong International Music Competition, has brought artful yet fiery performances to communities and concert venues in Italy, Spain, Croatia, Canada, the United States and Hong Kong. Currently studying with Roberto Plano, she is pursuing a Performance Diploma at Indiana University. She especially enjoys community performances and engagements, where music can make the room weep and laugh as one. The intense emotional connection from the auditory experience helps empathize the needs and wants of others, and fuels Charlotte to bring joy, and positive social changes through music and service. In addition to her current teacher, Charlotte has had the privilege to study with Jeffrey Cohen at Manhattan School of Music, Clipper Erickson at Temple University and Carl Cranmer, along with master classes and coaching by Anton Nel, Douglas Humpherys, André Laplante, Logan Skelton, John Perry and Charles Abramovic, among others. On top of performances and studies, she is an avid baker and loves solo travelling. Her dream travel destinations are Alaska, Fiji and the Alps.
Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54, I. Allegro affettuoso, by Robert Schumann
Charlotte Tang, top prize winner at the Second Japan-Hong Kong International Music Competition, has brought artful yet fiery performances to communities and concert venues in Italy, Spain, Croatia, Canada, the United States and Hong Kong. Currently studying with Roberto Plano, she is pursuing a Performance Diploma at Indiana University. She especially enjoys community performances and engagements, where music can make the room weep and laugh as one. The intense emotional connection from the auditory experience helps empathize the needs and wants of others, and fuels Charlotte to bring joy, and positive social changes through music and service. In addition to her current teacher, Charlotte has had the privilege to study with Jeffrey Cohen at Manhattan School of Music, Clipper Erickson at Temple University and Carl Cranmer, along with master classes and coaching by Anton Nel, Douglas Humpherys, André Laplante, Logan Skelton, John Perry and Charles Abramovic, among others. On top of performances and studies, she is an avid baker and loves solo travelling. Her dream travel destinations are Alaska, Fiji and the Alps.