Dear Finalists, Teachers, and Parents,

As the 2025 Grand Maestro International Music Competition concludes, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all participants, whether you emerged as prize winners or faced challenges along the way. Your dedication, passion, and hard work have brought immense pride and inspiration to all of us.
To our winners, your achievements reflect the hours of practice, resilience, and unwavering commitment you have shown. We celebrate your well-deserved success and the artistry you shared with the world.
To those who did not reach the podium this time, know that your courage and perseverance are equally commendable. Every performance is a step forward in your musical journey, enriching your growth and building resilience.
Music holds the power to touch hearts and elevate our spirits. Through this competition, we hope you continue to cultivate your love for music, striving to exceed your own expectations and inspire others.

Sincere regards,
The Grand Maestro Competition Committee
​
Greetings from our Final Round Jury Members
Prof. Stephen Wai Wing Wong
Prof. Andrea Cardinale (Italy)
Dr. Julie-Anne Derome (Canada)
2025 Grand Maestro International Music Competition (FINAL ROUND RESULTS)
* Outstanding finalists chosen by grand jury for special masterclasses will receive a personal email with all the details.

The following top winners have been selected for Apple Music / Spotify / Youtube Music Platform Publication
Alicia Li - Violin (USA)
Claire Wang - Violin (USA)
Jiwei Zou - Composition (USA)
Julia Gentry - Piano (USA)
Riko Katayama - Piano (Japan)

Winners Selected for Online Featured Interview
Alicia Li - Violin (USA)
Claire Wang - Violin (USA)
Esme Tran - Piano (USA)
Heidi Robichaud - Saxophone (Canada)
Jiwei Zou - Composition (USA)
Julia Gentry - Piano (USA)
Luca Vincenzo Lorusso - Percussion (Italy)
Pejman Bolourchi - Santour (Dulcimer) (Canada)
Riko Katayama - Piano (Japan)
Rita Wu - Guzheng (USA)
Yawen Duan - Piano (Thailand)

Winners to be Featured on Grand Maestro Music Magazine
Adrian Li - Violin (USA)
Alicia Li - Violin (USA)
Arshavir Gasparyan - Clarinet (Republic of Armenia)
Claire Wang - Violin (USA)
Eunji Cho - Piano (South Korea)
Esme Tran - Piano (USA)
Heidi Robichaud - Saxophone (Canada)
Jiwei Zou - Composition (USA)
Julia Gentry - Piano (USA)
Julia Kulińska - Piano (Poland)
Luke Wang - Piano (USA)
Luca Vincenzo Lorusso - Percussion (Italy)
Pejman Bolourchi - Santour (Dulcimer) (Canada)
Riko Katayama - Piano (Japan)
Rita Wu - Guzheng (USA)
Roger Wang - Violin (USA)
Yawen Duan - Piano (Thailand)

* We will touch base with each of these winners above by email.
The Second Edition of the 2025 Grand Maestro International Music Magazine will be available soon! 
** VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE – To be eligible for prizes, medals, and certificates, completing the Medal & Certificate Application Form is mandatory. The deadline for submission is 10 December 2025. Failure to submit the form by the deadline will result in the forfeiture of prizes, awards, and certificates.
2025 Grand Maestro International Music Competition
Online Prize Winners' Concert 
Riko Katayama - Professional Division - Piano - Japan -  Platinum Medalist - 97.4%
Claire Wang - Collegiate Division - Violin - United States - Platinum Medalist - 96.5%
Jiwei Zou - Professional Division - Composition - USA -  Platinum Medalist - 96.5%
Alicia Li - Collegiate Division - Violin - USA - Platinum Medalist - 95.7%
Julia Gentry - Youth Division - Piano - USA - Platinum Medalist - 95.5%
Luca Vincenzo Lorusso - Professional Division - Percussion - Italy - Platinum Medalist - 95.2%
Rita Wu - Youth Division - Guzheng - United States - Platinum Medalist - 95%
Heidi Robichaud - Collegiate Division - Saxophone - Canada - Platinum Medalist - 94.8%
Pejman Bolourchi - Professional Division - Santour (Dulcimer) - Canada - Platinum Medalist - 94.6%
Yawen Duan - Youth Division - Piano - Thailand - Platinum Medalist - 94.55%
Esme Tran - Junior Division - Piano - USA - Platinum Medalist - 94.5%
Roger Wang - Youth Division - Violin - United States -  Top Gold Medalist  Medalist - 94.3%
Julia Kulińska - Youth Division - Piano - Poland - Top Gold  Medalist - 94%
Adrian Li - Youth Division - Violin - USA - Top Gold Medalist - 93.5%
Eunji Cho - Professional Division - Piano - South Korea - Top Gold Medalist - 93.5%
Grand Maestro International Music Competition congratulates our 2025 Winners! 
2025 Winners' Biographies
​(More coming soon...)

We welcome all final round winners (all medalists - from Absolute Platinum to Bronze medalists & Honorable Mention finalists) to submit their photo and biography (under 200 words in prose form). Please kindly do not provide us with a list of all your achievements as a CV. 

We would be delighted to post it on our website to celebrate your achievement and success! 

Please email your high resolution photo and bio to this email address: [email protected]
​
Picture

​Yawen Duan - Youth Division - Piano - Thailand - Platinum Medalist
​
Yawen Duan began piano lessons at the age of four, showing early musical sensitivity and a focused approach to learning the instrument. She is currently studying with Dr. Christopher Janwong McKiggan and is a 10th grade student. 
Since an early age, Ginny has received recognition in a number of piano competitions. Most recently, she was awarded First Prize at the Vienna BTHVN Wien International Competition in October 2024 and Second Prize in the Clara Schumann International Competition (Junior A category) in January 2025. She also received First Place at the Rocky Mountain Keyboard Competition Canada in 2022.
In addition to her accomplishments as a pianist, Ginny plays the flute in her school symphony orchestra and is a dedicated member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Beyond her musical pursuits, she also enjoys playing softball.

Picture

Jiwei Zou - Professional Division - Composition - USA -  Platinum Medalist

​Jiwei Zou was drawn to music composition since high school, when he formed his metal band Aranox in Beijing 2014. By that time, even without being able to read music, he completed a 60-minute metal song “Wanderer”, and performance live all across the city.

In college, Zou studied Music with a composition track at University of Rochester. He has since in fond with neo-romanticism music, with a huge influence from the Finnish maestro Einojuhani Rautavaara. In 2022, his first symphonic poem “Geng-Tsu” won that year’s Mostly Modern Festival orchestra
composition contest, and earned one of the only two spots for a premiere. His “Nebulae” for Violin, Clarinet, and Piano, played by American Modern Ensemble, was also premiered in the same festival. 

After a year working as a software engineer in China after college, Zou continued his musical journey in Columbia College Chicago studying composition for the screen. His works ranges from orchestra, chamber music, film music, game music, and the origin of his music journey – metal music. They all reflects a neo-romanticism style of sound, focusing on rich and soul-touching harmonic languages and profound emotional depth.

Zou’s work has won many international awards. Among them, the most prominent ones are two Special Prizes in the Iseshima Popular Music Composition Competition, a Platinum Award in Fenix International Music Competition, a Second Prize in WCMA International Composition Competition, and two Platinum Prizes in the Debussy International Music Competition.
Picture
​
Arshavir Gasparyan  - Youth Division - Clarinet - Armenia - Gold Medalist

Arshavir Gasparyan is a young Armenian clarinetist distinguished by his expressive musicianship, technical precision, and artistic maturity. Since 2019, he has been studying clarinet at the Yerevan Music School after Stepan Jrbashyan under the guidance of Armen Sahakyan.

In recent years, Arshavir has achieved remarkable success in numerous national and international competitions. Among his most notable achievements in 2025 are the Platinum Prize and Excellent Technique Special Award at The World Master Open Music Competition (Season IV); 1st Prizes at the V St. Petersburg Music Competition named after Anatoly Liadov (Russia), the “Nouvelles Étoiles” International Music Competition (France, with a Special Prize and invitation to perform with orchestra in Paris), the XII Stockholm International Music Competition (Sweden), the “Little Step” VI International Music Competition-Festival (Armenia), and the “Art Music” Arts International XVI
Contest-Festival (Armenia).

Arshavir is a 2025 Scholar of both the Music for Future Foundation’s Educational and Development Program (Armenia) and the “New Names” Benevolent Foundation named after Ivetta Voronova (Russia). In 2025, he participated in the XXXIII International
Creative Summer School “New Names” held in Suzdal, Russia. Since 2021, Arshavir has been a member of the Brass Band and Classical Chamber Orchestra of the Yerevan Music School after Stepan Jrbashyan, and in 2025 he performed with the Brass Band of the “New Names” International Creative Summer School.

Beyond music, Arshavir enjoys football, swimming, mathematics, and natural sciences. In 2024, he won 1st Prize in the Koreez – IDram Junior “Junius” Competition of financial education.  Arshavir continues to develop his artistic skills with dedication and enthusiasm, aspiring to share his passion for music with audiences around the world.
Picture

Julia Kulińska - Youth Division - Piano - Poland - Gold Medalist
​
Julia Kulińska was born in 2010. She is currently a student at the Fryderyk Chopin Primary and Secondary Music School in Opole, in the piano class of Ms. Joanna Wocławek-Hornik and in the piano improvisation class of Ms. Małgorzata Powrózo. She is a student at the Tiziano Rossetti International Music Academy in Switzerland on a "Career Project" scholarship, in the class of Prof. Daniel Kuzuhara (Madison, Wisconsin, USA). She has participated in master classes with Prof. Edward Wolanin (participant of the Chopin Competition in Warsaw) and Prof. Róża Yoder (LA, USA).
Julia actively participates in international piano and composition competitions (USA, Canada, Great Britain, France, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Poland, Cyprus, Malaysia, Bahrain, and South Africa), where she has won nearly 20 special awards and the Grand Prix, and 25 first prizes.

In August 2025, Julia performed at the Concert of Winners of the International Youth Music Competitions in New York at the Dimena Center of Classical Music and at the International NY Classical Debut Awards Competition 2025, receiving an invitation to perform a solo recital at the Gala Concert at Carnegie Hall, New York City, USA, in November of this year.

Julia is also a scholarship recipient from the Center for Artistic Education in Warsaw, receiving scholarships for 2024-25 and 2025-26, and is the recipient of the special Top Student of the Opole Region 2025 award granted by the Marshal of the Opole Voivodeship.
Picture

​Pingway Bian - Open Category - Voice - Taiwan - Silver Medalist 

Pingway Bian is a rising tenor acclaimed for his expressive artistry and commanding stage presence. He began his operatic training with Lise Ukl, whose guidance introduced him to the world of opera and fostered his musical sensitivity. He later refined his technique under Gustavo Porta, an extraordinary tenor who deepened his foundation in bel canto and inspired a more expansive, dramatic approach to singing. Porta’s mentorship shaped Bian’s powerful yet nuanced vocal and dramatic style. Under the guidance of Giuseppe Vaccaro, a fantastic conductor and pianist, Pingway further developed his appreciation and understanding of classical music, Puccini’s works, and the rich traditions of Italian opera.

Bian’s repertoire spans Italian, French, and German opera, demonstrating his versatility and emotional depth across both lyric and spinto roles. A resonant tone, clear diction, and compelling dramatic presence mark his performances and concert appearances. With a growing repertoire and an enduring passion for artistic exploration, Pingway Bian continues to distinguish himself as a dynamic and expressive voice on the operatic stage.
2024 Grand Maestro International Music Competition
​Winners' Biographies
Picture

Charley, Haoyang Li - Platinum Medalist - Piano - China

Born in 2012, Charley started to study piano from 4 years old and has been studying piano with Dr. Oliver Salonga for five years and with Dr. Yonnie Han for one year.

​Charley has received many awards at prestigious international and national piano competitions, including the 3rd Prize for Kindergarten Category at Shanghai Putuo District Piano Competition (2018), the 1st Prize for Grade 2 Group at the 83th Steinway International Youth Piano Competition China Shanghai & The 9th Steinway China Youth Piano Competition (2019), the 1st Prize for Children Group A, the 3rd Liszt International Youth Piano Competition-China Preliminary (2020), The Silver Award for Children Group A, the 3rd Liszt International Youth Piano Competition-China Final (2021), Outstanding Performance for Children Group A, the 3rd Liszt International Youth Piano Competition-Finals (2021), the 2nd Prize for Children Group C, the 29th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Youth in China- Shanghai Pre-selection (2020), Special Jury Prize, Children Group C of finals, Pre-selection of the 29th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Youth in China (2021), the First Prize, Piano Solo Group B, Shanghai Provincial Competition, China Youth Music Competition Hummingbird Music Awards (2023), the Third Prize, Piano Solo Group B, National Competition, China Youth Music Competition Hummingbird Music Awards (2023), Gold Medalist-Piano-Junior Category, 2024 Nobel Artist International Music Competition, the First Prize, Children Group E, The 11  th International Youth Pianist Competition  Shanghai (2024), Outstanding Performance Award in Healing Harmonies: A Worldwide Concert to Fight Cancer 2024, supporting the Canadian Cancer Society.  
Picture

Yajing Yuan - Gold Medalist - Flute - Professional Category - China

Yuan Yajing embarked from Wuhan Conservatory of Music, where she delved deeply into
musicology during her undergraduate studies and later shifted her focus to flute performance for her graduate studies. This dual refinement in both theory and practice has gifted her a unique musical perspective. During her undergraduate years, while primarily engaged in theory, she also dabbled in flute performance and garnered professional awards, laying a solid foundation for her future artistic explorations. In her graduate phase, the flute became a medium for her emotional expression, with each performance a profound interpretation of the work style. The integration of theory and practice has bolstered her confidence on her musical journey, whether it be the
serene exploration of theory or the passionate stage performances; they are all testimonies to her boundless love for music. With a humble heart, she will continue to navigate through the ocean of music, telling her own stories.

The Impact of This Competition on My Flute Playing Growth and Career Aspirations
Standing on the podium of the 2024 International Music Masters Competition for Flute Playing, my heart is filled with excitement and gratitude. This competition is not only a recognition of my flute skills but also a significant turning point in my musical journey. It has made me deeply realize that every time I play the flute, every note I carefully carve out, is a solid step towards the halls of music. This honor will inspire me to focus more on flute playing, constantly pursuing
excellence and perfection in my craft. Thank you to the competition for providing a platform where I can dance with my flute and play a brilliant chapter on my professional musical path. 
Picture

Claire Wang - Gold Medalist - Violin - Youth Category - USA

My name is Claire Wang, and I was born in 2008. My birth date was the most monumental moment in my life. While I cannot recall that event in detail, I do recall my first day of Kindergarten. Horrifying. We were taken to my school’s courtyard, where snapping turtles enclosed my 5-year-old self from all directions. That day, I swore turtles as my mortal enemy. Perhaps they still are.  

While the same cannot be said for turtles, I had a fascination for birds. More specifically, I had this idea that somehow my violin was a secret fairy-wand that could summon flocks of birds to my side. Birds that would otherwise fear man. So, when COVID hit me in the 6th grade, I spent most of my time playing violin in the backyard. In hopes that, perhaps through my playing, I’d discover some new species of bird. While I could lie, the truth is, no birds came to me. Rather, they flew away. Even my dog was scared of my violin playing.  

That is the origin story of who I am today. A girl, 16 and sad that no animals stood by her side during any point in her life. All animals, for some odd reason, hate me. I reach my hand out to pet my friend’s dog, and he runs away. I try to carry my house counselor's cat, and she wiggles out of my arms. Even fish fear me. When I step towards the fish tank at the dentist’s office, all the clownfish swim the other direction. That’s basically all you need to know about me.  

My musical journey began at the age of four, when my pre-school teacher made our class put on a “drum performance” for our parents (by drums, I actually mean random bins and containers that made sounds akin to a drum). I assume my “drum performance” was something close to virtuosic, because immediately after, my parents enrolled me in the nearest violin group-lesson they could find. “You were born to perform”, they’d explain.  

​Albeit my memories of those days faded with age, I’d like to believe my parents' story as to why I started the violin. That I had a performing flame within. Performing became my impetus. Every time I’d walk onto the stage, a new “Claire” would take over. A version that deviated from Claire my friends saw, and instead displayed a commanding gravitas. When performing, all else exits my being, leaving only me, and my music. A music which pervades each vein of my body, each fiber in each muscle, compelling me to sway left or right or back or forward. A music which plasters on my face a poignant expression and furrowed eyebrows when appropriate, or perhaps a light smile during the bouncier phrases. Performing allowed me to, for a moment, escape all else in my life.  

Maurive Ravel’s Tzigane is my favorite piece to perform. Tzigane paints a picture unique to itself: when playing it, I envision swirls of orange, pink, and light blue. A butterfly flies through those swirls. It’s definitely an experience you can only understand once you play it, which is why Tzigane resonates with me so much.   
Picture


Christina Giannelou - Piano - Gold Medalist - Professional Category - Greece

Christina Kl. Giannelou, Phd – Pianist – Piano Professor in Music Scholl of Karditsa (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)

Christina Kl. Giannelou was born in Karditsa (Thessaly – Central Greece) in 1981. In the age
of six she takes her first piano lessons with the pianist Aikaterini Kouvelou (student of Krino Kalomoiri) and afterwards she completed her piano technical education with the famous pianist Effie Agrafioti. Under the supervision of Effie Agrafioti she completed her Piano Degree and Piano Diploma with honors. Since then, she takes Repertoire Masterclasses with the famous maestro and pianist Dimitri Toufexis. Dimitri Toufexis, also prepared Giannelou for her entry exams in the Boston Conservatory on 2007.

In 1999, Giannelou gets the first place in the entrance exams of Department of Music
Studies of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and at the same time she
completes with honors Harmony, Counterpoint and Fugue in the National Conservatory of Athens.

Also, she participates in numerous of seminars that concern the improvement of piano technique, piano pedagogy, the promotion of works of Greek Composers under the supervision of pianist George Hadjinikos, the pianist Effie Agrafioti and the Master Degree
Greek Music Seminars of Katy Romanou and Nikos Maliaras.

In the period of 2000-2004 she participates as an active pianist in the “Laboratory for the promotion of Works of Greek Composers” and she gives performances in the Athenian Municipal Theater, The Parnassos Music Hall, the Cultural Center Benetatou in Psyhiko (Athens), the Athens Megaron Hall, the Ancient Conservatory “Odeon of Herodus Atticus”.

In 2004 she graduates from Department of Music Studies in Athens with honors. She posseses a Post Doc and a Phd in Historical Musicology (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens). She completed with honors and National Scholarship (IKY) her
dissertation on Rena Kyriakou under the supervision of Katy Romanou, Ioannis Foulias and Nikolaos Maliaras.

Her Phd thesis is: “Rena Kyriakou. Her compositions: Historical Overview and Thematique Catalogue of Works”. On 2017 the Athens Megaron Hall, the Thessaloniki Megaron Hall and the Music Library Lilian Voudouri dedicated many annual concerts in the composer Rena Kyriakou (1917-2017).

She has given numerous of recitals of Greek works and she promotes the compositions of Rena Kyriakou worldwide. She has obtained four International Music Competitions as a Platinum and Gold Medalist (Concert Perfomance Division in Solo Piano Category) in the
International Federation of Music Competition (Nobel – Artist Competition International Music competition, Grand Maestro International Music Examination, Béla Bartok International Music Competition, Global International Music Competition).

As an official member of Research Group Relmus she has promoted the artistry of Rena Kyriakou in numerous congresses and symposiums worldwide such as the IMS Congress in Athens (2022 – she gave the final concert where she performed only works of Rena
Kyriakou), the Ramsb 2023 Congress in Thessaloniki, the Interdepartmental Musicological Conferences of Greek Musicological Society which is a permanent member from September of 2015.

She participates as an official member in the editor team of IAML Conference Proceedings. Her main research interests are Greek Music and the expansion of human consciousness through music.
Picture

Joseph Zhang - Gold Medalist - Piano - Junior Category - Canada

Joseph Zhang is from Toronto, Canada. He is 8 years old and started learning the piano at age of five. Joseph has won more than 20 top prizes in various international and Canadian music competitions during the past 2 years, including the 1st place of the Crescendo International Music Competition, the 1st place of the CCC Toronto international Music Competition, the platinum prize of UK Best Classical Musicians Awards, the gold medal of Steinway Piano Competition Canada, the gold medal of Canadian International Music Competition, and the 2nd place of OMFA provincial finals. Joseph also loves playing ukulele, singing, dancing, and making arts. He performs at local charity concerts and hopes he can help and inspire people in the communities by sharing his music.
Picture
​
Gibson Feng - Gold Medalist - Piano - Youth Category - Canada
​
Hi, I'm Gibson Feng, and I was born on December 23, 2012. I have a natural talent in music, as I play four instruments; the piano, guitar, drums and saxophone. However, my main talent is focused on piano. In the summer of 2024, I finished my level 10 piano exam, and now I'm in the middle of my ARCT performer's exam. I have recently received several international certificates from the competitions I've entered. Piano really is my life support. 

​At five years of age, my mom enrolled me in a huge variety of classes. The intention of this is so she can find out what my talent is, and try to get me to go pro. That plan worked magnificently. I hope to earn more achievements in the future, and I’ll work hard for it. Wouldn’t want to let this talent go to waste.

​Needless to say, my whole personality isn’t just piano, I also have other foundations such as sports and academics. I play a variety of sports, but I’m mainly set for European Football. I play center-defensive midfield. When I have time, I’ll stay after school to run some drills with my football(soccer)-based friend group. In academics, I do pretty well in math. By the time I was in second grade, I was already working on the grade 5 curriculum at home. 

​My life is pretty interesting if I were to say, but I’m totally ready for everything that’s coming next. Especially my piano competitions!
Picture

Rishi Raju - Silver Medalist - Violin - Collegiate Category - Qatar 

Hello. I’m Rishi Raju from India. Born in 2007, I am currently a 12th Grade student at Nord Anglia International School Al Khor. I play the violin, piano, and drum kit. I began learning piano and violin at the age of 6 with the assistance and guidance from local teachers and started playing the Drum kit in 2017. I have completed Grade 8 in the Trinity Rock and Pop Drums syllabus, Grade 5 in violin, and Grade 8 in keyboard. At age 8, I played in my first major concert, organized by my teacher, in Doha, Qatar. Music has always been a passion of mine that has shaped who I am today. I am eager to continue and refine my skills as a musician.  
Picture

​Cheng-Shiun, Li - Composition - Open Category - Taiwan 

The composer, Cheng-Shiun Li (aka Piggy), lives in Taoyuan, Taiwan, in Asia.
 I was deeply attracted by the performance of the school's Chinese Orchestra since the sixth grade of elementary school. I hoped to learn an instrument and become a
band player. a member.

In middle school, I joined the school's wind music club and learned
the flute; in high school, I joined the wind band and chorus, and
continued to play flute, piccolo and tenor. I was baptized in high
school and became a Christian. I was taught the basic piano playing
method by church brothers. When I was in college, I often played
the piano in the church.

When I was a soldier, I participated in the army military band,
served as a piccolo player, and participated in the performance of
the National Day Music Team that year.

Now I work as a security guard in the Taoyuan Junior High School. I usually write lyrics and music. Because I am interested in music, I also play the flute occasionally. I hope my music can have a good impact on the world 
International online music competition 2025, Grand Maestro International Music Competition, Trinity International Music Competition 2025, International Music Competition, Online music competition, Classical music competition, jazz music competition, pop music competition, contemporary music competition, traditional music competition, international music competition online, international music competition, piano competition, violin competition, viola competition, cello competition, guitar competition, flute competition, clarinet competition, oboe competition, Double bass Competition, singing competition, voice competition, soprano competition, alto competition, bass competition, saxophone competition, harp competition, trumpet competition, trombone competition, horn competition, recorder competition, saxophone competition, percussion competition, clarinet competition, oboe competition, bassoon competition, music composition competition, choir competition, ensemble competition, orchestra competition, duet competition, duo competition, trio competition, quartet competition, harpsichord competition, khim competition, organ competition, panflute competition, traditional music instrument competition, accordion competition, Chinese opera competition, Musical Theatre competition, singing competition, music ensemble competition, legitimate international music competition, prestigious international music competition, world recognized international music competition