2022 Global International Music Competition Prize Winners' Biography
Diana Schnürpel - Piano (Classical) - Concert Performance Division - Absolute Platinum Medalist - Germany
Diana Schnürpel was born into a musical family. In 2001, she graduated with distinction in piano and began singing studies at the Choral Academy in Moscow with the opera singer Nina Rautio. She then studied opera singing at the “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” University of Music and Theatre in Leipzig with Regina Werner-Dietrich. In 2012 she took singing lessons with hero tenor Manfred Jung. Schnürpel made her stage debut in Germany with the role of the Bride in Les Noces by Igor Stravinsky at the Ruhr Piano Festival in Duisburg in July 2013. Afterwards she sang the part of the Queen of the Night on the Magic Flute in numerous houses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. For the roles Gepopo in György Ligeti’s Le Grande Macabre and the title role of Maria Stuarda by Gaetano Donizetti, she received attention in the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons,
and her great and unique coloration combined with the warm sound of her voice was attested. She has been working with the conductor and composer Dr. Stefan Lano since 2016. She was at the Lucerne Theatre (Switzerland) from 2016 to 2021 and won numerous international competitions and several scholarshipsuch as the Thuringian Cultural Foundations in 2021. In the 2022/2023 season she sings the Queen of the Night at the Ber Opera (Switzerland). Since 2022 she also plays with Margarita Gritskova as Duo DiaMar.
Iwona Glina - Flute - Concert Performance Division - Platinum Medalist - Greece
An award-winning Dr Iwona Glinka is a soloist, educator, recording artist, orchestral and chamber musician, and leading performer of new and experimental music. She founded the Phasma-Music Ensemble in 2016, where she currently serves as the artistic director in addition to playing many concerts a year as an ensemble member. She has given dozens of solo recitals
with classical and contemporary repertoire and has appeared as Principal Flautist with orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. She has developed a great interest in New Music, which since 1994 has resulted in over one hundred world premières of works by Australian, Belgian, British, Canadian, Greek, German, Polish and US composers, more than one hundred of them commissioned by and written especially for her.
Iwona Glinka was born in Kwidzyn, Poland. At the age of 18 she graduated from the Music Lyceum in Gdansk with a Flute Diploma (Highest Distinction). She continued her studies at the Music Academy of Gdansk, Poland. She graduated from the Academy in 1994 with the degree of Master of Music in Performance (flute). Between 1991 and 1994, on the Baloise Holding
Scholarship, she attended the Summer Courses of the Music Academy of Lenk in Switzerland with Peter-Lukas Graf. In 1992, on a scholarship from the Mayor of the City of Darmstadt in Germany, she attended the Ferienkurse für Neue Musik where she studied with Pierre-Yves Artaud. In 1996 there followed a further period of studies at the Accademia Internationale
Superiore di Musica in Biella, Italy, again with Peter-Lukas Graf and later at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris, France, with Pierre-Yves Artaud.
Since 1995, Iwona Glinka has made Athens, Greece, her second home. In 2015, she relinquished her position with the Athens Symphony Orchestra and Hellenic Contemporary Music Ensemble to pursue a more active solo career after 20 years as an ensemble member and an orchestral musician. She currently divides her time between her family home in Piraeus and
Kwidzyn. Currently she is a professor of Flute and Chamber Music at the University of Ioannina in Greece where she has taught since 2020. Iwona Glinka is the first-prize winner in the International Moscow Music Online- Competition 2020, the 2019 International Quebec Music Competition, the Salzburg and Amsterdam Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition 2019, the Rome Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition 2018, the IMKA International Internet
Music competition 2018 and she received the Most Distinguished Artist Prize & Special Mention at the IBLA Grand Prize Competition 2017. In addition to touring on a regular basis, she was chosen as a featured performer: for The International Conference “Research Hands on Flute” (2017, Aveiro, Portugal), the National Flute Association Convention (2016, San Diego,
USA), the Canadian Flute Association Convention (2015, Toronto, Canada) 5th and 10th Sacred Music of Patmos (2005 and 2010, Greece), Electro Media Works (2008, Athens, Greece), International James Galway Flute Festival (2007, Weggis, Switzerland), 3rd and 4th Mediterranean Contemporary Music Days (2005 and 2006, Istanbul, Turkey), 3rd Flute Festival
(2006, Madison, USA), Archanes Festival (2002, Greece), Days of Contemporary Music (2002, Athens, Greece), Schoenberg Festival (2001, Athens, Greece), International Flute Festival (1997, Rome, Italy), International Computer Music Conference (1997, Thessaloniki, Greece).
She received major grants to commission, to record and to perform new works the Costopoulos Foundation (2020, 2017, 2013, Greece), the Norwegian Society of Composers (2017), the Adam Mickiewicz Institute Polish Culture Around the World (2015, 2016, Poland), the Britten-Pears Foundation (2012, UK), the RVW Trust Foundation (2012, UK), the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (2012, Canada).
Iwona Glinka has recorded extensively and appears on a dozen CDs available on the European, Canadian and US labels such as Sarton Records, Universal, BMG, Auris Subtilise, Centaur Records, Irida, Magni, Legend, Phasma Music and others.
Abigail Wu - Cello - Concert Performance Category - Platinum Medalist - Taiwan
Abigail Wu, born in 2006, began her cello studies at the age of six. Over the past few years, Abigail has achieved success in numerous competitions, some of which include First place in The National Musical Competition of Baroque Finals twice, First place in the National Lyraa Academy Talent competition, First Place in the National Student Music Competition in Taiwan, and Silver in the Taiwan Music Competition. Additionally, Abigail is a First Prize winner of the Golden Classical Music Awards and was named an Exceptional Young Artist. Abigail serves as the principal cellist of the Morrison Academy String Orchestra and is a four-time recipient of the Outstanding Orchestra Musician award. Furthermore, Abigail is a prominent and active member of the Taipei Philharmonic Youth Ensemble (TPYE). During the 2019 summer, Abigail was invited to serve as the principal cellist for TPYE when the symphony orchestra traveled to Italy to perform and attend masterclasses at the Conservatory of Brescia. With the instrument she finds inspiration and solace in, Abigail has been serving the community through charity recitals and teachings to provide opportunities for underprivileged children to learn music. Through multiple channels, Abigail continues to pursue her passion and seek improvement for cello and music.
Parisa Verma - Violin - Concert Performance Division - Platinum Medalist - USA
Parisa Verma began playing the violin at age 8. Currently, she is a rising senior at Riverdale Country School in New York and attends the Manhattan School of Music Precollege on Saturdays, where she is a student of Ms. Ella Heifets. Some of Parisa’s most recent musical achievements include winning the Grand Prize of the 2022 Vision Competition, a Platinum Medal in the 2022 Quebec International Music Competition, and a Gold Medal in the North American Virtuoso International Competition. In addition, Parisa has participated in many masterclasses and performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, NJPac, and BergenPAC, where she has opened for esteemed artists Joshua Bell, YoYo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, and Sarah Chang with the Elisabeth Morrow School Chamber Orchestra, of which she was concertmistress.
Puthita Puvabunditsin - Flute - Concert Performance Division - Platinum Medalist - Thailand
Puthita Puvabunditsin was born on September 3rd, 2004, Thailand. started playing Flute when she was 13 in KUS Symphonic Band. At 14 years old, she started studying with Dr. Prapassorn Puangsamlee and Mr. Sanook Boonpan. After graduating middle school, she enrolled to the Young Artist Music Program, College of Music, Mahidol University, where she receives Merit Scholarship, with Ms. Yujin Jung, the Principal flutist of the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2019, she passed the Final Round of the 21th Osaka International Music Competition. She served as a Principal flutist of Mahidol Wind Ensemble and Pre-College of Music Mahidol University Orchestra since 2019. She also played Piccolo in Thailand International Wind Symphony Concert 2019. In 2020, she won the 1st Siam Ratchada Flute Competition 2020 with Gold Prize. In 2021, She recieved Gold Prize of Siam Sinfonietta & Opera International. And, in 2022, she recieved Gold Award in Woodwind & Brass category, Senior B, Vienna Music Competition 2021, Platinum Medal in Global International Music Competition Online 2022. she was invited to play in YAMP Honor Concert 2019, 2020 and 2021 ( with Sphere Trio ). In additional to that she also premiered pieces by Prin Varojtecha, Torlak Chutichaisakda, Pakchanok Boonyarat and Jirapat Leetrakulnumchai.
Puthita Puvabunditsin - Flute - Concert Performance Division - Platinum Medalist - Thailand
Puthita Puvabunditsin was born on September 3rd, 2004, Thailand. started playing Flute when she was 13 in KUS Symphonic Band. At 14 years old, she started studying with Dr. Prapassorn Puangsamlee and Mr. Sanook Boonpan. After graduating middle school, she enrolled to the Young Artist Music Program, College of Music, Mahidol University, where she receives Merit Scholarship, with Ms. Yujin Jung, the Principal flutist of the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2019, she passed the Final Round of the 21th Osaka International Music Competition. She served as a Principal flutist of Mahidol Wind Ensemble and Pre-College of Music Mahidol University Orchestra since 2019. She also played Piccolo in Thailand International Wind Symphony Concert 2019. In 2020, she won the 1st Siam Ratchada Flute Competition 2020 with Gold Prize. In 2021, She recieved Gold Prize of Siam Sinfonietta & Opera International. And, in 2022, she recieved Gold Award in Woodwind & Brass category, Senior B, Vienna Music Competition 2021, Platinum Medal in Global International Music Competition Online 2022. she was invited to play in YAMP Honor Concert 2019, 2020 and 2021 ( with Sphere Trio ). In additional to that she also premiered pieces by Prin Varojtecha, Torlak Chutichaisakda, Pakchanok Boonyarat and Jirapat Leetrakulnumchai.
Qifan Wu - Piano (Classical) - Concert Performance Division - Platinum Medalist - USA
Pianist Qifan Wu has performed in diverse venues throughout the United States as well as in Italy and China. He loves to share the enthusiasm and joy that he found in music with children and seniors through concerts.
Born in Hangzhou, China, Qifan began his piano journey at the age of seven. Over the years of private study, he found his passion and devoted himself to the craft. In 2015, he came to the United States to further his education. Under the mentorship of Dr. Andrew Cooperstock and harpsichordist Dr. Elizabeth Farr, Qifan completed his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Colorado Boulder. Later, he earned his Master of Music under the tutelage of Benjamin Pasternack at Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Currently, Mr. Wu is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of North Texas with concert pianist Gustavo Romero, where he also teaches group piano classes and private piano lessons to all levels of students. Beyond his academic studies, Qifan has served as a translator in the 2018 Shanghai International Piano Festival & Institute. He was selected as a piano-maintenance assistant at Peabody Conservatory
between 2018 and 2020.
Ziying Zhao - Guqin - Versatile Musician Division - Platinum Medalist - USA
Ziying Zhao, a guqin player in the US. She started to learn guqin when she was 15 years old in China. She went to the US for college when she was 16. In the US, she keeps learning guqin and since 2014, she has been teaching guqin in the United States. She has been invited to perform guqin at Seattle Center, University of Washington, Texas A&M University, Asian & Pacific Culture Center, and other organizations, and has given guqin presentations in many universities and schools. Guqin is an ancient and mysterious musical instrument with more than 4000 years of history. Guqin is one of the best musical instruments to represent traditional Chinese culture. Many guqin pieces are from hundreds or thousands of years ago and the famous Chinese philosopher and educator Confucius use guqin to teach his students. Ziying Zhao hopes she can bring the ancient sound to modern society and let the world know the music from thousand years ago.
Ziying Zhao - Guqin - Versatile Musician Division - Platinum Medalist - USA
Ziying Zhao, a guqin player in the US. She started to learn guqin when she was 15 years old in China. She went to the US for college when she was 16. In the US, she keeps learning guqin and since 2014, she has been teaching guqin in the United States. She has been invited to perform guqin at Seattle Center, University of Washington, Texas A&M University, Asian & Pacific Culture Center, and other organizations, and has given guqin presentations in many universities and schools. Guqin is an ancient and mysterious musical instrument with more than 4000 years of history. Guqin is one of the best musical instruments to represent traditional Chinese culture. Many guqin pieces are from hundreds or thousands of years ago and the famous Chinese philosopher and educator Confucius use guqin to teach his students. Ziying Zhao hopes she can bring the ancient sound to modern society and let the world know the music from thousand years ago.
Chian-Ru Chen - Piano (Classical) - Concert Performance Division - Platinum Medalist - Taiwan
Chian-Ru Chen has devoted her time and effort to electrical engineering and music performance. As a student pursuing a master’s degree in the Institute of Electronics and Engineering at National Tsing Hua University, she focuses on current technology, builds a structure precisely based on experiment goals, critically thinks, logically designs step-by-step procedures to testify her conception, and applies what she has learned in class to improve her design whenever it does not meet her expectations.
Although she has always been an amateur piano player, she still exerts herself to enhance her playing’s clarity and precision and pass on the emotion of music to listeners. Besides, to be proficient in both electrical engineering and piano performance, she has to keep a balance between doing research and practicing playing the piano. She is deeply attracted to Baroque music. This music presents simple melodies that coordinate simultaneously and grandeur harmonies that support those melodies. When she hears and plays music, she often feels peaceful and all her pressures are relieved accordingly.
She has been under the tutelage of prof Hsing-Chwen Hsin and has attended master classes with several masters, such as Karoly Mocsari, Aquiles Delle Vigne, Mo-Li Chiang, and Huei-Wen Chen. During her college and graduate years, she won in
several international competitions, such as:
⬤ Platinum Medal, Global International Music Competition 2022, Concert
Performance Division
⬤ Platinum Medal, Canadian International Music Competition 2021-2022, Young
Artist Category
⬤ Grand Prize, Golden Piano Talents Competition 2021, Piano Lover Category
⬤ I Prize, II International Gloria Artis Music Competition in Vienna, Amateur
Category
⬤ First Prize, Golden Classical Music Awards 2021 International Competition, Solo
Piano Division (19 years old and open category)
⬤ Third Place, National Student Music Competition for the 2019 academic year, Solo
Piano Division (19 years old and open category)
She began her piano lessons at the age of 3.5 at the Yamaha Music School. She learned to improvise, create, and accompany through systematic curriculums. To put into practice what she had learned, she presented her piano composition in the Junior Original Concert. Additionally, she received her advanced certificate in Piano Grade 5 by taking an exam administered by Yamaha Grade Examination System. It was these incidents that inspired her to organize a piano trio team and be the accompanist of the class chorus competition. She acquired an outstanding award in the Student Music Competition in Hsinchu for the 2012 academic year.
Academically, she now researches more efficient and pragmatic ways of designing radio frequency circuits. Furthermore, in performance, her resolute intention for the future is to be skillful in playing different styles of music, from Baroque to Modern. From the experiences of participating in competitions, she acquired time management techniques, reviewed her playing skills strictly, and practiced efficiently by discussing solutions with the teacher. Also, she learned the positive attitudes of other contestants. For instance, a 65-year-old pianist from the Czech Republic participated in a competition and won first prize. It showed his perseverance in learning and the courage to contest with younger people. In addition, from the performances of other competitors, she learned that every performer has different interpretations of music, and their innovations let people appreciate the same work from different perspectives. Likewise, in science, discussion and collaboration are very helpful ways to solve problems in scientific research since people can hear abundant thoughts and
judgments from multiple angles. Furthermore, while practicing Faure’s piano piece, she came to realize that both the medieval music scale and tonality that the composer learned at school and the daily life of attending activities in the salon make his music harmonious, soft, and deft. This made her believe that every background leads to different styles and that being respectful of every culture is an indispensable virtue. From experiences in science and music, she realized that being perseverant and brave to face challenges is the best way to enrich her life.
Martyna Sujka - Piano (Classical) - Concert Performance Division - Platinum Medalist - Poland
Born in 2009 in Poland, in Lodz, graduate of the 6th class of the "Stanisław Moniuszko School of Music in Łódź/Poland. Teacher: Alina Grossman-Jędrasiak
The artistic achievements in piano competitions:
Tiziano Rossetti International Online Music Competition January 2022, Switzerland ( 2nd Prize)
International Online Contest "Prometheus", February 2022, Italy (1st Prize)
II International Gloria Artis Music Competition, Online Edition, February 2022,
Vienna, (2nd Prize)
Winter Stars of Dresden; Online 2022, February 2022, (1st Prize)
V Polish National Piano Competition & W Barokowym , February 2022,
(1st Prize and Laureate of Reward of Artistic Personality)
London Young Musician, season 4, March 2022; season 1, June 22-23 (Gold Prize)
World Classical Music Awards, 2022, season 2 (Gold Prize)
By playing the piano, I want to express the emotions and invite the listener to the magical world of music. I combine my passion for playing the piano with love for singing. I have a laureate of vocal competitions at the provincial and national level and I am a member of the vocal ensemble mŁodzianki. I love: baking, reading fantasy books and listening to the piano music.
Martyna Sujka - Piano (Classical) - Concert Performance Division - Platinum Medalist - Poland
Born in 2009 in Poland, in Lodz, graduate of the 6th class of the "Stanisław Moniuszko School of Music in Łódź/Poland. Teacher: Alina Grossman-Jędrasiak
The artistic achievements in piano competitions:
Tiziano Rossetti International Online Music Competition January 2022, Switzerland ( 2nd Prize)
International Online Contest "Prometheus", February 2022, Italy (1st Prize)
II International Gloria Artis Music Competition, Online Edition, February 2022,
Vienna, (2nd Prize)
Winter Stars of Dresden; Online 2022, February 2022, (1st Prize)
V Polish National Piano Competition & W Barokowym , February 2022,
(1st Prize and Laureate of Reward of Artistic Personality)
London Young Musician, season 4, March 2022; season 1, June 22-23 (Gold Prize)
World Classical Music Awards, 2022, season 2 (Gold Prize)
By playing the piano, I want to express the emotions and invite the listener to the magical world of music. I combine my passion for playing the piano with love for singing. I have a laureate of vocal competitions at the provincial and national level and I am a member of the vocal ensemble mŁodzianki. I love: baking, reading fantasy books and listening to the piano music.
Patcharanan Jirachaiprasitti - Voice - Concert Performance Division - Platinum Medalist - Thailand
Patcharanan Jirachaiprasitti is 12 years old singer from Thailand.
She has started to take vocal courses at the age of ten. And she has got several awards such as
- Second Place and Second Highest Score from The 9th Hong Kong International Youth Performance Arts Festival 2021 - THAILAND Preliminary Round
- Silver Prize from London Young Musician 2021 Season 3
- Second Place Winner from American Music Talent Competition 2022
- Gold Award from The 6th Brilliant Talent Discovery Awards International Music Competition 2022 in Singapore
- Gold Prize Winner from Bravo Children's Music Festival 2022
- Second Place Winner and Second Highest Score from The 9th Hong Kong International Youth Performance Arts Festival 2021 in Hong Kong Final Round
-Grand Prize from from International Youth Music Competitions IYMC, April 2022 Atlanta,USA ( BROADWAY, MUSICAL THEATRE, DISNEY )
-Third Prize Winner from MAP International Music Competition (MAP-IMC) 2022
-Third Prize From North International Music Competition
-First Prize Winner From THE MUSE 2022 INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION Athens, Greece
- First Place and Second Highest Score from Wien 2022 International Young Musicians Music Competition, Thailand Preliminary Round
- Second Place from Wien 2022 International Young Musicians Music Competition, Final Round
- Platinum Award from Global International Music Competition Online 2022
Yu Xiao - Piano - Concert Performance Division - Platinum Medalist - Australia
Yu Xiao was born in Melbourne, Australia in 2014. She started piano at the age of 6 and has been studying under the guidance of piano teacher Ms. Yu-Ju Kuan in Miss Yvonne Piano Home Studio in Sydney since 2020. Yu started her first international appearance in 2021 and own Platinum Award in the Canadian International Music Competition in the “ Rising Stars” Category. In 2022, the Platinum award she won in the Global International Music Competition is definitely a milestone in her journey with piano. It gave her a big encouragement to explore more repertoires with different styles and stories, and she also receives joyfulness from the music she plays. Apart from playing the piano, Yu loves listening to classical music, reading, outdoor sports and drawing.
Yu Xiao - Piano - Concert Performance Division - Platinum Medalist - Australia
Yu Xiao was born in Melbourne, Australia in 2014. She started piano at the age of 6 and has been studying under the guidance of piano teacher Ms. Yu-Ju Kuan in Miss Yvonne Piano Home Studio in Sydney since 2020. Yu started her first international appearance in 2021 and own Platinum Award in the Canadian International Music Competition in the “ Rising Stars” Category. In 2022, the Platinum award she won in the Global International Music Competition is definitely a milestone in her journey with piano. It gave her a big encouragement to explore more repertoires with different styles and stories, and she also receives joyfulness from the music she plays. Apart from playing the piano, Yu loves listening to classical music, reading, outdoor sports and drawing.
Jae Eun Park - Flute (Concert Performance Division) - Gold Medalist - USA
Jae Eun Park was born in 2007. She started her musical education at the age of 5, and at the age of 10, she started her flute journey under the guidance of Ching-Yi(Judy) Ho. She participated in SCSBOA Honor Band for two years and is currently attending Orange County School of Arts Wind Studies Conservatory, pursuing her passion for music. She has won branch and state honors in the Certificate of Merit program. She has won awards in MTAC Romantic Festival and Classical Festival, American Protege, Golden Classical Music Awards, Kings Peak International Music Competition, Vienna Virtuoso Music Competition, Quebec Classical Music Competition, MAP International Music Competition, North American Virtuoso International Music Competition, London International Music Competition, and Grand Prize International Music Competition. To inspire others and share her musical talent, she is part of the Dragon Kim Foundation, where she instructs younger students. She is also a vice president of Empowering Arts, a nonprofit organization, where she performs in senior facilities weekly.
Glorialle (Ludmila Pelahiy) – Gold Medalist – Voice (Operatic Pop) – Concert Performance Division - Austria
Glorialle is studying at the Friedrich Gulda School of Music Wien. She is member of
the OPERA-teens of the Vienna State Opera. The young singer also performed in
the Opera of Burg Gars. Glorialle took part at numerous national and international
competitions and festivals. She has been presented as a soloist with a Platinum Prize
award at the “Canadian International Music Competition 2020-2021” (Young Artist Category), three Gold Prize awards – at the “Grand Metropolitan International Music Competition 2021”, at the “Quebec International Music Competition 2021” and at the “Global International Music Competition 2022”, four Silver Prize awards – at the “Appassionato Quebec Youth Music Festival 2021”, at the “Grand Maestro International Music Competition 2021“ (Professional Category), at the "Trinity International Music Competition 2021“ (Professional Category) and at the "Euro Elite International Music Competition 2022“ (Professional Category) and a Bronze Prize award at the “North American Virtuoso International Music Competition 2021”. Glorialle also has been awarded with a first prize at the “Verbum International Spoken Word Contest 2021”, several second prizes – at the “Talents of Europe International Art Festival & Contest 2021“, at “The Song International Contest 2021”, at the “American Edition International Contest Fiestalonia Milenio 2021” and at the IInd International Competition “Edelweiss” 2017 and two third prizes –
at the “World Art Games International Art Media Contest 2021“ and at the “III. Danubia Talents Liszt International Music Competition 2021”. Glorialle is also double prizewinner at the Viennese regional competition “Prima la musica”: 2009 in the category “Vocal Ensemble” and 2010 in the category “Solo Singing”. She has perfomed as a member of the OPERA-teens in the
6 th International Anton Bruckner Choir Competition and Festival 2017. The OPERA-teens has been awarded with a Silver Prize.
Glorialle took part at several gala concerts and festivals in Europe such as the gala events “CGDC Award” 2012 and 2013 and the benefit gala evening Innocent 2021 in Vienna, the “Junge Musik”-Concert of “Wien Modern”, the gala concert “Berühmte Opernchöre” with the Arnold Schoenberg Choir, the benefit event for the people in Ukraine “Human being is bigger than war” and the benefit concert for the collection of donations for Ukrainian refugees. She was awarded a certificate of appreciation for generous contribution to the 2022 Ukrainian Charity Concert.
Alina Cherkasova - Voice (Concert Performance Division) - Gold Medalist - USA
is a Ukrainian opera singer from Dnipro, soprano, voice and piano instructor. Alina is a laureate of 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes of European and International vocal competitions in the USA, Italy, Ukraine, Spain, Canada and the United Kingdom. The winner of the World-famous American Protégé vocal competition and Gold Classical Music Award in New York, invited to perform at the winners' concert at Carnegie Hall.
Cyndi Salata - Flute (Concert Performance Division) - Gold Medalist - USA
A self-taught freelance and competitive flautist, Cyndi juggles a prolific musical schedule with other artistic ventures, holds full and part-time jobs in special education, is the flautist for the Gilded Aged Town Band founded in November 2021, and teaches private music lessons. She has recently performed at Carnegie Hall as the 1st place winner in the amateur division of the American Protege International Flute Competition and was also a 2nd place winner in the open division the following year. Awards between 2021 and 2022 include a 3rd place win in the New Jersey Flute Society Competition, 2nd place in the Alexander and Buono International Flute Competition, Honorable Mention (2nd place)in
the Floot Fire Virtual Soloist Competition, a silver medal (one point away from gold),from the Euro Elite International Music Competition, a bronze medal (4th place among all instrumentalists and highest ranked flute player) from the International Youth Music Competition for the month of January 2022, 3rd place in the Tampere Flute Festival Flute Lover's Competition, 1 st place in the Kansas Flute Society Summer Solo Competition, 2nd place American Prize instrumental soloist winner, and Honorary Mentions in the professional flute divisions for London Classical, London International, and Medici International (2021 and 2022) Music Competitions. In addition to the flute, Cyndi is an accomplished cornetist and trumpeter and held the position of principle cornet in her combined 12 year membership in both the Prairie and Illinois Brass bands. She earned a gold prize in the OSAKA International Solo Competition and is an 8-time prize winner at the North American Brass Band Association's solo competitions, most recently in 2019 earning 2nd place in the cornet technical category alongside two professional trumpeters in 1st and 3rd.
Cyndi is also an award-winning sculptor, jewelry designer, published photographer and holds a 1st degree black belt in
Taekwondo.
Albert Chin - Violin (Concert Performance Division) - Gold Medalist - Hong Kong
Albert Chin is a passionate violinist born in Hong Kong. He began playing violin at the age of 4. He further study music as an undergraduate at the Hong Kong Baptist University. He studied Royal Northern College of Music Master of Performance with scholarship, under the tutelage of Callum Smart and Leland
Chen.
In addition to his education, Chin played with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, winning various competitions including the 6th Hong Kong Virtuoso Music Competition and the Hong Kong Youth competition. During his bachelor’s degree, he performed with the Collegium Musicum Hong Kong, and since that time, he has appeared in different world leading side-by-side orchestral programs with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Halle Orchestra, and the Manchester Camerata. Chin’s professional career has been punctuated by widely acclaimed performances throughout Hong Kong, mainland China, Korea, Italy, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom.
Zion P. Montebon - Piano - Concert Performance Division) - Gold Medalist - Philippines
Zion is a 16 year old incoming 11th grader at the Philippine High School for the Arts. He is a consistent honor student and was awarded the OUTSATANDING STUDENT in the ARTS last June. Under the tutelage of Prof. Anthony Say, he has won and placed in over 20 major competitions both locally and internationally from 2019 to the present. His notable achievements include the Grand Prize in the 5th Steinway Youth Piano Competition and the Yamaha Grand Prize of the 2020 Piano Teachers' Guild of the Philippines Foundation Inc. (PTGPFI) – Lyric Piano Competition for Young Artists. His 1st Prize finishes in the 2021 Singapore International Piano Competition and The Great Masters International Piano Competition (Spain) won him an ANI NG DANGAL (Harvest of Honors – given by the Office of the Philippine President). This year, he won 1st Prize & Premyo Tiklado in the PTGPFI Sonora Competition. And very recently, he won 1st Prize and Laureate in the Abu Dhabi Four Notes International Piano Competition (perfect score) and 1st Prize in the Medici International Music Competition (UK).
Yvonne Wu - Piano (Concert Performance Division) - Gold Medalist - USA
Yvonne Wu was born in 2007 and currently lives in California. She began her piano studies at the age of five, with instructor Tatiana Romanovsky, who was educated at Gnessin State Musical College with a Master in arts. Yvonne has participated in numerous competitions, one of which includes the International United States Open Music Competition. She received medals for winning third place in 2019 for the Showcase Piano Solo category, as well as the Treasury of Chinese Composers. In 2020, Yvonne won fourth place in the US open Showcase Piano Solo. She is also first place winner of the 2021 American Protégé International Music Competition, and received an invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall. That same year, she competed in the Bellegrande International Music Competition (BIMC) and received an honorable mention prize. Continuing her journey, Yvonne won third place in the 2022 Pelican Music Competition Piano Open Solo category. Furthermore, she was awarded as First Place Winner in the
Grand Prize Virtuoso Salzburg Competition, and was selected to perform in Solitär, Mozarteum. Finally, she was recently announced as First Place Winner for the Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition, and was invited to play at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie.
Kalyaporn Boonkittichaipan - Voice - Concert Performance Division) - Gold Medalist - Thailand
Kalyaporn Boonkittichaipan is a 10-year-old girl. She began her singing lesson at the age of six.
She won many awards at both national and international music competitions such as
- FIRST PRIZE award at the Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition 2020 in Paris
- Bronze Award at the 4th BRILLIANT TALENT DISCOVERY AWARDS INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION 2020 in Singapore.
- The Second Highest Marks in Thailand from Grade 2 and The First Highest Mark in Thailand from Grade 1 in Musical Theater at LCM AWARDS 2020, University of West London
- 5th prize award at Hong Kong International Youth Performing Arts Festival in the International Round 2020
- FIRST PRIZE WINNER from "Golden Classical Music Awards" New York International Music Competition 2021
- SECOND PRIZE WINNER from The Muse Competition 2021
- Rising Star Prize from Sugree Charoensook International Music Competition 2021
- Silver Prize from Canadian International Music Competition 2021-2022
- Second Place from Wien 2022 International Young Musicians Music Competition, Thailand Preliminary Round
- Second Place from Wien 2022 International Young Musicians Music Competition, Final Round
- First Prize Winner from Rocky Mountain Music Competition, Summer Season 2022 in Toronto, Canada
- Gold Award from Global International Music Competition Online 2022
Nachayada Tengprasert - Voice - Concert Performance Division) - Gold Medalist - Thailand
Nachayada Tengprasert is 11 years old singer from Thailand. She has started to take vocal courses at the age of seven. And she has got several awards such as
- FIRST PRIZE WINNER from Beethoven/Bonn Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition 2021 in Germany.
- First Prize Winner from S.E. Aphrodite Voice Cyprus International Music Competition 2021, Cyprus
- FIRST PRIZE WINNER from The Muse Competition 2021 in Greece.
- Shining Star Prize from Sugree Charoensook International Music Competition 2021 in Thailand.
- Gold Prize from OSAKA International Music Competition, Bangkok Regional Round 2021
- 3rd Prize from The 4th New Talent British International Youth Music Competition and Festival 2021 in England.
- 2nd Place Winner from THE 28th UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION 2021 in USA.
- Gold Prize and Second Highest Score from CMTG Young Musician Festival 2021 in Thailand
- Second Prize Winner from 1st Tiziano Rossetti International Music Competition, Lugano, Switzerland
- First Prize Winner from Rome Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition 2021 in Italy.
- Gold Star from Music & Star Awards 2021
- Silver Medalist from 2021 Trinity International Music Competition, Canada
- First Place and Highest Score from The 9th Hong Kong International Youth Performance Arts Festival 2021 in THAILAND Preliminary Round
- Second Prize Winner from The VIII Odin International Music Online Competition 2021, European Academic Artists Association (EAAA)
- First Prize Winner from The Song International online contest 2021, Italy
- Gold Prize from London Young Musician 2021-2022 season 3, UK
- Brilliant Award from The 6th Brilliant Talent Discovery Awards International Music Competition 2022 in Singapore
- GRAND PRIX TWINKLE STAR AWARD from S.E. Aphrodite Voice Cyprus International Music Competition 2022, Cyprus
- Grand Prize Winner in Advanced level from Rocky Mountain Music Competition, Winter Season 2022 in Canada
- First Place Winner in Advanced level from 21st Century Talents Music Competition, Winter Season 2022 in Canada
- Gold Prize Winner and BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD from Bravo Children's Music Festival 2022
- First Place Winner from 2022 American Music Talent Competition
- Second Place Winner and Second Highest Score from The 9th Hong Kong International Youth Performance Arts Festival 2021 in Hong Kong Final Round
- Grand Prize from INTERNATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC COMPETITIONS Atlanta, USA ( BROADWAY, MUSICAL THEATRE, DISNEY )
-Third Prize From North International Music Competition
- First Place and First Highest Score from Wien 2022 International Young Musicians Music Competition, Thailand Preliminary Round
- Gold Prize in 6th QUEBEC INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION 2022 From Quebec, Canada
- First Prize Winner in THE MUSE 2022 INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION from Athens, Greece
- First Prize Winner from The MAP International Music Competition (MAP-IMC)
- Voice Ambassadors in The 5th New Talent Festival Competition 2022 in UK
- First Place from Wien 2022 International Young Musicians Music Competition in Final Round and Stars of Vienna Thailand 2022
From Top 10 Highest Mark in Thailand 2022
- Gold Award from Global International Music Competition Online 2022
Kiana Ghalambor - Traditional Instrument (Santoor) - Concert Performance Division - Gold Medalist - Iran
Kiana was born on December 11, 2006, in Tehran, Iran. She is the first
child in her family. When she was 2, her family decided to submit her to an early childhood music program Orff music education at Pars Music Institute. This institute is one of Iran's most famous and professional private music education centers. In 2011 she finished her Orff study, and to continue her journey, she chose Santoor as her first study instrument. Santoor is the most challenging traditional instrument in Iran to master. At the age of 6, Kiana showed a spectacular talent for music but more surprising was that she showed so much perseverance as a child. She would sit at her table and practice Santoor for more than 8 hours daily.
That is why after one year of music education, her stage performance
started as a solo player and group player. Since then, she has shown
confidence in playing for an audience. As she had more performance opportunities until the end of 2011, one of the Tombaq masters at the Pars institution recognized Kiana's talent. He suggested that Kiana starts learning Tombaq to understand music rhythm better and enhance her grasp of Santoor. Since 2011 Kiana has continued her santoor education and completed Tombaq education. Her intelligence and hard work led to her finishing music levels 2-3 years sooner than her music teachers anticipated.
Since 2015 she has started learning piano. Her piano teachers were surprised that a kid who has been playing traditional instruments for many years could connect with a classical music instrument! Like before, she has done a great job learning and performing piano. Finally, in 2017 another music teacher at Pars institute suggested that Kiana learn about Qanun. Since Kiana has always been passionate about music, she agreed to take the chance. She has shined bright with this Iranian traditional music instrument too.
Since Kiana was seven years old, she has had more than 200 performances. She has won countless national international awards both as a solo and group player. Kiana has always amazed her teachers, both her music teachers and her
regular teachers at school. She is known for her hard work. No matter how complex a challenge is, she would go on anyway. Her life has always been about music. She is an excellent student at school. She has always tried to help her classmates and to make meaningful communications with her peers. At school, she tries to engage in various experiences. She wants to explore her curiosity and choose the right exclusive path in the future.
Ying-Tung Lam - Piano (Concert Performance Division) - Gold Medalist - Hong Kong
Ying-Tung Lam was born in Hong Kong. She started to play the piano when she was 4, studying under Pui-Yan Lam. She is 8 years old now and currently a primary 3 student at The Education University of Hong Kong Jockey Club Primary School. She has passed her Trinity grade 8 piano examination with distinction this year at the age of 8.
Ying-Tung has been awarded many prizes at various piano competitions in Hong Kong and overseas, such as Gold Prize & Second Place in St. Petersburg International Piano Competition 2020, Champion in Tokyo International Youth Music Competition 2020, Gold Prize in The Bangkok International Piano Competition 2020, First Place in The 7th Macao Asia Pacific Youth Piano Competition 2021 and Second Prize in the MAP International Music Competition 2021 (USA).
As a member of the Hong Kong Children's Choir, she loves to listen to different types of music, as well as sharing her music with others.
Arianna Lu - Piano (Concert Performance Division) - Gold Medalist - USA
Arianna was born in California. She lives in the Bay Area with her family.
She is 5 years old now. She started playing piano before she was 4 years
old. She loves playing piano for people to enjoy music and she has a
true gift. Arianna won the Gold Award in the Global International Music
Competition. She also was chosen as a FIRST PRIZE and EXCEPTIONAL
YOUNG TALENT Special Prize Winner of the Golden Classical Music
Awards International Competition and was invited to perform at
Carnegie Hall. She is intelligent, athletic, and loves to learn new things
and explore new things.
Ruo Jia Li (Rose) - Piano (Concert Performance Division) - Gold Medalist - Thailand
Hello friends who love music!
My name is RuoJiaLi(Rose), I am from China and currently living in Bangkok, Thailand. I am six years old this year, and I have been learning the piano for 18 months.
Thank you for your appreciation. I will continue to work hard. thank you all!
Eunice Yeung - Violin (Concert Performance Division) - Silver Medalist - USA
Eunice Yeung has started learning the piano at age 4 and has started violin at age 6. Eunice has won the 1st place at the USA Spotlight Competition in 2022, she won the silver award at the 2022 North America Virtuoso International Competition and 2022 Global International Music Competition. She also won the Special Mention award at 2022 Beethoven Young Musician Competition and London International Music Competition 2022.
Eunice has also performed at numerous recitals at the Jackson Theater in USA.
Eunice loves to read during her free time and loves making friends.
Tan Zi Ling - Piano (Concert Performance Division) - Silver Medalist - Malaysia
Tan Zi Ling is a 13-year-old pianist from Malaysia. By the age of 6, she started taking piano classes. At the age of 9, she started her piano journey under the guidance of Ms. Samantha Chan. Lately, she has been participating in a few competitions and achieved a few awards.
· Shanghai International Piano competition, Gold Award
· Beijing International Piano competition, Gold Award
· Beijing International Piano competition finals, Silver Award
· 2021 Top 10 best piano performance in Malaysia
· Global International Music Competition, Silver Award
She really enjoys music and playing the piano. The effort that she puts into her practices has certainly paid off. She’s willing to continue her journey with music and never give up.
Tianyu ( Tiffany) Gu's - Piano (Concert Performance Division) - Silver Medalist - Australia
Tiffany Gu Was born in Suzhou of China and moved to Sydney of Australia at 5 years old. She was first exposed to piano at 4 years old and started her piano lessons under Ms. Yu-Ju Kuan at Miss Yvonne Piano Home Studio in Sydney from the age of 5.
Tiffany has actively participated in numerous international and local piano competitions since 2021. She has won many awards in several Eisteddfod piano competitions in Sydney and Consul General Award at Chopin Avenue International Piano Competition in 2022.
Tiffany is passionate about piano, She enjoys playing piano as a way to express her feelings, create stories and study different cultures. Besides piano, Tiffany loves swimming and tennis.
Wynd Suksangasophon - Piano (Concert Performance Division) - Bronze Medalist - USA
Wynd has been playing piano for about a year. He showed interest first time he touched this instrument. He was born and has been in the environment with plenty of love. Wynd is a gentle and kind young boy who is quite optimistic about most things that happened around him. He is now a student of Miss Thawanhathai Rujichaitammakul from Piano Academy of Bangkok. Wynd has achieved and won a few awards which includes
1. Gold medal from Bangkok Cristian College Music Competition 2021
2. 3rd prize from Hongkok Music Talent Award 2022
3. 2nd prize from 21st Century Talents Music Competition (Canada)
4. 1st Prize from International Internet Music and Dance Competition
5. 1st place winner from Rocky Mountain Music Competition
David Zhu - Guitar (Concert Performance Division) - Bronze Medalist - USA
David Zhu is 15 years old from New Jersey, USA. He is a 10th grade scholar at Dr.Ronald E. McNair Academic High School, a top rated, public, magnet school. He also studies classical guitar at Precollege of The Juilliard School. David frequently performs in the Precollege and music halls, such as at Carnegie Hall and NJ Performing Arts Center. He also frequently joins the Open Mics of NYC Classical Guitar Society. His solo guitar performance was recorded in a documentary film for Newark School of the Arts to celebrate its 50 years birthday. During the last two years, he joined ten music competitions, and was awarded two gold, four silver, one bronze medals, and two honorable mentions.
Nofelhea Temporado Gil - Voice (Pop) - Versatile Musician Division - Bronze Medalist - Qatar
"Nofelhea Gil is a registered nurse in Doha, Qatar originally from Philippines.
She started singing last year as a hobby during the lockdown due to pandemic!
She decided to join the contest to check the improvement of her voice and she's so happy being a bronze medalist"
Short message from Leah:
"I felt so blessed winning the bronze medal from the Global International Music Competition.
Hoping more success to the management! Thank you so much.." - by Leah Gil