+ Rady Almadany, Montreal, QC

Rady Almadany is the founder of a special educational and therapeutic approach through music for people with autism. He studied piano from childhood and worked with professors from English and Russian (Victor Bunin) schools. He obtained in Paris the Ecole Normal de Musique diploma after working with famous French pianists such France Clidat. With a MD diploma followed by MS in clinical research, he became passionate of Music-Medicine, the application of music for clinical objectives. He studied music therapy, and recently obtained a Tomatis consultant certificate from NYC. He has worked for many years with autistics using his special approach, offering them the possibility to develop many of their skills and to have a better understanding of their environment.

Preliminary Round Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No.19 in D Minor Mozart - Fantasy in D Minor, K. 397/385g

Semifinal Round Handel/Liszt - Sarabande and Chaconne, from Almira

Final Round Cage - In a Landscape Chopin - Ballade No.1 in G Minor, Op. 23 Saint-Saëns/Liszt/Horowitz - Danse Macabre

+ Sibylle Barrasso, Wellesley, MA

Sibylle Barrasso is an author of mystery novels, a pianist, business consultant, and proud mother of a lawyer. She started playing the piano at age 9, but quit soon due to philosophical differences with her teacher (Schubert vs. Czerny). Her passion for the piano resurfaced while writing a novel about Rachmaninoff's 3rd piano concerto. A California native, she left L.A. with an MBA from UCLA to live in Europe and Brazil for a number of years, where she worked for IBM, and eventually moved to Boston to consult for Bain and Company and Prime Computers. She studies with Roberto Poli and also at the Rivers Conservatory.

Preliminary Round Haydn – Variations in F Minor, Hob. XVII:6

Semifinal Round Chopin – Preludes, Op. 28, Nos. 6, 15, 22 Rachmaninoff - Prelude in C-sharp Minor, Op. 3, No. 2

Final Round Schumann - Kinderszenen, Op. 15 Chopin - Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23

+ Miriam Berro, Montreal, QC

Miriam Berro began studying piano at age 6 and gave her first recital at age 10. She continued her studies at the Conservatory Juan Jose Castro, Argentina, with pianist Ines Gomez Carrillo until graduation. Passionate about math and physics, she earned a degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Buenos Aires. She also holds a Masters in Electrical Engineering from the University of Shebrooke, Canada. Her career has developed in the software engineering field. She has worked in Montreal since 2006 and continues with musical activities at McGill University. Miriam was the Second Prize Winner of the 2015 Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition in New York.

Preliminary Round Scriabin – Preludes, Op. 11, Nos. 1, 4, 11, 14 Debussy – Preludes, Bk II

8. Ondine
9. Feux d'artifice

Semifinal Round D Scarlatti – Sonata in B Minor, K. 27 Sonata in G Major, K. 337 Liszt – Transcendental Etude No. 11, “Harmonies du Soir”

Final Round JS Bach - Prelude & Fugue in C-sharp Minor Beethoven – Sonata in E-flat Major, Op.81a “Les Adieux” Brahms – Fantasien, Op.116, Nos. 6 and 7 Ginastera - Preludios Americanos, Nos. 1, 3, 6

+ Steven Boyce, New York, NY

Steven Boyce, from the small college town of Fredonia in western New York State, is a long-time New York City transplant. He began finding tunes on the rickety family upright at age two, and rarely goes a day without time at the piano. After raising two children who are now young adults, still working as a managing director of operational risk in the securities industry, and volunteering time to teach how to care for New York City’s street trees, in 2013 he began to really practice, as well as study with a concert pianist to help achieve his musical goals. Steven frequently performs with members of NY Piano Society, at Baruch College Performing Arts Center and at Lincoln Center Library.

Preliminary Round Chopin – Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op. 60 Shchedrin - Basso Ostinato

Semifinal Round Liszt - Vallée d'Obermann, from Années de Pèlerinage

Final Round Moussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition

+ Alan Brock, Boston, MA

Alan Brock grew up in Denton, Texas, with two years in sixth and seventh grade in Istanbul, Turkey. He studied with Jean Mainous until entering Oberlin Conservatory. At Oberlin, Alan studied with Jack Radunsky and Joe Schwartz. He then didn't play for almost 25 years, but returned to playing a little about 2008. He has been studying privately with Doug Buys, professor from New England Conservatory, since November of 2011.

Preliminary Round Schoenberg - Sechs Kleine Klavierstucke, Op. 19 Debussy- "Reflets dans l'eau", from Images, Book 1

Semifinal Round Chopin - Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2 Chopin - Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23

Final Round Beethoven - Sonata in F Minor, Op. 57, "Appassionata"

+ Mark Cannon, Larchmont, NY

Mark Cannon is a psychiatrist in private practice in New York City. This is his first return to public playing since life being upended when his house was destroyed in Hurricane Sandy in 2012. His piano survived very well, as did almost everything except the house, but he was not able to resume working on music until a few months ago. His principal piano studies have been with Malcolm Bilson and Seymour Bernstein. He has been a semifinalist in past Boston amateur competitions in addition to attending several times as an audience member, and is very glad to be returning as a competitor.

Preliminary Round Chopin - Introduction and Rondo in E-flat Major, Op. 16 Joplin - Pine Apple Rag

Semifinal Round Chopin - Polonaise in F-sharp Minor, Op. 44 Chopin - Mazurka in E Major, Op. 6, No. 3

Final Round Schubert - Sonata in A Major, D. 664 Chopin - Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52

+ Inning Chen Walter, Scottsdale, AZ

Inning Chen Walter, a California native, received her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Optometry from University of California, Berkeley. She began studying piano at the age of 5 and spent the majority of her education in music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She has been practicing in the greater Phoenix area for a few years, now at Ophthalmic Surgeons and Physicians. She is active in the valley music culture, including the Scottsdale Bible Church worship team, Phoenix Piano Club, Sunday Classics Club, and RAC Chamber Music. She and her husband enjoy supporting the ASU football program, serving at church, and spending time outdoors with their Doberman, Duchess.

Preliminary Round Chopin - Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23 Beethoven – Sonata in C Minor, Op. 13, “Pathetique”, 1st m.

Semifinal Round Chopin - Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52

Final Round Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue Beethoven - Sonata in A-flat Major, Op. 110, 1st m.

+ Gorden Cheng, Rancho Santa Fe, CA

Gorden Cheng is a systems engineer and pianist living in San Diego, California. He studied piano privately and continues to practice daily. He has received numer¬ous awards and top prizes at amateur competi¬tions in Paris, Colorado Springs, Washington DC, Chicago, and Warsaw. Gorden works for EveryoneCounts, Inc., a software company specializing in electronic voting solutions.

Preliminary Round Chopin - Nocturne in B Major, Op. 9, No. 3 Schumann - Abegg Variations, Op. 1

Semifinal Round Ravel - Jeux d'eau Prokofiev - 3 pieces from Romeo & Juliet Suite, Op. 75 Young Juliet Mercutio Montagues & Capulets

Final Round JS Bach - Italian Concerto, BWV 971 Chinese Folk Tune - Liu Yang River Melody Stravinsky - Trois mouvements de Petrouchka Danse russe Chez Petrouchka La semaine grasse

+ Michael Cheung, Paris, France

Michael Cheung was prescribed the piano by a hand surgeon as a physiotherapy starting at age 4. Training under private tutors and in masterclasses, he subsequently obtained a Diploma from the Trinity College of London (UK) at age 18. The piano took a hiatus as Michael decided to pursue a university degree in the sciences (biotechnology and psychology) in his native Canada, followed by a first career in banking in Hong Kong, before moving to Europe to obtain a Masters in Business. Settling down in Paris, where he currently works as a coach-consultant in international business management, Michael discovered the world of amateur pianists and renewed his passion for the piano.

Preliminary Round Rameau - Gavotte et Six Doubles Debussy - L'isle joyeuse

Semifinal Round Liszt - Liebestraum No. 3 Romberg - The Piano Chopin - Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 39

Final Round Beethoven - Sonata in A-flat Major, Op. 110 Rachmaninoff - 3 Preludes, from Op. 23

+ May Chung, Fremont, CA

May Chung completed the Advanced Certificate Diploma and the Licentiate Diploma for the Royal School of Music in London. She won the first prize in the Bartok competition in 1990-90, first prize in the United States Music Competition and Accomplished Pianist Prize in the IBLA Competition in Ragusa, Italy. May Chung current works as a full time pharmacist.

Preliminary Round Albeniz – from España, Op. 165

2. Tango
3. Malaguena Prokofiev - Sonata No. 6, Op. 82, 1st m. - Allegro Inquieto

Semifinal Round Beethoven - Sonata in E-flat Major, Op 81a "Les Adieux"

Final Round Albeniz – from España, Op. 165 1.Preludio

5. Capricho Catalan Prokofiev - Sonata No. 6, Op. 82
   2. Allegretto
   3. Tempo di Valzer, Lentissimo
6. Vivace

+ Gérard de Botton, Prunay-le-Gillon, France

Gérard de Botton started piano in childhood and never quit, even during his professional career as an Orthopedic Surgeon, from which he is now retired. He studied piano at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris. Gérard previously competed in the 2014 WIPAC competition, and gives annual performances in Paris and Chartres.

Preliminary Round JS Bach/Brahms - Chaconne from Violin Partita No. 2, BWV 1004 (for the left hand)

Semifinal Round Beethoven - Sonata in E major, Op. 109

Final Round Chopin – Berceuse in D-flat Major, Op. 57 Franck – Prelude, Choral et Fugue

+ Stephan Dimos, Chicago, IL

Stephan Dimos, a native of Schererville, Indiana, began his piano studies with Michele O Day and Bethyne Emery, a former pupil of Rudolph Ganz. In 1998, he placed fourth in the United States Open Music Competition before beginning his collegiate piano studies with Anton Nel at the University of Michigan. After two years of study, Stephan pursued a B.S. in Financial Information Systems at Indiana University Northwest. He is a current student of Dr. James Giles, Dr. Andrea Schneider, and Junichi Sato. Since July 2011, he has been the Endowment Fund Accountant at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.

Preliminary Round JS Bach - Prelude and Fugue in D minor, WTC Bk II, BWV 875 Chopin - Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat Minor, Op. 31

Semifinal Round Chopin - Ballade No. 3 in A-flat Major, Op. 47 Ravel – Sonatine, 3rd m. Bartok - Romanian Folk Dance No. 6, Sz. 56, “Maruntel”

Final Round Beethoven - Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 31, No.3, 1st m. Chopin - Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23 Barber - Sonata in E-flat minor, Op. 26, 4th m.

+ Michael Errico, New York, NY

Michael Errico is an Orthopedic Surgeon practicing full time in Manhasset, New York. He began piano studies at age 4 studying with Gilda Sant Ambrogio and later Isabel Sant Ambrogio at Steinway Hall in New York City. He majored in Theory and Composition of Music at Yale University and then went on to medical school, discontinuing formal training for 35 years. He continued at the piano in jazz and cabaret for those years, ultimately co-writing and performing a cabaret show at Manhattan's Algonquin Hotel, a show which ran for 8 years. In 1995, he returned to serious classical music study at Juilliard School of Music. He is a Board member of the Pianofest of the Hamptons, a training ground for young brilliant up and coming pianists.

Preliminary Round Medtner - Sonata Reminiscenza, Op. 38, from Forgotten Melodies

Semifinal Round Rachmaninoff - Vocalise JS Bach/Busoni-Tausig-Errico - Toccata and Fugue in D Minor

Final Round Wagner/Liszt, Liebestod Debussy – Images, Book II Medtner - 3 Fairy Tales

+ Lara Fesdekjian, Montreal, QC

Lara Fesdekjian was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, where she grew up in a musical family. She studied music and then pharmacy at the University of Toronto, and has worked as a pharmacist in clinics and pharmacies across the province of Ontario, as well as being director and manager of Orton Park Pharmacy in Toronto. Aside from music and pharmacy, her passion for travel has taken her backpacking through more than 60 countries in the world.

Preliminary Round Chopin - Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor, Op. 35, 1st m. Debussy - L'isle Joyeuse

Semifinal Round JS Bach - Capriccio from Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826 Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 in C-sharp Minor

Final Round Chopin - Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52 Franck - Prelude, Chorale et Fugue

+ Edward Fritz, Mesa, AZ

Edward Fritz, a native of Cleveland Ohio, studied classical piano with Harold Swingle until his graduation from Hawken School in 1968. During his collegiate years at the College of Wooster, he continued to take piano lessons from the school faculty, including Daniel Winter. He then attended Case-Western Reserve University Dental School, where he received his DDS degree in 1978. After 3 years as a dentist with the U.S. Air Force at Williams AFB, in 1981 Edward opened his private dental practice, New Health Dental, in Mesa, Arizona. Besides music, he enjoys movies, theater, Asian foods, and most of all spending time with his son.

Preliminary Round Stenhammer - Fantasy Op. 11, No. 1 Liszt - Cantique d'Amour, from Harmonies Poétiques et Religieuses No. 10

Semifinal Round Chopin – Nocturne in C Minor, Op. 48, No. 1 Scriabin - Etude Op. 42, No. 7 Schubert/Liszt - Gretchen am Spinnrade

Final Round Rachmaninoff/Gryaznov - Vocalise Rachmaninoff – Prelude in G Major, Op. 32, No. 5 Debussy - Prelude Bk 1, No. 2 “Voiles” Sibelius/Dube - Was It a Dream? Chopin - Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52

+ Robert Gemmell, Suwanee, GA

Robert Gemmell began playing piano by ear at the age of four and studied classical piano from age five through high school, performing and competing frequently. He minored in music during undergraduate school while studying engineering at Georgia Tech. Robert has an M.B.A. from Duke University and received his Ph.D. in management from Case Western Reserve University. He was a successful serial technology entrepreneur and most recently Chairman and CEO of wireless technology company Cirronet, Inc. until 2006. He transitioned to a second career in teaching, consulting and writing in 2011 and is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Strategy at Wake Forest University’s School of Business.

Preliminary Round Scarlatti - Sonata K. 487 Debussy - - La cathédrale engloutie, from Preludes, Bk 1 Scriabin - Vers la Flamme

Semifinal Round Hindemith - Sonata No. 2 1.Mäßig schnell 2.Lebhaft 3.Sehr langsam - Rondo. Bewegt

Final Round Medtner - Skazki in F Minor, Op. 26, No. 3 Brahms - Sonata No. 3, Op. 5 1.Allegro maestoso 2.Andante: Andante espressivo

+ Hiromi Inomata, Allston, MA

Hiromi Inomata was born in Tokyo, Japan. She studied piano between the ages of 6 and 12, and took up the oboe in high school. She joined an amateur orchestra, which traveled to Korea and Croatia and also played with members of The Berlin Philharmonic, Berlin Deutsche Opera Orchestra and Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2008, Hiromi moved to Boston and resumed her study of piano as a Continuing Study Student at Longy School of Music where she received the Martha Sosman Award in 2011. She was a Second Prize Winner in 2015 and received Honorable Mention in 2012 and 2014 in the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition.

Preliminary Round Chopin – Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2 Haydn – Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI:48

Semifinal Round Mozart - Sonata in D Major, K. 311, 1st m. Debussy - La soirée dans Grenade, from Estampes Scriabin - Prelude and Nocturne for the Left Hand, Op. 9

Final Round Schubert - Four Impromptus, D. 935

+ Daniel Kandelman, Montreal, QC

Daniel Kandelman received his DDS in France, followed by a Doctoral degree in dental medicine from the University of Geneva, and a Master of Public Health at the Harvard School of Public Health. He is currently a full professor of dental medicine, Assistant Dean for International Affairs, and Director of the International Center for prevention of dental diseases in specific needs populations, at the University of Montreal. He has performed, and was in the past, semi-finalist in amateur piano competitions in Boston, Paris, Vienna, and more recently finalist in St. Petersburg (Russia) in 2013. He has also twice competed in the Cliburn and Washington amateur competitions.

Preliminary Round Bach/Gratia - Toccata &Fugue in D Minor Chopin – Waltz, Op. 69 Hampton - Cataract

Semifinal Round JS Bach - Italian Concerto, BWV 971, 1st m. Liszt - Le Rossignol Rachmaninoff - Vocalise Joplin - Maple Leaf Rag

Final Round JS Bach/Busoni - Chaconne in D Minor, BWV 1004 Beethoven - Sonata in C Minor, Op. 13 “Pathetique”, 1st m. Joplin - Fig Leaf Rag

+ Scot King, Costa Mesa, CA

Scot King began practicing the piano at age 6 and he has never stopped playing. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in music from the California Institute of the Arts.. He also completed post graduate study in piano at the Royal College of Music in London the following year. He is a mortgage broker and certified public accountant. He tied for 1st prize at the Rocky Mountain Amateurs event in 2002, and was a finalist at the Paris competition in 2003. He was also a finalist at the Gina Bachauer amateur competition and Second prize winner at WIPAC. In his spare time he enjoys reading biographies of the great composers.

Preliminary Round Chopin -Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 34, No. 1 Etudes Op. 10, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4

Semifinal Round Rachmaninoff - Etude Tableau in F Minor, Op. 33, No. 1 Chopin – Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23 Chopin - Etude in A Minor, Op. 25, No. 11

Final Round Beethoven - Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1 Chopin - Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op. 53 Debussy - L'isle joyeuse

+ Miho Kiyoki, Medford, MA

Miho Kiyoki started playing the piano at age three. She was selected as a representative pianist of the University of Tokyo. She has studied under Nanae Sakurai, Etsuko Tazaki and Gabriel Chodos. She tied for first place at the 2014 Aloha International Piano Competition in the amateur division. She is currently a graduate student in international relations at Tufts University.

Preliminary Round JS Bach - Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 903 Rachmaninoff - Etude-tableau in D minor, Op. 33, No. 5

Semifinal Round Beethoven - Sonata in C major, Op. 53 “Waldstein”, 1st m. Rachmaninoff - Moment Musical in E Minor, Op. 16, No. 4

Final Round Chopin - Polonaise-fantaisie in A-flat Major, Op. 61 Debussy - Estampes 1.Pagodes 2.La soirée dans Grenade 3.Jardins sous la pluie

+ Christopher Kokkinos, Acton, MA

Chris Kokkinos began taking piano lessons at the age of 10 in Nicosia, Cyprus. At age 17 he earned piano certificates from the Orpheon Conservatory (Athens, Greece), and The Royal Schools of Music (London, UK), and the following year the piano diploma from the Orpheon Conservatory with distinction. Chris pursued Electrical Engineering and Music degrees at Cornell University with Malcolm Bilson as his piano instructor. He is currently studying piano with Konstantinos Papadakis at NEC and attending Ya-Fei Chuang's Piano Interpretation & Performance Seminar also at NEC. He was a semi-finalist and prize winner for the best Baroque performance at the 2013 Boston competition. Chris is a software executive in the greater Boston area.

Preliminary Round Handel - Chaconne in G Major, HWV 435 Debussy – Mouvement, from Images, Book I Grünfeld - Soirée de Vienne, Op. 56

Semifinal Round Scriabin - Etude in C-sharp Minor, Op. 42, No. 5 “Affannato” Beethoven - Sonata in F minor, Op. 57 “Appassionata”, 1st m.

Final Round Rachmaninoff - Prelude in D major, Op. 23, No. 4 Rachmaninoff - Prelude in B flat major, Op. 23, No. 2 Liszt - Ballade No. 2 in B minor Bartok - 3 Burlesques, Op. 8c 1.Quarrel 2.A Bit Drunk 3.Molto Vivo, Capriccioso

+ Sheldon Kostelecky, Lexington, MA

Sheldon Kostelecky, born profoundly deaf (80 dB loss in both ears), was drawn to the beautiful music he heard from a neighbor’s piano soon after he received his first hearing aids when he was 4-1/2, hearing for the first time. He started piano lessons at age 6 and continued until he was 13. Sheldon played casually for another 15 years, and then stopped playing for 25 years to concentrate on his architectural, teaching and writing career, specializing in traditional residential design. He received his architectural education at NDSU, Harvard GSD and Notre Dame. Sheldon then returned to the piano studying under Victoria Suchodolski in 2012, adding new baroque, classical, and early romantic pieces to his repertoire.

Preliminary Round JS Bach - Partita No. 1 in B-flat Major

Semifinal Round Chopin - Fantasie-Impromptu in C-sharp Minor, Op. 66 Schubert - Impromptu in C Minor, Op. 90, No. 1

Final Round Haydn - Sonata in E-flat Major, Hob. XVI:52

+ Suzanna Perez Laramee, Newport, RI

Suzanna Laramee received her Bachelors Degree in Piano from Oklahoma City University, and her Masters Degree in Piano from The University of Kansas, where she studied with the outstanding Portuguese pianist, Sequeira Costa. She has spent the last 17 years in the financial industry, working for Merrill Lynch in San Francisco and Morgan Stanley in Providence, RI and New York. Suzanna has now retired to Newport, RI, and is the grandmother of a two year old and a soon to be born baby girl. She has been a finalist in the WIPAC, Boston, Bachauer, Paris and Cliburn amateur competitions. Her interests other than the piano include travel, reading, and cooking.

Preliminary Round Mozart - Sonata in D Major, K.311, 1st m. Liszt - Transcendental Etude No. 11, “Harmonies du soir”

Semifinal Round Ives - Sonata No. 2, "The Concord Sonata", 3rd m. "The Alcotts" Schubert - Moments Musicaux, D. 780

1. Moderato
2. Allegro Moderato
3. Allegro vivace
4. Allegretto

Final Round Schumann - Carnaval, Op. 9

+ David Leehey, Oak Park, IL

David Leehey is President of the Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest in Illinois. He performed the Brahms D minor Concerto in October 2001 and Beethoven Choral Fantasy in April 2011 and in May 2015 will perform the Dvorak Concerto with the Symphony. He also serves as its orchestral pianist and rehearsal accompanist. He was a semifinalist in the 2001 and 2003 Boston amateur competitions and the 2009 and 2011 Washington competitions. He is a founding board member of Pianoforte Foundation in Chicago, serving as chair of the competition committee for the first Chicago competition held in June 2010. David is a Professor of Medicine at Loyola University.

Preliminary Round Albeniz - El Albaicin, from Iberia, Bk 3 Smetana – Furiant, from Czech Dances, Bk 2

Semifinal Round Mozart - Sonata in F Major, K. 332

Final Round Albeniz – Almeria, from Iberia, Bk 2 Schumann – Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Op. 26

+ Sharon Madison, Chicago, IL

Sharon Madison is a native of Chicago Illinois. Her first piano teacher was her father, Dr. Earl W. Madison, a musician and educator in the Chicago Public Schools. As a youth she attended the Cosmopolitan School of Music and the American Conservatory of Music, going on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in music from Hampton University. She earned a Masters degree in Educational Psychology from Wayne State University. Sharon taught music for many years in the Chicago Public Schools in grades K through 12 before retiring. She has performed in numerous recitals and is a member of the Adult Amateur Chamber Ensemble at Sherwood Columbia Music School.

Preliminary Round JS Bach – Toccata, from Partita No. 6 in E Minor, BWV 830 Ravel - Jeux d’eau

Semifinal Round Beethoven - Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 81a “Les Adieux”, 1st m. Debussy – L’isle Joyeuse

Final Round Beethoven - Sonata in D Major, Op. 10 no. 3 1.Presto 2.Largo e mesto 3.Menuetto: Allegro 4.Rondo: Allegro Chopin - Nocturne in B-flat Minor, Op. 9, No. 1

+ Art Manwelyan, Waltham, MA

Art Manwelyan is a mathematician by training, a computer programmer by profession, and, by passion, an active member of the three Boston area piano societies. An avid piano competitor, Art has participated in several piano amateur competitions in Boston, Chicago, Fort Worth and Paris. He often performs at piano soirees and solo recitals, and also regularly plays piano at the Boston Symphony Cafe. Art is very grateful to his mother, Olga, thanks to whom he studied piano from the early age of six. He is also extremely grateful to his wife Julia, his three children and their spouses, his two adorable grandsons, Abraham and Pedro and his adorable mutt Bella, all of whom both support his passion for the music and tolerate hours of piano practice.

Preliminary Round Handel - Capriccio and Passacaglia in G Minor Beethoven - 32 Variations on an Original Theme in C Minor, WoO 80

Semifinal Round D.Scarlatti - Sonata (Fugue) in G Minor, K. 30, L. 499 Chopin - Nocturne in G Minor, Op. 37, No. 1 Rimsky-Korsakov/Rachmaninoff - Flight of the Bumblebee

Final Round Beethoven - Sonata in C major, Op. 53, “Waldstein” 1.Allegro con brio 2.Introduzione: Adagio molto 3.Rondo. Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo

+ Neil McKelvie, Forest Hills, NY

Neil McKelvie was born in England in 1930. After obtain¬ing an MA from Cambridge University and a PhD from Co¬lumbia University in Organic Chemistry, he became a Chemistry Professor at the City College of New York and the CUNY Graduate School for 45 years. He has no academic musical educa¬tion, but his piano teachers have included Manuell Frankell in London until 1954; and (nearly 50 years later) Seymour Bernstein in NY, and lately Mara Waldman. He has played in amateur competitions since 2005 in Boston, Chicago, Berlin, and Washington DC, winning a total of six special prizes for e.g. Best Performance of Romantic Music or Best Program. He is also a chess master with a top rating over 2400.

Preliminary Round JS Bach/Busoni - Choral Prelude "Nur Komm' der Heiden Heiland" Schubert – Sonata in C Minor, D. 958, 2nd m. MacDowell - Clair de Lune, Op. 37, No. 1 Sergei Bortkiewicz - Lyrica Nova, Op. 59, No. 3

Semifinal Round Robert Franz /Liszt - Der Schalk, Op. 3, No. 1 Ronald Stevenson - Recitative and Air Chopin - Ballade No. 3 in A-flat Major, Op. 47

Final Round Chopin - Mazurka in A Minor, Op. 59, No. 1 Ignaz Friedman - "Herbst", Op. 53, No. 1 Ignaz Friedman – Mazurka, Op. 27, No. 3 Ignaz Friedman – Mazurka, Op. 49, No. 1 Sergei Bortkiewicz - Lyrica Nova, Op. 59, No. 1 Chopin - Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52

+ Anne Miller, Brighton, MA

Anne Miller began piano lessons at age 5, taking a few breaks along the way. She was enrolled in the M.M. piano program with Leonard Shure at B.U. but did an about face into medicine instead, raising two children along the way. She didn't touch the piano for over 25 years, but now is back to her real love. She has been a finalist in the Chicago Amateur concerto competition, and a semi-finalist in the Boston competition.

Preliminary Round Schubert - Sonata in C Minor, D. 958, 1st m. Ravel – Rigaudon, from Le Tombeau de Couperin

Semifinal Round Liszt – Funerailles, from Harmonies Poetiques et Religieuses Ravel - Menuet and Toccata, from Le Tombeau de Couperin

Final Round Chopin - Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 58

1. Allegro maestoso
2. Scherzo - molto vivace
3. Largo
4. Presto non tanto; Agitato

+ Melinda Morse, Reno, NV

Melinda Morse is a native of Arkansas, transplanted to the San Francisco Bay area and Reno, Nevada. The love of music-making has enhanced her life since childhood. She was a public school teacher for over three decades, including achieving National Board Certification in EA Mathematics, as well as science and music certifications, After retiring in 2013, Melinda’s favorite time is spent enthralled with her 18 -month old granddaughter. In addition, she participates in an age group women's running and racing team, a local Toastmaster's club(AVTM) and her local Methodist church, SRVUMC.

Preliminary Round Chopin – Berceuse in D-flat Major, Op. 57 Ravel - Alborada del Gracioso, from Miroirs

Semifinal Round Hindemith - Fuga No.2 in G major from Ludus Tonalis Scriabin – Prelude in E Major, Op. 11, No. 9 Ravel - Une Barque sur l'Ocean, from Miroirs

Final Round Beethoven – Sonata in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2, “Moonlight” 1.Adagio sostenuto 2.Allegretto 3.Presto agitato Beethoven – Sonata in F-sharp Major, Op. 78 1.Adagio cantabile - Allegro ma non troppo 2.Allegro vivace

+ Alexandre Rezende, Lowell, MA

Alexandre Luiz de Rezende Santos was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He began taking piano lessons at the age of twelve. He graduated at Rio de Janeiro Federal University with a bachelors degree in piano and voice. He studied with Heitor Alimonda, Dulce Leal, Gloria Maria da Fonseca and Tamara Ujakova. Alexandre also has a degree in audio and speech therapy. He has given several piano recitals in concert halls, governmental houses and churches, and he has performed as a guest artist in several recordings. He also has two albums of his own. Nowadays, Alexandre continues his piano education with private piano lessons.

Preliminary Round Schubert - Moment Musical No. 5 in F Minor, D. 780 Chopin - Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 39 Prokofiev – Toccata, Op. 11nor, Op. 39, Prokofiev – Toccata, Op. 11 Ernesto Nazareth - Odeon

Semifinal Round JS Bach – Allemande, from Partita No. 1 in B-flat Major Chopin - Ballade No. 3 in A-flat Major, Op. 47 Rachmaninoff - Etude-Tableau in A Minor, Op. 39, No. 6 Villa-Lobos - Impressoes Seresteiras

Final Round Liszt - Sonata in B Minor

+ Max Sung, New York, NY

Max Sung is a full-time practicing physician who also enjoys practicing the piano in his spare time. Prior to his medical studies, he spent a year studying piano with Helmut Roloff at the Hochschule fuer Musik in Berlin. While an undergraduate at Harvard University, he also participated in chamber music performance classes with Leon Kirchner, Earl Kim and Patricia Zander.

Preliminary Round JS Bach - Prelude & Fugue in C-sharp Minor, WTC Bk I Schumann - In Der Nacht, from Fantasiestücke, Op. 12 Schoenberg – Klavierstuck, Op. 33b Schubert/Liszt - Gretchen am Spinnrade

Semifinal Round Beethoven - Sonata in E Major, Op. 109

Final Round Ravel - Gaspard de la Nuit Chopin - Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 39

+ Viscount Thurston, Sykesville, MD

Viscount Thurston began piano studies at age 7. As a graduate student at Ohio State University, Viscount won the music school’s concerto competition and performed with the university orchestra. He completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance in 1984. In 2003, he performed with the Littleton Symphony Orchestra in Colorado. Viscount has performed for several years in the Washington, DC area’s Friday Morning Music Club. He has been a regular with the Piano Society since 2007. He won First Prize in the 2010 Washington (DC) International Piano Arts Competition. Viscount manages leadership development programs for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Preliminary Round Schubert - Sonata in A Minor, D. 537 1.Allegro ma non troppo 2.Allegretto quasi andantino 3.Allegro vivace

Semifinal Round Rachmaninoff - Etude-Tableau in F-sharp Minor, Op. 39, No. 3 Etude-Tableau in D Minor, Op. 39, No. 8 Prelude in G Major, Op. 32, No. 5 Etude-Tableau in D Major, Op. 39, No. 9

Final Round Franck - Prelude, Chorale et Fugue Chopin - Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op. 60

+ Angela Lee Tien, Winchester, MA

Angela Lee Tien began playing the piano at the age of four. As a child, she performed with the Boston Pops and the Boston Symphony Orchestra in their Youth Concerts. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Juilliard and her master's from New England Conservatory, and then took a thirteen year hiatus. At the 2014 Chicago Piano Amateur Competition, she was the third prize winner in the solo competition and a finalist in the concerto competition. Angela also sings on the worship team at her church. She is raising her three amazing sons with her loving and supportive husband.

Preliminary Round Debussy - Suite Bergamasque Prélude Menuet Clair de lune Passepied

Semifinal Round JS Bach - Toccata in E Minor, BWV 914 Beethoven - Sonata in C Major, Op. 53 “Waldstein”, 1st m.

Final Round Mendelssohn - Variations Sérieuses, Op. 54 JS Bach/Busoni - Chaconne in D Minor, BWV 1004

+ John Vineyard, Ithaca, NY

John Vineyard grew up in eastern Long Island. He has a Bachelor's in English from Oberlin College and a Master's in English from Colgate University. He taught English for four years at the Franklin Institute of Boston. After considerable soul-searching, he left literature in favor of finance, receiving an MBA at Cornell in 1980. He worked as an Investment Officer at Cornell and Syracuse University before founding the investment firm Sunlake Investment Management in Ithaca, NY in 1990. He was a warrant officer in the US Army Reserve for 28 years. He was formerly President of the Ithaca Opera Association and is now Treasurer of the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra. He has two adult children. His wife Carol works with him in the investment business.

Preliminary Round Chopin – Berceuse in D-flat Major, Op. 57 Henselt – Etude Caractéristique, Op. 2, No. 1, "Orage, tu ne saurais m'abbatre!” Moszkowski - In Autumn, Op. 36, No. 4

Semifinal Round Albeniz – Almeria, from Iberia, Bk 2 Moszkowski - Etude for Left Hand Alone, Op. 92, No. 3 MacDowell - A Haunted House, Op. 62, No. 5

Final Round JS Bach/Liszt - Prelude & Fugue in A Minor, BWV 543 Mozart - Sonata in F Major, K. 332 2.Adagio 3.Allegro assai Liszt - At Richard Wagner's Grave Schubert - Sonata in C Minor, D. 958, 1st m.

+ Wei Ling Wang, Plano, TX

Wei Ling Wang works for a telecommunication company where she engages multiple engineering teams in building computer networks to transport data, voice and video for global companies. She recently participated in several amateur piano competitions, and performed a concerto movement with the Fort Worth Symphony in the Piano Texas Festival. She is also an active supporter of music schools and non-profit music organizations in the city of Dallas and Fort Worth.

Preliminary Round Mozart – Sonata in A Minor, K. 310, 1st m. Balakirev - In the Garden Chopin - Waltz in E Minor, Op. Posth.

Semifinal Round Scarlatti - Sonata in D Minor, K. 213 Chopin - Nocturne in B-flat Minor, Op. 9, No.1 Rachmaninoff - Morceaux de Fantaisie, Op.3, No. 4, “Polichinelle”

Final Round Pärt - Für Alina Chopin - Mazurka in A Minor, Op. 17, No. 4 Chopin - Mazurka in C Major, Op. 56, No. 2 Rachmaninoff - Morceaux de Fantaisie, Op.3, No. 1, “Elegie” Tan Dun - Eight Memories in Watercolor, Op. 1 1.Missing Moon 2.Staccato Beans 3.Herdboy’s Song 4.Blue Nun 8. Sunrain