Judges

Review Chairman: Liu Peng

As one of the most influential conductors in China and a Singaporean conductor active on the international stage, he was invited to conduct the 15th Anniversary Gala Concert of the China Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israel National Symphony Orchestra, the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra in Germany. He was invited to appear as a guest principal conductor for the fourth time at the Tuscia Opera Festival in Italy.

Mr. Liu is a cultural foreign expert appointed by the Wuhan Municipal Government and has served as the music director and principal conductor of the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra since 2004. Since 2011, he has also been the artistic director of the Wuhan International Piano Festival, creating the first Wuhan International Piano Festival, which invites pianists from all over the world every June. In 2011, he taught as a conducting researcher at Michigan State University in the United States and became a distinguished professor in the conducting department at the University of Denver in 2016. He is also the principal guest conductor of the Pueblo Symphony Orchestra in Colorado, USA, and the principal guest conductor of the Tuscia Opera Festival in Italy, while concurrently serving as the artistic director of the Global Outstanding Chinese Artist Association. He is a judge for the final round of the Global Outstanding Chinese Artist Youth Piano Competition and a judge for the finals of the Taiwan Yunxiang International Piano Competition.

Mr. Liu frequently appears as a guest conductor on the international music stage, having conducted the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra, the Aachen Symphony Orchestra, the Thuringian Symphony Orchestra, the Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra in Poland, the National Youth Symphony Orchestra of Poland, the Zabrze Philharmonic Orchestra in Poland, the Michigan State University Symphony Orchestra, the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Israel National Symphony Orchestra, the Cyprus National Symphony Orchestra, the Oita City Symphony Orchestra in Japan, and many more. He has collaborated with artists from all over the world. In May 2017, he recorded the first album of works by composer An-lun Huang with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra and again in 2018 with the same orchestra for the second album.

In 2004, Mr. Liu led the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra to Oita, Japan, to participate in the anniversary celebration of the sister city relationship between Wuhan and Oita, marking the first successful foreign tour of the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2009, at his recommendation, he personally led the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra to Tokyo, Japan, for the 9th Asia Symphony Week as the only Chinese orchestra performing a perfect symphonic concert in the Tokyo Opera House, receiving high praise from Japanese media. In 2011, under the organization of the Poly Theatre Management Company in Beijing, he led the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra on a tour in 13 cities in China.

During his tenure, Mr. Liu planned musician exchange programs with the Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra in Germany, the National Youth Symphony Orchestra of Poland, the Tuscia Opera Festival in Italy, and the Oita Symphony Orchestra in Japan, and successfully conducted joint concerts with these orchestras, receiving high praise from the government and media for promoting international exchange activities. Mr. Liu has received numerous honors, including the Excellent Music Contribution Award from the Japanese Association, the Cultural Special Contribution Award from the Wuhan Municipal Culture Bureau in 2005, and the Chime Bells Award from the Hubei Provincial Government in 2006. He was listed as one of the Top Ten Foreign Experts Contributing to the Economy and Culture of Hubei Province, China. In 2010, he received the Cultural Contribution Award from the Hubei Provincial Radio Film and Television Bureau, the 2010 Cultural Contribution Award from the Wuhan Municipal Culture Bureau, and the Cultural Contribution Award from the Wuhan Municipal Publicity Department in 2011. He was awarded the Yellow Crane Friendship Prize by the Wuhan Municipal Government in the same year, recognized as one of the Top Ten Foreign Experts Making Outstanding Contributions to Wuhan. In 2016, he was selected as a cultural and artistic talent by the Wuhan Municipal Party Committee and Government to enter the 'Yellow Crane Talents Plan'.

Mr. Liu was born into a musical family (his grandfather was the first compiler of a Chinese music dictionary). He studied at the Utrecht Conservatorium (Hongeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht) in the Netherlands and Michigan State University in the USA, under the guidance of his father Liu Yan, Elias Arizcuren, Michelle Rohe, Victor Liberman, Leon Gregorian, Gustav Meier, and Larry Rachleff.

James P. Liu

Acclaimed as one of the most outstanding conductors in China today, James P. Liu has achievements throughout Europe and America. Based in China and Italy, Liu was recently selected as one of the best conductors in China at the 15th Anniversary Gala Concert of the China Philharmonic Orchestra.

Mr. Liu has been guest conductor with the Nuremberg Symphoniker Orchestra (Germany), Duisburger Philharmoniker (Germany), Aachen Symphony Orchestra (Germany), Thuringian Symphoniker (Germany), Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra (Poland), Poland National Youth Orchestra, Poland Zabrze Philharmonic, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Tuscia Opera Festival (Italy), Normandy Music Festival (France), Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Orchestra, Cyprus National Symphony Orchestra, Mexico State Symphony Orchestra, Michigan State University Symphony Orchestra (USA), Lamont Symphony Orchestra (USA), Pueblo Symphony Orchestra (USA), Ontario Philharmonic Orchestra (Canada), China Philharmonic Orchestra, Tianjing Symphony Orchestra (China), XiaMen Philharmonic Orchestra (China), SiChuan Symphony Orchestra, Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (Taiwan), GangNeung Symphony Orchestra (Korea).

During his first-year tenure, Liu led the WPO on the first overseas tour to Oita, Japan, along with launching the inaugural core concert season. In 2009, he conducted the WPO at the 9th Asia Symphony Week in Tokyo, Japan, and WPO was the only orchestra from China that received high praise from Japanese media. Mr. Liu also led the orchestra on tours in 13 cities in China in 2011 and again in 2017 during a tour of 8 cities in China under the management of China Poly Arts. In 2016, he led the WPO in a successful tour of Europe, particularly in Italy and France.

Since his implementation of a plan for musician exchanges with the Duisburger Philharmoniker Orchestra of Germany, Oita Symphony Orchestra of Japan, Poland National Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Tuscia Opera Festival in Italy, he has successfully conducted joint concerts that received high appreciation from the government and media for promoting foreign exchange through the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra.

As the first formal Music Director and Chief Conductor, he rebuilt and renamed the orchestra to the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra (WPO). He programmed 80 concerts in that year which established it as a professional orchestra in Central China today. He founded the Wuhan International Piano Concerto Festival and has remained as the Artistic Director since 2011.

Recently, he recorded composer An-lun Huang’s works with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Russian National Choir. In May 2018, he conducted the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra again to complete the second CD in Moscow.

James P. Liu, of Singapore nationality, was appointed Music Director of the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra at the invitation of the Wuhan City Municipal Culture Bureau (China) in 2004.

He was a Scholar in the Conducting Faculty at the College of Music of Michigan State University (USA). He is also the principal guest conductor of the Pueblo Symphony Orchestra of Colorado (USA). In 2016, he was invited by the University of Denver (USA) as an adjunct professor in conducting and guest conductor of the Lamont Symphony Orchestra. Recently he was appointed the Artist Director of the Globe Outstanding Chinese Artist Association. He was a judge of the GOCCAA international piano competition grand final, The international piano competition in Taiwan, and The Chopin international piano competition at Hartford finals as well.

Mr. Liu has been awarded a variety of honors. He received the “Excellent Music Contribution” awarded by the Japanese Association in 2001. In 2005, he received the “Special Contribution in Culture” from the Wuhan Municipal Culture Bureau and the “Chime Bells Award” by the Hubei Provincial Government in 2006. He was listed as one of ten foreign experts for his contributions to the economy and culture of Hubei State China. In 2010, he was given the Wuhan Culture Contribution Award from the city government. In 2010, he was named as one of the ten “Province Culture Fashion Elite” by the Radio Film and TV Bureau of Hubei Province. In 2011, he received the Wuhan Municipal Government’s “Yellow Crane Friendship Prize” as one of the best foreign experts who contributed to Wuhan City. He also received the “Special Contribution in Culture“ by Wuhan’s Propaganda Department in March 2012. In 2016 he was the only candidate in the cultural sector selected by the Wuhan Government to enter the City of Wuhan “Yellow Crane Talents Plan.”

Mr. Liu studied music at the Utrecht Conservatorium (Hongeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht) in Holland and at Michigan State University in America. He studied with Leon Gregorian, Gustav Meier, and Larry Rachlleff.

Review Chairman: Samuel Yeung

SAMUEL YEUNG

Adjunct Professor

Biographical Note

Sam Yeung leads a diverse life as a violist and entrepreneur.

He completed his undergraduate studies in violin performance at the University of Toronto under David Zafer. Due to a shortage of violists, Sam studied violin and viola simultaneously from his third year onward. The switch to viola became permanent when Sam left Toronto to pursue his graduate studies in viola performance at Manhattan School of Music on scholarship.

During his time in New York City, Sam studied with Leonard Davis, the former principal violist of the New York Philharmonic. Sam’s time in New York enriched his musical life greatly as he worked with artists such as Pinchas Zukerman, David Geber, and Karen Dreyfus. In addition to his studies with Davis, Sam pursued supplementary studies with world renowned viola soloist, Emanuel Vardi. Vardi invited Sam to become his Teaching Assistant at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. After Vardi tore his rotator cuff in an accident, Sam assumed Vardi’s teaching responsibilities while completing his Master Degree on full scholarship.

Sam returned to Toronto and founded his first business, Candle with Care. Candle with Care, later evolved into Floret, a wedding decoration business that Sam has operated for the past 20 years. In addition to owning his own business, Sam is an invested pedagogue who passionately believes that the language of music is universal. In his teaching, he strives to instill in his students the value of holistic independent thinking in interpreting music.

Review Chairman: Zhang Le Yi, a Chinese-American violinist.

After the reform and opening up in China in 1980, she was among the first group of students sent to study at the renowned International Menuhin Music Academy in Switzerland.

In 1982, she performed at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing alongside the world-renowned violin master Yehudi Menuhin, playing Bach, Vivaldi, Telemann, and other violin double concerto pieces, and performed Mozart's Violin Concerto in collaboration with the Central Orchestra.

In 1984, she won first place in the violin competition at the Aspen International Music Festival in America.

Ms. Zhang's musical and artistic career is extraordinarily rich.

Since 1990, she has been appointed as the associate concertmaster of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and has performed various violin concertos such as Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Mozart, and Bach at international music festivals around the world, collaborating with prominent artists such as Thomas Brandis (principal of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra), Glen Dicterow (principal of the New York Symphony Orchestra), Norman Carol (principal of the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra), as well as renowned pianists like Claude Frank, Ilana Vered, and Gilbert Kalish.

As both a performer and associate concertmaster, Zhang Le Yi also teaches violin. She has taught at McGill Conservatory of Music in Canada and has been giving lectures and workshops at Shanghai Conservatory of Music and its affiliated schools.

In 2006, she was invited by Professor Ding Zhinuo of Shanghai Conservatory of Music to give lectures and workshops at the Huangshan and Lin’an International String Summer Camps. To explore various technical problems arising from bodily tension during violin performance and common occupational diseases among orchestra musicians, she has continuously studied and researched body awareness in movement and applied it to violin performance and teaching over the years. Her lecture 'Body Awareness and Development of Violin Techniques' has indicated and helped numerous professional performers and students to address many common issues in violin performance, gaining significant attention and praise from teachers, students, and parents as a scientific and practical teaching method.

In 2000, Zhang Le Yi moved to Europe and toured in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France performing solo and chamber music.

In 2003, she initiated and established the first 'Forest Classical Music Concert Series' in Limburg, the southern region of the Netherlands, bringing beautiful classical music into the scenic forest areas of Limburg, which was well received by the local government and music enthusiasts. Meanwhile, she also conducted 'Genius Children Violin Training Class' in various places in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, offering local children, particularly many of Chinese descent, opportunities to learn and advance their violin playing.

Ms. Zhang studied at the affiliated primary school of the Central Conservatory of Music, under the guidance of Professor Han Li. She demonstrated musical talent at a young age, becoming a soloist with the Shanghai Children's Broadcasting Orchestra at age 11 and collaborating with the Shanghai Broadcasting Orchestra and the Shanghai Ballet.

In 1980, Zhang graduated from the affiliated primary school of the Central Conservatory of Music and was soon sent to study at the International Menuhin Music Academy in Switzerland.

In 1984, she received the honor certificate awarded by Maestro Yehudi Menuhin from the International Menuhin Music Academy. That same year, she won first place in the violin competition at the Aspen International Music Festival, which drew the attention of renowned violin pedagogue Dorothy DeLay, leading to her scholarship admission into the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, where she studied under Professor DeLay's class. She won first place twice in the College Conservatory of Music Violin Competition.

In 1987, she obtained the Artist Diploma from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, and she continued her studies at the Juilliard School of Music in New York with a full scholarship under Professor DeLay and renowned violinist Masao Kawasaki.

In 1989, she earned her Master's degree from the Juilliard School of Music.

Review Chairman: Alexander Boyd

Alexander Boyd, a young British pianist born in 1972, showed extraordinary musical talent from a young age, collaborating with conductor Jerzy Maksymiuk at 11 to perform Mozart’s First Piano Concerto.

Since his debut at London’s Wigmore Hall in 2001, he frequently performs at world-class concert halls and international music festivals.

In the coming year, he will hold concerts across the UK, including London’s South Bank Centre, Wigmore Hall, Barbican Hall, Conway Hall, the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and the Barber Institute in Birmingham. He will also hold concerts for the first time in the USA, Spain, Italy, and Mexico.

He returns to Australia every year for many important music festivals and concerts. In 2020, he will have several solo performances, including the premiere of his new work 'The Bride Suite,' inspired by the art of his grandfather Arthur Boyd.

Boyd is also an artist with the Abbas record label, with recordings including works by Chopin, Debussy, and Schumann, as well as pieces released recently by Claudio Records in Spain.

His performances of Goyescas by Granados and the Iberia Suite by Albeniz have been described by International Piano Magazine as 'riveting, compelling and utterly haunting, full of poetry, technical virtuosity, and Spanish atmosphere.' He is said to have played, 'immaculate playing by this highly gifted artist; there are several rival versions of this wonderful music but none finer than this.'

In 2019, he released a CD exploring the 'Fandango' for Brancusi Classics, including works that had never been recorded before and specially arranged for piano. He will also record the 4 Ballades by Chopin and the 24 Preludes by Debussy with Claudio Records.

Boyd has composed music for three films: 'Galatea,' 'Sogni d’Oro,' and 'Art in Heaven,' broadcast on BBC Radio and ABC Radio among others. In 2020, he was invited by Steinway Pianos to become part of their international roster of Steinway Artists.

He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London with Paul Berkowitz and James Gibb. After graduating with distinction in 1995, he went on to study in Israel with Alexander Volkov and Pnina Salzman at the Rubins Academy in Tel Aviv.

Review Chairman: Cesar Bello

Cesar Bello is a Mexican-Canadian baritone who began his vocal training with Professor Enrique Jaso at the Conservatory of Music in Mexico.

In 2009, he was chosen by the prestigious Accademia d’Arte Lirica Osimo in Italy, where he studied with Raina Kabaivanska, William Mateuzzi, Alla Simoni, Sergio Segalini, and Vicenzo de Vivo.

In Italy, he sang at Teatro dell'opera di Roma in 2013 in the production of 'NOS' (The Nose) by Shostakovich under the direction of Peter Stein, 'L'elisir d'Amore' by Donizetti as Belcore, 'La Passione secondo Marco' by Perosi, 'Choral Fantasy' by Beethoven, and numerous concerts.

In Mexico, he performed Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni as Alfio, Pagliacci by Leoncavallo as Tonio, Barbiere di Siviglia by Rossini as Figaro and Fiorello, Carmen by Bizet as Morales, Don Giovanni by Mozart as Masetto, Rigoletto by Verdi as Ceprano, Carmina Burana by Orff, Symphony No. 9 by Beethoven, Requiem by Fauré, and Requiem by Mozart.

In Canada, he sang 'La Serva Padrona' by Pergolesi in 2018, and 'La Boheme' as Schaunard in the Brott Music Festival, as well as 'Romeo et Juliette' by Gounod as Mercutio.

Review Chairman: Xu Pingxin

First Yangqin Master’s Degree (1985) in China

Was the youngest Yangqin Associate Professor in China (1993)

Graduated from Central Conservatory of Music (Middle School), China Conservatory of Music (Bachelor, Master), he became one of the first Master Degree students in Yangqin in 1985. He stayed at the China Conservatory of Music as a Yangqin teacher and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1993, being the youngest Associate Professor in the institution with over 300 faculty/staff members that year.

He performed at the International Youth Arts Festival in Hong Kong in 1980, receiving high praise from the media in Hong Kong.

In 1981, he participated in a three-member 'Chinese Musicians Group' touring West Germany.

In 1988, Gyorgy Ranky, regarded as Hungary's most accomplished composer after Kodály, visited Beijing. After being deeply moved by Xu's performance of the 'Yangqin Concerto,' he arranged a Hungarian folk song for Xu, inscribing: 'Dedicated to Pingxin, with admiration and friendship.'

Academically, Xu Pingxin is the first person to conduct a comparative study on the Yangqin around the world. His paper 'Development and Comparison of Yangqin at Home and Abroad' (1987) first proposed the theory 'three major systems of Yangqin in the world', which is now widely adopted in the field of music.

During his ten years as a professional teacher at the China Conservatory of Music (1983-93), he achieved remarkable success in Yangqin teaching, with students winning top prizes in national Yangqin competitions.

In 1993, Xu Pingxin represented China at the 'World Yangqin Congress' held in the Czech Republic, and in 1995 at the 'Yangqin Arts Festival' in Munich, Germany, followed by the Yangqin Arts Festival in Switzerland and in the Czech Republic.

In 1997, Xu Pingxin was invited as a principal performer at the 'World Yangqin Arts Festival' held in the Czech Republic, receiving enthusiastic praise from attendees.

During his time living in the UK (1993-99), Xu Pingxin quickly became one of the most popular and busiest Chinese musicians there, being invited to perform in over 60 towns across the UK and nearly performed in all the major music halls.

His audience has included three British prime ministers: Edward Heath, John Major, and Tony Blair, as well as members of the British royal family.

Since the mid-1990s, Xu Pingxin has become a true international musician, performing to audiences reaching hundreds of thousands. He is the first Yangqin player widely recognized on the international stage in 400 years of Yangqin history in China.

His concerts have been broadcast numerous times on radio and television stations in many countries, and his solo albums have been published by ARC International Music Company, distributed globally.

Many media outlets have reported on and praised Xu Pingxin's Yangqin performances.

Pingxin Xu – the Yangqin Dulcimer Master

Highlights:

First to obtain a master's degree in Yangqin (Chinese dulcimer) in China (1985)

Was the youngest Yangqin associate professor in the entire country of China (1993)

Review Chairman: Tang Bing

First-class Horn Player of the China Philharmonic Orchestra, member of the China Musicians Association.

He began his studies at the Wuhan Conservatory of Music and proceeded to the Central Conservatory of Music.

He has performed extensively in the US, Europe, and has participated in significant tours, showcasing his expertise on the horn.

In recent years, he has also been involved in teaching and shaping the next generation of horn players in China.

Review Chairman: Zhang Yamei

Master of Music Education from the China Conservatory of Music, she completed her studies in 1993.

She has been involved in various music education research projects and has served as a judge in many music competitions, training numerous successful students.

Review Chairman: Xu Bo

A cellist with a master's degree in music performance, she began her solo career at 13 and was active in symphony orchestras.

She has been awarded numerous accolades and was previously a professor of cello at an arts academy in China.

Review Chairman: Miao Xiaoyun – Expert in Chinese Plucked Instruments (Pipa/Ruan/Guzheng/Guqin)

She studied Pipa under renowned musicians and has dedicated herself to the education and promotion of traditional Chinese plucked instruments over the years.

Review Chairman: Xu Zhuoming, a musician skilled in Dizi, Dongxiao, Xun, and Paixiao.

He has participated in numerous cultural events and has contributed significantly to the promotion of traditional Chinese music.

Review Chairman: Kong Fan Chang, a baritone from England.

He graduated from Xinghai Conservatory of Music and engaged in various performances internationally.

Review Chairman: Lin Xiaoqiu, an Erhu Performer.

She has contributed to the promotion of Erhu music and teaching over the years.

Renowned soprano Tang Hong graduated from Central Minority University.

She has developed a successful vocal school and trained numerous young talents.

Dizi Performer: Wang Ping has been active in various cultural exchanges.

Flutist Tan Wei began learning flute at age 10 and trained extensively.

Guzheng Educator: Yang Zichan is a lecturer at Carleton University and founder of the Zichan International Arts School.

Young Guzheng Musician: Cao Lina has performed nationally and internationally.

Guzheng Performer Jiao Ping has extensive teaching experience and has received awards.

Linhong Li, a pipa virtuoso, leads the Li Linhong Chinese Music Ensemble in Las Vegas.

Percussionist Wang Li, founder of the Li Wang Music School & Drum Center, incorporates various music styles in her performances.

Erhu and Guqin educator Wan Lanzhen graduated from Wuhan Conservatory of Music.

Alexandr Nabokov has been playing guitar for over 20 years, specializing in improvisation.

Yuki Zhong studied vocal performance in China and is involved in music education and competitions.

Liu Lei, an educator of Pipa, Zhongruan, and Liuqin, has contributed significantly to Chinese music education in Canada.

Famous songwriter UEC graduated from the University of Toronto and is actively involved in music production.

Young Guzheng artist Vanessa Li has been promoting Guzheng music and education in Toronto.

Oboe player Zhang Ming comes from a musical family and has performed internationally.