+ Rady Almadany, Quebec

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 (Cynthia Wadi) and Russian (Victor Bunin) schools. He earned a first class honors performance degree from the Ecole Normal de Musique in Paris after working with French pianists such as France Clidat ans Francoise Thinat. He participated in several piano competitions but his MD diploma and clinical research work experience made him passionate in Music-Medicine and application of music to reach clinical objectives. After obtaining his diploma in music therapy, he established his clinical-music activity to help people with Autism and other developmental problems. He became also a professional in sound-listening therapy as he always searches how to offer people the possibility to develop skills and to have a better understanding and interaction with their surroundings.

Preliminary Round Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 13 in A Minor Bizet/Horowitz - Variations on a Theme from Carmen, White House Version

Semi Final Round J.S. Bach - Capriccio in B-flat Major, "On the Departure of a Friend”

3. Sorrow and Regret
4. Farewell

Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 in C-sharp Minor

Final Round Debussy - Poissons d'or, from Images Bk 2 Debussy - L'isle joyeuse Messiaen - Vingt regards sur l'enfant-Jésus No. 19, “Je dors, mais mon cœur veille” Piazzolla - Adios Nonino (performer special arrangement of Laercio de Freitas version)

+ Deirbhile Brennan, Ireland

Deirbhile Brennan began her piano studies at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and later studied with DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, winning many prizes and awards in Ireland and the UK. Deirbhile holds a degree in music from Trinity College Dublin,after which she took a lengthy break from the piano that included forging a busy career as a chartered accountant. She currently works as a senior operations manager and is the mother of four children. Deirbhile returned to the piano in 2009 studying with Dr. Hugh Tinney at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Following recitals in Dublin and Paris, Deirbhile was awarded first prize in the 2014 Chicago International Amateur Piano Competition and was invited later that year by New York Concerti Sinfonietta to perform at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and two other New York venues. In 2016 Deirbhile was a finalist in the WIPAC Competition, as well as a semi-finalist in receipt of a special jury award at the Van Cliburn Amateur Competition.

Preliminary Round Rameau - Gavotte et Six Doubles, from Suite in A Minor Liszt - Les jeux d'eaux à la Villa d'Este, from Années de pèlerinage, Troisiéme Année

Semi Final Round Soler - Sonata in F-sharp Major, R. 90 Janacek - Sonata 1.X.1905, "From the Street"

Final Round Schubert - 12 Waltzes, Op. 18, D. 145 Ravel - Ondine Liszt – Vallée d’Obermann, from Années de pèlerinage, Premiére Année

+ Mark Cannon, New York

Mark Cannon is a psychiatrist in private practice in New York. Born in West Germany, he grew up in New York and studied piano as a child with "that little old lady around the corner," who, it turned out, had been a performer of some note in Russia. His principal studies thereafter have been with Malcolm Bilson and Seymour Bernstein. He has given many solo recitals and performed Beethoven's Emperor Concerto with the Doctors' Orchestral Society. He has been a big fan of BIPC since its inception and has attended all the competitions as either a contestant or audience member.

Preliminary Round Chopin - Polonaise in G-flat Major, Op. Posth. J.S. Bach - Toccata in C major, from Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue, BWV 564

Semi Final Round Scriabin - Sonata No. 10, Op. 70

Final Round Chopin - Polonaise in F-sharp Minor, Op. 44 Schubert - Sonata in A Major, D. 664

1. Allegro moderato
2. Andante
3. Allegro

+ Jeanne Backofen Craig, Virginia

Jeanne Backofen Craig competed in the 2016 Cliburn International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, where she advanced to the semi-final round. She was awarded 2nd prize at WIPAC in Washington, D.C., as well as the audience and press jury awards. Since 2016, she has performed in recital at the Kosciusko Foundation in Washington, D.C., Sweet Briar College, and the Gasteig in Munich, Germany. Jeanne is a graduate of Virginia Tech and Marymount University, and serves as the Director of Music & Liturgy at her church. She is married to Eddie and is the proud mother of Billy, Andy, and Carrie.

Preliminary Round J.S. Bach - Prelude & Fugue in C Major, WTC Bk II Haydn - Sonata in E-flat Major, Hob. XVI:52 (Allegro)

Semi Final Round J.S. Bach - Prelude & Fugue in G-sharp Minor, WTC Bk I Chopin - Nocturne in B-flat Minor, Op. 9, No. 1 Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11

Final Round Mozart - Sonata in F Major, K. 332 1.Allegro 2.Adagio 3.Allegro assai Liszt – Vallée d’Obermann, from Années de pèlerinage, Premiére Année

+ Gerard de Botton, France

Gerard de Botton was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and started practicing piano at age 13, but decided to become an orthopedic surgeon. His teachers included Marian Rybicki, with whom he studied for 12 years in private and at the École Normale de Musique de Paris. Gerard’s piano studies were done in parallel with a heavy career of Orthopedic Surgeon in Chartres and Paris, mostly specializing in hip and knee surgery and surgery of the spine. In recent years he has given many recitals for humanitarian purposes (Research on Cancer, Amnesty International) and charity organizations, and lately for the International Day of Trisomy 21. Together with JS Bach, Gerard feels very attracted to 19th century music, especially Chopin, but also Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann and Schubert. He has performed with orchestra on five occasions and in several amateur competitions, including as a finalist at WIPAC, first prize in the Italian competition "Piano lovers over 40" and in the Chopin Amateur competition in Warsaw.

Preliminary Round Bach-Busoni - Choral-Prelude "Nun komm der Heiden Heiland" BWV 61 Chopin – Polonaise in C Minor, Op 40, No. 2 Chopin - Étude #12 in C minor Op. 25

Semi Final Round Schubert - Sonata in B-flat Major, D.960, 1st m.

Final Round Beethoven - Sonata in C Major, Op. 53, "Waldstein"

1. Allegro con brio
2. Introduzione. Adagio molto
3. Rondo. Allegretto moderato – Prestissimo

+ Simon Finlow, District of Columbia

Simon Finlow was born and raised in England. He graduated with a BA/MA from Oxford University and subsequently earned a PhD in music from King’s College, Cambridge. In 1985, Dr. Finlow immigrated to the US. He obtained an MS in computer science, became a US citizen, and worked as an IT professional for the next 25 years. Simon returned to his music roots after retiring from IT work in 2014. He is currently rebuilding his piano repertoire, has started performing again, and is working with his teacher, Michael Adcock, on becoming the best pianist he can be. He also competed last year in the WIPAC and Van Cliburn amateur competitions.

Preliminary Round Schumann – Novellette in F Major, Op. 21, No. 1 Scarlatti - Sonata in E Major, K. 380, L. 23 Balakirev - Mazurka No. 6 in A-flat Major

Semi Final Round Chopin - Fantasie in F Minor, Op. 49

Final Round Beethoven - Sonata in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3 1.Presto 2.Largo e mesto 3.Menuetto: Allegro 4.Rondo: Allegro Debussy - L'Isle joyeuse

+ Jaime Frias, Florida

Jaime Frias is a business attorney in Florida. He received a music degree at the University of Florida, where he won their student concerto competition. Last year he was the bronze medalist in the 2-round track of the Chicago amateur competition.

Preliminary Round Scarlatti - Sonata in E Major, K. 380 J.S. Bach - Prelude in A Minor, from English Suite No. 2, BWV 807 Chopin – Fantasie-Impromptu in C sharp Minor, Op. 66

Semi Final Round Mozart - Sonata in C Major, K. 330, 1st and 2nd m. Chopin - Nocturne in B-flat Minor, Op. 9, No. 1

Final Round J.S. Bach - Partita No. 1 in B-flat Major, BWV 825: Prelude, Menuets & Gigue Beethoven - Sonata in E Minor, Op. 90, 1st m. Glass - Metamorphosis No. 2 Joplin – Magnetic Rag

+ Wen-yee Ho, Massachusetts

Wen-yee Ho, while growing up in Hong Kong, took piano lessons with Harry Ore, a graduate of St. Petersburg Conservatory. She and her teacher gave dual piano concerts on Radio Hong Kong and participated in a fund-raising concert for the Hong Kong Philharmonic. In later years, she took lessons from Leo Smit, Jeannette Giguere, and Frederic Aguessy. Since 2011, she has taken lessons from Max Levinson from time to time. Recipient of three degrees in French, Wen-yee was educated in the United States and France. She spent most of her adult life teaching French, first at Harvard University, then at Tufts University. Since her retirement from Tufts in 2011, she has participated in international piano competitions for amateurs. In 2013, she won second prize in the PianoBridges International Piano Competition in St. Petersburg.

Preliminary Round Chopin - Andante Spianato et Grande Polonaise Brillante, Op. 22

Semi Final Round Chopin - Nocturne in C Minor, Op. 48, No. 1 Mazurka in C Major, Op. 24, No. 2 Schubert - Impromptu in G-flat Major, Op. 90, No. 3

Final Round Chopin - Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2 Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 55, No. 2 Waltz in C-sharp Minor, Op. 62, No. 2 Berceuse in D-flat Major, Op. 57 Rachmaninoff - Prelude in G Major, Op. 32, No. 5 Etude-Tableau in C Major, Op. 33, No. 2 Schumann/Liszt - Widmung

+ Hiromi Inomata, Massachusetts

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 Awards. She was a Second Prize Winner in the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition. She also participated in the music festival MusicA Braine l'Alleud in Belgium, and performed in a masterclass for Daniel Blumenthal.

Preliminary Round Schubert - Sonata in A Major, D.959, 2nd m. Mendelssohn - Fantasy in F-sharp Minor, Op. 28, 1st m.

Semi Final Round Schubert - Sonata in A Major, D.959, 4th m.

Final Round Schubert - Sonata in A Major, D.959, 1st m. J.S. Bach - Partita No. 4 in D Major, BWV828

+ Jit-Seng Khoo, California

Jit-Seng Khoo came to the US from Indonesia in 1963 to attend Kendall College in Evanston, Illinois, then studied medicine at Northwestern University School of Medicine, and the University of Minnesota. Further medical appointments were at Brown University in general surgery and Plastic Surgery, then as Chief of Plastic Surgery at Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Sacramento, CA and Assistant Clinical Prof of Plastic Surgery, University of CA, Davis, and then went into private practice. Jit-Seng studied piano as an undergrad but then stopped for 17 years before returning to studies with Thomas Gentry and Prof Richard Cionco in California. He has participated in the Cliburn amateur competition and the Chopin amateur competition in Warsaw, Poland.

Preliminary Round Mozart – Adagio in B Minor, K. 540 Rachmaninoff – Prelude in G Major, Op. 32, No. 5 Rachmaninoff – Prelude in B-flat Major, Op. 23, No. 2

Semi Final Round J.S. Bach/Petri - Sheep May Safely Graze Chopin - Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat Minor, Op. 31

Final Round Chopin - Nocturne in B Major, Op. 9, No. 3 Polonaise in C-sharp Minor, Op. 26, No. 1 Mazurka in B Minor, Op. 33, No. 4 Mazurka in D-flat Major, Op. 30, No. 3 Ballade No. 2 in F Major, Op. 38

+ Lynn Killingsworth, Georgia

Lynn Killingsworth’s engagement in the world of classical ballet necessitated a long deferment of her formal studies at the piano. She later enjoyed the privilege of studying with pianists of high caliber. With their guidance and encouragement she was able to make up for lost time building repertoire and technique. During a brief period in which office work later became Lynn's means of financial support, the piano became even more important to her, giving her a very necessary outlet for artistic expression. Lynn was privileged to perform Rachmaninoff's Prelude in G Sharp Minor in the master class of Russian pianist, Zlata Chochieva, during her recent concert tour in San Diego. Lynn is presently finding the care of her elderly mother a fulfilling commitment.

Preliminary Round Chopin - Mazurka in A Minor, Op. 17, No. 4 Rachmaninoff - Prelude in G-sharp Minor, Op. 32, No. 12 Tchaikovsky - Grande Pas de Deux, from "The Nutcracker"

Semi Final Round Brahms - Intermezzo in B-flat Minor, Op. 117, No. 2 Grieg - Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, from Lyric Pieces, Op. 65 De Falla - Ritual Fire Dance, from "El Amor Brujo"

Final Round Rachmaninoff/Wild - Vocalise Kabalevsky - Sonata No. 3 in F Major, Op. 46 1.Allegro con moto 2.Andante cantabile 3.Allegro giocoso

+ Judith Knott, United Kingdom

Judith Knott has been playing the piano since 1968 but took a 35-year break while pursuing her career as an academic and civil servant, and bringing up her daughter. She resumed playing in 2012 under Sebastian Stanley in Hertfordshire, UK. Her most exciting piano moment so far was playing Janacek on a recent BBC Radio 3 program featuring amateur pianists. Judith visited the US several times on business when she was the UK’s Director of Corporate and International Tax. Since leaving the civil service last year she divides her time between writing, music and being a university governor.

Preliminary Round Janacek – from "In the Mists" 3.Andantino 4.Presto Poulenc – Improvisations, Nos. 2, 7, 8

Semi Final Round Shostakovich – Preludes, Op. 34 No. 1 in C Major No. 14 in E-flat Minor No. 15 in D-flat Major No. 19 in E-flat Major No. 20 in C Minor Poulenc - Mélancolie

Final Round Scarlatti – Sonata in F Minor, K. 466 Sonata in A Minor, K. 532 Liszt - Liebesträume, Notturno No.2 in E Major Schumann - Romanze in F-sharp Major, Op. 28, No. 2 Mozart - Fantasia in C Minor, K. 475

+ Chris Kokkinos, Massachusetts

Chris Kokkinos was born in Nicosia, Cyprus, where he began taking piano lessons at the age of 10. At age 17 he earned piano certificates from the Orpheon Conservatory (Athens, Greece) and The Royal Schools of Music (London, England) and the following year the piano diploma by the Orpheon Conservatory with distinction. Chris pursued Electrical Engineering and Music degrees at Cornell University. For his music studies his piano instructor was Malcolm Bilson. He is currently studying piano with Boston area faculty and attending Ya-Fei Chuang's Piano Interpretation & Performance Seminar at NEC. Chris lives in Acton, MA with his wife and three sons. He is employed by Location, Inc in Worcester, MA as the VP of Product Development.

Preliminary Round J.S. Bach/Liszt - Prelude & Fugue in A Minor Chopin - Nocturne in C Minor, Op. 48, No. 1

Semi Final Round Liszt - Ballade No. 2 in B minor, S. 171

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

1. Vivace ma non troppo — Adagio espressivo
2. Prestissimo
3. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung. Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo Liszt - Rigoletto Paraphrase de Concert, S. 434

+ Andy Liao, Massachusetts

Andy Liao has been playing piano since he was seven. He has previously studied with Howard Aibel, Daniel Shapiro, Sergey Schepkin, and Uriel Tsachor. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.M. in piano performance and B.S. in Actuarial Science. After college, he moved to Boston for work, but continued to play piano extensively. He has taken various classes and chamber music coachings throughout the Boston area, including private studies with Randall Hodgkinson and attending the Piano Interpretation & Performance Seminar with Ya-Fei Chuang at NEC. He was the third prize winner at the 2015 Washington International Piano Arts Council (WIPAC) Amateur Piano Competition and awarded Best Performance of a Modern/Contemporary Work at the 2016 San Diego Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs. His other interests besides piano are running, tennis, and watching the NBA.

Preliminary Round Haydn - Sonata in B Minor, Hob XVI:32

1. Allegro moderato
2. Minuet - Trio
3. Finale. Presto Ravel - Jeux d'eau

Semi Final Round Debussy – Pagodes, from Estampes Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12

Final Round Faure - Nocturne No. 1 in E-flat Minor, Op.33, No. 1 Rachmaninoff - Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op. 42

+ Art Manwelyan, Massachusetts

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 J.S. Bach - Toccata in D Major, BWV 912 Schubert - Impromptu in E-flat Major, Op. 90, No. 2, D. 899

Semi Final Round Scarlatti - Fugue in G Minor, K. 30 Beethoven – Sonata in F Major, Op. 2, No. 1, 2nd m. Mendelssohn - Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 14

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, New York

Neil McKelvie was born in England in 1930. After obtaining an MA from Cambridge University and a PhD from Columbia 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 education, 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 J.S. Bach/Busoni - Choral Prelude "Ich Ruf' Zu Dir" Chopin - Mazurka in A Minor, Op. 59, No. 1 Bortkiewicz - Lyrica Nova, Op. 59, No. 1 Friedman – Mazurka, Op. 27, No. 3

Semi Final Round Bortkiewicz - Lyrica Nova, Op. 59, No. 3 Ernesto Halffter - Habanera Schubert – Sonata in C Minor, D. 958, 2nd m.

Final Round Friedman – Mazurka, Op. 15, No. 1 Mazurka, Op. 49, No. 1 Chopin - Prelude in A-flat Major, Op. 28, No. 17 Beethoven - Sonata in A-flat Major, Op. 110

1. Moderato cantabile molto espressivo
2. Allegro molto
3. Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro ma non troppo

+ Alexandra Nica, Iowa

Alexandra Nica was born in Brasov, located in the Transylvania region of Romania, just a 15-minute drive from Dracula’s castle. Her mother and aunt were the first Romanian folkloric duet in the country, and her father is a folkloric dancer and choreographer. Her family’s 30 years in the “Poienita” Folkloric Ensemble brought them many prestigious awards from national and international festivals. Alexandra started piano at age 6 and studied for eight years with Professor Dorina Popescu at the Tudor Ciortea Music School in Brasov. She received a B.A. in International Trade from the University of Transylvania in Romania, followed by an M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Iowa, and then joined the Economics department faculty at the University of Iowa in 2014. After a long hiatus from public piano performances, she recently participated in the San Diego and Chicago amateur competitions. She is also one of the Chairs of the University Club Piano Interest Groups that holds monthly themed piano performances.

Preliminary Round Chopin - Etude in A-flat Major, Op. 25 No. 1, "Aeolian Harp" Enescu – Prelude, from Piano Suite No. 1, Op. 3, "Dans le style ancien" Debussy - Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum, from Children’s Corner Paul Constantinescu - Toccata "Joc Dobrogean"

Semi Final Round Chopin - Polonaise in A Major, Op. 40, No. 1, “Military” Philip Wesley – Lamentations of the Heart, from “Dark Night of the Soul” Tudor Ciortea - Joc Tiganesc (Gypsy Dance)

Final Round Mozart - Piano Sonata in A Major, K. 331, 3rd m. Chopin – Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 69, No. 1 Beethoven - Sonata in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2, "Quasi una fantasia"

1. Adagio sostenuto
2. Allegretto
3. Presto agitato

+ Reiko Osawa, Japan

Reiko Osawa received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Composition from the Osaka College of Music in Osaka, Japan. She has been composing contemporary music of various instrumental and vocal combinations since graduate school. While living in San Jose, California, from 2001 to 2009, she took piano performance class at De Anza College, and she played in masterclasses at the Piano Texas International Academy and Festival on several occasions. She has participated in various amateur piano competitions in Texas, Colorado, Boston and Japan. Now Reiko lives in Hyogo, Japan, where she plays piano duets with friends and enjoys swimming every day.

Preliminary Round J.S. Bach - Chromatic Fantasie and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 903

Semi Final Round Chopin - Ballade No. 2 in F Major, Op. 38 Prokofiev - Sarcasms, Op. 17, Nos. 1, 4, 5

Final Round Kabalevsky - Sonata No. 2 in E-flat Major, Op.45

1. Allegro moderato Festivamente
2. Andante sostenuto
3. Presto assai

+ Chuifun Poon, Hong Kong

Chuifun Poon began her piano lessons at age 5. She furthered her piano studies at the Royal College of Music, London, where she took up several accompanist jobs to support herself, including working as a ballet accompanist at the Royal Academy of Dancing. Upon her graduation Chuifun returned to Hong Kong to take up a position at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts as the coordinator of the Junior Music School as well as starting her own family. Chuifun works as administrative assistant and graphic designer for PianoTexas International Academy & Festival, a position she has held for 20 years. She has participated in the Cliburn, Berlin and Warsaw amateur competitions. Chuifun is also a passionate chamber music lover and has for several years participated in the Amateur Chamber Music Week in Verbier, Switzerland.

Preliminary Round J.S. Bach - Italian Concerto, BWV 971

1. Allegro
2. Andante
3. Presto

Semi Final Round J.S. Bach/Petri - Sheep May Safely Graze Chopin - Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52

Final Round Schubert - Impromptus, Op. 90, D. 899 No. 1 in C Minor No. 2 in E-flat Major No. 3 in G-flat Major No. 4 in A-flat Major

+ Ian Roy, United Kingdom

Ian Roy was born in Aberdeen, Scotland and attended Wick High School. He began playing the piano at age eight and studied initially with Emma Bruce in Wick. After leaving Wick High School he studied for two degrees in math and physics at the University of Aberdeen. He then worked on two research contracts at the Universities of Plymouth and Newcastle upon Tyne. Thereafter he worked for the ship safety department of QinetiQ at Rosyth, and then for Petroleum Experts in Edinburgh. He now works as an engineering analyst for the Coventry based firm of OLEO International.

Preliminary Round Respighi – Notturno, from 6 Pieces for Piano Ireland - Chelsea Reach, from London Pieces Gershwin/Wild - Embraceable You

Semi Final Round Chopin - Nocturne Op27 no2 Headington - Barcarolle Ravel - Ondine from Gaspard de la nuit

Final Round Chopin – Etudes, Op. 25, Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Chopin – Etudes, Op. 10, Nos. 1, 2 Balakirev - In the Garden Debussy - Reflets dans l'eau, from Images, Bk 1 Ireland - Amberley Wild Brooks Rachmaninoff - Etude-tableau in E-flat Minor, Op. 39, No. 5

+ Alexandre Santos, Massachusetts

Alexandre Luiz de Rezende Santos was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He began taking piano lessons at the age of twelve. He graduated from Rio de Janeiro Federal University with bachelor’s degrees 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 J.S. Bach - Prelude in A Minor, from English Suite No. 2, BWV 807 Chopin - Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 39 Rimsky-Korsakov/Rachmaninoff - The Flight of the Bumblebee Chiquinha Gonzaga - Corta Jaca, Brazilian Tango

Semi Final Round Ernesto Nazareth – Escorregando, Brazilian Tango Chopin - Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23 Prokofiev – Toccata, Op. 11

Final Round Liszt - Sonata in B Minor

+ Max Sung, New York

Max Sung is a full-time practicing physician who also enjoys playing the piano. Prior to his career in medicine, he spent a year on a German Academic Exchange Fellowship studying with Helmut Roloff at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. While an undergraduate at Harvard University, he studied chamber music with Leon Kirchner, Earl Kim and Patricia Zander. He has participated in the Cliburn, WIPAC, Berlin and Chopin amateur competitions, as well as several previous appearances in Boston.

Preliminary Round J.S. Bach - Prelude & Fugue in D Major, WTC Bk II Brahms – Intermezzo in A Major, Op. 118, No. 2 Chopin - Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 39

Semi Final Round Chopin – Nocturne in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 1 Debussy – Images, Bk 2

1. Cloches à travers les feuilles
2. Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut
3. Poissons d'or

Final Round J.S. Bach - Capriccio, from Partita No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 826 Beethoven - Sonata in C Major, Op. 53, "Waldstein"

1. Allegro con brio
2. Introduzione. Adagio molto
3. Rondo. Allegretto moderato – Prestissimo

+ Sean Sutherland, California

Sean Sutherland was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where he serendipitously discovered the piano as a child and was instantly enamored. At 15, Sean was offered a scholarship to study piano at one of the Royal Schools of Music, but had to decline under strong parental directive as he had not yet completed high school. He resumed his studies upon his arrival at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, while earning a bachelor’s degree in music, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering and computer science, and later pursued an MBA at McGill University. Since graduating, he has started a niche tutorial service that specializes in standardized test preparation (SAT, ACT, SSAT, and GMAT) and lectured at McGill as an adjunct professor of international finance and information systems. Sean has continued to pursue his passion for classical piano music as an amateur pianist and has performed solo recitals in the US, Canada, Germany, and throughout the Caribbean.

Preliminary Round Chopin – Preludes, Op. 28, Nos. 1 - 12

Semi Final Round William Bolcom - Three Dance Portraits

1. The Dead Moth Tango
2. Knock-stück
3. Abbacadabra

Final Round Haydn - Sonata in C Major, Hob.XVI:50, 1st m. Chopin – Preludes, Op. 28, Nos. 13 - 24

+ Marina Syrchina, Russia

Marina Syrchina was born in Izhevsk, Russia, and was interested in music since a very early age. In 2004 she competed in several major Russian music events among students and won 1st place in music harmony and 3rd place in music theory in the all-Russian Nizhny Novgorod Conservatory Olympiad. Other awards include 3rd place in the inter-regional Kazan Conservatory music theory Olympiad, 1st place in a prima vista piano and 2nd place in piano among students of director, choir and music theory faculties in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Although afterwards Marina did not pursue further musical education, she schooled herself in jazz and soul singing, and currently performs as a jazz/soul singer in various Russian venues.

Preliminary Round Liszt - Étude de Concert No. 3, “Un Sospiro” Chopin - Ballade No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 23

Semi Final Round Beethoven - Sonata in C Minor, Op. 13, “Pathetique”

1. Grave – Allegro di molto e con brio
2. Adagio cantabile
3. Rondo: Allegro Rachmaninoff - Prelude in F-sharp Minor, Op. 23, No. 1 Rachmaninoff - Moment musicale in E Minor, Op. 16, No. 4

Final Round Rachmaninoff - Prelude in G Minor, Op. 23, No. 5 J.S. Bach - Prelude & Fugue in F-sharp Major, WTC Bk I Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 Tchaikovsky - “May: Starlit Nights”, Op. 37a, No. 5, from “The Seasons” Prokofiev - Obsession diabolique, Op. 4, No. 4, from Four Pieces for Piano Scriabin – Prelude in C-sharp Minor, Op. 11, No. 10 Shchedrin - A La Albeniz

+ Kazuko Taki, Japan

Kazuko Taki has performed music multi-dimensionally in her long life. She started her career in music as a soprano singer after graduation from Toho Gakuen School of Music, joining the Nikikai Opera, which provided her with a huge number of stages. Kazuko acted mainly as a member of the chorus, with distinguished conductors including Charles Dutoit and Wolfgang Sawallisch. After over ten years, she changed her career to education. At public middle schools, Kazuko organized music classes, and coached choirs and brass bands. In 2008, she restarted playing the piano after a 20 year silence, studying with Slawek Kowalewski in Tokyo. In 2017, she was selected as a volunteer member for the Japan International Cooperation Agency, which deals with development assistance projects. She is going to the Dominican Republic to work as a singing trainer for two years. Kazuko is very excited and looking forward to meeting a new musical dimension.

Preliminary Round J.S. Bach – Praeludium, from Partita No. 1 in B-flat Major, BWV 825 Ravel – Sonatine

1. Modéré
2. Mouvement de menuet
3. Animé

Semi Final Round Mendelssohn – Variations Sérieuses, Op. 54

Final Round Chopin Ballade No. 1 Op.23 Chopin Nocturne posthume c-moll Chopin Nocturne Op.9-2 Chopin Fantasie Op.49

+ Ferdy Talan, Connecticut

Ferdy Talan was raised in Jakarta amid a heady mix of cultures and traditions. He has been drawn to and inspired by influences from Flamenco to bossa nova and electronic music to Taiko drumming. In 2003, Ferdy moved to New York to attend The Manhattan School of Music, but was soon driven by his curiosity to try a less-traveled path. From 2005-2010, he performed with the New York Theatre Ballet, traveling with the company to far-flung corners of America while developing its live music department. The writers, dancers, directors, musicians, composers, designers, thinkers and dreamers he encountered along the way and in further journeys have all played a powerful role in shaping and expanding his musical sensibility. Cited for his imaginative programming, Mr. Talan was awarded Third Prize at the 2016 WIPAC competition and was a semifinalist at the Paris amateur competition. Since 2012, he has studied with Zitta Zohar, whose vision and guidance have shaken and continue to awaken his sense of being and purpose.

Preliminary Round Chopin - Impromptu No. 2 in F-sharp Major, Op. 36 Chopin - Tarantella, Op. 43

Semi Final Round Liszt - Ballade No. 2 in B Minor, S 171

Final Round Bowen - Toccata, Op. 155 Grieg - Ballade in G minor, Op. 24

+ Yoko Taruki, Japan

Yoko Taruki works as a School Director in Japan. She started piano lessons at age four, but stopped in high school. After receiving an MS at Indiana University, she worked in the social science fields. From 2005 she took a piano amateur summer program at Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris and at Mannes College in New York. In 2009, Yoko was a finalist at the International piano amateur competition in Osaka and Tianjin. She also participated in amateur competitions in Paris, Boston, Berlin, Texas, and Walzo, and has played concerts in Tokyo.

Preliminary Round Chopin - Ballade No.3 in A-flat Major, Op. 47 Ravel - Jeux d'eau

Semi Final Round Schumann - Sonata No.2 in G Minor

1. So rasch wie möglich
2. Andantino. Getragen
3. Scherzo. Sehr rasch und markiert
4. Rondo. Presto

Final Round Schubert - Sonata in A major, Op. 120, D. 664

1. Allegro moderato
2. Andante
3. Allegro Debussy - L’isle joyeuse

+ Karen Astrachan, Connecticut

Karen Astrachan fell in love with the piano at age 4. She grew up in Westchester, NY where she studied with Drora Arnon. She went on to Yale University and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. While at Yale, Karen studied with Ward Davenny, and also worked with Donald Currier, Claude Frank and Baruch Arnon. She then went to law school at Boston College for two years and finished her final year at Yale Law School, and practiced corporate law in New Haven. Karen started a jewelry design business 15 years ago and has worked with many celebrities, fashion designers and magazine editors in the process. After her third child went off to college and too many years away from the piano, Karen again listened to her heart and returned to music. She is very fortunate to be currently studying with Wei-yi Yang. When Karen is not at the piano, she can often be found in the ballroom dance studio or dancing in a ballroom competition. This is her first entry into an amateur piano competition.

Preliminary Round Rachmaninoff- Morceau de fantaisie, Op. 3, No. 1, “Elégie” Debussy - Jardin sous la pluie, from Estampes Poulenc – Toccata, from Trois Pièces

Final Round Liszt - Étude de Concert No. 3 in D-flat Major, “Un Sospiro” Ginastera - Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2

+ Andrew Celentano, Masachusetts

Andrew Celentano studied electrical engineering at MIT and then worked at IBM for 13 years in various sales, marketing and management positions. He founded and ran an interactive agency for 12 years, consulted for a number of years after that, and now works as a Senior Innovation Consultant for Sagentia. He is also working on a cell phone application that will “change the world”. Andrew studied violin and performed at Carnegie Hall with the MIT Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Brian Epstein. He was self- taught on the piano starting at age 13, and started taking serious classical lessons about 15 years ago. Andrew plays occasionally at the BSO Café at Symphony Hall and also composes his own material, some of which is featured on his CD “Wanderer in Dreamland” , which he created on behalf of the Thoreau Society for fundraising purposes. Andrew & Hilary have three grown children, and are now the proud grandparents of two boys and a girl. He is also a board member of The Thoreau Society.

Preliminary Round Liszt - Consolation No. 3 Gluck/Sgambati - Theme from Orpheus Ravel - Pavane pour une infante défunte

Final Round Chopin - Nocturne in B-flat Minor, Op. 9, No. 1 Debussy - Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum, from Children’s Corner Celentano - Parnassus Gardens Debussy - Reflets dans l'eau, from Images, Bk 1

+ Judy Darst, Oregon

Judy Darst is a retired Piano Teacher with a degree in Piano Performance (BMA) from the U. of Colorado. She has adjudicated as a member of MTNA and National Guild of Piano Teachers and has performed with the Bainbridge Island Orchestra and the Greeley Philharmonic. She was a performing member of Ladies Musical Club in Seattle before moving to Oregon, where she has started a performance group. Judy has appeared in numerous amateur competitions in Washington DC, Chicago, San Diego, Colorado Springs, and here in Boston.

Preliminary Round Brahms – Waltzes, Op. 39, Nos. 2, 4, 8, 15 Schubert - Moment Musical No. 3 in F Minor, D. 780 Chopin – Prelude in C-sharp Minor, Op. 45

Final Round Mozart – Sonata in C Major, K. 330, 1st m. Chopin – Mazurka Op. 67, No. 3 Scharwenka – Nocturne, Op. 86 Jaromir Weinberger - Schwanda the Bagpiper: Polka

+ Edward Fritz, Arizona

Edward Fritz began his piano studies at age 7 with Harold Swingle until his graduation from Hawken School, and with Daniel Winter at the College of Wooster. He completed his dental degree in 1978 at Case-Western Reserve University. He then moved to Arizona and practiced as a dentist in the U.S. Air Force for 3 years before beginning his private practice in 1981. After years of sporadic time at the piano keyboard, he happened upon the documentary film, "They Came to Play," in 2013, which inspired him to resume practicing seriously with the goal of playing in an amateur piano competition. When not practicing the piano or dentistry, Dr. Fritz loves movies, theater, reading, Asian foods, and most of all spending time with his son Mason.

Preliminary Round Schubert - Impromptu in A-flat Major, Op. 90 No. 4, D. 899 Scriabin - Impromptu in B-flat Minor, Op. 12, No. 2 Sinding - Serenade

Final Round Schubert: Diabelli Waltz Brahms: Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 6 Liszt - Cantique d'Amour, from Harmonies poétiques et religieuses

+ Janet Jordan Halling, Massachusetts

Janet Jordan Halling’s love of music has been a constant in her life. Her first job was organist for a church in La Crescenta, California when she was thirteen years old. She studied organ at University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music and performed two recitals before transferring to the liberal arts college. Since then, Janet traveled extensively, formed her company, Keynote Communications, and raised a family with her husband, Steve. A few years ago, Janet bought a Steinway grand and began studying piano with Roxana Bajdechi in Boston. She believes her rediscovered passion for playing is unrivaled by just about anyone.

Preliminary Round J.S. Bach (arr. Halling) - Toccata and Fugue in D Minor Brahms - Intermezzo in A Major, Op. 118, No. 2

Final Round Mozart - Sonata in A Major, K. 331, 1st m. Albeniz - Asturias (Leyenda), from Suite Española, Op. 47

+ Christine Hsu, Maryland

Christine Hsu was born and raised in Taiwan, but was a late starter in her music journey. After starting piano lessons at age 10, she continued them until dental school. To her surprise, Christine found many commonalities between music and dentistry. A few years later, she resumed piano studies while doing her dental residency at the University of Alabama Birmingham as the pupil of Tatiana Kasman, renewing her passion for the piano. Residing in Maryland with her husband and three furry babies, Christine is an assistant professor at University of Maryland Baltimore and takes lessons with Dr. Bok Hwa Kim in her casual time.

Preliminary Round J.S. Bach - Prelude & Fugue in G Minor, WTC Bk I Rachmaninoff - Prelude in E-flat Major, Op. 23, No. 6 Sibelius - Romance Op. 24, No. 9

Final Round Haydn – Sonata in F Major, Hob.XVI:23

1. Allegro
2. Adagio
3. Finale. Presto

+ David Leehey, Illinois

David Leehey is President of the Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest in Illinois. He performed the Brahms D minor Concerto in October 2001, Beethoven Choral Fantasy in April 2011, and Dvorak’s Piano Concerto in May 2015 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 was 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. When not engaged in musical pursuits, he works as an academic physician in the Chicago area.

Preliminary Round Schubert - Impromptu in E-flat Major, Op. 90, No. 2, D. 899 Scriabin - Etude in B-flat Minor, Op. 8, No. 11 Chopin - Valse brillante in A-flat Major, Op. 34, No. 1

Final Round Beethoven - Sonata in C minor, Op. 10, No. 1 1.Allegro molto e con brio 2.Adagio molto 3.Finale: Prestissimo

+ Serge Mallet, Germany

Serge Mallet is currently purchasing manager at BASF in Ludwigshafen, Germany. He started piano at the age of 6, then studied at the conservatory of the thirteenth arrondissement of Paris, France, then at the conservatory of Reims, France, parallel to management studies at Reims High business school , where he earned an MBA in 1989. Serge’s other activities include theater, swimming, and jogging. According to his father, Camille Saint-Saens was related to his Norman great grandfather’s family.

Preliminary Round Saint-Saens - Danse Macabre, Op. 40, arr. H. Cramer J.S. Bach - Prelude & Fugue in G-sharp Minor, WTC Bk I

Final Round Schubert – Impromptu in E-flat Major, Opus 90, No. 2 Prokofiev - Peter and the Wolf, Suite for piano arr. Nikolayeva

+ Philip Mandel, Oregon

Philip Mandel started taking piano lessons at the age of five and continued through high school, studying with the late concert pianist, Adam Kapuscinski, near their home in Great Neck, New York. Terribly shy for the most of his life, Philip says he is finally out of his shell and no longer fears performing. In fact, he loves it! After playing a public recital in 2014 at Portland, Oregon to a packed house that gave him not one, but two standing ovations, he decided to hire a recording engineering and produced his “Pathetique” CD. He competed last year in the San Diego amateur competition. He works as a real estate agent in Oregon.

Preliminary Round Schubert - Impromptu in G-flat major, Op. 90, No. 3, D. 899 Joaquin Malats - Serenata Española Ernesto Nazareth - Odéon (Tango Brasileiro) Ravel - Prelude in A-minor

Final Round Ravel - Sonatine

+ Ronald Setiawan, Illinois

Ronald Setiawan, originally from Indonesia, started learning how to play piano ten years ago after watching an amateur piano competition in Youtube. He enjoys setting goals for himself and feels amateur competitions offer him an opportunity to become more disciplined in his practice, and he finds it inspirational. Ronald had difficulty at first in finding a piano teacher who was willing to teach an adult beginner. He also enjoys playing saxophone and taking pictures as well as traveling. Ronald is currently employed as a tax accountant in the Chicago area.

Preliminary Round Scarlatti - Sonata in B Minor, K. 87 Mozart - Sonata in C Major, K. 330, 1st m. Chopin - Waltz in C-sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2

Final Round Scarlatti - Sonata in A Major, K. 322 Mozart - Sonata in C Major, K. 330, 2nd m. Beethoven - Sonata in C Minor, Op. 13, “Pathetique”

1. Rondo: Allegro

+ David Swenson, Pennsylvania

David Swenson took private lessons for many years with Earle C. Voorhies, head of piano at California Institute of the Arts. He attended medical school at the University of VA Charlottesville and worked full time in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics in the Pittsburgh area until retiring in 2013, where he still works part-time. David restarted private lessons in piano and theory with Tom Hill in Pittsburgh in 2015, and competed last year in the Cliburn and Chicago amateur competitions.

Preliminary Round J.S. Bach/Petri - Three Minuets, BWV 841-843 Liszt - Étude de Concert No. 2, “La Leggierezza” Rachmaninoff – Prelude in B-flat Major, Op. 23, No. 2

Final Round J.S. Bach - Partita No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 826 Chopin – Etude in C Major, Op. 10, No. 1

+ Wei Ling Wang, Texas

Wei Ling Wang graduated from Rice University with a degree in computer science, and has since been building computer networks for telecommunication companies to transport voice and data for consumers and corporations. In recent years, Wei Ling participated in amateur piano competitions in Boston, Chicago, and Washington D.C. She is also an active supporter of music schools and non-profit music organizations. In 2014, Wei Ling was a gold medalist in the Chicago amateur competition and a finalist in the WIPC competition.

Preliminary Round Scarlatti - Sonata in D Minor, K. 213 Chopin - Mazurka in C Major, Op. 56, No. 2 Chopin - Mazurka in A Minor, Op. 17, No. 4 Rachmaninoff - Morceau de fantaisie, Op. 3, No. 4 “Polichinelle”

Final Round Chopin - Nocturne in B-flat Minor, Op. 9, No. 1 Chopin - Polonaise in G-flat Major, Op. Posth. Tan Dun - Eight Memories in Watercolor, Op. 1, No. 8 “Sunrain“

+ Graeme Wilkinson, Quebec

Graeme Wilkinson was born in Vancouver, Canada, and first studied music seriously while completing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and French Literature at the University of British Columbia. In 1979, he was employed by Air Canada, and remained with the company for the next thirty years. Graeme furthered his musical education at the Vancouver Academy of Music, and obtained an Associateship Diploma in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto. In 1999, Graeme took his musical avocation a step further, and competed in the first Cliburn amateur competition, and has since been a regular at competitions and workshops in Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, Czech Republic, Colorado Springs, Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago, and Fort Worth. During the past fourteen years, Graeme has been increasingly active in choral work in Montreal, and in 2015 he was a founding member of the amateur opera company, Light Opera of Montreal.

Preliminary Round Handel - Chaconne & Variations, HWV 435 Schumann - Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6 (excerpts)

Final Round Haydn - Sonata in E-flat Major, Hob.XVI:52, 1st m. Ravel - Menuet Antique