Nominees 2024
Nominations
She has appeared as a Soloist with such as Kristiansand Symphony, Krakow Philharmonic, Brasov Philharmonic, Janacek Philharmonic, Basel Symphony, Detmold Theater Orchestra, Detmold Chamber Orchestra, ArgoviaPhilharmonic, and with Japanese professional orchestras such as the NHK Symphony, Tokyo Metropolitan, Tokyo Symphony, Kyoto Symphony, Kanagawa PhilharmonicOrchestras. Laureate of many competitions including the 9th Ettlingen International Piano Competition (Germany,3rd prize), the 82th Japan Music Competition (Japan, 1st prize), Jmanuel und Evamaria Schenk Stiftung Solist Competition 2019(Switzerland, Prizewinner). Fuko graduated Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo and after she studied with Prof. Claudio Martinez-Mehner at Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln and Basel Musik-Akademie. She studied chamber music with Prof. Anthony Spiri, Prof. Günter Pichler, and Prof. Anton Kernjak and studied Hammerklavier with Prof. Edoardo Torbianelli, and Liedbegleitung in the class of Prof. Christoph Pregardien. She currently performs concerts mainly in Germany, Switzerland, Norway and Japan such as “Great Pianists of the 21st Century” in Cyprus, “Bergen International Festival”, ”Griegin Bergen”, “Lofoten Chamber Music Festival” in Norway, “Meissen Piano Festival”, ”Blüthner Classics”, “Böblingen Piano Festival”, “Bagno Konzertgalerie” in Germany. Her passion is especially strong with Beethoven, Schumann and Brahms. Her first CD with pieces of Brahms and Haydn was released in 2021 from Detmold Music University. Since 2024 she teaches at Toho Gakuen College of Music in Japan.
Uladzislau Khandohi, born on October 7, 2001, in Minsk, Belarus, into a family of musicians renowned for their dulcimer mastery, demonstrated a prodigious talent for piano from an early age. Commencing piano lessons at seven, his exceptional skills quickly garnered recognition. At 10, he clinched his first grand prix at the Mendzelevskaya Open City Competition for young pianists in Mogilev. The following year, he triumphed at the Sviridov Competition for Young Performers in St. Petersburg.
Entering the Republican Music College of the Belarusian State Music Academy under the tutelage of Irina Semenyako in 2013, Vladislav continued to amass accolades. In 2014, he secured first place at the Astana Piano Passion International Festival and Competition in Kazakhstan and emerged victorious at the International Competition “Nutcracker” in Moscow, Russia.
Vladislav’s international acclaim burgeoned further in 2016 when he reached the finals of the esteemed Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition in Salt Lake City, USA. The same year marked the release of his debut solo album, presented by Melodiya.
Continuing his ascent, Vladislav earned laurels at the II International Grand Piano Competition in Moscow in 2018. A recipient of a scholarship from the International Charity Fund of Yuri Rosum, he embarked on concert tours across Belarus, Russia, Spain, Italy, France, Switzerland, and beyond.
Enrolling at the Moscow State Conservatory under the guidance of Professor Natalia Trull in 2020, Vladislav further honed his craft. The subsequent year proved to be a watershed moment as he clinched the first prize at esteemed competitions in Ferrol and Sanremo, Italy, as well as the “LA PALMA D’ORO” International Piano Competition.
In June 2022, Vladislav’s artistry earned him a coveted spot as a finalist in the prestigious Cliburn Piano Competition in Fort Worth. The following year, he secured the third prize in Ljubljana international piano competition and the second prize at the Sydney International Piano Competition.
From 2023, Vladislav studied at the Reina Sofia School of Music in Madrid under Professor Stanislav Ioudenitch. In March 2024, he became the second prize winner at the Maria Canals International Piano Competition in Barcelona. In 2024 the company “Decca Australia” released his CD with solo recordings from Sydney piano competition.
Then in July 2024 Khandohi became a first prize winner of Mimas piano competition, Italy
In September 2024 Vladislav also won the first prize of Dinu Lipatti piano competition in Craiova, Romania.
The American pianist Maxim Lando has been described as a “brilliant fire-eater” (ART San Francisco) and as “a completely musical being” (The New Criterion). Anthony Tommasini praised him in The New York Times for his “brilliance and infectious enthusiasm” combined with “impressive delicacy” and a “fiercely determined expression.”
Maxim gained international recognition through his performance with Lang Lang, Chick Corea, and The Philadelphia Orchestra under Yannick Nézet-Séguin at Carnegie Hall’s opening gala in 2017. Since then, he has performed with renowned orchestras worldwide, including The Cleveland Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Israel Philharmonic, the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, and the Moscow Philharmonic.
In 2024, Maxim won the International Cleveland Piano Competition, and he had previously received the Gilmore Young Artist Award as well as the Vendome Grand Prize in 2022. That same year, he won the New York Franz Liszt International Competition and performed at Carnegie Hall with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s under Gabor Hollerung. His debut at Alice Tully Hall took place with the Juilliard Orchestra under Xian Zhang after winning the Juilliard Concerto Competition in 2021. Maxim’s career took off when, at the age of 16, he won the Young Concert Artists competition, followed by sold-out recital debuts at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, highly praised by The New York Times.
Maxim has frequently collaborated with violinist Daniel Hope and musicians such as Lynn Harrell, Julian Rachlin, and the Danish String Quartet. His album Into Madness with violinist Tassilo Probst, recorded by Berlin Classics and Bayerischer Rundfunk, was awarded Best Chamber Music Recording at the 2023 International Classical Music Awards (ICMA) and received double nominations for the Opus Klassik.
Maxim is dedicated to bringing classical music closer to his generation and has been featured on CNN, NPR, BBC Radio, WQXR, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Israel’s Intermezzo with Arik, and Russia’s TV Kultura.
Maxim is a graduate of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation and, since 2019, a laureate of the Artemisia Foundation. He studies with his longtime mentor Hung-Kuan Chen at the Juilliard School.
Vitaly Starikov, a laureate of top piano competitions including the Queen Elisabeth and Sydney International, is a name synonymous with virtuosity and innovation in the realm of classical music, has captivated audiences and critics alike with his exceptional skill and creative interpretations. Born in 1995 in Yekaterinburg, Vitaly has established himself as an outstanding figure in the classical music world through a series of remarkable achievements.
Vitaly’s path to acclaim began with a significant recognition at the 26th Epinal Piano Competition in France in 2017, where he clinched both the Grand Prix and Audience Prize, marking his first serious competition success. L’Est Republicain remarked that “all of Vitaly’s performances were of exceptional quality” highlighting the emerging talent’s exceptional prowess early in his career.
This success paved the way for his laureateship at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2021, with Vitaly’s final round performances being honored by the attendance of the Belgian Royal Family and earning him praise as “a brilliant and inventive Russian” by La Libre. This accolade propelled Vitaly into the ranks of the global musical elite, a standing further solidified by his laureateship at the Sydney International Piano Competition in 2023.
Vitaly’s prowess extends beyond solo performances to the realm of chamber music, reflecting a spirit of collaboration that has been a significant aspect of his career. In Russia, he was part of a piano trio that garnered accolades, including 2nd Prizes at the 6th Taneyev International Competition of Chamber Ensembles in Kaluga in 2017 and at the 3rd All-Russian Competition of Chamber Ensembles in Moscow in 2019. His chamber music achievements also include special prizes at the Sydney International Piano Competition for “The Best Accompanist” and “The Best Cello Sonata,” highlighting his versatility and sensitivity as a musician.
His highlights also include collaborations with esteemed musicians such as Hugh Wolff, Frank Braley, and Li-Wei Qin, and performances with renowned orchestras
like the Belgian National Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie.
Vitaly Starikov’s contributions to contemporary music are not only noteworthy but have also been officially recognized, marking him as a prominent figure in bringing new sounds and ideas to the classical music repertoire. His interpretation of “Nocturne” by Pierre Jodlowski and “D’un jardin féérique” by Bruno Mantovani at the Queen Elisabeth Competition have drawn particular acclaim particular acclaim among music critics. La Libre highlighted his performance of “Nocturne,” noting, “In ‘Nocturne,’ the compulsory piece by Pierre Jodlowski, the candidate immediately establishes an intense atmosphere, made of resonances, prolonged silences, and contrasts brought to their climax. The cascades of chords in the bass take on the semblance of a tolling bell that gradually accelerates, and the entirety of the piece, played more slowly, gains in depth.”
At the Queen Elisabeth Competition, Vitaly also had the privilege of performing the world premiere of B. Mantovani’s “D’un jardin féérique” alongside Hugh Wolff and the Belgian National Orchestra, showcasing his unique approach to new music. Cultuurpakt.be praised this performance, stating, “Vitaly sees the piano as a laboratory where he can discover endless tones, experimenting with sound is never strange to him. He literally glided over the keys to perfectly blend all those small and fine notes together, thus creating an entire magical garden for the audience. He painted blossoms and little waterfalls in a very impressionistic manner, as if they had directly escaped from Ravel’s Jeux d’eau. Besides virtuosity, flexibility for this work is an absolute must, a point where Starikov has given his all.”
Additionally, Vitaly’s excellence in performing contemporary pieces has been recognized with prestigious awards, further solidifying his reputation. In 2023, he was honored as the Best performer of a contemporary piece at the 64th International Jaen Competition in Spain. His adeptness in this domain was also acknowledged in
2017 when he received the award for the best performance of a contemporary work at the 6th Taneyev International Competition of Chamber Ensembles in Kaluga, Russia.
Vitaly has graced stages across the globe, including the Sydney Opera House, the Queen Elisabeth Hall, and the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. His performances and interviews have reached audiences far and wide through broadcasts on medici.tv, ABC, SBS and RTBF. His CD release of W.A. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 KV 488 with the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, conducted by Frank Braley, has been praised for its musicality and expressive depth. La Libre commented on this particular performance with enthusiasm, stating, “His Concerto No. 23 in A major by Mozart is a pleasant surprise: fluidity and simplicity of phrasing, a rich palette of intensity nuances, theatricality – but without overdoing it – in the narrative discourse. A pure moment of music!”
Educationally, Vitaly’s foundation was laid by esteemed professors such as Eliso Virsaladze and Vera Gornostayeva at the Moscow Conservatory, Boris Petrushansky at the Accademia Internazionale di Imola, and Sergey Beloglazov at the Ural Gifted Music School. Master classes with luminaries like Dmitry Bashkirov, Dmitry Alexeev, Arie Vardi, Andrea Bonatta, and Leslie Howard have further refined his artistry, equipping him with insights and techniques from some of the best musicians in the world. He is currently pursuing his Artist Diploma Degree at Yale School of Music in the studio of Prof. Boris Berman.
Awards
2021: 5th Prize at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, Belgium.
2023: 6th Prize and two special prizes (“The Best Accompanist” and “The Best Cello Sonata”) at the Sydney International Piano Competition.
2017: Grand Prix and Audience Prize at the 26th Epinal Piano Competition in Epinal, France.
2019: 1st Prize at the 5th International Piano Competition “Premio Roberto Melini” in Trento, Italy.
2023: 1st Prize and Special prizes for the Best performances of works of Romantic and Russian Composers at the WPTA Spain International Piano Competition
2024: 3rd Prize at the 8th Neue Sterne International Piano Competition in Wernigerode, Germany
2023: Best performer of a contemporary piece at the 64th International Jaen Competition in Jaen, Spain.
2020: 3rd Prize at the 23rd International Piano Competition “Mauro Paolo Monopoli Prize”.
2008: 2nd Prize and Special Prize at the 7th Igumnov International Piano Competition in Lipetsk, Russia.
2011: 1st Prize at the 22nd International Music Competition “Citta di Barletta” in Barletta, Italy.
2014: Diploma of the Prize Winner at the 5th International Piano Competition “Minsk-2014” in Minsk, Belarus.
2017: 2nd Prizes and Special Prizes as part of a piano trio at the VI Taneyev International Competition of Chamber Ensembles in Kaluga, Russia.
2019: 2nd Prizes and Special Prizes as part of a piano trio at the 3rd All-Russian Competition of Chamber Ensembles in Moscow, Russia.
Education
2024 – Present, Artist Diploma at Yale School of Music with Prof. Boris Berman
2019 – 2020, Accademia Internazionale di Imola “Incontri col Maestro” with Prof. Boris Petrushansky
2013 – 2022, DMA and Master of Music at Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory with Prof. Eliso Virsaladze and Prof. Vera Gornostayeva
2002 – 2013, Bachelor Degree at Ural Gifted Music School with Prof. Sergey Beloglazov
Pianist Xiaolu Zang gained international acclaim, winning the First Prize and the Prize of the Audience at the 69th Maria Canals International Music Competition. He was also awarded the Bergé Second Prize at the 20th Paloma O’Shea Santander International Piano Competition and the First Prize at ZF-Musikpreis in 2022.
As a soloist, Xiaolu has performed in important venues including the Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid, the Salle Cortot in Paris, the Regentenbau in Bad Kissingen, the Graf-Zeppelin-Haus in Friedrichshafen, the Konzerthaus in Ravensburg, the Kleiner Goldener Saal in Augsburg, the Konzil in Konstanz, the National Centre of Performing Arts in Beijing, the Beijing Concert Hall, the Shanghai Grand Theatre, the Chengdu City Concert Hall, and many others. He has collaborated with orchestras such as the Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz, the Niedersächsisches Staatsorchester Hannover, the Orquesta Sinfónica de RTVE, the Orquesta Ciudad de Almería, the “Mihail Jora” Philharmonic Orchestra of Bacǎu, the Jove Orquesta Nacional de Catalunya, the Südwestdeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim, and the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie. He has worked with conductors including Michael Thomas, Douglas Bostock, Pablo González, Hankyeol Yoon, Frank Braley, Valtteri Rauhalammi, Florian Groß and Ovidiu Balan. His upcoming engagements include performances with the Madrid Symphony Orchestra, the Sevilla Real Symphony Orchestra, the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra and the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, alongside solo recitals worldwide and the release of his debut album for Naxos Music.
Born in Qinhuangdao, China, in 1999, Xiaolu began his piano studies at the age of four under Professor Yaqing Pan. In 2010, he was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music middle school in Beijing, studying with Professor Ye Lin. In 2017, he relocated to Hanover, Germany, to pursue his bachelor’s and master’s degrees under the guidance of Professor Arie Vardi at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media.
