Jeffrey Liang - Madison High School, CT (11th Grade)
2023 - 2nd Prize at the IPPA Conero International Competition, Italy
Bio: Jeffrey Liang made his debut with the American Chamber Orchestra performing Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 during the 2021-2022 concert season. He has won first prizes in many competitions, including MTNA Junior and Senior Performance Division State Competition, Fifth Annual J. Y. Park Piano Competition, Steinway & Sons Piano Competition, Suzanne Culley International Competition, Deborah Kahan Piano Competition, and Schubert Club Awards Competition. Jeffrey’s performance from the J.Y. Park Piano Competition Winner's Recital was broadcasted on the WMNR radio station. He was also the recipient of 1st Prize and Best Performance of a Contemporary Commissioned Work in the Elementary/Middle School Division (2019) and High School Division (2022) at the Renee B. Fisher Piano Competition. Jeffrey is a student at the Stamford Music & Arts Academy, where he studies with Svitlana Fiorito.
Avery Cotton - New Canaan High School, CT (12th Grade)
2023 - First prize (Group IV senior division) at the New York Piano Teachers Congress Honors Program
Bio: Avery began his piano studies at the age of six in Singapore. In 2023, Avery was a winner of the American Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition, performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and first prize winner (Group IV senior division) of the New York Piano Teachers Congress Honors Program. In 2021, Avery was the Alternate Winner of the Music Teachers National Association Piano Competition representing Connecticut. He is a past winner of numerous classical music events including the Renee B. Fisher Piano Competition, Deborah Kahan Piano Competition, Suzanne Culley International Competition, and the Audrey Thayer Piano Competition. He has also studied saxophone and flute.
Rhea Fan - Greenwich High School, CT (9th Grade)
2023 - 2nd Prize at IPPA Concero International Competition, Italy
Bio: Rhea Fan started learning piano at the age of five, and her current teacher is Svitlana Fiorito. In April of 2023, Rhea won the Gold Award at the semi-final round of the IPPA Conero International Piano Competition in the United States Division. Also in April of 2023, she won 1st place in the Modern Category of the Schubert Club Piano Competition, as well as 2nd place in the Romantic Category. In May 2022, Rhea won 1st place in her age group at the 43rd Audrey Thayer Annual Competition, held by the Connecticut State Music Teachers Association. Also in May, she was awarded both 1st place and “Best Performance of Virtuoso Piece” at the Suzanne Culley Competition. She played at Carnegie Hall for the Suzanne Culley Competition Winners’ Recital on June 29, 2022. Piano and classical music together represent a world of profound meanings and noble values for her to explore and to comprehend.
Andrew Seel - St. Luke's School New Canaan, CT (12th Grade)
2023 - 1st Prize at The Schubert Club Senior Romantic Award
Bio: Andrew participated in a large number of recitals, festivals and competitions in recent years, winning awards which include: J.S Bach Senior First Place (2022) and J. S Bach Junior First Place (2019); Audrey Thayer (CSMTA Hartford Chapter) Annual Piano Competition: 11th &12th Grade Second Place (2023), 10th Grade Third Place (2022); 2022 Greenwich Symphony Orchestra Teen Talent Contest – Winner of High School Division; 45th Renee B. Fisher Annual Piano Competition: High School Division Third Place (2022); Suzanne Culley Annual Piano Competition: Young Artist and High School Category Second Place (2022 & 2021); Viva-Music International Online Piano Competition, First Prize (2021). Andrew also plays first violin in the Principal Orchestra of Norwalk Youth Symphony.
Anna Fiorito - New Canaan High School, CT (9th Grade)
2024 - Winner of Conero International Piano Competition, Professional Category, Kansas, USA
Bio: Anna is currently studying piano with her mother Svitlana Fiorito. For the past six years Anna won Top Prizes at Deborah Kahan Piano Competition, NYC Concert Festival, Audrey Thayer Piano Competition and Piano Teachers Congress of New York. She received a Gold Rating from Young Musician’s Festival sponsored by the Shubert Club of Fairfield County. In 2019 Ms. Fiorito was awarded with the Gold Medal from famous Steinway & Sons Piano Competition and won 1st Prize at Suzanne Culley Young Artist Competition. Anna performed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall and Sacred Heart University. She took masterclasses with renowned Russian American pianist Olga Kern.
Lina Elwood - Hopkins School, New Haven, CT (9th Grade)
2024 - Winner of Chopin Avenue International Competition, Poland