2022-2023 COMPETITION WINNERS Congratulations to our winners, teachers and families!
First Place, Patricia Kirkbride Award
Fiona Huang, cello, age 15
Teacher: Jonathan Koh
For the award-winning performance and student bio, please click here.
First Place, Piano, Leon Winters Award ($1,200)
Ziyue Zeng, age 16
Teacher: Dr. Chia-Lin Yang
For the award-winning performance and student bio, please click here.
Second Place, Strings, Patron of the Arts award ($1,000)
Sarah Son, violin, age 16
Teacher: Elbert Tsai
For the award-winning performance and student bio, please click here.
Second Place, piano, patron of the arts award ($1,000)
Lin Jiang, age 14
Teacher: Kaichi Zhu
For the award-winning performance and student bio, please click here.
Third Place, strings ($800)
Daniel Yim, cello, age 16
Teacher: Kyeong Hwa Kim
For the award-winning performance and student bio, please click here.
Third place, piano, ($800)
Vivian Kao, age 15
For the award-winning performance and student bio, please click here.
Honorable Mentions, strings ($300)
Jennifer Kang, viola, age 13
Teacher: Dimitri Murrath
For the award-winning performance and student bio, please click here.
Ariel Pawlik-Zwiebel, violin, age 15
Teacher: Elbert Tsai
For the award-winning performance and student bio, please click here.
honorable mentions, piano ($300)
Isaac Choi, age 13
Teacher: Dr. Chia-Lin Yang
For the award-winning performance and student bio, please click here.
Oliver Corro, age 15
Teacher: Yuko Yoshida
For the award-winning performance and student bio, please click here.
Sora Corro, age 13
Teacher: Yuko Yoshida
For the award-winning performance and student bio, please click here.
2021-2022 COMPETITION WINNERS
This has been a second challenging season. With the the ups and downs of the pandemic continuing, BMC began its competition season virtually but was able in the last few months to return to in-person meetings. We are so grateful to our student musicians, their teachers and families and our wonderful judges for their support and patience.
Our competitors this year were undeterred and performed with excellence. We are happy to announce the winners of this year’s BMC Competition in Strings.
First Place, Patricia Kirkbride Award ($1,000)
Hiro Yoshimura, violin, age 16
Teachers: Chen Zhao and Tomomi Matsumoto
For the award-winning performance and student bio please click here.
Second Place, Leon Winters Award ($800)
Katherine Lee, cello, age 17
Teacher: Jonathan Koh
For the award-winning performance and student bio please click here.
Third Place, Patron of the Arts Award ($600)
Yuli, Choi, violin, age 15
Teacher: Elbert Tsai
For the award-winning performance student bio please click here
Honorable Mention ($100)
Honorable Mention ($100)
2020-2021 Winners
FIRST PLACE
$1,000 per Recipient
Patricia Kirkbride Award, Piano
Nancy Zheng, Piano
Teacher: Kai Chi Zhu
Variations, Op. 41 (Nikolai Kapustin )
Sonata No.26 in E-flat Major, "Les Adieux", Op. 81a, Mvt I. Das Lebewohl (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Prelude and Fugue, No. 17 in A-Flat Major, WTC Book 1, BWV 862 (Johann Sebastian Bach)
Nancy's BIO
Second Place
$800 per Recipient
Leon Winters Awards, Strings
Suzuka Wada, Violin
Teacher: Chen Zhao; Accompanists: Dmitriy Cogan & Maori Wada
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major, Op. 35, Mvt I. Allegro Moderato (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky)
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 4 in D Major, k. 218, Mvt I. Allegro (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
Sonata for Violin No.3 in C Major, BWV 1005, Mvt III. Largo (Johann Sebastian Bach)
Suzuka's BIO
Zak Mustille, Piano
Teacher: Machiko Kobialka
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I: Prelude and Fugue No. 23 in B Major, BWV 868 (Johann Sebastian Bach)
Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 (Frédéric Chopin)
Piano Sonata No. 1, Mvt IIa. Allegro moderato – Andante, IIb. Allegro – Meno Mosso con Moto, “In the Inn” (Charles E. Ives)
Zak's BIO
Third Place
$600 per Recipient
Joshua Schiller, Piano
Teacher: Erna Gulaybyan; Accompanist: Dmitriy Cogan
Sonata op. 53 no. 21, Movement: I. Allegro con Brio (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Mephisto Waltz no. 1 (Franz Liszt)
Piano Concerto op. 26 no. 3, Mvt I. Andante (Sergei Prokofiev)
Joshua's BIO
Lucas Chen, Cello
Teacher: Jonathan Koh; Accompanist: Kim Lee
Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009, Mvt IV. Sarabande (Johann Sebastian Bach)
Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191, Mvt III. Finale (Antonin Dvorak)
Cello Concerto No. 1 in E flat Major, Op. 107, Mvt I. Allegretto (Dmitri Shostakovich)
Lucas' BIO
Emily Hwang, Viola
Teacher: Dimitri Murrath, Accompanist: Miles Graber
Bach Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, Mvt IV. Sarabande (Johann Sebastian Bach)
Brahms Viola Sonata Op. 120 No. 1 in f minor, Mvt I. Allegro Appassionato (Johannes Brahms)
Walton Viola Concerto, Mvt I. Andante Comodo (William Walton)
Emily's BIO
Aaron Hsia, Violin
Teacher: Zhao Wei; Accompanist: Chen Woo
Sonata for Violin Solo No.2 in A minor, BWV 1003, Mvt Andante (Johann Sebastian Bach)
Violin Concerto No.1 in D Major, Op.19, Movement: Andantino (Sergei Prokofiev)
Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op.28 (Camille Saint-Saëns)
Aaron's BIO
Erica Liu, Violin
Teacher: Zhao Wei
Symphonie Espagnole in D minor, Op. 21, Mvt 1. Allegro non Troppo (Édouard Lalo)
Partita for Violin No. 3 in E Major, Mvt 1. Preludio (Johann Sebastian Bach)
Histoire du Tango, Mvt II. Café 1930 (Astor Piazzolla)
Erica's BIO
Roz Koo Memorial Award
$300 per Recipient
The Roz Koo Memorial Award is a special award given this year to honor Rosalyn Koo, former BMC President and Supporter who was instrumental in reviving the Club; Roz passed away in January 2021. This award is meant to encourage these select students to continue their muscial development and to recognize their great promise.
Andrew Boldi, Piano
Teacher: MIchael Schmitz
Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, “Appassionata”, I. Allegro Assai (Ludwig van Beethoven)
La Campanella, Grandes études de Paganini S. 141 No. 3 in G sharp minor, Allegretto (Franz Liszt)
Capriccio in D flat Major, Allegro Moderato (Arno Babajanian)
Andrew's BIO
Evelyn Dimov
Teacher: Dr. William Wellborn
Ballade Op.38, No.2 (Frederic Chopin)
Sonata No.3 (Sergei Prokofiev)
Sonata Op.31, No.1, Rondo Allegretto (Ludwig v. Beethoven)
Evelyn's BIO
Benjamin Kim, Violin
Teacher: Jory Fankuchen; Accompanist: Hyun Joo Chung
Violin Concerto in E minor, Opus 64, Mvt III. Allegretto non troppo - Allegro molto vivace (Felix Mendelssohn)
Tambourin Chinois, Allegro Molto, Quasi Presto (Fritz Kreisler)
Violin Sonata no.1 in G minor, Adagio (Johann Sebastian Bach)
Benjamin's BIO
Anna Lee, Cello
Teacher: Amos Yang; Accompanists: Miles Graber & Kim Lee
Cello Sonata No.6 in A Major, Mvt I. Adagio, II. Allegro (Luigi Boccherini)
Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV1012, Mvt I. Prelude (Johann Sebastian Bach)
Cello Sonata No.4, Op.102, No.1, Mvt I. Andante - Allegro Vivace (Ludwig van Beethoven)
Anna's BIO
2019-2020 COMPETITION WINNERS
Congratulations to our winners!
This has been an extraordinary and challenging season. Our many thanks to everyone - students and their families, teachers, judges, members, supporters - who helped us convert our in-person competition to an online/virtual one within a couple of weeks. Together, not even a pandemic was going to get in the way of accomplishing our mission and supporting our students.
First Prize - $1,000
Leon Winters Award
Alexander Canicosa-Miles, Cello
Teacher: Jonathan Koh
Born in Hawaii, Alexander, 16, began playing the cello at age nine. In 2016, he won the Madeline Schatz-Harris Concerto Competition, performing as a solist with the Kamuela-Philharmonic Orchestra. More …
Patricia Kirkbride Award
Joel Kim, Cello
Teacher: Jonathan Koh
Joel Kim, 14, is the recipient of numerous awards including Allen Family String Scholarship in Redwood Music Program and second prize in the ENKOR International Music Competition. More …
Cello concerto in E minor (1st and 2nd movement ); Edward Elgar
Variations on One String on a Theme by Rossini; Niccolo Paganini
Second Prize - $800
Elliott Kim, Cello
Patron of the Arts Award
Teacher: Kyeong Hwa Kim
Elliott Kim, 14, started playing cello at age 7. He is currently a member of the California Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and has won numerous awards including 1st place Young Artist Award in the United States International Music Competition. More …
Cello Sonata No.4 in C major, Op. 102; Ludwig Beethoven
Third Prize - $600
Melody Choi, Violin
Teacher: Davis Law
Melody Choi, 16, was Concertmaster for the National Youth Orchestra 2 in 2019 and is currently the Assistant Concertmaster, California Youth Symphony. Her awards include 1st Place in the Valley Christian Conservatory Honors Scholarship Competition and winner of the KAMSA Young Artists Competition. More …
Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24; Ludwig Beethoven
Honorable Mention - $400
Benjamin Jiang, Cello
Teacher: Jonathan Koh
Benjamin Jiang, 12, began studying cello at the age of 7. His recent accomplishments include winning the String Teachers Association’s Solo Competition (Sacramento). More …
Suite III, BWV1009. 1.Prelude; J.S. Bach
Winners - 2018-2019 Competition
BMC wants to thank all of our student competitors this year for a very impressive performance and competition season. We are pleased to announce this year’s winners in each of 2 categories - Piano and Strings. Congratulations!
First Prize Winners - $1,000
Leo Jerkovic, Piano
Leon Winters Award: First Prize
Leo has performed twice at the Junior Bach Festival and has won numerous other awards, including first place at the San Francisco Chopin Festival and the New West Symphony Quick Bowman Piano Competition. Leo also studies voice and has won awards including the National Association of Teachers of Singing - Bay Area Singing Festival for Classical Voice. He has performed theatrical roles including Gaston in Beauty and the Beast and Pugsly Addams in The Addams Family.
Leo’s teacher is Dr. William Wellborn
Sabrina Kim, Violin
Patricia Kirkbride Award: First Prize
Sabrina has appeared as a soloist with the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, performed in the Junior Bach Festival. She has won numerous awards including first place in the Korea Times Music Competition, U.S. Open Music Competition, the U.S. International Music Competition and the American Protege International Competition (performing at Carnegie Hall). She has performed in masterclasses for Gerardo Ribeiro, Klaudia Szlachta and Bayla Keyes. She is a menmber of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. Sabrina also enjoys creative writing and producing her school’s yearbook.
Sabrina’s teacher is Davis Law.
Second Prize Winners - $800
Matthew Sakiyama
Patron of the Arts - 2nd Prize
Matthew has won numerous prizes including first place in the Pacific Musical Society, the U.S. Open and the U.S. International competitions. He is a member of the Stellata String Quartet, a group within Susan Bates’ Young Chamber Musicians.
Matthew’s teacher is Elbert Tsai
Ryan Chi
Patron of the Arts - 2nd Prize
Ryan has won numerous competitons including the Golden Era of Romantic Music Competition and the Virtuoso Internation Competition. He has performed at the Junior Bach Festival on piano, violin, cello and organ.
Ryan’s teacher is Erna Gulabyan.
3rd Prize ($600 each) in Memory of Diane Kazar
Conor Padmanabhan has won numerous awards including the Great Composer’s Competition, the Enkor International Music Competition and the Sierra Nevada Guitar Competition.
Conor’s teacher is Scott Cmiel
Kai Xu is not only a pianist but also a composer. He was a finalist in the National Association for Music Education Electronic Music Composition Competition.
Kai’s teacher is Dr. Willliam Wellborn
2019 Winners Final Performance
All of our winning students gave a wonderful performance at the last member meeting in May. Our winners were joined by Kai and Leo’s teacher, Dr. William Wellborn. Congratulations to all our talented students and teachers!
And a wonderful Time was Had by All!
Another highly successful competiton season comes to a close. Many thanks to our Awards Committee Co-chairs, Barbara Braun (left) and Steve Cady, our members and the ever supportive parents and families of our students.
Winners - 2017-2018 Competiton
For more information on the final performance by the winners please click here.
Our special thanks to this year's judges: Barbara Breeden, Sharon Davis and Ruby Pleasure.
Lauren Chambers, Flute
Patricia Kirkbride Award First Prize - $1,000
Lauren has participated in the El Camino Youth Symphony for 2 years and the California Youth Symphony for one year.
Previous competitions have included
First Place in the Palo Alto VOCE competition for senior winds
First Place in the same competition for Senior Ensembles for 3 years.
Second Place in 2016 in the State VOCE competition for senior ensembles
Third Place in 2015 in the State VOCE competition for senior ensembles
Lauren's teacher is Tomiko Tsai.
Stephanie Chee, Voice
President's Award in honor of Ruby Pleasure First Prize - $1,000
Stephanie has been studying music for 5 years. She studied for 2 summers at the Tanglewood Institute in Boston and at the Metropolitan Opera Guild in New York in 2017.
She has won several awards including:
First place in the American Protégé Vocal competition in 2015
Second place in 2017 in the National Teachers of Music competition for the Bay area this year
Third place in 2017 in the Schmidt Youth Vocal competition
She has performed many opera scenes as well as performing in Into the Woods and Guys and Dolls.
Stephanie's teacher is Amy Heumann.
Emily Finke, voice
Adele Adler Award Second Prize - $800
Emily has had long experience with choral groups performing in 2 Cantabile Youth Singers of Silicon Valley groups: Aria and Vocalise. In July 2017 Emily performed at the 11th World Symposium on Choral Music in Barcelona, Spain. Emily won 1st prize in the Great Composers Competition, Music of the 20th Century. She has performed in the Menlo School productions of Avenue Q and Fiddler on the Roof.
Emily's teacher is Annelle Delfs.
Annie Ping, flute
Leon Winters Award Second Prize $800
In the summer of 2017 Annie earned 3rd place in the United States International Music Competition at Stanford, which is sponsored by the Chinese Music Teachers Association of Northern California
She has also won Command Performance awards for California Music Teacher’s Association and the Association of Christian Schools competitions.
Annie's teacher is Troy Gunter.