FINAL ROUND JURY
DMITRY RACHMANOV
Concert Pianist
Pianist Dmitry Rachmanov has garnered much acclaim for his passionate performances, refined musicianship and brilliant pianism. Hailed as an "indisputable musician" by the Brussels' Le Soir and "suave and gifted pianist' by the New York Times, Rachmanov has been heard at venues such as New York's Carnegie Hall, Washington DC's Kennedy Center, London's Barbican and South Bank Centres, and Beijing Concert Hall, and his tours brought him to Canada, Mexico, Europe, Russia, Turkey and the Far East. He has recorded for Naxos, Navona, Omniclassic, Master Musicians and Vista Vera labels, and collaborated as a soloist with Manhattan Philharmonia, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Orlando Symphony, London Soloists Chamber Orchestra, Ukraine National Symphony, National Orchestra of Porto, Portugal, among others. A strong proponent of the Russian repertoire, he gave the US premiere of Boris Pasternak's Piano Sonata, broadcast nationwide by the NPR, and his recital The Art of the 19th Century Russian Character Piece was noted by the New York Times for considerable color and focus he brought to each work. A founding member of the Scriabin Society of America, Rachmanov has been giving recital tours featuring the music of Scriabin in commemoration of the composer's memorial centennial (1915-2015), including appearances in Moscow, Paris, Budapest, Beijing & Shanghai and numerous venues in the US. His recital at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall was called indeed a 'poem of ecstasy' in every sense: giant in conception, quantity, quality, execution, thoughtfulness, and sensitivity by the New York Concert Review. He has recently embarked on a project of creating a video anthology of Scriabin's major piano works.
ÉVA POLGÁR
Concert Pianist
The artistry of Éva Polgár, DMA, is characterized by clarity, conviction, and virtuosity. Critiques praise her for her “intelligent interpretation” (Funzine Magazine), capability of “fully entering into the spirit of narrating a story” (Arkivmusic), and “vibrant technique” (American Hungarian Journal). Her dedication to her native Hungarian culture resulted in researching Béla Bartók’s piano arrangements of his original orchestral compositions and specializing in Franz Liszt’s music. She was featured at the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, D.C., the Hungarian Culture Centre in London, and the Liszt Ferenc Museum and Research Center in Budapest.
Polgár’s concerto performances include concerts with conductors Tamás Vásáry at the Budapest Danube Palace and Horst Förster at the Leipzig Gewandhaus. In the realm of cross-disciplinary endeavors, she collaborates extensively with visual artist Sándor Vály.
Polgár has won top prizes in competitions including the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition (LAILC). She is a co-director of LAILC, which empowers her to foster young musicians at their early stage of professional career.
A graduate of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music and Sibelius Academy, Polgár earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance at the University of North Texas.
YI-YANG CHEN
Concert Pianist
Dr. Yi-Yang Chen shot onto the international stage with back-to-back victories in the 2018 Sussex International Piano Competition, 2017 Washington International Competition, and the Waring International Piano Competition. The Worthing Herald music critic Richard Amey praised his recent performance “flair for the unusual and his technical and artistic capacity to deliver,” as well as his “musical and emotional intelligence, dexterity and virtuosity,” listening to Chen as soloist in Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No.5 “Egyptian” with the Worthing Symphony Orchestra. His vibrant playing at the Pacific International Piano Competition (Canada) was recognized by the judges, who selected him for the first prize (“…Yi-Yang showed an impressive breadth of emotional investment and natural affinity for the music he played. The informed individuality and command of his performance was immediately compelling to the judges. We feel this young man has a fine future as an artist. He seems to ‘own’ the piano as he plays, and this makes his performance extremely powerful” – Dr. Robin McCabe).
RIXIANG HUANG
Concert Pianist
Praised by the New York Concert Review as "in a word, superb,” pianist Rixiang Huang has inspired glowing acclaim from audiences and critics alike for his superb artistry and passionate, charismatic performances on four continents. Since winning the first prize at the 12th Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford and Los Angeles International Liszt Piano Competition in 2021, Huang has rapidly established for himself an international reputation. His newest CD album, Endless Passion, released in April 2022, has already earned accolades from audiences and critics; Steinway Artist Rorianne Schrade remarked that his Debussy "reflect[ed] a special sensitivity, grace, and delicate tonal shading" and his Bartók "may be one of this listener’s most enjoyable Bartók Sonata performances to date" (New York Concert Review).
Winner of an impressive array of prizes, Huang was a top prizewinner of the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition, Dallas International Piano Competition, New York International Artists Piano Competition, International Piano Competition La Palma d'Oro in Italy, along with the WPTA International Piano Competition.
SEMIFINAL ROUND JURY
ALEXANDER KOSTRITSA
Alexander received his Master of Music degree from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where he studied with Mikhail Petukhov, and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Mr. Kostritsa is a prizewinner of
international piano competitions, such as Premio Rovere d’Oro (Italy, 2007), and Paul Badura-Skoda (Spain, 2010).
DANIEL LINDER
Daniel Linder is a versatile pianist, chamber musician, and teaching artist. He has performed solo and collaborative recitals to high acclaim in venues across the United States and in the United Kingdom, France, and Denmark, and recordings of his performances have aired on KUAT Classical Radio in Tucson. AZ. Recent accolades include the Fresno Musical Club Susan Torres Award.
JONATHAN MAMORA
Pianist and educator.Jonathan’s performances as a soloist and ensemble member have taken him throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, and he is a prize-winner of several regional and international competitions, most recently winning first prize in the Eastman Piano Concerto Competition in 2022.
ZHE ZHANG
Zhe ZHANG has worked as General Secretary, Executive Director，Professional
Judge and other important positions in various competitions
Bachelor of Music from Manhattan Conservatory of America, Master of
Music from Royal North Conservatory of Music of the UK.In 2005, Zhe was the winner of the National Schumann Contest
