Artists 2025
Pianist
Xiaoya Gao
Xiaoya Gao is an accomplished pianist and dedicated music educator recognized internationally for her performances. A native of Urumqi, China, she has appeared in renowned venues across New York, Vienna, Princeton, Wisconsin, and South Carolina, presenting both solo and chamber music recitals. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Pedagogy from the University of South Carolina in 2024. Gao also holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance and an Advanced Certificate in Piano Pedagogy from New York University’s Steinhardt School (2021). In 2019, she earned dual Bachelor’s degrees in Piano Performance and History from Lawrence University. A passionate researcher, her musical research includes Japanese composer Akira Yuyama’s piano works for children, an analysis of Liszt’s Piano Sonata in B Minor, the integration of dance steps when introducing Baroque dance pieces, and guiding students in the study of Baroque counterpoint. As a piano faculty at the New School for Music Study, Gao teaches students of all levels and ages, continuing to inspire and nurture the next generation of musicians.
Jiageng Ren is a current DMA student in the School of Music at West Virginia University. He serves as a council member of China Saxophone Association. His impressive performance experience includes appearances at notable institutions such as the Carnegie Hall (New York), the University of North Texas, Oklahoma State University, George Mason University, Edison School of The Arts, Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, East Liberty Presbyterian Church, among others. His saxophone quartet, Phaeos Quartet, achieved recognition as a Semifinalist in both the North America Saxophone Alliance Saxophone Quartet Competition and the Coltman Chamber Music Competition in 2024. Jiageng Ren earned his Bachelor of Music degree in saxophone performance from Sichuan Conservatory of Music in 2019. He was admitted to the School of Music at Carnegie Mellon University with a full scholarship for graduate study in 2019, obtained a Certificate in Advanced Music Study (Saxophone Performance) in 2020, a Master of Music degree (Saxophone Performance) in 2022, and a Certificate in Advanced Music Study (Chamber Music) in 2023. In 2023, Jiageng was admitted to the DMA program in the School of Music at West Virginia University. His principal teachers are Dr. Jeffrey Siegfried, James Houlik, Dr. Jason Kush, Mr. Lian Yi.
Pianist
Zhanglin Hu has performed in many countries, including China, Italy, Greece and the United States. He has had success in numerous piano competitions, including winning the MTNA Ohio Young Artist Piano Competition (2017); Second Prize and Chopin Sonata Award in Chopin Avenue International Piano Competition (2021); Semifinalist in Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Competition in New York (2018); and
Gold Prize of Musicale Classical Style Piano Competition (2021). He also won the Concerto Competition in Bowling Green State university (2017). Zhanglin achieved back-to-back victories in the 2024 Charleston International Piano Competition and Leman Lake International Piano Competition.
As an active musician and pianist, Zhanglin has cooperated with CSUN
symphony orchestra, and Bowling Green Philharmonia. He has attended music festivals including International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York, Piano Plus Festival in Corfu Greece, and the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Italy. His musical development was shaped under the guidance of renowned pedagogues suchas Robert Satterlee, Dmitry Rachmanov, and currently pursuing his DMA Degree at Arizona State University, studying with Dr. Baruch Meir.
Pianist
Born in Dalian, China, Yang Gao began studying piano at age four and gave his first recital at the age of ten. His recent highlights include winning the first prize in the Harrison Winter Concerto Competition and being featured in the Rising Star Series at Portland Piano International and on WQXR Classical Music Radio Station. He was also featured as a soloist for the Mannes Sound Festival at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall. Yang has appeared across the United States to present recitals and chamber music concerts in venues such as Werner Recital Hall in Cincinnati; Dana Auditorium in Greensboro; and Bohemian National Hall, German Consulate General New York, and Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall in New York City. He received his B.M. in piano performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under Awadagin Pratt, and M.M. in piano performance from Mannes School of Music with Vladimir Feltsman. He is currently pursuing his D.M.A.in piano at the Peabody Conservatory of Music with HieYon Choi.
Linyan Luo is an accomplished tenor currently pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Vocal Performance at The Catholic University of America, where he studies under renowned tenor Professor Rick Christman. As the recipient of the highest scholarship amount among all vocal doctoral students at CUA through the prestigious Schmitt Family Endowed Scholarship, he has already distinguished himself as a promising young artist. His academic excellence is evidenced by outstanding first-semester doctoral performances, achieving A grades in four out of five courses, and being selected to present the first doctoral vocal recital of the semester. Prior to his doctoral studies, he completed both his master's and bachelor's degrees in Vocal Performance at the Xinghai Conservatory of Music, one of the most prestigious music institutions in China. Known for its exceptional vocal program and rigorous artistic training, Xinghai Conservatory stands among China's top music schools. Luo's repertoire spans German lieder, French mélodie, and Italian opera, with particular emphasis on German art songs and dramatic opera arias. He has performed various roles in opera productions including works by Mozart, Donizetti, and Puccini. His interpretations of Schumann's Dichterliebe and other German art songs showcase his dedication to the lieder tradition, while his operatic performances demonstrate his versatility as a performing artist. His commitment to artistic excellence and academic achievement has been consistently recognized throughout his career, laying a solid foundation for his continuing development as a professional classical singer.
Pianist
Yang Li
Yang Li, hailing from Wuhan, China, is currently pursuing a Doctoral Musical Arts in Piano Performance at Michigan State University, under the guidance of Dr. Eric Zuber and Prof. Margarita Shevchenko. She holds a Master’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied under the tutelage of Distinguished Professor and great pianist Antonio Pompa-Baldi. Prior to this, she earned a Bachelor’s degree from Wuhan Conservatory of Music in China. Her educational journey also led her to the Staatlichen Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart in Germany where she studied with Prof. Florian Wiek. Throughout her studying in the United States and Germany, Li has had the privilege of learning from renowned pianists such as Stanislav Ioudenitch, Alexander Korsantia, HaeSun Paik, Vladimir Feltsman, Mikhail Voskresensky, Boris Slutsky, Tibor Szász and Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy in various masterclasses and short-term study. Li has been performed widely as soloist in Carnegie Hall Weill Recital Hall, Shepard Recital Hall in NYC, Kulas Hall and Mixon Hall in Cleveland Ohio, Cook Hall and Fairchild Theatre in Michigan, Steinway & sons and Freies Musikzentrum in Stuttgart Germany, and Chimes Hall in Wuhan China, among others. In July 2024, she was selected to participate the prestigious festival —— PianoSummer at New Paltz, and had participated in Stuttgart International Music Week in 2017. She got the First Prize of Professional Artist Division in the 11th GOCAA New York International Music Competition and the Gold Prize of Professional Category in the Euterpe Music Awards Competition in 2024. She also won the Third Prize of Piano-Artist Group in American Virtuoso International Music Competition in 2023 and the First Prize in the Competition of Stuttgart International Music Week Festival in 2017. In Academic, her undergraduate dissertation was awarded the Outstanding Bachelor’s Degree Thesis Award of Hubei Province.
Pianist
Joseph Kruse
Joseph Kruse is a pianist based in College Park, Maryland. He has
performed on both coasts in halls such as Brevard’s Parker Concert Hall,
Hatch Recital Hall in Rochester, and Atherton Auditorium in California.
He was an instructor at the Pacific Community Music School alongside
his own private studio. Joseph is currently an instructor at the
international school of music, teaching classical piano, jazz, and music
technology. He has previously worked as both a choral accompanist and
an assistant choral conductor for several San Joaquin County
choirs. During his time at the University of the Pacific, he was a founding
member and served as a conductor of the Pacific Repertoire Orchestra.
He has been featured as a guest conductor for wind ensembles throughout
the Central Valley, including the Delta College Wind Ensemble and the
Azores Band of Escalon. Joseph received a BM in piano performance and
a BS in physics from the University of the Pacific. He currently attends
the University of Maryland as a student of Simon Mulligan and aspires to
pursue further degrees in piano and conducting.
Pianist
Xiaojun Zhang, originally from China, began studying piano at an
early age. Over the years of her professional training in China, she
performed in various international music festivals as well as
chamber and solo competitions, gradually establishing herself on
the international stage. She is recognized for her expressive
performances, technical precision, and artistic versatility. Xiaojun
has received a diverse and comprehensive music education in both
China and the United Kingdom. While pursuing her master’s
degree, she studied under professors from the University of
Birmingham and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, focusing
on late Romantic and Impressionist repertoire, while also
exploring contemporary music. During this time, she collaborated
with musicians from Asia, Europe, and North America, further
enriching her musical perspective. Her broad educational
background has shaped a deep and nuanced understanding of
diverse musical styles and historical periods, informing her
distinctive approach to both performance and teaching. Xiaojun is
currently pursuing her doctorate in piano pedagogy at The Catholic
University of America under the guidance of Dr. Nikita Fitenko
Pianist
Pianist Nolan Alexander Ancil is praised for his “clarity” and “singing
tone.” He has performed both nationally and internationally (South
Korea, Italy), as well as via simulcast (Spain). Notably, Nolan has
performed with the University of Louisville Symphony Orchestra (2021)
as the winner of the 2021 Concerto Competition. He also performed as a
soloist, via global simulcast with the Festival Internacional de Música de
Tecla Española (FIMTE) Granados Marathon (2018), and as a soloist and
chamber player in the Orfeo Summer Music Festival (2018). Nolan is
currently a doctoral candidate in piano performance at the Catholic
University of America in Washington, D.C. under Dr. Ivo Kaltchev, and
the recipient of a piano scholarship. He has also received his MA in Piano
Performance from The University of Louisville (UofL) studying with Dr.
Anna Petrova. At UofL, Nolan was the recipient of a full graduate
teaching assistantship. He received a BA in Piano Performance from the
University of Texas El Paso, where he was the recipient of the William
K. Hill Scholarship for Piano Performance and received the 2020 award
for most outstanding performer.
Violinist
Zike Qi
Zike Qi is a second-year Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) student in
music performance at James Madison University. She serves as a
private violin instructor, chamber coach for the violin section in
the chamber orchestra, concertmaster of the Symphony Orchestra,
and first violinist in the university’s string quartet. Zike has
performed solo, chamber, and collaborative recitals across the
United States, the United Kingdom, and mainland China. She
earned her bachelor’s degree from the China Conservatory of
Music, where she also performed as a first violinist with the
Chinese Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2023, she completed
her graduate studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the
UK. That same year, Zike joined the James Madison University
Symphony Orchestra as concertmaster, continuing to distinguish
herself as a dynamic and versatile performer.
Violinist
Jiaqi Yu
Jiaqi Yu is an accomplished violinist whose artistry spans solo, orchestral, and contemporary performance. Based in Miami, she is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts at the Frost School of Music, where she serves as a Teaching Assistant and Henry Mancini Institute Fellow.
Yu has distinguished herself on international stages, earning third prize at The Young Soloist International Music Competition (2022) and an Honorable Mention at the American Virtuoso International Competition (2023). She is also a candidate for the Washington International Young Artists Music Series (2025–2026). Her solo and chamber recitals feature repertoire from Bach and Schubert to world premieres by contemporary composers such as Mengxue Tan and Zihan Wu.
As an orchestral leader, Yu has held concertmaster positions with the Frost Symphony Orchestra, Henry Mancini Institute, Eastman Musica Nova, Ossia Contemporary Ensemble, and the RIT Philharmonic Orchestra. She has also performed with the National Youth Orchestra of China at Carnegie Hall and appeared at festivals including the Bowdoin International Music Festival and Ascent Music Festival.
Yu earned her Advanced Diploma and Master of Music in Violin Performance from the Eastman School of Music, and her Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory, where she also minored in Music Theory.
Pianist
Born in China, pianist Yanzuo Nicole Liu began studying piano at the age of five. At sixteen, she was admitted to Juilliard Pre-College, where she studied with Matti Raekallio. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Music degree at The Juilliard School under Julian Martin and is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree at the Eastman School of Music with Ran Dank.
Nicole is a prize winner of numerous competitions, including first prize in the Kawai Asia Piano Competition and the West Chester Annual Competition, as well as third prize in the 2018 Debut International Piano Competition. She was also a finalist in the Philadelphia International Piano Competition, with her performance broadcast on WRTI radio.
She has appeared in venues such as Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and Van Cliburn Hall, and has participated in festivals including Bowdoin International Music Festival, PianoTexas, and the Philadelphia Young Pianists’ Academy.
In 2025, Nicole was named Yamaha Young Performing Artist. This season, she will perform Barber’s Piano Concerto with the Eastman Philharmonic as winner of the Eastman Concerto Competition.
Violinist
Xiang Fang
Xiang Fang, a Chinese violinist active on the international stage, is currently a Doctor of Music candidate at Indiana University Bloomington, where she studies with Mark Kaplan and pursues minors in Music Theory and Music Education. She began musical training at the Middle School attached to the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing under Zhao Wei. As a chamber duo with accordionist Hanzhi Wang, they won first prizes in chamber music at the Castelfidardo International Accordion Competition in Italy and the Shanghai Spring International Music Festival, and released the album Buenos Aires Hora Cero. She later studied at Oberlin Conservatory with Marilyn McDonald on a full-ride scholarship and earned her master’s degree at Carnegie Mellon University under Cyrus Forough. Recent highlights include her 2024 national recital tour with pianist Zhang Heyue, presented at the Beijing Concert Hall, Bechstein Pianos Changsha, and Nanjing Normal University, which was featured on the front page of Music Weekly. In 2025, she appears at the Scotia Festival of Music in Canada as soloist with the concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and performs at the Lake Garda Music Festival in Italy, as well as in major concert halls and in live-streamed concerts across China.