Division 1 (ages 6-7)
Angie Zhu, 1st Prize
Final Round Performance Piece:
Impromptu No. in A-Flat Major, Op 29 by Frédéric Chopin
Angie Zhu is 7 years old from Potomac, Maryland. She started learning piano with Ms. San-Qing Lu Bennaman at age of 4, since then playing and performing the piano has been a huge part in her life. She has participated many public recitals and performed at different senior centers in Greater Washington DC area. She has won many piano competitions and first performed at Carnegie Weill recital hall in Spring 2019. Angie likes classical music and wishes to become a professional pianist when she grows up. Besides playing piano, Angie likes drawing, reading and swimming. Her favorite books are Greek mythologies.
Impromptu No. in A-Flat Major, Op 29 by Frédéric Chopin
Angie Zhu is 7 years old from Potomac, Maryland. She started learning piano with Ms. San-Qing Lu Bennaman at age of 4, since then playing and performing the piano has been a huge part in her life. She has participated many public recitals and performed at different senior centers in Greater Washington DC area. She has won many piano competitions and first performed at Carnegie Weill recital hall in Spring 2019. Angie likes classical music and wishes to become a professional pianist when she grows up. Besides playing piano, Angie likes drawing, reading and swimming. Her favorite books are Greek mythologies.
Claire Li, 2nd Prize
Final Round Performance Piece:
Mazurka in D-Flat Major, Op. 30, No. 3 by Frédéric Chopin
Waltz in E Minor, Op. Post. by Frédéric Chopin
Claire Li started her studies of the piano at the age of 4. She won Gold Prize in IMPACT Young Virtuoso Competition in 2020, First Place in Crescendo International Youth Music Competition 2021, Grand Prize in NLPA International Young Artists Competition in 2021 and was the Alternate Winner of 2021 National Young Virtuosi Recital Competition. Claire currently studies piano with Michael Thomopoulos at the Palisades School of Music. Performing brings Claire great joy and thus she aspires to be a concert pianist in the future.
Mazurka in D-Flat Major, Op. 30, No. 3 by Frédéric Chopin
Waltz in E Minor, Op. Post. by Frédéric Chopin
Claire Li started her studies of the piano at the age of 4. She won Gold Prize in IMPACT Young Virtuoso Competition in 2020, First Place in Crescendo International Youth Music Competition 2021, Grand Prize in NLPA International Young Artists Competition in 2021 and was the Alternate Winner of 2021 National Young Virtuosi Recital Competition. Claire currently studies piano with Michael Thomopoulos at the Palisades School of Music. Performing brings Claire great joy and thus she aspires to be a concert pianist in the future.
Belinda Zhu, 3rd Prize
Final Round Performance Piece:
Sonata in C major, K. 330/300h, Mvt. 1 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Belinda Zhu is 7 years old and a 2nd grader at Dufief Elementary School, North Potomac, Maryland. She studied piano with Mrs. San Qing Lu Bennaman at the age of 5. Belinda won 1st place and Judges Distinction Award in American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition 2020, 1st Place in Metropolitan Music Festival 2019 and 2020, High Honor Award in MCMTA judged recital 2020, 2nd place in Gottlieb Competition 2020, 3rd place in Washington Universal Piano Competition 2020, 1st Place in MSMTA piano solo festival 2021 and 2nd place in International Young Artists Competition 2021. Belinda learned to be gritty through piano study. As a huge fan of STEM, She enjoys doing competitions in Math and Computer Science. She envisions herself being a professor in computer science or an entrepreneur in the IT industry in the future. She also likes Drawing, Dancing, Fencing, and Tennis.
Sonata in C major, K. 330/300h, Mvt. 1 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Belinda Zhu is 7 years old and a 2nd grader at Dufief Elementary School, North Potomac, Maryland. She studied piano with Mrs. San Qing Lu Bennaman at the age of 5. Belinda won 1st place and Judges Distinction Award in American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition 2020, 1st Place in Metropolitan Music Festival 2019 and 2020, High Honor Award in MCMTA judged recital 2020, 2nd place in Gottlieb Competition 2020, 3rd place in Washington Universal Piano Competition 2020, 1st Place in MSMTA piano solo festival 2021 and 2nd place in International Young Artists Competition 2021. Belinda learned to be gritty through piano study. As a huge fan of STEM, She enjoys doing competitions in Math and Computer Science. She envisions herself being a professor in computer science or an entrepreneur in the IT industry in the future. She also likes Drawing, Dancing, Fencing, and Tennis.
Emma Xia, Honorable Mention
Final Round Performance Piece:
Piano Sonata in C Major, Ho. XVI:1, Mvt. 1 by Joseph Haydn
Walz in A minor, B. 150, Op. Posth. by Frédéric Chopin
Emma Xia is a 6-year-old kindergartener at The Seven Hill School in Walnut Creek, CA. She began studying piano with Steinway Artist Dr. Joseph Irrera at 4 years of age and has already garnered top prizes at both national and international piano competitions. Most recently Emma swept 1st place in all four categories (Baroque, Solo, Chopin, and Contemporary) of the Pelican International Piano Competition hosted by the Opus Music Foundation. She also has won 3rd place at the Chicago International Piano Competition, 3rd place at the Music Teachers Association of California's Piano Sonata Competition, 1st place at the San Francisco Bay Area Piano Competition, and 1st place at the Music Teachers Association of California's Baroque Festival. Piano plays a prominent role in Emma’s life, and she is passionate about sharing the music with audiences. In addition to piano, Emma also studies ballet and enjoys swimming, gymnastics, skiing, drawing, and solving puzzle games.
Piano Sonata in C Major, Ho. XVI:1, Mvt. 1 by Joseph Haydn
Walz in A minor, B. 150, Op. Posth. by Frédéric Chopin
Emma Xia is a 6-year-old kindergartener at The Seven Hill School in Walnut Creek, CA. She began studying piano with Steinway Artist Dr. Joseph Irrera at 4 years of age and has already garnered top prizes at both national and international piano competitions. Most recently Emma swept 1st place in all four categories (Baroque, Solo, Chopin, and Contemporary) of the Pelican International Piano Competition hosted by the Opus Music Foundation. She also has won 3rd place at the Chicago International Piano Competition, 3rd place at the Music Teachers Association of California's Piano Sonata Competition, 1st place at the San Francisco Bay Area Piano Competition, and 1st place at the Music Teachers Association of California's Baroque Festival. Piano plays a prominent role in Emma’s life, and she is passionate about sharing the music with audiences. In addition to piano, Emma also studies ballet and enjoys swimming, gymnastics, skiing, drawing, and solving puzzle games.