2025 Senior Division Finalists
Kenneth Gallwas and Joseph Gallwas
The Gallwas Twins, Kenneth and Joseph Gallwas, made their stunning duet debut at Carnegie Hall at just nine years old as winners of the American Protégé Competition. They are the reigning 3rd place 2024 MTNA National Champions in Senior Piano Duet, having won 1st prize at both the state and district levels. In 2023, they performed at the Grant Park Festival as part of Joyce Yang’s “Play with Masters” event. In summer 2024, they attended the Northwestern Duo Masterclass with Sylvia Wang and Alan Chow, giving recitals at The Merion, McClintock Recital Hall, and the Mary Galvin Recital Hall.
Both avid concerto, solo, and chamber musicians, Ken and Joe have performed nearly a dozen times with orchestras and earned accolades in competitions such as the Aloha International Piano Competition, Sejong National Competition, Charleston International Competition, International Young Artists Competition, Walgreens, and Elmhurst Stanger Concerto Competitions. In 2024, Ken and Joe placed first and second, respectively, in the ISMTA solo competition and earned top awards at the MTNA state level as well. Most recently, Joseph won the top prize in the O’Malley Foundation Concerto Competition (formerly Walgreens) and is a semi-finalist in the International Young Artists Concerto Competition, scheduled to perform with the Seen Worldwide Orchestra in Chicago.
The twins started piano lessons when they turned 6 years old and are currently studying at New Music School with Jeffrey Panko, Sean Bennet, and Mary Sauer, retired keyboardist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. They have participated in masterclasses with esteemed pianists Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Steven Osborne, Dang Thai Son, and Stanislav Ioudenitch. Juniors at York Community High School in Elmhurst, Illinois, Kenneth and Joseph play cello and violin in the school orchestra and play ice hockey on the York Varsity White team.
Both avid concerto, solo, and chamber musicians, Ken and Joe have performed nearly a dozen times with orchestras and earned accolades in competitions such as the Aloha International Piano Competition, Sejong National Competition, Charleston International Competition, International Young Artists Competition, Walgreens, and Elmhurst Stanger Concerto Competitions. In 2024, Ken and Joe placed first and second, respectively, in the ISMTA solo competition and earned top awards at the MTNA state level as well. Most recently, Joseph won the top prize in the O’Malley Foundation Concerto Competition (formerly Walgreens) and is a semi-finalist in the International Young Artists Concerto Competition, scheduled to perform with the Seen Worldwide Orchestra in Chicago.
The twins started piano lessons when they turned 6 years old and are currently studying at New Music School with Jeffrey Panko, Sean Bennet, and Mary Sauer, retired keyboardist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. They have participated in masterclasses with esteemed pianists Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Steven Osborne, Dang Thai Son, and Stanislav Ioudenitch. Juniors at York Community High School in Elmhurst, Illinois, Kenneth and Joseph play cello and violin in the school orchestra and play ice hockey on the York Varsity White team.
Melody Guo and Shawn Guo
Melody Guo was born in Windsor, Canada, and she is currently a senior at the Townview School for the Talented and Gifted in Dallas, Texas, consistently ranked among the top 10 high schools in the nation. As a National Merit Semifinalist, she pursues academic excellence in a rigorous curriculum, including over 15 AP classes spanning diverse topics, while also dedicating herself to her passion for music and exploration of many other hobbies.
Melody began her piano journey at the age of five and has studied with Dr. Alex McDonald for the past four years. She has participated in esteemed programs such as the Texas State International Piano Festival and Indiana University Piano Academy, where she was selected as a top 5 performer for the Honors Recital and Duet Gala. Her other accomplishments include 1st place at the Texas Music Teachers Association State-level competition in 2021 and 3rd place in 2022 and 2024. She also earned 1st place at the Texas A&M Commerce Sonata Competition and 2nd place at the Juanita Miller Competition for TASO in 2023. Additionally, Melody has consistently achieved top honors at the Dallas Solo Competition and the Dallas Symphonic Festival, winning 1st in the junior concerto division in 2023 and 2nd in the senior concerto division in 2024.
In 2023, Melody was awarded the grand prize of the Collin County Young Artists Concerto Competition, which led to her debut with the Plano Symphony Orchestra. In the same year, she was invited to perform at the Basically Beethoven Festival in the Moody Performance Hall, where she played a piano trio. Most recently, in 2024, Melody and her brother won 1st place in the Texas Music Teachers National Association Piano Senior Duet Competition. They will proudly represent the South Central region at the national competition in March 2025.
Melody is also an accomplished violinist with over a decade of experience in orchestra. She has been a member of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Honors All-Region Orchestras since 2018 and was selected as a violinist for the prestigious TMEA All-State Orchestra in 2025. Melody was also the concertmaster for the Dallas Independent School District's New Spain Orchestra, demonstrating her leadership and artistry. Melody was later invited to perform as a soloist at the Meyerson Symphony Center, showcasing Handel’s Passacaglia string duet.
Beyond music, Melody enjoys drawing, journaling, volunteering, and spending time with friends and family. Looking ahead, she is excited to continue her musical education and share her passion throughout her college years.
Melody began her piano journey at the age of five and has studied with Dr. Alex McDonald for the past four years. She has participated in esteemed programs such as the Texas State International Piano Festival and Indiana University Piano Academy, where she was selected as a top 5 performer for the Honors Recital and Duet Gala. Her other accomplishments include 1st place at the Texas Music Teachers Association State-level competition in 2021 and 3rd place in 2022 and 2024. She also earned 1st place at the Texas A&M Commerce Sonata Competition and 2nd place at the Juanita Miller Competition for TASO in 2023. Additionally, Melody has consistently achieved top honors at the Dallas Solo Competition and the Dallas Symphonic Festival, winning 1st in the junior concerto division in 2023 and 2nd in the senior concerto division in 2024.
In 2023, Melody was awarded the grand prize of the Collin County Young Artists Concerto Competition, which led to her debut with the Plano Symphony Orchestra. In the same year, she was invited to perform at the Basically Beethoven Festival in the Moody Performance Hall, where she played a piano trio. Most recently, in 2024, Melody and her brother won 1st place in the Texas Music Teachers National Association Piano Senior Duet Competition. They will proudly represent the South Central region at the national competition in March 2025.
Melody is also an accomplished violinist with over a decade of experience in orchestra. She has been a member of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Honors All-Region Orchestras since 2018 and was selected as a violinist for the prestigious TMEA All-State Orchestra in 2025. Melody was also the concertmaster for the Dallas Independent School District's New Spain Orchestra, demonstrating her leadership and artistry. Melody was later invited to perform as a soloist at the Meyerson Symphony Center, showcasing Handel’s Passacaglia string duet.
Beyond music, Melody enjoys drawing, journaling, volunteering, and spending time with friends and family. Looking ahead, she is excited to continue her musical education and share her passion throughout her college years.
Shawn Guo is currently a rising senior at the School of Science and Engineering at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center in Dallas, Texas. The school, often referred to as SEM, is known for its rigorous curriculum and emphasis on hands-on science education. It offers a variety of specialized courses, including unique classes like "SuperLab," which combines AP Physics C and AP Chemistry, and the Advanced Topics of the Theory of Applied Mathematics (A.T.T.A.M.) course. At school, he is also a proud member of the National Honor Society. As an NHS member, Shawn has attained outstanding academic performance whilst maintaining a variety of extracurriculars.
Studying with Dr. McDonald for the past 4 years, Shawn achieved 3rd place in the Junior Concerto category at the Texas Music Teachers Association (TMTA) State Level Piano Competition as well as 3rd place at the Lewisville Lake Concerto Competition, further showcasing his dedication and skill. Recently, he has also been nominated as a finalist for the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Duet Division.
Beyond his academic and musical pursuits, Shawn finds joy in spending his own time with his two cats and reading books, as well as playing volleyball and practicing math.
Studying with Dr. McDonald for the past 4 years, Shawn achieved 3rd place in the Junior Concerto category at the Texas Music Teachers Association (TMTA) State Level Piano Competition as well as 3rd place at the Lewisville Lake Concerto Competition, further showcasing his dedication and skill. Recently, he has also been nominated as a finalist for the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Duet Division.
Beyond his academic and musical pursuits, Shawn finds joy in spending his own time with his two cats and reading books, as well as playing volleyball and practicing math.
Rosabelle Shi and Alina Liu
Rosabelle Shi, an eighth-grade student from Illinois, studies piano under the guidance of Dr. Sylvia Wang at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. A dedicated and competitive performer, Rosabelle has achieved numerous prestigious awards. She is a First Place winner of the Steinway National Competition, a National Finalist in the MTNA competition, and a finalist in the Minnesota International e-Piano Competition.
Her international honors include: First Place in Division B at the Aloha International Piano Competition, First Place in the Junior A Division at the New Orleans Piano Institute International Competition, Absolute First Prize and the Young Prodigy Award at the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition, First Place in the Junior A Division at the 5th Orbetello International Piano Competition, First Place in the Junior A Division at the Nomea International Piano Competition, Second Place in the Junior Division at the XII Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, Second Place in the Young Musician III Division at the 4th Chicago International Music Competition, Third Place in the Rising Star Division at the San Jose International Piano Competition, Third Place in the Junior Division at the Millersville University International Piano Competition, and an Honorable Mention in the Junior Division at the 10th Lancaster International Piano Competition.
At just 10 years old, she made her orchestra debut with the Lakeland Civic Orchestra, performing Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 2 as the overall junior division winner. Additionally, she earned a bronze medal at the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra Young Artist Competition, placed third at the DePaul University Concerto Festival, and received an Honorable Mention at the Walgreens National Concerto Competition.
Rosabelle also excels in piano duo performances. Her team won the 2021-2022 MTNA Senior Piano Duet Competition for the East-Central Division and became a national finalist. The duo has also earned First Place awards at several prestigious competitions, including the Chicago International Music Competition (Professional Category), the Princeton Symphony’s Princeton Festival International Piano Competition (ages 25 and under Piano Four-Hands), the Lancaster International Piano Competition (Chamber Music Junior Division), and the Mozart with a View International Artist Festival and Competition (Piano Duet).
Outside of her performances, Rosabelle is passionate about music advocacy. She co-founded the Student Association of Piano Accompanists and is a strong advocate for equal access to music education and performance opportunities, regardless of socioeconomic background.
Her international honors include: First Place in Division B at the Aloha International Piano Competition, First Place in the Junior A Division at the New Orleans Piano Institute International Competition, Absolute First Prize and the Young Prodigy Award at the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition, First Place in the Junior A Division at the 5th Orbetello International Piano Competition, First Place in the Junior A Division at the Nomea International Piano Competition, Second Place in the Junior Division at the XII Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, Second Place in the Young Musician III Division at the 4th Chicago International Music Competition, Third Place in the Rising Star Division at the San Jose International Piano Competition, Third Place in the Junior Division at the Millersville University International Piano Competition, and an Honorable Mention in the Junior Division at the 10th Lancaster International Piano Competition.
At just 10 years old, she made her orchestra debut with the Lakeland Civic Orchestra, performing Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 2 as the overall junior division winner. Additionally, she earned a bronze medal at the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra Young Artist Competition, placed third at the DePaul University Concerto Festival, and received an Honorable Mention at the Walgreens National Concerto Competition.
Rosabelle also excels in piano duo performances. Her team won the 2021-2022 MTNA Senior Piano Duet Competition for the East-Central Division and became a national finalist. The duo has also earned First Place awards at several prestigious competitions, including the Chicago International Music Competition (Professional Category), the Princeton Symphony’s Princeton Festival International Piano Competition (ages 25 and under Piano Four-Hands), the Lancaster International Piano Competition (Chamber Music Junior Division), and the Mozart with a View International Artist Festival and Competition (Piano Duet).
Outside of her performances, Rosabelle is passionate about music advocacy. She co-founded the Student Association of Piano Accompanists and is a strong advocate for equal access to music education and performance opportunities, regardless of socioeconomic background.
Alina Liu is a ninth-grader at New Trier High School. She started studying piano at age six with Dr. Yumy Lee Kim. In 2024, she was selected to play in the Music Institute of Chicago Masterclasses, and the Northwestern University Duo Piano Masterclasses. She won second place in the 2023 Sejong Piano Competition and third place in the Roberta Savler Piano Competition in April 2021. She has won five gold medals in the CAMTA Sonata-Sonatina Festival and the NSMTA Sonata-Sonatina Festival. Additionally, she has received honorable mentions in the 2022 ISMTA Competition, the 2022 Walgreens Concerto Competition, and the 2021 DePaul Concerto Competition. She has been awarded the Music Institute of Chicago Merit Scholarship three times.
2025 Artist Division Finalists
Takeshi Nagayasu and Yako Perlov
Takeshi Nagayasu is an award-winning pianist with prizes in many competitions such as Kosciuszko Foundation, Borderland Chopin, Jacob Flier, and International Robert Schumann in Germany. Recent concertos include Clara Schumann Philharmonic and Ocean Foundation Festival Orchestra. He has been featured in media such as Nowy Dziennik, El Comercio, and All Classical Portland Radio. He has received scholarships from the Feltsman Piano Foundation, Detroit Federation of Musicians, Musical Club of Hartford, Pianosummer at New Paltz, International Keyboard Institute & Festival, and Gijón International Piano Festival. In addition, Takeshi is also a composer who has written pieces for piano, chamber ensembles, and chamber orchestra. He studied at Juilliard, Yale, and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at University of Michigan. His teachers include Logan Skelton, Vladimir Feltsman, Melvin Chen, Boris Berman, Joseph Kalichstein, Matti Raekallio, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Xiaohe Xie, and Oleg Roschin.
Yako Perlov, 18 years old, has received multiple 1st place awards including consecutive wins at MTNA Colorado, CSMTA, Yamaha Colorado, Steinway Colorado, Diversity and Inclusion Award CSMTA and the United States International Duo Piano Competition. He has been a finalist at MTNA national round and the international Jefferson Symphony Orchestra concerto competition. He has studied with Dr. David Korevaar (CU Boulder), Anton Nel (Aspen Music Festival), and currently with Logan Skelton (University of Michigan).
Miłosz Koślak and Malwina Pakuła
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The Koślak & Pakuła Piano Duo, founded in 2022, is studying under the direction of professor Bogna Czerwińska-Szymula, PhD. The pianists are students of the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk, Poland.
Malwina Pakuła and Miłosz Koślak have several high-profile successes in their artistic career:
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Mengyuan Li and Li Wang
Born in Hebei and raised in Tianjin, China, Aimee Mengyuan Li is currently pursuing a DMA degree in piano major at the University of Georgia as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. Aimee has been awarded in multiple competitions and performed throughout China and the United States as soloist and collaborative pianist. Before came to UGA, Ms.Li earned the Master of Music degree at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; later she served as adjunct faculty at Xinghai Conservatory of Music and piano faculty at Hebei Polytechnic Institute in China.
Born in Inner Mongolia, China, Li Wang is a pianist celebrated for her emotional depth and musical maturity. As a soloist, Li has performed at prestigious concert halls across China, the United States, and Europe, including the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Forbidden City Music Hall, Shenzhen Grand Theater, Shenzhen Concert Hall, Chicago Cultural Center, Nicolas Recital Hall, and Cremona City Music Hall. She made her orchestral debut in 2012 with the China Opera and Dance Drama Symphony Orchestra at the "Baoding" New Year Concert.Li is a prizewinner of multiple national and international competitions, including the Clamo International Piano Competition, the 69th Wideman International Piano Competition, the KAWAI Piano Competition, the Cliff Dweller Art Association Music Competition, the Tuesday Music Scholarship Competition, and the United States International Music Competition. An avid chamber musician, Li has collaborated with distinguished artists and regularly performed in the Monday Chamber Music series at the Chicago Cultural Center. Together with her husband, violinist Andrii Isakov, she has toured globally, performing in cities such as Beijing, Chicago, Boston, Cremona, and Barcelona, and they continue to push the boundaries of the classical music landscape. Li Wang holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where she studied under the legendary James Tocco. She also holds an Artist Diploma from the University of Cincinnati, a Master of Music degree from Roosevelt University, and a Bachelor’s degree from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.
Sae Hae Bae and Xuan He
Sae Hae Bae is a pianist, composer, and an educator. She was born in Korea into a musical family and began learning piano from her mother at an early age. Soon after her family immigrated to Canada, she started giving public concerts at various venues on Vancouver Island.
A winner of numerous prizes and scholarships at prestigious institutions while pursuing her studies at the Eastman School of Music, the University of Toronto, and the Royal Conservatory of Music, she was on the Dean’s List for her academic excellence and won the Dean’s Scholarship, the Women’s Art Association of Canada Scholarship, the University of Toronto Music Award, and the Margaret Parsons-Poole and Clifford Poole Scholarship.
She had the privilege of working with many great teachers, including Bruce Vogt, Jamie Syer, Shigeo Neriki, and Enrico Elisi. In 2020, she completed her Artist Diploma studies at the Glenn Gould School under the tutelage of the late Marietta Orlov.
She regularly performs solo and chamber recitals across Canada, the US, Italy, France, and South Korea. She has performed at venues such as Kilbourn Hall, MacMillan Theatre, Studley Theatre, The Port Theatre, Château de Fontainebleau, Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, and more.
During the pandemic, she taught at a British International School, leading the Cambridge IGCSE program and ABRSM exams in Seoul, Korea. She now resides in Toronto and teaches at her private studio. She is a certified RCM teacher and works as a collaborative pianist at the University of Toronto. Her compositions are currently being distributed through Vancouver Island 4321 Publishing and on Amazon.
Originally from Shenzhen, China and currently based in Toronto, Xuan He is an up-and-coming and versatile classical pianist. An active concert soloist and collaborative musician, Xuan has performed in Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, and toured nine states in the U. S.. She is a medalist of the Brevard Music Festival Solo Piano Competition, the Hong Kong International Piano Open Competition, and the Schubert Club Scholarship Competition.
In the seasons of 2022-2024, Xuan toured with the International Opera Academy in Ghent, Belgium and Lyric Opera Studio Weimar in Germany and performed Benjamin Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia and Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte as an orchestral pianist and répétiteur. She also gave lecture series and recitals on women composers and their works in the western art music in Shenzhen, China.
Xuan holds a bachelor of music degree in piano performance from St. Olaf College, Minnesota, a master of music degree in piano performance from the University of Toronto, and a performance diploma in opera coaching from the International Opera Academy in Ghent, Belgium. Starting from September 2023, Xuan has been pursuing her doctorate degree in piano at the University of Toronto under the tutelage of Professor Lydia Wong.
A winner of numerous prizes and scholarships at prestigious institutions while pursuing her studies at the Eastman School of Music, the University of Toronto, and the Royal Conservatory of Music, she was on the Dean’s List for her academic excellence and won the Dean’s Scholarship, the Women’s Art Association of Canada Scholarship, the University of Toronto Music Award, and the Margaret Parsons-Poole and Clifford Poole Scholarship.
She had the privilege of working with many great teachers, including Bruce Vogt, Jamie Syer, Shigeo Neriki, and Enrico Elisi. In 2020, she completed her Artist Diploma studies at the Glenn Gould School under the tutelage of the late Marietta Orlov.
She regularly performs solo and chamber recitals across Canada, the US, Italy, France, and South Korea. She has performed at venues such as Kilbourn Hall, MacMillan Theatre, Studley Theatre, The Port Theatre, Château de Fontainebleau, Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, and more.
During the pandemic, she taught at a British International School, leading the Cambridge IGCSE program and ABRSM exams in Seoul, Korea. She now resides in Toronto and teaches at her private studio. She is a certified RCM teacher and works as a collaborative pianist at the University of Toronto. Her compositions are currently being distributed through Vancouver Island 4321 Publishing and on Amazon.
Originally from Shenzhen, China and currently based in Toronto, Xuan He is an up-and-coming and versatile classical pianist. An active concert soloist and collaborative musician, Xuan has performed in Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, and toured nine states in the U. S.. She is a medalist of the Brevard Music Festival Solo Piano Competition, the Hong Kong International Piano Open Competition, and the Schubert Club Scholarship Competition.
In the seasons of 2022-2024, Xuan toured with the International Opera Academy in Ghent, Belgium and Lyric Opera Studio Weimar in Germany and performed Benjamin Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia and Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte as an orchestral pianist and répétiteur. She also gave lecture series and recitals on women composers and their works in the western art music in Shenzhen, China.
Xuan holds a bachelor of music degree in piano performance from St. Olaf College, Minnesota, a master of music degree in piano performance from the University of Toronto, and a performance diploma in opera coaching from the International Opera Academy in Ghent, Belgium. Starting from September 2023, Xuan has been pursuing her doctorate degree in piano at the University of Toronto under the tutelage of Professor Lydia Wong.
