ANDREW SIJIE LI

COUNTRY – Canada/Hong Kong

AGE – 15

HOST FAMILY – Judy and Joe Gimbel

An active performer, Andrew has given solo recitals in Metz, France and at the Renmin University Concert Hall in Beijing, China. Recently, he has performed and recorded at Jordan Hall, Mazzoleni Hall, and Koerner Hall. He shows great stage presence and musical control for his age.

Andrew received second prize in the Yamaha Junior Division of the 10th Bösendorfer and Yamaha USASU International Piano Competitions. He also received first prize in his age category at the Classicalia Competition, filmed live for PBS SoCal/KCET. He is a prize winner at several competitions including the Young Artist Category at the Hartford Chopin International Piano Competition (first prize), the Special Prize for Best Canadian Young Artists at the Canadian International Piano Competition, and the Concerto Competition at the Miami Music Festival (first prize), among others.

Andrew was the youngest student offered a full scholarship at the 2021 Frost Chopin Academy. He participated in the 2022 Morningside Music Bridge Festival in Boston, where he was awarded the Stuart Holland Memorial Scholarship and selected to perform at the Highlights Concert in Jordan Hall. He will be performing at the Vienna Konzerthaus with their symphony orchestra in August 2023.

Andrew is a sophomore studying at the Walnut Hill School of Arts (pre-college of New England Conservatory of Music), where he is under the tutelage of Professor Wha Kyung Byun and Professor Dang Thai Son.

Besides music, Andrew enjoys watching movies and hiking. He was born in Toronto, Canada, and grew up in Hong Kong.

ROUND I

Repertoire

Bach Prelude and Fugue No. 9 in E Major, BWV 854/WTC I

Beethoven Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Pathétique, Op. 13

Carter Two Thoughts about the Piano: II. Caténaires

ROUND II

Rachmaninoff Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42

Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 in C-sharp minor, S. 244

ROUND III

Beethoven Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37

Caden Lin

COUNTRY – United States

AGE – 15

HOST FAMILY – Marleen and Jack Cain

Caden Lin grew up in Los Angeles, California and started learning piano at the age of six. He was accepted into the studio of Fabio Bidini at age nine. Currently, he is a Thibaudet Scholarship recipient and studies with Fabio Bidini and HyeJin Kim at the Colburn Music Academy.

Caden won first prize in the 2020 Steinway Virtual Piano Competition (Southern California) and the 2018 Aloha International Piano Competition (Honolulu). He was a finalist in NPR’s “From the Top” in 2020 and 2021 for his solo piano and duo piano performances. He has been awarded prizes in competitions including the Alice Kitchen Memorial Scholarship Competition, LA Young Musicians International Competition, Lansum International Music Festival, and the Southwestern Youth Music Festival. He is also a semifinalist at the 2022 Rachmaninoff Junior Piano Competition in Los Angeles and is invited to the 2023 Aarhus International Piano Competition in Denmark.

An active chamber musician, Caden and his piano trio received the chamber music scholarship at the Ed and Mari Edelman Chamber Music Institute in 2019. Collaborating with the Colburn Dance Academy, he performed in Counterpointe in 2019.

Caden has participated in master classes with Yoheved Kaplinsky and Jean-Yves Thibaudet. He has performed in Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall and the Orvis Auditorium at the University of Hawaii. His most recent performance was the Mozart Triple Concerto with Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and the Academy Virtuosi Orchestra at Colburn’s Gala Concert in Zipper Hall, Los Angeles.

Along with music, Caden enjoys jogging and reading.

Round I

Repertoire

Haydn Sonata No. 60 in C Major, Hob. XVI/50 Vine Resolve

Rachmaninoff Six Moments Musicaux: No. 4 in E minor, Op. 16

ROUND II

Scarlatti Sonata in B minor, K. 87/L. 33

Scarlatti Sonata in G Major, K. 455/ L. 209

Chopin Fantaisie in F minor, Op. 49

Scriabin Sonata No. 4 in F-sharp Major, Op. 30

ROUND III

Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18