2023 Winners Showcase

Over 100 talented young musicians entered the 2023 Pacific Musical Society & Foundation Annual Competition, submitting video performances for review by our esteemed judging panel: Dmitri Berlinsky, Nicholas Kitchen, Petras Geniušas, Orion Weiss, Sheri Greenawald, and Mason Bates. 24 students were selected as scholarship winners with 4 honorable mentions across 8 categories.

We are pleased to present the 2023 winners in this Virtual Showcase — please enjoy and share these stunning performances by our talented winners!

Read each winner’s biography by clicking on their name. You can also review the full list of 2023 Winners, including the composition winners.

Jump to category: Instrumental-1 | Instrumental-2 | Instrumental-3 | Piano-1 | Piano-2 | Piano-3 | Vocal | Composition

2023 Instrumental Winners

Instrumental-1 (ages 8-10)

1st Place: Katherine Jang, violin

J. S. Bach, Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, BWV 1001: Adagio

W.A. Mozart, Sonata No. 18 in G Major, K. 301: Allegro con spirito

N. Paganini, Concerto No. 2 in B minor, Opus 7: La Campanella (Arr. Kreisler)

A. Igudesman, Applemania

2nd Place: Madelyn Zhu, violin

J. S. Bach, Violin Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006: I. Preludio

W.A. Mozart, Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major, K. 211: 1. Allegro moderato

P. Sarasate, Introduction and Tarantella, Op. 43

D. Shostakovich, Michurin Suite, Op. 78: III. Spring Waltz

3rd Place: Jessie Shang, violin

J. S. Bach, Violin Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006: III. Gavotte en rondeau

W.A. Mozart, Violin Sonata in A Major, K. 305/293d: I. Allegro di molto

F. Mendelssohn, Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64: I. Allegro molto appassionato

B. Bartok, Ein Abend am Lande (Este a székelyeknél)

Instrumental-2 (ages 11-13)

1st Place: Aaron Ma, violin

J. S. Bach Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, BWV 1001: Adagio

W. A. Mozart, Violin Sonata in G Major No. 18, K 301: Allegro con spirito

E. Lalo, Symphonie Espagnole, Op. 21: 1. Allegro non troppo

D. Shostakovich, Four Preludes, Op. 34 No. 10: 1. Moderato non troppo

2nd Place: Cara Wang, cello

J. S. Bach, Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009: Prelude

L. van Beethoven, Seven Variations on "Bei Männern, Welche Liebe Fühlen,” WoO 46

E. Lalo, Cello Concerto in D Minor: I. Prelude: Lento - Allegro Maestoso

B. Sheng, Seven Tunes Heard in China: I. “Seasons” & III. “Little Cabbage”

3rd Place: Sydney Li-Jenkins, violin

J. S. Bach, Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, BWV 1001: IV. Presto

W.A. Mozart, Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219: I. Allegro aperto

E. Lalo, Symphonie Espagnole, Op. 21: 1. Allegro non troppo

B. Bartok, Romanian Folk Dances, Sz 56: I. “Dance with Sticks,” II. “Waistband Dance,” III. “Stamping Dance,” IV. “Hornpipe Dance,” V. “Romanian Polka”

Instrumental-3 (ages 14-17)

1st Place: Dustin Breshears, violin

J. S. Bach, Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 1003: II. Fuga

L. van Beethoven, Violin Sonata in A Major, Op. 30 No. 1: I. Allegro

J. Brahms, Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77: I. Allegro non troppo

Mason Bates, “Ford's Farm”

2nd Place: Daniel Yim, cello

J. S. Bach, Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012: I. Prelude

L. van Beethoven, Cello Sonata No. 4 in C Major, Op. 102, I. Andante-Allegro vivace

R. Schumann, Cello Concerto in A Minor, Op. 129: I. Nicht zu schnell

A. Ginastera, Pampeana No. 2, Op. 21,

3rd Place: Huisun Hong, cello

J. S. Bach, Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major BWV 1012: I. Prelude

L. van Beethoven, Cello Sonata No. 4 in C Major, Op. 102, I. Andante-Allegro vivace

A. Dvořák, Cello Concerto in B Minor Op. 104 B. 191: I. Allegro

G. Sollima, “Alone for Cello Solo”

2023 Piano Winners

Piano-1 (ages 8-10)

1st Place: Andrew Yin

J. S. Bach, Italian Concerto, BWV 971, I. Allegro

L. van Beethoven, Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2: I. Largo-Allegro

F. Chopin, Fantaisie-Impromptu in C♯ Minor, Op. 66

E. Toch, “Der Jongleur,” Op. 31 No. 3

2nd Place: Melissa Zhao

J. S. Bach, Fantasia in A Minor, BWV 904

W. A. Mozart Sonata in C Minor, K.457: 1st Mvmt.

E. Grieg, Nocturne, Op. 54 No. 4

Chan Pui Fan, “Thinking of Spring”

3rd Place: Avery Armstrong

J. S. Bach, Italian Concerto In F Major, BWV 971: I. Allegro

J. Haydn, Sonata in C Major, Hob XVI: 50

F. Liszt, Etudes de Concert, S. 145 No. 2: “Gnomenreigen”

R. Muczynski , Six Preludes, Op. 6

Hon. Mention: Hiroshi Corro

J.S. Bach, Partita No. 2: Rondeau and Capriccio

L. van Beethoven, Sonata No. 25 in G Major, Op. 79: 1st Mvmnt.

M. Mozkovsky, Etude, Op. 90 No, 7

A. Copland, “Cat and Mouse”

The Shirley M. Beckett Piano Division (Piano-2, ages 11-13)

1st Place: Katelyn Deng

J. S. Bach, Partita No. 2, BWV 826: Sinfonia and Fugue

L. van Beethoven, Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 2: I. Allegro Vivace

R. Schumann, Abegg Variations, Op. 1

S. Prokofiev, Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 14: IV. Vivace

2nd Place: Meining Wu

J. S. Bach, Toccata in D Major, BWV 912

L. van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28: I. Allegro

F. Chopin, Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52

B. Bartók, Suite for Piano, Op. 14

3rd Place: Bridget Hoang

J. S. Bach, Partita No. 2 in C Minor: 1. Sinfonia

W. A. Mozart, Sonata in A Minor, K. 310: 1st Mvmt.

R. Schumann, Abegg Variations, Op. 1

A. Ginastera, "Danzas Argentinas," Op. 2

Hon. Mention: Peter Parra

J. S. Bach, Prelude and Fugue No. 2 in C Minor, BMW 847

L. van Beethoven, Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10 No. 2: I. Allegro, II. Allegretto, III. Presto

F. Chopin, Scherzo No. 1 in B Minor, Op. 20

J. Takacs, Toccata, Op. 54 No. 1

Piano-3 (ages 14-17)

1st Place: Andrew Gu

J. S. Bach, Prelude and Fugue in F Minor, BWV 881

L. van Beethoven, Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10 No. 3: 1. Presto

M. Ravel, Gaspard de la Nuit, M. 55: III. “Scarbo”

C. Vine, “Five Bagatelles”

2nd Place: Riko Ando

J.S. Bach, Prelude and Fugue No. 8

W. A. Mozart Piano Sonata No. 18, K. 576: 1st Mvmt

F. Liszt, Transcendental Étude No. 12

M. Ravel, Miroirs: IV. “Alborada del gracioso”

3rd Place: Nathaniel Zhang

J.S. Bach, Prelude and Fugue in A Minor No. 20, BWV 865

W. A. Mozart, Piano Sonata in D Major, K. 311

F. Chopin, Etudes, Op. 10

S. Hough, “Fanfare Toccata”

Hon. Mention: Ryan Wang

J. S. Bach, Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp Major, BWV 848

L. van Beethoven, Sonata No. 26 in E-flat Major, Op. 81a: I. Adagio-Allegro

F. Chopin, Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52

C. Vine, Sonata No. 1: 1st. Mvmt.

Hon. Mention: Oliver Corro

J. S. Bach, English Suite No. 2: 1: Prelude

L. van Beethoven, Sonata, Op. 27 No. 2: III: Presto agitato

F. Liszt, “La Campanella”

N. Kapustin, Concert Etude, Op. 49 No. 1

2023 Vocal Winners (ages 16-18)

1st Place: Katrina Franco

G. Rossini, “Anzoleta Dopo la Regata”

P. Viardot, “Fleur desséchée”

R. I. Gordon, “To Be Somebody”

N. Abelardo, “Mutya ng Pasig”

2nd Place: Raghav Ramgopal

G. Carissimi, “Vittorioa, mio core!”

G. Fauré, “Mandoline”

F. P. Tosti, “Ideale Melodia”

R. V. Williams, “The Roadside Fire”

3rd Place: Isabel Yang

W. A. Mozart, “Torna di Tito a Lato” from La Clemenza di Tito

P. Viardot, “Nixe Binsefuss”

C. Chaminade, “Mignonne”

J. Duke, “Be Still As You Are Beautiful”

2023 Composition Winners (ages 8-25)

1st place: Nikka Gershman

"Valse Infernale" (for orchestra)

2nd place: Kiran Thole

Piano Sonata No. 2

3rd place: Mehana Ellis

Seven Préludes, Op. 3 (for piano)