Twenty-nine pianists have been invited to participate in the CIPC Young Artists Competition and Institute being held at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music (Berea) and the Cleveland Museum of Art, May 12-21, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2015

Twenty-nine pianists have been invited to participate in the CIPC Young Artists Competition and Institute being held at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music (Berea) and the Cleveland Museum of Art, May 12-21, 2015. The event is presented by Cleveland International Piano Competition (CIPC).

The contestants were selected from a field of more than 160 applicants from six continents. A screening jury comprised of CIPC President and CEO Pierre van der Westhuizen; Paul Schenly, Artistic Director of the CIPC and Professor of Piano at the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM); Kathryn Brown, Head of the Piano Department at CIM; and Thomas Rosenkranz, Associate Professor of Piano at Bowling Green State University (Ohio) reviewed online applications and performance videos to make the selections.
“We saw an amazing level of skill and performance capability within the field of applicants,” van der Westhuizen said. “It made for some very difficult choices, but we will have an outstanding competition in May. We’re all looking forward to welcoming these young pianists to Cleveland.”
Divided into two age groups, Juniors (12 to 15) and Seniors (16 to 18), the young pianists will compete over a period of 10 days for cash awards and concert appearances. Contestants who do not advance to the later rounds will be offered master classes with members of the jury and other esteemed conservatory teachers. Four evening solo piano recitals by internationally respected guest artists will offer additional learning opportunities for all participants.
Following are the pianists invited to participate:

Junior Division
Xuehong Chen, Age 15 (China)
Tom Borrow, Age 14 (Israel)
Avery Gagliano, Age 13 (USA)
Nina Yifang Hu, Age 14 (USA)
Bon-Whi Kim, Age 13 (S. Korea)
Maxim Lando, Age 12 (USA)
Tommy Jing Yu Leo, Age 14 (Singapore)
Xiaoxuan Li, Age 13 (China)
Leonid Nediak, Age 11 (12 at start of Competition) (Canada)
Jae Hong Park, Age 15 (S. Korea)
Junhao Wang, Age 13 (USA)
Natasha Wu, Age 14 (USA)
Elliot Wuu, Age 15 (USA)
William Yang, Age 13 (USA)
Yerin Yang, Age 11 (12 at start of Competition) (S. Korea)

Senior Division
Giorgio Trione Bartoli, Age 18 (Italy)
Kyubin Chung, Age 17 (S. Korea)
Jeong Min Kim, Age 17 (S. Korea)
Nima Mirkhoshhal, Age 17 (Germany)
Evelyn Mo, Age 16 (USA)
Evren Ozel, Age 15 (16 at start of Competition) (USA)
Chaeyoung Park, Age 17 (S. Korea)
Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, Age 18 (USA)
Angeni Wang, Age 15 (16 at start of Competition) (Canada)
Victoria Wong, Age 17 (Canada)
Jiachen Xiong, Age 18 (China)
Yuanfan Yang, Age 18 (United Kingdom)
Adria Ye, Age 17 (USA)
Muzi Zhao, Age 16 (China)

All competition performances, guest artist recitals, and master classes are open to the public. Tickets and info at clevelandpiano.org

About the CIPC
The Cleveland International Piano Competition is an organization dedicated to supporting the young artists who have made our musical heritage their life’s work.  This is accomplished through four major programs and events, including the Cleveland International Piano Competition, CIPC Young Artists, the CIPC Concert Series, and ArtsConnect, a music-based community outreach program.  Included in this programming are two major international competitions:  The eponymous Cleveland International Piano Competition and Festival (CIPC) for artists ages 18 to 30 and CIPC Young Artists for artists ages 12 to 18. The world-renowned CIPC attracts the best young piano talent from around the world to compete for top prizes; engages an audience of 10 to 15,000 over a period of 15 days; and culminates in two sold-out performances at Severance Hall that feature the four finalists performing with The Cleveland Orchestra.

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