2025 Odyssiad Program Final_07.24.25 by Colorado State University Center for the Arts

A WELCOME from Janet Landreth, Odyssiad® Founder/Director

Dear Friends of the Odyssiad®,

Thank you one and all for joining us for the 2025 International Keyboard Odyssiad® & Festival, U.S.A., “A Journey to the Performance of a Lifetime,” and for your boundless spirit of generosity and celebration that energizes and infuses this amazing international piano competition and festival with your time and talents. Our vision is to produce a distinctly original and wellknown international classical piano competition and festival that is known affectionately around the U.S. and abroad, effectively putting Fort Collins on the map of cities known for their world-class musical and artistic events. Welcome to all of you who are traveling to Fort Collins, Colorado for the first time to participate in the 2025 Odyssiad®. We hope you enjoy the many attributes of our city and all the wonderful concerts and competitive performances of the Odyssiad® during your stay.

Abundant thanks from the Board of Directors and the Advisory Board of the Odyssiad® to all the volunteers who make this event possible: the preliminary judges from around the U.S. who as a team evaluated the

preliminary round of videos and selected our 48 semifinalists, Gina Wallick, our host family manager, who connected all our semifinalists with their host families, and to the board of directors and advisory board members themselves who worked tirelessly throughout the year to prepare and produce this amazing competition and festival. Thanks also goes to our renowned list of guest artists and judges across the years (2012–2025), as well as the many participating states and countries that served to elevate the Odyssiad® to the high level of accomplishment and esteem it has achieved, and to the many donors and sponsors who propel us forward with their support and belief in our vision.

A very special tribute goes out to our retiring Secretary/ Treasurer Janelle Crandell, who has served the Odyssiad® with untold hours of dedication and purpose for the last 14 years since its inception and will continue to be an Odyssiad® ambassador on her well-deserved travels around the world in the years to come.

Sincerely,

Dr. Janet Landreth

Founder/Executive Director

A WELCOME from Jeni Arndt, Mayor, City of Fort Collins

MISSION STATEMENT

Headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, the International Keyboard Odyssiad® & Festival, U.S.A. is dedicated to promoting new generations of keyboard artists through an internationally linked competition and festival.

SURVEY FOR FESTIVAL COMPETITORS, GUESTS,

AND PATRONS

Please use this QR code to access a short survey about the International Keyboard Odyssiad® & Festival, U.S.A. The survey asks how you heard about our event, and which sessions you attended. It will just take a minute of your time but will help us make the festival even better in the future. Thank you!

A WELCOME from

Amy Parsons, President, Colorado State University

Dear International Keyboard Odyssiad® and Festival Participants,

Welcome to the Colorado State University campus! Your visit is one we have been eagerly anticipating. We are so pleased to host you for an exciting week filled with masterclasses, concerts, competition, discussion, and performances.

On behalf of all of us at CSU, I wish you an engaging experience replete with inspiration, learning, and connection. Thank you for being part of the unparalleled artistry and talent that define the International Keyboard Odyssiad® and Festival.

With gratitude,

Amy Parsons

Colorado State University President

Amy Parsons

Colorado State University President

We would like to thank the following foundations, corporations, and organizations for their generous donations, including the Fan Foundation, the City of Fort Collins Fort Fund and more (individual donors are listed on page 22). Thank you!

SOLO DIVISION: Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals

PRIZES

• Level A: $500 (Gold), $300 (Silver), $200 (Bronze)

• Level B: $1,000 (Gold), $500 (Silver), and $250 (Bronze)

• Level C Young Artist: $5,000 (Gold), $2,000 (Silver), and $1,000 (Bronze)

• The Linda Leirfallom Brewer Award for “Best Performance of Chopin” ($500)

CONCERTO DIVISION: Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals

• Junior Young Artist Complete Concerto: $1,000 (Bobbie and Paul Mielke Gold Medal), plus a performance with the Fort Collins Health and Wellness Community Orchestra, $500 (Silver), and $250 (Bronze)

• Professional Young Artist Complete Concerto: $3,000 (Gold), plus a performance with the Boulder Symphony in Boulder, Colorado, Devin Patrick Hughes conducting, $2,000 (Silver), and $1,000 (Bronze)

THE ODYSSIAD® COMPETITION IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

The Odyssiad® Semifinal and Final Rounds are FREE and open to the public to attend. Attendees may quietly enter and leave the venues between competitors.

LOCATION & VENUES

LOCATION: University Center for the Arts

Colorado State University

1400 Remington Street, Fort Collins, Colorado

VENUES & ABBREVIATIONS: Griffin Concert Hall: GCH, 1st Floor; Organ Recital Hall: ORH, 2nd Floor; Runyan Rehearsal Hall: RRH, 1st Floor

5:00 p.m.

8:00–9:00 a.m.

9:00–11:30 a.m.

9:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

SCHEDULE: SUNDAY, AUGUST 3

ODYSSIAD® SEMIFINALIST EARLY REGISTRATION AND CHECK-IN (GCH LOBBY): All Odyssiad® Semifinalists

SCHEDULE: MONDAY, AUGUST 4

ODYSSIAD® SEMIFINALIST LATE REGISTRATION AND CHECK-IN

(GCH LOBBY): Pick up festival folders and passes

ODYSSIAD® SOLO DIVISION SEMIFINAL ROUND (RRH):

Solo Level A (13 and under) (15 min. each)

Master of Ceremonies: Cindy Lindeen-Martin Judges: Hsin-Hsuan Lin, Juhyun Lee, and Vladimir Ostromensky

Free and Open to the Public

ODYSSIAD® SOLO DIVISION SEMIFINAL ROUND (ORH): AND 2:00–5:45 p.m. Solo Level C (19-35) (30 min. each)

Master of Ceremonies: Susan Spelius Gannon Judges: Yaron Kohlberg, Dongni Xie Free and Open to the Public

12:15–1:30 p.m. LUNCH BREAK

2:00–4:30 p.m.

ODYSSIAD® SOLO DIVISION SEMIFINAL ROUND (GCH):

Solo Level B (14-18) (20 min. each)

Master of Ceremonies: Cindy Lindeen-Martin Judges: Hsin-Hsuan Lin, Juhyun Lee, and Vladimir Ostromensky

Free and Open to the Public

6:00 p.m. DINNER BREAK

7:30 p.m.

EVENING CONCERT (GCH): Chamber Music with Piano featuring Yi-Jia Susanne Hou, Violin; Zuill Bailey, Cello; Bryan Wallick, Piano Program listed on page 8

MONDAY EVENING CONCERT (GCH): CHAMBER MUSIC WITH PIANO

Violinist Yi-Jia Susanne Hou, Cellist Zuill Bailey, and Pianist Bryan Wallick

Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Opus 49 Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)

I. Molto allegro ed agitato

II. Andante con molto tranquillo

III. Scherzo. Leggiero e vivace

IV. Finale. Allegro assai appassionato

Piano Trio in A minor, Opus 50

~Intermission ~

I. Pezzo elegiac: Moderato assai – Allegro giusto (in A minor)

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

II. (A) Tema con variazioni: Andante con moto (in E major)

(B) Variazione finale e coda (in A major – A minor)

Var I

Var II: Più mosso

Var III: Allegro moderato

Var IV: L'istesso tempo (Allegro moderato)

Var V: L'istesso tempo

Var VI: Tempo di Valse

Var VII: Allegro moderato

Var VIII: Fuga (Allegro moderato)

Var IX: Andante flebile, ma non tanto

Var X: Tempo di mazurka

Var XI: Moderato

Variazioni finale e coda: Allegro risoluto e con fuoco

Coda: Andante con moto – Lugubre (L'istesso tempo)

8:00–9:00 a.m.

9:00–10:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

12:00–1:30 p.m.

2:00–2:45 p.m.

3:00–4:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

7:00–10:15 p.m.

SCHEDULE: TUESDAY, AUGUST 5

ODYSSIAD® SEMIFINALIST LATE REGISTRATION AND CHECK-IN

(GCH LOBBY): Pick up festival folders and passes

ODYSSIAD® SOLO DIVISION ALTERNATES’ MASTERCLASSES (RRH):

Solo Level A and B Alternates' Masterclass Judges: Hsin-Hsuan Lin, Juhyun Lee, Vladimir Ostromensky

Solo Level C Alternates' Masterclass Judges: Yaron Kohlberg, Dongni Xie

LUNCH BREAK

ODYSSIAD® SOLO DIVISION FINAL ROUND (ORH):

Solo Level A, 3 Finalists (15 min. each)

Master of Ceremonies: Susan Spelius Gannon

Judges: Silvana Santinelli, Stephanie Cheng, Alejandro Cremaschi

Free and open to the public; Livestream available

ODYSSIAD® SOLO DIVISION FINAL ROUND (ORH):

Solo Level B, 3 Finalists (20 min. each)

Master of Ceremonies: Susan Spelius Gannon

Judges: Silvana Santinelli, Stephanie Cheng, Alejandro Cremaschi

Free and open to the public; Livestream available

GROUP PHOTO (Outside of Griffin Lobby/University Center for the Arts)

DINNER BREAK

EVENING CONCERT (ORH): Final Round Solo Level C; 6 Finalists (30 min. each)

Master of Ceremonies: Susan Spelius Gannon

Judges: Mikhail Voskresensky, Charlotte Hu, Bryan Wallick Program announced from the stage

SCHEDULE: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6

8:00–9:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

12:00–1:30 p.m.

2:00–5:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

ODYSSIAD® SEMIFINALIST LATE REGISTRATION AND CHECK-IN

(GCH LOBBY): Pick up festival folders and passes

ODYSSIAD® SOLO DIVISION FINALISTS’ MASTERCLASS (ORH):

Solo Level A and B, 6 Finalists (30 min. each)

Clinicians: Stephanie Cheng, Silvana Santinelli, Alejandro Cremaschi

LUNCH BREAK

ODYSSIAD® SOLO DIVISION FINALISTS’ MASTERCLASS (ORH):

Solo Level C, 6 Finalists (30 min. each)

Clinicians: Mikhail Voskresensky, Charlotte Hu, Bryan Wallick

DINNER BREAK

EVENING CONCERT (ORH): Yaron Kohlberg, Concert Pianist and President, Cleveland International Piano Competition (CIPC) and Piano/Cleveland Program listed on page 10

WEDNESDAY

EVENING CONCERT (ORH): YARON KOHLBERG

Pictures at an Exhibition Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881)

1. Gnomus

2. The Old Castle

3. The Tuileries

4. Bydlo

5. Ballet of the Unhatched Chickens

6. Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle – “Two Jews: Rich and Poor”

7. The Market Place of Limoges

8. Catacombs

9. The Hut on Chicken's Legs (Baba Yaga)

10. The Great Gate of Kiev ~ Intermission ~

Etude in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 2, No. 1 Alexander Scriabin (1972-1915)

Sonata No. 3 in A-minor, Op. 28 (1917) Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)

Improvisation (2013) Yaron Kohlberg (b. 1983)

Mission Impossible Lalo Shifrin (1932-2025) Transcribed by Alexey Kurbatov (b. 1971)

SCHEDULE:

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7

9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

ODYSSIAD® CONCERTO DIVISION SEMIFINAL ROUND (RRH):

Junior Young Artist Complete Concerto Master of Ceremonies: Cecilia Dagg Judges: Silvana Santinelli, Vladimir Ostromensky Free and Open to the Public

9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

ODYSSIAD® CONCERTO DIVISION SEMIFINAL ROUND (ORH):

Professional Young Artist Complete Concerto Master of Ceremonies: Susan Spelius Gannon Judges: Bryan Wallick, Yaron Kohlberg, Wes Kenney Free and Open to the Public

12:00–1:30 p.m.

2:00–5:15 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

LUNCH BREAK

ODYSSIAD® CONCERTO DIVISION SEMIFINAL ROUND (ORH):

Professional Young Artist Complete Concerto Master of Ceremonies: Susan Spelius Gannon Judges: Yaron Kohlberg, Bryan Wallick, Wes Kenney Free and Open to the Public

DINNER BREAK

EVENING CONCERT (ORH): Dongni Xie, 2017 Odyssiad® Gold Medalist, and Charlotte Hu, Founder and Director of the Philadelphia Young Pianist Academy (PYPA), and Associate Professor at the Boston Conservatory – Berklee. Program listed on page 11

THURSDAY EVENING CONCERT (ORH): DONGNI XIE

Twelve variations: "Ah vous dirai-je, Maman" W. A. Mozart (1756-1791) K. 265/300

Exaltación Joaquín Turina (1882-1949) from Danzas fantásticas, Op. 22

Quejas, o La Maja y el ruiseñor Enrique Granados (1867-1916) from Goyescas Op.11

La Danza Ritual Del Fuego

Manuel de Falla (1876-1946) from El amor brujo

La plus que lente L.121

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Arr. Dongni Xie

La valse Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

THURSDAY EVENING CONCERT (ORH): CHARLOTTE HU

Three pieces by Enrique Granados Enrique Granados (1867-1916)

Los requiebros (The Compliments) from Goyescas Book I

El amor y la muerte (Ballad of Love and Death) from Goyescas Book II

Oriental from Danzas Españolas

Spanish Rhapsody, S. 254 Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

SURVEY FOR FESTIVAL COMPETITORS, GUESTS, AND PATRONS

9:00–10:30 a.m.

12:00–1:30 p.m.

2:00–5:15 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, AUGUST 8

ODYSSIAD® CONCERTO DIVISION FINAL ROUND (ORH):

Junior Young Artist Complete Concerto; 3 Finalists

Master of Ceremonies: Susan Spelius Gannon

Judges: Charlotte Hu, Bryan Wallick, Janet Landreth

Free and open to the public; Livestream available

LUNCH BREAK

ODYSSIAD® CONCERTO DIVISION FINAL ROUND (ORH):

Professional Young Artist Complete Concerto; 6 Finalists

Master of Ceremonies: Susan Spelius Gannon

Judges: Mikhail Voskresensky, Charlotte Hu, Janet Landreth

Conductor: Devin Patrick Hughes

Free and open to the public; Livestream available

DINNER BREAK

EVENING CONCERT (ORH):

2025 Van Cliburn Silver Medalist, Vitaly Starikov (Israel/Russia) Program listed on page 13

FRIDAY EVENING

CONCERT (ORH): VITALY STARIKOV

Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13

Robert Schumann (1810–1856)

“Du bist die Ruh” Franz Schubert | Franz Liszt (17971–1828) | (1811–1886)

Sonata No. 1, Op. 12

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975)

~ Intermission ~

“Les Jeux d’eaux à la Villa d’Este” Franz Liszt (1811–1886)

Études, Op.25

Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)

Mr. Starikov appears by arrangement with the Cliburn

GUEST ARTISTS

ZUILL BAILEY, widely considered one of the premiere cellists in the world, is a Grammy Award-winning, internationally renowned soloist, recitalist, artistic director, and teacher. His rare combination of celebrated artistry, technical wizardry, and engaging personality has secured his place as one of the most sought-after and active cellists today. Mr. Bailey has been a featured Soloist with the following orchestras: Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit, Indianapolis, Dallas, Louisville, Honolulu, Milwaukee, Nashville, Toronto, Colorado, Minnesota, Utah, Israel, Cape Town, Philharmonia (UK), and the Bruckner Orchestra in Linz, Austria. He has collaborated with musical luminaries Leon Fleisher, Jaime Laredo, the Juilliard String Quartet, Lynn Harrell, and Janos Starker. His

YI-JIA SUSANNE HOU rose to fame on the international concert scene when she won prestigious international violin competitions in France, Italy, and Spain (Long-Thibaud, Lipizer, Sarasate), representing Canada and China. Hou has performed as a soloist with major orchestras in more than 50 countries, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio-France, SWR Stuttgart, WDR Cologne, as well as Toronto Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Singapore Symphony, Tokyo Philharmonic, and NHK. She has collaborated with renowned musicians such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Pinchas Zukerman, Alan Gilbert, Andreas Delfs, Marek Janowski, Alexander Shelley, and Krzysztof Urbański. In 2013, Hou recorded the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra playing an outstanding 1735 exFritz Kreisler Mary Portman Guarneri Del Gesu Violin as a tribute

Taiwanese American pianist CHARLOTTE

HU (formerly Ching-Yun Hu) has achieved top prizes at the 12th Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition and the Concert Artists Guild Competition. As a soloist, Charlotte has astounded audiences in U.S., Europe, and Asia, performing sold-out concerts at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw, Taipei National Concert Hall, and Osaka’s Symphony Hall. She is a frequent guest at music festivals, such as the Ruhr-Klavier Festival, Aspen Music Festival, and Oregon Bach Festival. Concerto engagements included performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and Taiwan Philharmonic. Dedicated to making classical music more accessible, Charlotte presents programs that often juxtapose audience favorites with underperformed treasures and newly commissioned works. An active recording artist, her debut album of Chopin works on ArchiMusic was named "Best Classical Album of the Year"

international appearances include notable performances with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra in its 50th anniversary tour of Russia, as well as concerts in Ukraine, Korea, Australia, the Dominican Republic, France, Israel, Spain, South Africa, Hong Kong, Jordan, Mexico, South America and the United Kingdom. Festival appearances include Ravinia, the Interlochen Center for the Arts, Manchester Cello Festival (UK), Wimbledon (UK), Consonances- St. Nazaire (France), Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Deia Music Festival- Mallorca (Spain), Montreal (Canada), Santa Fe, Caramoor, Chautauqua, Bravo! Vail Valley, Maverick Concert Series, Brevard, Interlochen, Cape Cod and the Music Academy of the West. Zuill Bailey has produced more than 30 chart-topping titles. Mr. Bailey won a Best Solo Performance Grammy Award in 2017 for his Live Recording of “Tales of Hemingway,” by composer Michael Daugherty.

to its unique history. In 2016, she performed and recorded the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor John Nelson at Cadogan Hall, a work she successfully toured within Canada, China, and Taiwan. Her recent and future engagements include a German tour with Sinfonietta Cracovia, a return to the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, an extensive recital and concert tour to South Africa working with the Cape, Johannesburg, and Kwazulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestras, a recital at Flaneries Musicales de Reims, and a return to the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. Her education initiative, “3-degrees,” began in Brazil, where she worked with students from an underprivileged background. Subsequently, she partnered with DakApp, bringing young artists from The Juilliard School in New York, the Royal College of Music in London, the Beijing Central Conservatory, and the Paris Conservatoire to London for the filming of an orchestral masterclass now available online via DakApp. susannehou.com

by Taiwan’s Golden Melody Award, and recordings released on Naxos/CAG Records and BMOP/sound with Boston Modern Orchestra Project have received critical acclaim. Her Rachmaninoff album on Centaur/Naxos received a five-star review by the U.K.’s Pianist magazine, and she released Liszt Metamorphosis on PENTATONE in 2024. Hu founded the Yun International Music Festival in Taipei and the PYPA Piano Festival in Philadelphia. A tireless advocate for humanity, Charlotte raised $27,000 for youth education charities through a Hope Charity Concert live-streamed to more than 140,000 people in 2020. The Steinway Artist serves as an artist in residence at Temple University in Philadelphia and is an Associate Professor at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She is a frequent guest artist, leading master classes and artist residencies at universities and festivals worldwide. She holds degrees from The Juilliard School, Cleveland Institute of Music, and Germany’s Hanover University of Music, Drama, and Media, where she worked with Herbert Stessin, Sergei Babayan, and Karl-Heinz Kammerling, respectively. charlottehu.com

GUEST ARTISTS

DEVIN PATRICK HUGHES serves as conductor and music director of the Boulder Symphony and Symphony of the Rockies. He was previously with the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association, Denver Young Artists Orchestra, and Denver Philharmonic Orchestra. Devin was selected for the Toscanini International Conducting Competition, and was a conducting fellow at the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen. He has

Steinway artist YARON KOHLBERG performs in the world's famous venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kremlin, Beijing’s Forbidden City, Kennedy Center, and Mexico City’s Bellas Artes, while reaching new audiences in atypical places, crossing cultural divides and awakening listeners to new experiences. Kohlberg often combines storytelling and transcriptions of popular tunes with traditional classical masterpieces. Winner of 10 international prizes and the 2007 silver medalist of the Cleveland International Piano Competition, Kohlberg is President of Piano Cleveland, the organizing body of the CIPC. Original programming includes the Artist Development Program, an enrichment and professional development program for young pianists; The Listening Series, which takes audiences from the couch to the concert hall as musicians take a deep dive into their work; and Virtu(al)oso, a global piano competition that raised more than $75,000 to support pianists during the pandemic. Articles about his creative ideas have been featured in classical music publica-

VITALY STARIKOV is the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition 2025 Silver Medalist. Born into a family of musicians, Vitaly Starikov attended the Ural Musical School for Gifted Children in his native Yekaterinburg at the age of seven. He made his concerto debut at age 10 with the Ural State Russian Folk Orchestra, and his recital debut three years later, in the small hall of the Ural Special Music School. He committed his life to music at age 14 and his “dream came true” when he began studying with Vera Gornostayeva at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. At that time, her student, Vadym Kholodenko, won the 2013 Cliburn Competition, which inspired Vitaly that he would someday participate in the competition. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the Conservatory and his master’s degree under the tutelage of Eliso Virsaladze. Starikov, who is pursuing an artist diploma,

conducted the Winnipeg Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Des Moines Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic, San Antonio Symphony, Green Bay Symphony, Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, and Orchestra of the Hungarian State Opera. He has a passion for community outreach and has held benefit concerts for the Red Cross, Oxfam International, Cultures in Harmony, and the Colorado Haiti Project. He has served as an AmeriCorps tutor and mentor, and has partnered with Carnegie Hall’s LinkUp, I Have A Dream, Circle of Care, Freemasons, Boulder Muse, El Sistema, and more.

tions Pianist Magazine, Musical America, and The World of Piano Competitions magazine. Kohlberg and Bishara Haroni comprise the successful Israeli-Palestinian group Duo Amal, performing worldwide, including at Geneva’s UN Hall, a remarkable example of the power of music to overcome cultural differences. He has appeared as soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic and Jerusalem Symphony Orchestras, the Beijing and Chengdu Symphony Orchestras, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, and the Palermo Teatro Massimo Orchestra. He has collaborated with the Limón Dance Company, cellists Toke Møldrup and Nicholas Altstaedt, pianists Yeol Eum Son and Dong Hyek Lim, choreographer and dancer Jin Xing, rock star Shlomi Shaban, composer Alexey Kurbatov and the Ariel String Quartet. In addition to co-leading Piano Cleveland, performing, and serving on competition juries, Kohlberg lectures and conducts masterclasses at leading institutions. Immersing himself in other cultures and forging strong relationships has inspired Kohlberg to dedicate his life to sharing the beauty of his greatest passion, the piano.

studies at Yale School of Music under Boris Berman, and is a laureate of the Queen Elisabeth and Sydney International Competitions. Recital and chamber music appearances include performances in Austria, Australia, Slovakia, Israel, Cyprus, Italy, France, Belgium, and Malaysia, with highlights including the Sydney Opera House, Queen Elisabeth Hall, and the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. He has performed with the Antwerp and Belgian National Orchestras, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Belarusian State Symphony Orchestra, and the St. Petersburg Symphony, and toured with the Orchestre national de Metz Grand Est. He is committed to new music and has won accolades for his performances, including at the Queen Elisabeth (Belgium), Jaen (Spain), and Taneyev (Russia) international competitions. “I want to present works that reflect not only tradition but also contemporary life, offering new perspectives on familiar music and introducing lesser-known pieces to wider audiences.”

GUEST ARTISTS

From the Schumann International Piano Competition top prize to the International Piano Festival of Rio de Janeiro to the George Enescu Festival in Bucharest and the first Van Cliburn competition, Russian pianist MIKHAIL

VOSKRESENSKY has captivated audiences for more than 60 years. A graduate of the Moscow Conservatory, Voskresensky’s teachers included Lev Oborin (first prize, First Chopin Competition, Warsaw), Ilia Klyachko, Jacob Milstein, Boris Zemliansky, and Leonid Roizman. Voskresensky’s career began with the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra under Yevgeny Svetlanov. In 1957, he premiered Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 at the Prague Spring Festival with an esteemed performance in the presence of the composer. Voskresensky’s repertoire includes all of the Beethoven sonatas, the complete works of Chopin, and 64 piano concerti. He has recorded more than 50 CDs. Voskresensky was a distinguished

BRYAN WALLICK is recognized as one of the great American virtuoso pianists of his generation. Gold medalist of the 1997 Vladimir Horowitz International Piano Competition in Kiev, he has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa. He made his New York recital debut in 1998 at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall and made his Wigmore Hall recital debut in London in 2003. He has also performed at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall with the London Sinfonietta and at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church. Dr. Wallick is an avid chamber musician and has performed with violinists Nikita Boriso-Glebsky, Rachel Lee Priday, Yi-Jia Susanne Hou, Miriam Contzen, Sergei Malov, and cellists Zuill Bailey, Alexander Buzlov, Alexander

Originally from Changsha, China, DONGNI XIE is a prize-winner of multiple international piano competitions, including seven first prizes. She is a guest artist of the Cliburn Foundation and a Legacy Pianist of the Achúcarro Foundation. She’s performed at Carnegie Hall, Château de Fontainebleau (France), Dream Forest Arts Center (South Korea), Gijon City Hall (Spain), and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (Los Angeles), as well as venues throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States. She has appeared as a featured artist at numerous international music festivals, including the Imago Sloveniae (Slovenia), Festival ARTIS (Slovakia), Shanghai Conservatory Music Season (China), and the August Music Festival (UK). Xie collaborates frequently with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and The Dallas Opera at their chamber concerts. As an advocate of new music, Xie has premiered solo and chamber works in the genre and serves as Artistic Director of the “In Bloom” musiCON Concert Series in New York City, performing works by living composers from around the world. She co-founded the Live! Again concert series,

professor at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and chair of the piano faculty. His pupils have won more than 120 international prizes and 61 gold medals. He has been a guest professor at Toho Gakuen School in Tokyo, Japan since 1992 and has adjudicated international competitions, including the Tchaikovsky and Scriabin competitions (Moscow). Voskresensky was named People’s Artist of the Russian Federation (1989), the country's highest artistic title. The Emperor of Japan awarded him the Medal of the Rising Sun and Gold Rays. In 2022, Voskresensky and his family left Russia for the U.S. to protest the war in Ukraine. He has since been a visiting professor at The Juilliard School and given performances and masterclasses at the Lilacs Recital Series in Manhattan, the Texas Piano Festival, the Northern Lights Music Festival, Rowan University, Eastman School of Music Aspen Music Festival, Yale, Curtis Institute, Manhattan School of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and Indiana University. mikhailvoskresensky.com

Ramm, and Wolfgang Emmanuel Schmidt. He is a member of the Mendelssohn Trio in residence at Colorado State University and most recently performed with them on a European tour in 2022, visiting Switzerland, Austria and Germany; the trio will tour in 2026. Dr. Wallick studied with Jerome Lowenthal in New York City where he was the first Juilliard School graduate to receive both an undergraduate Honors Diploma (2000) and an accelerated master's degree (2001). He continued his studies with Christopher Elton in London at the Royal Academy of Music where he was the recipient of the Associated Board International Scholarship, receiving a Post-graduate Diploma with Distinction. Dr. Wallick is Associate Professor of Piano at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he lives with his wife and three children.

featuring works by contemporary composers designed to connect the visual arts with music. Xie is a leader in the interplay between classical and modern music, founding In6ix, a sextet combining jazz and classical styles. Xie is a supporter of music education programs and charitable causes, performing benefit concerts to support orphans and refugees displaced by the war in Ukranian and local charities. She volunteered with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s "OrchKids" program and partnered with the Cliburn Foundation’s education program Cliburn in the Classroom. Dr. Xie holds a Doctorate in Piano Performance from the University of North Texas where she held a teaching position. She earned degrees from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, University of Southern California, and Shanghai Conservatory of Music. She received the Meadows Artistic Scholarship and Harold Von Mickwitz Prize Award from Southern Methodist University. Dr. Xie has lectured throughout the U.S. and Asia, is a featured clinician at Music Teacher Associations in Texas, and regularly judges international piano competitions. Dr. Xie is a faculty of Texas Tech University School of Music. dongnixie.com

MASTERS OF CEREMONIES

CECELIA DAGG is earning a B.M. in piano performance at Colorado State University where she studies piano with Dr. Bryan Wallick and harpsichord with Dr. Joel Bacon. She holds master's degrees in mechanical engineering and business administration. Following a career in engineering and finance, she now works as a consultant.

SUSAN SPELIUS GANNON earned

her bachelor’s degree from the American Conservatory of Music (Chicago) and a master’s degree from Colorado State University. She continued her post-graduate studies at the University of Colorado, where she served as adjunct faculty. Spelius Gannon was previously on faculty at College of the Canyons in Southern California and had a successful private studio in Los Angeles. Her recent professional appearances included solo recitals and chamber music concerts in the U.S. and Europe, including historic

locations in Loch Lomond, Nairn, and Wick, Scotland. Spelius Gannon currently lives in Perugia, Italy and in Sun Valley, Idaho, where she is Artistic Director of the Sun Valley Artist Series.

CINDY LINDEEN-MARTIN is on the organ faculty at the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver (Colorado), as well as the Director of Music at Church of the Ascension (Denver, Colorado). She earned her D.M.A. and Performers Certificate from the Eastman School of Music and M.M. and B.M. degrees in organ and piano performance from Colorado State University. Additional studies took her to France, earning the coveted Degré d’Excellence with Madame Marie-Claire Alain at the Conservatoire de Rueil-Malmaison, France. Dr. Lindeen-Martin is a recipient of the “Distinguished Alumnus Award in Music” from Colorado State University.

STAFF ACCOMPANISTS

MIKHAIL BERESTNEV holds degrees from the Russian Academy of Music (Moscow), Texas Christian University School of Music (Fort Worth), and Meadows School of Arts at Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas). He is a guest artist and collaborative pianist with the “Musica Nova Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra” at the University of Texas at Dallas under the direction of composer Robert Xavier Rodriguez. Awards include fourth prize at the Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia, Silver Medal at the BNDES International Piano Competition in Rio de Janeiro, Eric Sorantin Young Artist Award, first prize at the International “Delphic Games” Competition (Minsk, Belarus) and winner at the Stanislav Neuhaus International Piano Competition (Chelyabinsk, Russia).

JOOYEON CHANG earned a D.M.A. in Collaborative Piano at the University of Texas, Austin and is a member of the Collaborative Piano Faculty at Colorado State University. Dr. Chang performs regularly with her duo partners Sarah Hetrick (Duo

Oenomel) and Hsin-Hsuan Lin (The Piano Duo Lin and Chang). Dr. Chang serves as the official staff pianist for the Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival, Chœur de l'Orchestre de Paris and is a guest accompanist of Musique de Armée de l'Air de Paris. She also served the 2012 ITEC (International Tuba Euphonium Conference) in Linz, Austria and Clarinet Fest 2023, USA.

DARIA KISELEVA graduated from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and Texas Christian University School of Music. Awards include laureate of the Marguerite Long International Piano Competition, first prize at the Rotary Club International Piano Competition (Mallorca), 2016 Odyssiad® Gold Medalist, second prize at the International Rubinstein Chamber Competition and the Jean Francaix International Piano Competition (2014). Performances include Moscow Conservatory, Salle Gauveau (Paris), 35 Londrina Festival and Festival VII Virtuosi Gravata (Brazil), Schlern Festival (Italy), Museum of Modern Art and Foundation Oscar Americano (Sao Paolo), and Aptos Keyboard Series (Monterey Bay, California).

JUDGES

• Alejandro Cremaschi – Dr. Cremaschi earned the D.M.A. and M.M. at the University of Minnesota. He is Professor of Piano Pedagogy at the University of Colorado Boulder.

• Stephanie Cheng – Dr. Cheng is Associate Professor of Piano and Chair of the Keyboard Department at the Lamont School of Music, University of Denver. She earned her D.M.A. in Piano Performance at Stony Brook University.

• Yaron Kohlberg – See guest artist listing.

• Charlotte Hu – See guest artist listing.

• Devin Patrick Hughes – See guest artist listing.

• Wes Kenney – Professor Emeritus at Colorado State University, Maestro Kenney is music director for the fully professional Fort Collins Symphony.

• Janet Landreth – Professor Emerita of Piano at Colorado State University, Dr. Landreth is the Founder and Executive Director of the Odyssiad®.

• Juhyun Lee – Dr. Lee earned M.M. in Collaborative Piano from the Longy School of Music and a D.M.A. in Collaborative Piano and Chamber Music from Arizona State University. She is a member of the collaborative piano faculty at Colorado State University.

• Hsin-Hsuan Lin – Dr. Lin earned her master's degree in performance and a D.M.A. in Collaborative Piano from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a member of the collaborative piano faculty at Colorado State University.

• Vladimir Ostromensky – Mr. Ostromensky comes from a musical family and has degrees in Piano Performance and Business Information Systems.

• Silvana Santinelli – Dr. Santinelli earned a D.M.A. from the University of Maryland and is a member of the Duo-Francois.

• Mikhail Voskresensky – See guest artist listing.

• Bryan Wallick – See guest artist listing.

• Dongni Xie – See guest artist listing.

A special thank you to our Board of Directors and Advisory Board Members whose countless hours of volunteer service has made this event possible.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• Janet Landreth, IKOF, Founder and Executive Director, B.M., M.M., D.M.A., Professor Emerita and Keyboard Coordinator, Colorado State University; 2019 Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame

• Janelle Crandell*, B.M., IKOF Secretary and Treasurer

• Pam Keller, B.A.

• Cindy Lindeen-Martin*, B.M., M.M., D.M.A.

• Bryan Wallick, B.M., M.M., D.M.A.

• Iris Zhang, B.M., M.M., D.A.

• Ty Huey*, B.M. & M.M. B.A. Economics, Incoming IKOF Secretary and Treasurer

*Piano alumni of Colorado State University or current/former students of Dr. Landreth.

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

• Kyung-Soon Cho*, B.M., M.M., M.Ed., USA/Korea

• Leanne Baldwin Ferfolia*, B.M, M.M.

• Jennifer Clary Jacobs, B.A., M.B.A.

• Susan Spelius Gannon*, B.M., M.M.

PRELIMINARY ONLINE ROUND JUDGES

Thank you to the following experts who volunteered their time and talent in judging the Odyssiad® Competition Preliminary Online Round submissions.

SOLO LEVEL A

• Susan Spelius Gannon

• Jooyeon Chang

• Hyeji Seo

SOLO LEVEL B

• Hsin-Hsuan Lin

• Jooyeon Chang

• Hyeji Seo

SOLO LEVEL C

• Janet Landreth

• Eugene Gaub

• Bryan Wallick

JUNIOR YOUNG ARTIST COMPLETE CONCERTO

• Vlad Ostromensky

• Dawn Dalangin

• Iris Zhang

HOST FAMILIES

PROFESSIONAL YOUNG ARTIST COMPLETE CONCERTO

• Bryan Wallick

• Janet Landreth

• Leo Walz

Thank you to our 2025 host families who have opened their homes and hearts to a number of our Odyssiad® semifinalists and guest artists during the festival. Contact our host family coordinator, Gina Wallick, at gina.wallick@gmail.com with your interest for next year.

• Doug and Cathy Dumler

• Ted Gould

• Gyongyi Gratzl

• Jeannette Hoffman

• Helga and Pierre Julien

• Steve and Yvonne Holmes

• Joan and Mike Koltak

• Sean Pauzauskie

• Mary Ann Ranney

• Gary Schmidt

• John Vogt

• Elise Walsh and Don Condit

• Marian Wellman

GRANTS, FOUNDATIONS, AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS

The Board of Directors and Advisory Board wish to thank the following donors, sponsors, and foundations for their support of the 2025 International Keyboard Odyssiad® & Festival, U.S.A.

LEGACY PARTNER $20,000

Fan Foundation

DIAMOND LEVEL $10,000

Fort Fund

GOLD $5,000

Mary Ann and Harland Ranney

Ann Yanagi

SILVER $2,500+

Pierre and Helga Julien

Dr. Janet Landreth

Rotary Club of FOCO

• Cecilia Dagg – Volunteer Coordinator; contact ceciliandagg@ gmail.com if interested.

• Nancy Breckenridge

• Janelle Crandell – Board Member

• Gyöngyi Gratzl

• Saira Hafeez – Rotaract Volunteer

• Christi Herndon

• Ty Huey – Board Member

• Otto Huffman

• Pam Keller – Board Member

• Gary Knapp

IVORY $500

Richard and Janelle Crandell

Mims Harris

Peter Kahn

Henry Schauer

EBONY $250

Nancy Bryan

Ruth L. Potter

Charles and Miriam Reid

Randy and Edie Stout

KEY $125

Theodora Cox

Douglas and Cathy Dumler

C. Cole Janonis

Kim Munson

Wes Kenney and Leslie Stewart

FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS

• Alek Korolainen – Rotaract Volunteer

• Janet Landreth – Board Member

• John Leopold

• Elaine Luethold

• Cindy Lindeen-Martin – Board Member

• Martina Munsters

• Marilyn Lines

• Robert Schultz

• Judy Skram

• Sue Slavec

SOSTENUTO $75

Victoria Benson

Doug Ernest

Patricia Kroesen

Sandra Meyer

Leslie Walker

Jon Weiss

Don and Kathy Wendland

IKOF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law. EIN number: 27-25 79604

• Susan Spelius-Gannon – Board Member

• Tammie Stadnick

• Avery Swanson – Rotaract Volunteer

• Tisha Uythoven

• Jack Vogt

• Gina Wallick

• Marian Wellman

• Iris Zhang – Board Member

ADDITIONAL THANK YOU'S

• Pam Keller – Ad Sales, Sponsorships, and Press Releases

• Cindy Lindeen-Martin – Scheduling, Registration, Co-Director of the 2025 Odyssiad® Competition

• Shuang Iris Zhang – Co-Director of the 2025 Odyssiad® Competition; Official Staff Photographer

• Janelle Crandell – Finances and Contracts

• Brent Collins – Piano Tuner/Technician

• David Hebert – Piano Tuner/Technician

• Ted Mulcahey – Piano Tuner/Technician

• Cecilia Dagg – Volunteer Coordinator

• Josh Hansen – Hansen CPA

• Jennifer Clary – Website and Design

• Peter Muller – UCA Events Management and Staff

• A special thank you to the Semifinalists' teachers and parents who mentored and guided them on their "Journey to the Performance of a Lifetime."

Congratulations to our 2025 Semifinalists whose online submissions were judged for the Preliminary Round of the Odyssiad® Competition.

ODYSSIAD® SEMIFINALISTS: SOLO DIVISION – LEVEL A

Jacob Cai

City/Country: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Age: 13

Studying under Professor Marilyn Engle, Jacob Cai has participated in national and international piano competitions and festivals. His competition successes include winning the first-place Solo Prize and Best Concerto Award at the sixth WPTA Singapore International Piano Competition, prizes at the 10th Seattle International Piano Competition, and first place in both the International Youth Elevato Piano Competition and Concerto Competition (2022, 2024). Jacob was a 2024 Jeune Chopin Competition (Lugano) finalist. He was invited to perform with the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra (Czech Republic) in 2023. Earlier achievements feature performances with the Calgary Civic Symphony at age eleven, the Special Award at the 6th International Franz Liszt Competition (Weimar), first place and Overall Prize in the Steinway Piano Competition (2020, 2023), first prize (age nine category) at the Canadian Music Competition (2021), and selection for the Coimbra World Piano Meeting at age eight.

William Glasnapp

City/Country: Ames, Iowa, USA

Age: 12

William Glasnapp began playing piano at age six and has excelled under the instruction of Dr. Marion Scott, winning the Iowa Music Teachers Association Level E competition in 2023, and the Music Teachers National Association competition for Iowa in 2024. He was a 2024 Odyssiad® semi-finalist in the single movement concerto category and won the single movement concerto category at the Florida Young Artist Piano Competition. William participates in local piano festivals and events including performances at the historic Hoyt Sherman Place, the Salisbury House & Gardens, and the Des Moines Area Piano Festival.

Maxwell Ji

City/Country: Gainesville, Florida, USA

Age: 10

Maxwell Ji has studied piano since age five with Drs. Ning Lu and Jie Lu. He won first prizes in the University of Utah SummerArts Piano Solo Competition (2021–2024) and Concerto Competition (2022, 2024), UMTA Piano Concerto Competition (2022–2024), FSMTA Piano Concerto Competition (2025), Ogden Piano Concerto Competition (2022), Salt Lake Piano Solo (2023) and Concerto Competitions (2024), the Helen Taylor Johannesen International Piano Festival Solo Competition (2023, 2024), Seattle International Piano Competition (2024), and OPUS Piano Competition State Level (2024, 2025). He received second prizes in the XV Chopin International Piano Competition (2024) and 11th ENKOR Piano Competition (2024), and merit prizes in OPUS (2024, 2025). He performed with the American West Symphony and American Fork Symphony (2022), and with Chamber Orchestra Ogden and American West Symphony (2023). In January 2025, he played Mozart’s Concerto No. 20 with the University of Utah Orchestra.

Emily Yitong Jiang

City/Country: McKinney, Texas, USA; Age: 11

Emily Yitong Jiang is a fifth-grader who has studied with Dr. Louise Liu since age eight. A finalist at the 2024 International Chopin Competition for Children in Poland, she has performed at Carnegie Hall (2023, 2024) and Vienna’s Musikverein (2024). Awards include first place in the Elite International Music Competition (2022, 2023), Vienna Grand Prize Virtuoso (2024), and OPUS State Competition (2025), along with top honors in DMTA, Carmel Klavier, and Texoma competitions. She also plays violin, accompanies her school choir, and enjoys tennis and drawing.

Steve Jicheng Jiang

City/Country: McKinney, Texas, USA

Age: 8

Steve Jicheng Jiang is a talented third-grade pianist who began studying under Dr. Louise Jiayin Liu at age five. He has performed at Carnegie Hall (2024) and Vienna’s Musikverein and was a 2025 finalist at the International Chopin Competition for Children in Poland. His accolades include first place in the Elite International Music Competition (2023), Vienna Grand Prize Virtuoso (2024, plus Exceptional Young Talent Prize), and OPUS National Competition (2025), as well as top placements in Carmel Klavier, Texoma, and DMTA competitions. Beyond piano, Steve enjoys soccer and tennis.

Jenna Tran

City/Country: Allen, Texas, USA

Age: 12

Semifinalist in Solo Level A and Junior Young Artist Complete Concerto Divisions

Jenna Tran, a seventh-grader at Murphy Middle School, is the grand prize winner of the 2024 Collin County Young Artist Competition for the Plano Symphony Orchestra. She won first prize in the Junior Division at the 2024 Lewisville Vernell Gregg Young Artist Competition and followed up with second prize in 2025. Jenna is also a talented violinist and is first chair in her school’s Chamber Orchestra. She has been selected to perform in All-Region 25 for two consecutive years, (2024, 2025). Jenna is proud to call North Texas home and loves the opportunity to perform live for her community.

Faith Eugenia Villar-Córdova Scott

City/Country: Johnston, Iowa, USA

Age: 9

Faith Eugenia Villar-Córdova Scott won her first international piano competition at the age of five. She has received first prize national and international piano competitions, including the Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn International Music Competitions (2024), Franz Liszt Center International Piano Competition (2024), The Royal International Piano Competition (2023), the Florida Young Artists International Piano Competition (2021, 2023), the Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition (2022, 2024) and the Central Iowa Symphony Concerto Competition (2025). She made her debut with orchestra at age seven playing a complete Haydn Concerto in Miami, Florida. In 2024, she returned to perform Mozart’a Concerto No. 8 in C Major K. 246 under the baton of Maestro Alberto Bade. Ms. Scott made her debut in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in 2023 and is a recipient of the Coral Gables Music Club Scholarship.

ODYSSIAD® SEMIFINALISTS: SOLO DIVISION – LEVEL A

Fengtian Wang

City/Country: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Age: 12

Semifinalist in Solo Level A and Junior Young Artist Complete Concerto Divisions

Fengtian Wang, studies piano with Charlotte Hu. She is a winner of the 2024 Philadelphia International Piano Competition. She obtained First Honorable Mention in the 2025 West Chester University Pre-Collegiate National piano competition. In 2023, she was admitted to the Manhattan School of Music pre-college as an award winner of the Rochlis Family Foundation Scholarship. She began studying piano at age four with her mother. She has won countless awards and is frequently invited to concerts, such as the Shanghai Open Competition, Mendelssohn International Piano Competition, Pearl RiverCaesarburg International Piano Competition, Xinghai National Elite Competition, Huaxia International Piano Open Competition, and more.

Olivia Ye

City/Country: Walnut, California, USA

Age: 11

Olivia Ye lives in Walnut, California. Her piano journey began at the age of six, and she currently studies with Ms. Jenny Shin. Olivia’s honors include being the Regional Winner of the 2024 and 2025 MTAC State Concerto Competition; first prize of the 9th and 11th editions of the ENKOR International Music Competition, as well as the Young Pianist Category of the Southwestern Youth Music Festival; Grand Prize Winner of the 2023 Satori Summer Music Festival; first place of the American Protégé International Competition of Romantic Music 2022, the 5th International Moscow Music Competition, and the 2022 Charleston International Piano Competition. Aside from piano, Olivia enjoys composing, singing, and competitive math.

ODYSSIAD® SEMIFINALISTS: SOLO DIVISION – LEVEL B

Erik Chen

City/Country: Riverside, California, USA

Age: 16

Erik Chen attends Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California. Born in Durham, North Carolina, Erik began his musical journey at the age of four. Under the current mentorship and guidance of Ms. Jenny Shin, Erik has won numerous regional, state, and international piano competitions. His eyeopening award cabinet consists of the LA Liszt International Piano Competition, Enkor International Piano Competition, MTAC State Solo Competition, Southern California Junior Bach Festival, Southwestern Youth Music Festival, and more. Off the piano bench, Erik is an avid tennis player and serves as the president of his school’s Speech and Debate team. In addition, Erik conducts research on molecular biology at a wet lab. As a writer for the Riverside newspaper, Erik aims to promote stories on the accomplishments of the youth in his community.

Charlotte Giraudeau

City/Country: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Age: 16

Charlotte Giraudeau began her music studies at age five and is currently under the instruction of Professor Marilyn Engle of the University of Calgary. Charlotte is a prize-winner in numerous competitions. Her most recent accomplishment is third place in the Intermediate Division of 2025 Canadian Chopin Competition. Charlotte has made appearances as a soloist in the High River Music Young Musicians Concert Series and performed Rachmaninoff’s 4th Concerto with the Calgary Civic Symphony as a winner of the 2025 Calgary Concerto Competition. Charlotte has participated in many festivals and masterclasses, including the Morningside Music Bridge (2022), and the Gina Bachauer Piano Festival (2023, 2025). She studied with distinguished artists Arie Vardi, Marina Lomazov, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Wha Kyung Byun, Nicolas Namoradze, and Sir Stephen Hough. Besides her piano studies, she regularly performs within her own organization, the Capriccio International Young Artists for Calgary's senior communities.

Jason Nam

City/Country: Bothell, Washington, USA

Age: 17

Jason Nam, an 11th grader at Bear Creek School in Washington, studies with Rufus Choi. He recently performed with the Seattle Symphony as 2025 Seattle Symphony Young Artist. He has also performed with the Antelope Valley Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, and the Bellevue Symphony. He has received the Chopin Foundation Scholarship, grand prize at the Aloha International Piano Competition, KMA Music Scholarship, and Josephine Bryant Scholarship at PAFE. He also earned first prizes at American Virtuoso International Music Competition and Odin International Piano Competition. Additionally, he won top prizes in the Chicago International Music Competition, San Francisco International Piano Competition, and Bellegrande International Piano Competition. Jason has won three consecutive state recitalist competitions and received gold in the solo and concerto categories at the Chopin NW competition. He was selected as a finalist at 2025 Arthur Fraser Piano Competition at SPEF, and he will attend Piano Texas.

Rinchen Posel

City/Country: Albany, New York, USA

Age: 15

Rinchen Posel is a classical pianist with a deep passion for music. Her journey with the piano began at the age of four, inspired by watching her cousins play the instrument. This exposure ignited her own musical curiosity, and she developed a love for the piano from a young age. Currently, Rinchen is honing her musical talents at the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin School of Music in London, a renowned institution known for nurturing young, exceptional musicians. At the school, she has the opportunity to collaborate with other gifted students from around the world. Rinchen's ambition is to continue developing her abilities in both performance and composition, with the ultimate goal of sharing her love of music with audiences on a global scale.

ODYSSIAD® SEMIFINALISTS: SOLO DIVISION – LEVEL B

Mia Safdie

City/Country: Los Angeles, California, USA

Age: 17

Winner of the 2025 Interlochen Concerto Competition, Mia Safdie is a pianist at the Interlochen Arts Academy and Regional Director of the Back to BACH Project. She was featured on NPR’s From the Top, performed at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, and won top prizes in the Palm Beach Atlantic Young Artist Competition, Joseph Bologne International Piano Competition, MMTA Concerto Competition, and the Singapore International Music Competition. She participated in the Amalfi Coast Piano Festival and performed in masterclasses for Robert McDonald, HaeSun Paik, Christopher Harding, and Bernadene Blaha.

Veronica Smith

City/Country: Des Moines, Iowa, USA

Age: 17

Veronica Smith began studying piano at age six under Sophia Ahmad through the Des Moines Symphony Academy. She studied with Jessica Anderson at the Drake Community school of music for three years, and then studied with Dr. Mei-Hsuan Huang at Iowa State University for six years. For the past two years she has studied under Dr. Marion Scott. Veronica has participated in the Iowa Music Teacher Association district and state auditions, winning levels B, C, D, and F at the local level and was named state winner in Level F this past March. Veronica was the third-place winner of the Terrace Hill Piano competition in March 2025. Additionally, she was the first-place winner of the Truman State Piano Festival and Competition in February 2025. This fall, Veronica plans to attend the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory to study piano performance under Sean Chen.

Kento Sugiyama

City/Country: Iowa City, Iowa, USA

Age: 16

Kento Sugiyama began playing piano at the age of five. He currently studies with Dr. Jack Winerock and Feilin Lin Murray. A recipient of the Chopin Scholarship from the Chopin Foundation of the United States for 2023/24, Kento has garnered multiple accolades. He won first place at the MTNA State Piano Competition in the Senior Division (2024, 2023) and Junior Division (2022). He won the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Young Artist Concerto Competition in 2024. His accomplishments also include a solo performance with Orchestra Omaha in 2023 as a winner of the Young Artist Competition and a prizewinner at the Franz Liszt Center International Piano Competition and the Bruce P. Carlson Student Scholarship Competition by the Schubert Club.

Tian Yu Tammy Ye

City/Country: Walnut, California, USA

Age: 15

Tian Yu Tammy Ye began playing the piano at age seven, and she studies with Dr. Dmitry Rachmanov. A rising sophomore at the Orange County School of the Arts, pianist program, Tammy was the first prize winner of the Charleston International Piano Competition, second prize winner of the International Concours pour le Grand Prix, and winner in several Satori Summer Music Festival categories. She was also the winner of the American Fine Arts Festival and was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall. Tammy has won several first prizes in competitions held by the Music Teachers’ Association of California, the Southern California Junior Bach Festival, and the Southwestern Youth Music Festival. Tammy has also participated in masterclasses with renowned artists such as Dr. Oxana Yablonskaya and Dr. Olga Kern. In addition to piano, Tammy enjoys playing the cello, reading, and writing.

ODYSSIAD® SEMIFINALISTS: SOLO DIVISION – LEVEL C

Antonio Ajero

City/Country: Nacogdoches, Texas, USA / China

Age: 20

Antonio “Nio” Ajero, has garnered many accolades such as the 2021 and 2022 National YoungArts Award for Classical Piano, third prize in the National MTNA Senior Piano Competition, and performed Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Brevard Music Center Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Keith Lockhart in the Brevard Music Center Concerto Competition winners concert. He has also performed Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Saint Saens Piano Concerto No. 5 with the Central Texas Philharmonic under Maestro Stefan Sanders. Nio recently was awarded the third prize in the 2024 Takacs Beethoven Competition. He has studied in masterclasses and lessons with renowned teachers such as William Grant Nabore, Kirill Gerstein, Logan Skelton, Julian Martin, Vadym Kholodenko, Aviram Reichert, and Alexander Moutouzkine. Nio is currently a junior at the Oberlin College and Conservatory under the tutelage of 2001 Van Cliburn gold medalist, Professor Stanislav Ioudenitch.

Da Jin Kim

City/Country: South Miami, Florida, USA / South Korea Age: 30

Semifinalist in Solo Level C and Professional Young Artist Complete Concerto Divisions

Acclaimed by Australian author and classical musician Michael Moran for her “crystalline tone and refined touch,” South Korean pianist Da Jin Kim stands among the most sensitive and expressive musicians of her generation. Her artistry has been recognized with awards at prestigious competitions, including the XII Darmstadt International Chopin Piano Competition in Germany and the 50th Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in the United States. Kim holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and Master’s degrees from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, where she studied under the guidance of Naoko Takao, Kevin Kenner, and Santiago Rodriguez, receiving full scholarships. She graduated summa cum laude from Seoul National University with a Bachelor’s degree, where she studied with Hee Sung Joo. Beyond the stage, Kim is a dedicated pedagogue, having served as a teaching assistant at Frost and currently nurturing young talent through the Frost Preparatory Program.

ODYSSIAD® SEMIFINALISTS: SOLO DIVISION – LEVEL C

Mee Ji Kim

City/Country: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA / South Korea; Age: 28

A native of South Korea, Mee Ji Kim began studying piano at the age of six. She has received numerous accolades, including first prize at the NSAL Competition, Ariel Chamber Competition, and recognition as a laureate of the Franz Liszt International Festival and Competition. In South Korea, she earned top prizes in major competitions such as the Busan Music Competition, Suri Music Competition, Samick-Seiler Piano Competition, and the Seoul Orchestra Competition. She has performed in winners’ concerts and presented solo and chamber recitals at various venues. She earned her undergraduate degree from Seoul National University under professor Hee Sung Jo, her master’s degree from Indiana University under Professor Norman Krieger, and is currently pursuing a D.M.A. at the University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music, studying with Professors Soyeon Kate Lee, Daniel Shapiro, and Sara Daneshpour, supported by a full scholarship.

Nayeon Kim

City/Country: Bloomington, Indiana, USA / South Korea

Age: 25

Nayeon Kim began her formal piano studies at Yewon School and graduated with honors from Seoul Arts High School and Seoul National University, where she studied under Professor Aviram Reichert. Alongside her undergraduate studies, she pursued musicology, deepening her artistic understanding and performance skills. In South Korea, she won first prize at the Ewha Kyunghyang Competition, third prize at the Korea Steinway Competition, and performed in the Kumho Prodigy Concert. Her international career started at Indiana University with Professor Arnaldo Cohen, where she won the Jacobs School of Music Concerto Competition. She also took first prize at the 7th Ruthmere International Piano Competition, performing in the winner’s concert in Elkhart, Indiana. Kim recently completed her Master of Music in piano performance and will begin the Artist Diploma program in Fall 2025 at Indiana University.

Aaron Kurz

City/Country: Austin, Texas, USA

Age: 29

Engaging audiences with his charismatic and moving performances, pianist Aaron Kurz enjoys a burgeoning career. Aaron has soloed with numerous orchestras and across three continents, in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Salle Cortot, and the Palace of Peace and Harmony in Kazakhstan. His performances have been lauded by the press, called both “nuanced musical journeys” (Belgium’s "Le Soir") and “a lesson in pianism” (England’s "Cambridge Independent"). Most recently, Aaron has just completed a tour of Asia, where he performed and taught at numerous venues across Indonesia and China. Aaron’s playing has also garnered recognition in competitions, winning top prizes in the New York, Los Angeles, Virginia Waring, and World Piano Teachers Association International Piano Competitions, among others. He holds recent degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, studying with Jon Nakamatsu and Jeremy Denk, and from Yale, studying with Boris Berman. He is now pursuing his D.M.A. at the University of Texas with Anton Nel.

Daria Podorozhnova

City/Country: New York, USA / Russia

Age: 22

Semifinalist in Solo Level C and Professional Young Artist Complete Concerto Divisions

Daria Podorozhnova is a Russian pianist pursuing her bachelor's degree at Manhattan School of Music in New York, where she studies with Alexandre Moutouzkine. She is a recipient of the prestigious Harold and Helene Schonberg Pianist Scholarship. Born in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Daria began studying piano at the Special Music School affiliated with the Rostov State Conservatory. She trained under Inna Serebryanskaya and later with the renowned professor Sergei Osipenko. Daria has received international recognition through numerous competitions. Recent highlights include sixth prize at the 69th Maria Canals International Competition in Barcelona and first prize at the 2025 Ann & Charles Eisemann Young Artist Competition in Dallas, leading to a solo performance with Richardson Symphony Orchestra. In February 2025, she was named a winner of Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition and will perform Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 2 with Manhattan School of Music Symphony Orchestra in the 2025-2026 season.

Yuka Tsunemoto

City/Country: Hino-shi, Tokyo, Japan

Age: 24

Yuka Tsunemoto is studying at Musashino Academia Musicae under Masanori Sugano and Kemal Gekic. She graduated with honors and is now a second-year graduate student. From 2022–2023, she participated in the Frost Chopin Academy as a scholarship recipient and was selected to perform in student concerts. Her awards include the Grand Prix in Group B2 at the Paderewski In Memoriam International Piano Competition (2021), third prize at the Julius Zarebski International Music Competition (2021), and fourth prize in the AlPAF Concerto Competition in Korea. She has performed with the Primavista String Quartet and received the Bronze Prize at the 40th PTNA Piano Competition (2016). Earlier, she won the Gold Prize and Bärenreiter Prize at the 6th Japan Bach Competition (2015) and many more. She has performed in Japan, the U.S., Korea, and Norway, and is a recipient of the Moritani Scholarship Foundation for 2024–2026.

Pusheng Wang

City/Country: Rochester, New York, USA / China

Age: 24

Pusheng Wang showed great musical talent from childhood, starting piano at seven and winning awards like gold and silver at the Zhongxin International Piano Competition, first in the Asia International Piano Open, two golds and a silver in the Hong Kong Liszt Piano Memorial Award, first in the Steinway and Macau International Piano Competitions, and an Excellence Award in the Tchaikovsky Youth Competition. At age 12, he entered Sichuan Conservatory’s middle school, studying with Professors Jingya Sun and Zhaoyi Dan, holding his first solo concert, and performing Mendelssohn’s First Piano Concerto with the Sichuan Conservatory Symphony Orchestra. At age 15, he studied in the U.S. with Chufang Huang, won first prize at the New York Metropolitan International Music Competition, and performed at Lincoln Center. At 16, he joined Juilliard under Ernest Barretta, winning first in Juilliard’s 2019 Piano Concerto Competition. In 2021, he entered Eastman School of Music under Douglas Humphreys.

ODYSSIAD® SEMIFINALISTS: SOLO DIVISION – LEVEL C

Zhu Wang

City/Country: Forest Hills, New York, USA / China

Age: 28

Semifinalist in Solo Level C and Professional Young Artist Complete Concerto Divisions

Praised as “especially impressive” and “a thoughtful, sensitive performer” who “balanced lyrical warmth and crisp clarity” (Tommasini–The New York Times), Zhu Wang was awarded first prize in the 2020 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions and Gold Medalist at 2024 New Orleans International Piano Competition. Zhu was a finalist in the 2019 Clara Haskil International Piano Competition and a prizewinner of 2024 Cleveland International Piano Competition. Renowned pianist Fou Ts’ong recognized Zhu as an “excellent pianist with a natural sense of harmony and imagination,” whose sensitive and engaging performances exhibit a remarkable depth of musicianship and poise beyond his age. From Hunan Province, China, Zhu started piano at age five, following his grandfather’s love of music. He graduated from Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School, receiving the Gina Bachauer Scholarship, Mieczyslaw Munz Scholarship, and Mehlin Prize. Zhu is pursuing his M.M. at Juilliard, under the tutelage of Emanuel Ax and Robert McDonald. He gratefully acknowledges the support of the Bagby Foundation for the Musical Arts. Zhu lives in New York City with his wife Chloe and their cats, Chaz and Tùzi.

Xiaoru Wen

City/Country: New York, USA / China

Age: 25

Semifinalist in Solo Level C and Professional Young Artist

Complete Concerto Divisions

Xiaoru Wen is a Chinese pianist who received the first prize at the DEBUT International Piano Competition in New Jersey and was awarded a solo piano recital at Carnegie Hall in 2014. Since 2013, she has signed the contract with Chinese Poly Grand Theater and performed in recitals arranged by this music business company, based in Beijing, including concert tours throughout China. She has played 40 recitals in the last few years. In addition, Xiaoru won the first prize in the Rosario Marciano International Piano Competition in Vienna in 2012. She is pursuing her D.M.A. at the Manhattan School of Music. She has been a student of Marc Silverman since 2021 as a graduate student at the Manhattan School of Music; as an undergraduate, she studied with André-Michael Schub (2017-2021).

Chuanyi Xiang

City/Country: Dallas, Texas, USA / China

Age: 26

Semifinalist in Solo Level C

Professional Young Artist Complete Concerto Divisions

Driven by a profound belief in the healing power of music, Chuanyi Xiang aims to use her piano playing to alleviate suffering from life, and to bring hope to people's lives. Described by Yoheved Kaplinsky as, “a sincere, emotionally communicative performer, who makes every note meaningful." Chuanyi has showcased her exceptional talent across continents, collaborating with orchestras such as the China Philharmonic Orchestra and China Academia Orchestra, with conductors such as En Shao, Peter Burwic, and Yi Huang. Recent highlights include captivating recitals at important venues like Paul Hall at The Juilliard School, Benedict Music Tent at the Aspen Summer Festival, and Klavierhaus in New York City. Born in China into a musical family, Chuanyi received her Bachelor of Music from the China Conservatory in Beijing, studying under Hong Fu and Ruoyu Huang, and her Master of Music at The Juilliard School, studying under Yoheved Kaplinsky and Jerome Lowenthal. She will be studying at SMU Meadows School of Arts with Sergei Babayan in Fall 2025.

Liming Yang

City/Country: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA / China

Age: 26

Semifinalist in Solo Level C and Professional Young Artist

Complete Concerto Divisions

Born in Wenzhou, Chinese pianist Liming Yang has been consistently acclaimed for his passionate and sensitive interpretations, marked by deep emotional expression. After making his concerto debut at the age of thirteen, Yang continued his professional studies in Shanghai, where he won numerous competitions and received multiple music scholarships. He has performed at notable venues such as the Wenzhou Grand Theater and He Luting Concert Hall at the Shanghai Conservatory. Yang studied with Kathryn Brown at the Cleveland Institute of Music and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree on a full scholarship at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), under the guidance of Dror Biran. He was recently invited to participate in Pianofest in the Hamptons, where he studied with renowned pianists Paul Schenly and Jerome Lowenthal.

Jingwei Yuan

City/Country: East Lansing, Michigan, USA / China Age: 27

Jingwei Yuan is a talented pianist known for his refined technique and expressive interpretations. He began his formal music training at Oberlin College, studying under the esteemed pianist Robert Shannon, where he developed a strong foundation in classical piano performance. After completing his undergraduate studies, Jingwei continued his musical journey at Indiana University, where he earned his master’s degree, working with renowned pianists Arnaldo Cohen and Roberto Plano. Their mentorship further deepened his technical skills and broadened his artistic vision. Currently, Jingwei is pursuing his D.M.A. at Michigan State University, where he studies under the guidance of Eric Zuber. Throughout his academic career, Jingwei has given numerous solo and chamber recitals, showcasing his versatility as both a soloist and a collaborative musician. His performances have been noted for their emotional depth and technical precision, drawing audiences into the heart of the music.

Jiusi Zhang

City/Country: New Haven, Connecticut, USA / China Age: 22

Jiusi Zhang studied under professor Dang Thai Son at Oberlin Conservatory of Music and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in spring 2024. Currently, he is pursuing a Master of Music degree under Professor WeiYi Yang at Yale School of music with full scholarship. In 2024, he received an Honorable Mention at the Wideman Concerto Competition in Shreveport, Louisiana, and was a finalist at the Los Angeles Liszt International Piano Competition. Earlier that year, he won first prize (Marilyn Fischer & Joan Marie Scherer Scholarship) at the Tuesday Musical Association Scholarship Competition in Akron, Ohio. In the subsequent winners’ recital, he received the most audience votes, earning the John M. Ream Jr. DDS People’s Choice Award. Previously, he was awarded full scholarships to attend the 2022 PianoTexas International Piano Festival, where he was selected as one of three winners of the PianoTexas Concerto Competition.

ODYSSIAD® SEMIFINALISTS: CONCERTO DIVISION –

JUNIOR YOUNG ARTIST COMPLETE CONCERTO

Jeffrey Dai

City/Country: Arvada, Colorado, USA

Age: 16

Performing: Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue

Jeffrey Dai has achieved impressive milestones in his musical journey. A tenth-grade student at Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado, Jeffrey's love for music has led him to many successes. In November 2024, Jeffrey performed at Carnegie Hall, New York, after earning third place at the International Music Competition. This performance marked a significant achievement in his career and highlighted his dedication to piano. Jeffrey has also earned gold medal awards in various piano competitions including Global Melodies Awards, Schmitt Music Piano Competition as well as Yamaha Piano Competition. These achievements demonstrate his consistent effort and passion for the piano. Jeffrey has studied with Mrs. Ling Yu McLoughlin since age seven. Under her guidance, he has developed strong technical skills and musical expression. Jeffrey enjoys sharing his music through performances and competitions. His dedication to improving his skills continues to guide him as he pursues his passion for music.

Raditya Muljadi

City/Country: Parker, Colorado, USA

Age: 15

Performing: Tchaikovsky, Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23

Raditya Muljadi, an 11th grader at Chesterton Academy, studies piano with Jasmine Steadman and Larry Graham. He has won top prizes at international competitions including the Cleveland International Piano Institute Competition, Steinway, Carmel, and Liszt Competition, and was a semi-finalist at the Singapore International Piano Competition and Kaufman International. At nine years old, Raditya gave his first solo recital in Indonesia and has since performed as a soloist with the National Repertory Orchestra and Broomfield Symphony Orchestra. He has played at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall (as a Lang Lang Foundation scholar), Red Rocks Amphitheater, and Beijing’s Great Wall, where he was named a Cultural Ambassador. Raditya recently attended the Aspen Music Festival under Dr. Yoheved Kaplinsky and is a board member of Musicians United for Change. He holds scholarships from the Chopin Foundation of America and YoungArts.

Katerina Sommers

City/Country: Palm Springs, California, USA

Age: 17

Performing: Rachmaninov, Concerto No.2 in C minor, Op.18

Katerina Sommers currently studies classical piano as a rising senior at Idyllwild Arts Academy with Dr. Jeanette Louis Yaryan. Katerina has been very much fascinated with classical music and the piano from a young age. She has made her first musical steps with the help of her grandfather who taught and inspired her until she started taking piano lessons with Galina Popova at the age of five. Later, she started studying professionally under Anastasiya Poff. She is a prizewinner of nine international piano competitions including the Idyllwild Arts Concerto Competition. In addition to her studies, she is the president of Idyllwild's Music Performance Club where music students do outreach concerts for fundraisers, nursing homes, hospitals, and schools; she is also vice president of the Opera Club. Katerina has played as a soloist with the Idyllwild Arts Academy Orchestra and the Miami Chamber Orchestra with a single concerto movement. She debuted with a full concerto with the Idyllwild Arts Academy in April 2025. Alongside piano, her hobbies include Rubik's Cube, going on walks, and cooking.

Jenna Tran

City/Country: Allen, Texas, USA

Age: 12

Performing: Mendelssohn, Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25

Semifinalist in Solo Level A and Junior Young Artist Complete Concerto Divisions. See bio on page 24.

Fengtian Wang

City/Country: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Age: 12

Performing: Haydn, Piano Concerto No. 11 in D Major, Hob. XVIII/11

Semifinalist in Solo Level A and Junior Young Artist Complete Concerto Divisions. See bio on page 25.

Chloe Yan

City/Country: Lafayette, Colorado, USA

Age: 12

Performing: George Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue

Chloe Yan began her musical journey at age five under the guidance of Ms. Ling McLoughlin. With a deep passion for piano, she particularly admires Beethoven’s works. Since her competition debut in 2021, Chloe has earned multiple awards, including second place in Schmitt Music’s Competitive Division I (2021) and first place in Classic Pianos’ Advanced Division II (2023). She most recently secured second place in the same division (2025). A highlight of her young career was performing in a six-hand piano trio at Carnegie Hall during the 2022 American Protege Talent Competition. Dedicated to her craft, Chloe continues to grow as a promising young musician.

SURVEY FOR FESTIVAL COMPETITORS, GUESTS, AND PATRONS

ODYSSIAD® SEMIFINALISTS: CONCERTO DIVISION –

PROFESSIONAL YOUNG ARTIST COMPLETE CONCERTO

Kyle Dacon

City/Country: Boulder, Colorado, USA

Age: 25

Performing: Liszt, Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, S. 124

Kyle Dacon is from the Dallas, Texas area. He completed his Bachelor of Music at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, before moving back to Dallas to obtain his Master of Music at Southern Methodist University, where he graduated in May 2024. Kyle has participated in various music festivals across the world, including the Gijón International Music Festival. He is currently pursuing a D.M.A. at CU Boulder, studying under Dr. Jennifer Hayghe. Aside from piano, Kyle is a devoted choral musician and has toured with choirs across the U.S. as both an accompanist and singer. Kyle is also a member of CU Boulder’s MTNA chapter and a passionate teacher and instructor. Kyle’s biggest influences are his mother and his former teachers, including Beverly Panasik, Dr. Rosalie Levant, Dr. Christopher Atzinger, Dr. Theresa Bogard, and Dr. Cathy Lysinger.

Tarje Grover

City/Country: Bloomington, Indiana, USA

Age: 23

Performing: George Gershwin, Piano Concerto in F Major

Tarje Grover is a native of Powell, Wyoming; he attended the University of Wyoming where he graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in piano performance studying with Dr. Theresa Bogard. He then attended the Jacobs School of Music, where he received his Master of Music, studying with Jean Louis Haguenauer. Grover currently is an artist in the Performance Diploma program, studying with Professor Haguenauer. As a soloist, Grover has competed and performed in various competitions across the country, most recently winning the Wyoming Symphony Young Artist Concerto Competition, as well as Silver Medal/Level C at the International Keyboard Odyssiad® & Festival, U.S.A. He has also participated in international festivals in both the U.S and Italy, as both a soloist and as a collaborative pianist.

Da Jin Kim

City/Country: South Miami, Florida, USA / South Korea

Age: 30

Performing: Rachmaninov, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor, Op. 43

Semifinalist in Solo Level C and Professional Young Artist Complete Concerto Divisions. See bio on page 26.

Kevin Knowles

City/Country: San Dimas, California, USA

Age: 27

Performing: Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K. 488

Praised as a “pianist with strong technique” (Miami Classical Review), Kevin Knowles is a passionate musician and educator. He has appeared as a soloist with the Colburn Chamber Orchestra, Seraphim Symphony, and Spokane Symphony at venues such as the Redlands Bowl, Friedberg Concert Hall, Linehan Concert Hall, and Carnegie Hall. He was the first prize winner of the Walter Knabe International Piano Competition and Redlands Bowl Young Artist International Competition as well as a laureate in the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition. Highlights of

his collaborative endeavors include playing chamber music with esteemed performers such as Soprano Jeanette Thompson and Violist Jodi Levitz. In addition, Knowles has taught collegiate level group piano courses, and coordinates an undergraduate pedagogy seminar. He is a teaching assistant for the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami where he is also pursuing a D.M.A.

Boris Krivoshein

City/Country: Chicago, Illinois, USA / Russia

Age: 33

Performing: Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18

Boris Krivoshein, born in Russia, is completing an Artist Diploma in Piano Performance at DePaul University (Chicago), studying with Marta Aznavoorian. A laureate of international competitions, he won first prizes at the Bartolomeo Cristofori Competition (St. Petersburg), Romanticism Competition (Moscow), and Gold Medal at the Young Classical Virtuosos of Tomorrow (Philadelphia). He earned the Grand Prix at the Cyprus International Competition (2020) and recently won the XV Chopin International Competition (Hartford, 2024) and DePaul Concerto Competition (2025). His performances include the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Kimmel Center, and festivals in the Netherlands. Trained at Gnesins Russian Academy of Music and Novosibirsk Conservatory, he actively performs as a soloist and collaborative pianist in the U.S. and Russia.

Soo Ji Lee

City/Country: Los Angeles, California, USA / South Korea

Age: 31

Performing: Liszt, Totentanz, S.126

Soo Ji Lee, an internationally acclaimed pianist, has won top prizes at competitions including the Seoul International Piano Competition, Diablo Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition, and New York Laureate International Music Competition. Recognized for her virtuosity and musicality, she has performed at prestigious venues like Berliner Philharmonie and appeared as a soloist, chamber musician, and masterclass artist across the U.S., Canada, and South Korea. Lee holds a B.M. in Piano Performance (Cleveland Institute of Music) under Antonio Pompa-Baldi and a master’s and Graduate Performance Diploma from Peabody Conservatory. She is pursuing a D.M.A. at the Cleveland Institute of Music under Kathryn Brown. A laureate of numerous competitions, including the Rocky Mountain Piano Competition and Franz Liszt Center International, she continues to captivate audiences with her dynamic artistry.

Daria Podorozhnova

City/Country: New York, USA / Russia

Age: 22

Performing: Brahms, Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 83

Semifinalist in Solo Level C and Professional Young Artist Complete Concerto Divisions. See bio on page 27.

ODYSSIAD® SEMIFINALISTS: CONCERTO DIVISION –PROFESSIONAL

YOUNG ARTIST COMPLETE CONCERTO

Xiaoru Wen

City/Country: New York, USA / China

Age: 25

Performing: Liszt, Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, S. 124

Semifinalist in Solo Level C and Professional Young Artist

Complete Concerto Divisions. See bio on page 28.

Chuanyi Xiang

City/Country: Dallas, Texas, USA / China

Age: 26

Performing: Rachmaninoff, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor, Op. 43

Semifinalist in Solo (Level C) and Professional Young Artist

Complete Concerto Divisions. See bio on page 28.

Liming Yang

City/Country: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA / China

Age: 26

Performing: Rachmaninov, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor, Op. 43

Semifinalist in Solo Level C and Professional Young Artist

Complete Concerto Divisions. See bio on page 28.

Zhu Wang

City/Country: Forest Hills, New York, USA / China

Age: 28

Performing: Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18

Semifinalist in Solo Level C and Professional Young Artist

Complete Concerto Divisions. See bio on page 28.

Nathaniel Zhang

City/Country: Sugar Land, Texas, USA

Age: 24

Performing: Liszt, Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major, S. 125

Nathaniel Zhang is pursuing a master’s in Piano Performance at the University of Missouri–Kansas City under Sean Chen. He holds a B.M. in Piano Performance from Eastman School of Music and a B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester. A Houston native, he began piano at age six and has won top prizes in competitions like the UMKC Conservatory Concerto Competition, Chicago International Music Competition, and Ronald Sachs International Competition. An active performer, Nathaniel works as a freelance collaborative pianist and previously served as a church pianist and graduate assistant at Eastman. He also founded Music of Harmony, a nonprofit organizing over 120 community performances. Outside music, he enjoys pickleball and Legos.