American Protege International Music Competitions at Carnegie Hall

International Piano and Strings Competition 2022

The American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition is open to school students and adults of all nationalities and countries.

All instruments, including piano, strings, voice and winds are welcome to participate in the Competition.

Participants are required to submit video/audio recording materials for the audition.  Multiple winners will be chosen in each age category.

We invite school students and adults to participate in the Competition. There is no age limit for the adult participants.

A large number of talented musicians applied for this year’s Piano and Strings Competition. They hailed from 21 countries, including different parts of the U.S., Australia, Belize, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Eligibility

Multiple winners will be chosen in each of the following age groups:

School Students:  Adults (18 and older):
  Young Musicians, 5 - 10Amateur without professional degree
 Junior, 11 - 14 College Students and Professional Musicians
 Intermediate, 15 - 18 

18-year-old school students must enter in the Intermediate Category. 18-year-old college students must apply under the College Students/Professionals Category.

Awards

Since the situation with COVID-19 Global Health Crisis is still uncertain, winners will be offered to perform at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on the dates to be announced, or to receive a Winner’s Package by mail.

Judges’ Distinction Award were granted based on the judges’ recommendations.

Judges

Four qualified judges will evaluate audition materials. All judges are independent; their students are not allowed to apply this season. Dr. Sophya Genis was invited as a Chairwoman of the Competition 2022. Mrs. Genis holds a Doctor of Music Arts Degree. She studied piano with such renowned professors as Alexander Yoheles, Yakov Milstein and Yakov Zak.

American Protégé
International Piano and Strings Competition 2022 Results

Judges Distinction Award (Plaque Trophies) Winners

International Music competitions at Carnegie Hall

Lim Yi Ting is a 10 years’ old cello student who has participated in competitions as a soloist and in ensemble. Recent 1st prize wins include American Protégé International Competition of Romantic Music 2021, Vienna Virtuoso Competition 2021, London Young Musician 21-22 Season 2 Age Category and Performance Grade 8, 2nd prize wins in 3rd NIMC 2021, International Grande Music Competition 2021 and Muse 2021 International Music Competition, 1st prize wins in Chicago International Music Competition and Festival 2020, Salzburg Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition 2020, Muse 2020 International Music Competition, Rising Star London Music Competition 2020. 

International Music competitions at Carnegie Hall

To 10 year-old cellist Lucas Liow, music mastery is about the tenacity and courage to continue, the growth mindset, the sedulous efforts and the love for music that will transcend all limitations and stand the test of time. Lucas’s music journey started with the piano at five years old and the cello at eight years old. He is under the tutelage of cellist Professor Natasha Liu. Being passionate about music, he enjoys playing the cello as a way to express himself. Most recently, he took part in the London Young Musician 2020 – 2021, season 4, where he was awarded the Gold prize and the International Prestige Competition (Chamber) where he was awarded Distinction with Honours. 

International Music competitions at Carnegie Hall

William Feng, from Sammamish, WA, is currently a fourth grade student. He started learning piano at the age of six with Dr. Christopher Bowlby from Chopin Academy of Music. William loves music and has a great passion for playing piano. Since 2020, William started to participate in regional festivals held by Seattle International Piano Festival & Competition (SIPF). He has won gold medals in SIPF Bach festivals 2020 and 2021, gold medals in SIPF Classical Viennese Festivals 2020 and 2021, and a gold medal in SIPF Virtuoso Festival 2021. Besides playing piano, William is interested in musical composition. He also enjoys reading music theory and history books.

International Music competitions at Carnegie Hall

Evelyn Hwang is 8 years old and a third-grade student at YISS in Seoul, Korea. She began her piano study at the age of 4. Evelyn won 1st place in Rondo Young Artist Festival Competition at the age of 6. She was the First Place Winner at the American Protégé International Competition of the Romantic Music 2020. She was also the First Place Winner at the New York Young Virtuoso Competition 2020 and 2021. Awards and honors that Evelyn has won include First Place Winner at VIVO International Music Competition 2021, First Place Winner of the American Protégé International Piano & Strings Competition 2021, Solo 3rd Place Winner at CAI Competition 2021, to list just a few

International Music competitions at Carnegie Hall

7-years-old Thai, born in U.S., Natchanok started learning piano at the age of three. She has been under tutelage of Dr. Pornphan Banternghansa and Chirapa Wungkaom since 2019 in Thailand. Natchanok has won many prestigious competitions around the world: First Prize from 2021 Chicago International Music Competition, First Prize from The 4th New Talent British International Youth Music Competition and Platinum and Best Youngest Virtuoso Award from WPTA SINGAPORE International Piano Competition, and many others.

International Music competitions at Carnegie Hall

Travis Li is 6 years old; he started his piano journey with his teacher, Ms. Fafan Xiao, at the age of four. He showed his great talent in music at his younger age and has been very passionate about giving back to the community through his music. Travis has been awarded many prizes including overall awards from Canada Steinway Piano Competition in 2020 & 2021; The first prize at Europe Music & Star International Piano Competition in 2020 & 2021; Grand prize in overall performance from Northern Lights Piano Competition 2021, to list just a few.

International Music competitions at Carnegie Hall

Chelsea Solis, from New York City, is a kindergarten student. She started her piano lessons with Dr. Tian Song from 4 years old. She has participated in a couple competitions since then. She won first place in AFAF Golden Era of Romantic Music International Competition 2021, Fall selection. She won another first prize and exceptional young talent special prize in 2022 Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition. Her other interests include soccer, painting and singing.

International Music competitions at Carnegie Hall

Asher Liu was born in Houston Texas and began learning the cello and piano at 3 and half years old. He was born into a family of musicians. His mother is his teacher. As a toddler, he already demonstrated an incredible music talent that he caught the attention of the famous social media, such as “Classic Fm” and “Cello Society”. In 2021, he won the first place in Elite Music Competition, honorable prize in New York International Young Musician Competition and first place in Rocky Mountain Strings Competition. Aside from music, Asher is an avid reader, lego lover and enjoys swimming and playing soccer.

International Music competitions at Carnegie Hall

Oriana Wojciechowska (13) has been playing violin since she was 6. She studies violin with prof. Malgorzata Skorupa in General Education Music School in Gdansk, Poland. Oriana Wojciechowska attended many master class violin courses, when she has worked under internationally acclaimed violinists. Her big stage debut was in 2019, when she performed in the Great Concert Hall of Lancut Castle, Poland. She has cooperated with conductors: Dawid Jarzab, Maksym Dondalski, and Massimiliano Caldi. Her recent competition awards include: Platinum Award in 2021-2022 Canadian International Music Competition, January 2022, Canada; 1st Prize in King’s Peak Music Competition, 2022, USA; Absolute 1st Prize in VI Danubia Talents International Music Competition  2021, Hungary.

International Music competitions

Felix Wang started taking violin lessons when he was four. He became a member of BYSO two years after and was the concertmaster of BYSO-JRO in 2021. Felix was the 1st place winner of the Bay State String Competition (2017), the Great Composer’s Competition (2019), the Elite International Music Competition (2019, 2020), the Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition (2020), Growing Leaves Music Competition (2021), and the VIVO International Music Competition (2021). Felix was also the Grand Prix winner of the Concert Festival Orchestra International Concerto Competition in 2020. Felix was invited to perform at the Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Vienna Musikverein, and Beethoven’s House in Bonn, Germany. 

International Music competitions

Joshua Lee (12 yrs) began playing the violin under the guidance of his mom, Jooyeon Han, at the age of 7. He is currently a member of the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestra (PYSO) and the concertmaster of his school orchestra (BASIS Ahwatukee, AZ). He has won multiple awards in recent music competitions (junior division) including the 1st place at the 62nd Annual Young Musicians Concerto Competition by PYSO (2022), the 1st place at the American Protege Concerto Competition (2021), the 1st place at the String Competition of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Arizona chapter (2021) and also Southwest Division (2022), the Grand Prize and 1st Place Winner of the US New Star Strings Competition (2021), and many others.

International Music competitions

Audrey Zhang was born in Cary, North Carolina.  She has been playing piano since the age of 5 (she just turns to 11 in January 2022).  Her piano teacher is Florence Ko and she really enjoy learning with her.  She loves playing piano and has participated in numerous regional, state, national and international competitions.  She won first place in NC Steinway Piano Competition (2019), received numerous awards in Intermediate I (2019), Intermediate II (2020) and Senior I (2021) Young Artist Auditions, and won second place in NCFMC state competition (2021). Playing piano also provides her opportunities to bring joy and love to local retirement communities through music. Aside from piano, Audrey likes making craft, watching k-pop dance, and playing golf.

International Music competitions

Shihan Chen is a 15 years old girl who loves music. She started learning the violin at the age of four and has been practicing the instrument for 12 years. She played as the principal of the Hangzhou Children’s Symphony Orchestra of Zhejiang Province. As soloist, she played the “Liang Zhu” violin concerto at the Hamamatsu City Hall of Sino-Japanese Friendship, and have performed the same piece with orchestral accompaniment under other occasions. She participated in the filming of the “6.5 World Environment Day” Zhejiang Province promotional video as violin solo. 

International Music competitions

Shivshankar Prasad is a pianist from Elk Grove Village, IL, and he is currently a student of Dr. Soyoung Kee. He has been playing piano since the age of five, and has participated in numerous competitions at the regional, state, and national level. Some of his recent accomplishments include winning prizes at the Sejong Music Competition, the Illinois State Music Teachers Association Competition, and the Society of American Musicians Competition. Shivshankar made his solo debut with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra in November of 2021.

International Music competitions

Sreedevi Prasad is a junior at Conant High School. She is currently a student of Dr. Soyoung Kee, and has been studying piano since the age of seven. Sreedevi has participated in numerous regional and national competitions, and recently won prizes at the Sejong Music Competition. In addition to piano, she plays violin in her high school orchestra, and likes to travel in her free time.

Music Competition Online 2022

Henry Yao, fifteen, from Bay Area, California, began piano study at the age of six. He is a distinguished honor student and a dedicated musician. He is passionate about music, enjoys playing piano as a way to express himself. He has participated and performed in multiple regional, national, and international competitions, and has been active in performing at community events and local medical foundations to bring music to local community. Some of his achievements include first place winner at 2019-2021 American Protégé Piano and Strings Competition with Judge’s Distinction in 2021, 2019 & 2020 Competition of Romantic Music.

International Music competitions

Natalie Kwok made her Carnegie Hall debut as first prize winner of the American Protégé International Competition and has performed as soloist at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Southern California, Chateau de Chambord, Chambord Castle, and La Madeleine Church in France. She appeared as a soloist with the Seraphim Orchestra and Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings, and was prizewinner in competitions including the Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition, the Los Angeles Violincello Society, and finalist in the Osaka International Music Competition. Her teachers include Wendy Liu and Sarah Koo.

Winners by Age Category


 

Other applicants received Diploma of Participation

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WINNERS!

1. Each Winner will perform at one Recital. Recital date and time will be offered to the Winner based on the Competition results.

2. To change a performance repertoire, a $55 fee must be submitted on the Contact Us page no later than two months prior to the Recital.

3. Extra performance time of up to 1 minute can be accepted for the Winners Recital with an additional fee of $100.

4. Only piano accompaniment can be used at the Winners Recital. Only one grand piano will be available at the Weill Recital Hall. No acoustic system will be provided.

5. Participants must bring their own piano accompanist. American Protégé does not provide piano accompanist, but can recommend one (contact the office).

6. Organizational Committee collects short biographies to introduce the performers at the Winners Recitals. American Protégé reserves the rights to edit, reduce and re-format any submitted biographies as it seems appropriate and fit into the Recital Brochure.

7. All participants are responsible for their own expenses (travel, housing accommodations, etc.).

8. During the COVID-19 Health Crisis, U.S. participants, who are unable to or unwilling to take a risk to travel to NYC for the Recital, may request a Competition Winner’s Package with a non-refundable $300 fee. The Package includes online recognition, Winner’s Certificate, Teacher’s Diploma, four Booklets with biographies and photos, and participation Plaque Trophy. International participants may arrange a Package pickup or request a shipment to the friends or relative residing in the U.S. We do not mail packages internationally.

9. Photography and video/audio recording is not permitted for audience at Carnegie Hall.

10. Detailed Winners Recital Guidelines will be emailed to the participants.

Upcoming Competitions:

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Competition of Romantic Music 2023

Deadline: October 10, 2023

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Woodwinds and Brass Competition 2023

Deadline: October 25, 2023

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Music Talent Competition Fall 2023

Deadline: November 1, 2023

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Piano and Strings Competition 2024

Deadline: January 20, 2024

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Concerto Competition 2024

Deadline: February 20, 2024

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Vocal Competition 2024

Deadline: June 10, 2024