Finalists

2016 OHIO International Piano Duet & Duo Competition

Senior Division Finalists

Mya King & Adrian King

Mya King is a 16-year old home-schooled junior from Silverdale, Washington. She is a student of Dr. Peter Mack of Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. Mya received honorable mention in the 2015-16 Senior Piano division of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). Mya, along with her brother, Adrian King, was a Second Place National Winner in the 2014-15 MTNA Senior Duet division. In 2015, Mya was awarded the Josephine Bryant Memorial Award for musical excellence in the Performing Arts Festival of the Eastside. Mya was the winner of the 2015 Bremerton Symphony Young Artist Award. She attends Peninsula Bible Fellowship in Bremerton and runs track and cross country with Central Kitsap High School.

Adrian King, a 13-year old home-schooled 7th grader from Silverdale, Washington. He is a student of Dr. Peter Mack of Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. Adrian received honorable mention in the 2015-16 Junior Division of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). Adrian, along with his sister, Mya King, was a Second Place National Winner in the 2014-15 MTNA Senior Duet Division. In 2015, Adrian was awarded the Judith Thiel Young Artist Award for musical excellence in the Performing Arts Festival of the Eastside. Adrian was the winner of the 2016 Bremerton Symphony Young Artist Award. He has appeared twice on Classic King 98.1 FM's program, Northwest Focus. He attends Peninsula Bible Fellowship in Bremerton and runs cross country and track with Central Kitsap Middle School.

David Mutone & Joseph Mutone

David and Joseph Mutone reside in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan with their parents Ann and Rico Mutone and their three siblings. David is completing eighth grade at University of Detroit Jesuit Academy and Joseph is completing his senior at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School. David and Joseph have both studied with Catherine Rollin since 2010. From their earliest studies, they have been passionate about playing duets. As a duet team, David and Joseph were honored to represent Michigan in the East-Central Division Competition of MTNA in 2014. Following this, they were awarded a scholarship to participate as a duet team in the 2014 Foulger International Music Festival held at Weber State University in Utah.

David Mutone started his piano studies at 4 years of age and also plays the pipe organ and trumpet. As a pianist, David has distinguished himself on many occasions. He has been selected three times as a state finalist for the Michigan Music Teachers Association (MMTA). At state finals, he has placed as an honorable mention, received 2nd place, and most recently was the 1st place state winner in 2015. He has also been a prize winner at the MMTA Concerto Competition. Additionally, David has won prizes from the Metropolitan Detroit Musicians League Young Artist Competition and from the Albion College Young Artist Competition. David also received the Grand Prix award in the Music-Fest Piano Competition, which earned him the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall in New York in 2012. Aside from playing piano, David is an avid reader, plays soccer, runs track, and holds a third degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He is also the president of the National Junior Honor Society at his school and enjoys serving as a leader in the school and the community. David plans to attend the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and to continue developing as a musician and fostering his love of music.

Joseph Mutone started his piano studies at 8 years of age and also plays the pipe organ and trumpet. As a pianist, Joseph has also placed to the state finals of MMTA on two occasions and was a 3rd prize state winner of that event. He also has been a prize winner at the Albion College Young Artist Competition. Most recently in 2015, Joseph was awarded 2nd place in the Michigan Federation of Music Clubs High School Award in Piano Competition. Joseph has also had the distinction of playing at Carnegie Hall on two occasions, in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Aside from playing piano, Joseph plays trumpet in his high school jazz band, works part-time as a church organist, gives piano lessons, and holds a fourth degree Master black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He also enjoys serving as a leader in the school and the community. Joseph is the Secretary of his high school student senate and is a member of the National Honor Society. In addition, in 2015, Joseph was awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens Award, having been nominated and selected from his entire senior class by the University of Detroit Jesuit High School faculty. Joseph will pursue a dual major in Music and Accounting at the University of Michigan in the fall, having been awarded a full-tuition music scholarship for all 4 undergraduate years.

Giulianna Hashemi-Asasi & Nikki Wu

Giulianna Hashemi-Asasi, 14, from La Jolla, California, is a 9th grader at Greater San Diego Academy and has been playing piano since the age of 4. She has participated in numerous local and regional piano solo competitions and most recently has won first place and the Judges Distinction Award in the 2016 American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition. She also was awarded first place in 2016 at the US International Duo Piano Competition in Colorado Springs in two categories, with her duo and quartet. She also plays the cello and has participated in various cello solo competitions and music festivals locally and abroad.

Nikki Wu, 13, from San Diego, CA, is an eighth grader at Oak Valley Middle School and has been studying the piano since the age of 5. She has participated in numerous competitions and most recently has won first place and the Judges Distinction Award in the 2016 American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition. She also was awarded first place in 2016 at the US International Duo Piano Competition in Colorado Springs. Nikki also plays the violin in her school orchestra.

Raymond Truong & Brian Truong

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Raymond Truong graduated as a valedictorian from Reynoldsburg High School’s Class of 2014. Currently, he is an honors student at Ohio State, studying accounting and chemical engineering, and plans to graduate from in 2018. Raymond has been a student of piano since the age of four and studied piano with Mrs. Mary Craig Powell from the age of seven until seventeen. Raymond has also taken master classes from Peter Takacs, Professor of Piano at Oberlin University, and lessons from Steven Glaser, Professor of Piano at Ohio State University. Raymond participated in the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs Festival for nine years, and earned a superior rating every year. In addition, he participated in the Piano Guild for ten years. Raymond has also earned a variety of accolades with multiple second and third place finishes in the Graves Competition’s junior solo division. He also was the winner in the senior division of the South Central district Buckeye Competition, and was honorable mention in the state Buckeye Competition. As someone who had always been a soloist, Raymond returned to the piano after a two-year hiatus to experience duet performance.

Brian Truong is currently a student at Metro High School in the BODIES program. As part of the program, he takes classes at the Ohio State University and undertakes protein research with Dr. Charles Bell of Ohio State University. Brian studied piano for five years since the age of three with Mrs. Mary Craig Powell, and studied with his current teacher, Mrs. Kathleen Sadoff, since he was eight. In addition, Brian has taken master classes with Peter Takacs, Professor of Piano at Oberlin University. Brian participates in the Piano Guild and Ohio Federation of Music Clubs Festival yearly and earns high ratings regularly. Brian has also received a number of awards with multiple first place finishes. Brian was first place in the elementary division of the OMTA duet competition, first place in the OFMC’s Marilyn Walter Young Musician’s Award, and third place in the Charlotte & W. Alfred Gray Competition.

Young Artist Division

Evangeline Canfield & Elizabeth Canfield

Elizabeth and Evangeline Canfield are identical twin sisters who bring a charismatic mix of commentary, performance and synchronicity to classical works in concert for two pianists. They have presented on concert series’, recitals, collaborative performances, participated in piano festivals at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and the Summer Piano Institute in Corfu Greece, and have given a concerto performance of Mozart's K 365 for two pianos and orchestra. They graduated from Bowling Green State University with their Master’s degree in Piano Performance, and their love of piano duets has inspired them to specialize in performing, teaching and lecturing on the piano duo genre. Elizabeth and Evangeline currently serve as adjunct faculty at the State University of New York at Oswego where they teach group piano and Elizabeth previously taught at Bowling Green State University and Owens Community College. When not doing music, they love reading mysteries, traveling, spending time with friends and family, and scheming up their next creative project.

Emily Beckman & Kristin Beckman

Emily and Kristin Beckman, from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, began their music studies at ages nine and seven respectively. Their first instructor introduced them to duets almost as soon as they could competently read music. During their high-school years, piano studies continued under Dr. Helen Marlais of Grand Valley State University in Michigan. Dr. Marlais challenged them to begin competing with both solo piano and one piano-four hands. As a piano duo, they began by participating in the 2009 Chicago Duo Piano Festival competition. Their accomplishments include finishing as national finalists in the 2010 MTNA Senior Piano Duet Division, and receiving back to back honorable mentions in years 2010 and 2011 in the Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition (one piano-four hands division). They also participated in the 2011 Liszt 200 Chicago International Duo Piano Competition.

The sisters took a break from competing to pursue pedagogical training and to open their own private studio where they teach both traditional and Suzuki piano to young children. Currently, they are coached by Mary Siciliano from the University of Michigan, and host their own chamber music concert series with annual or semiannual performances.

Inyoung Kim & Min-Chul Shin

Pianist Inyoung Kim began piano study at the age of seven. She studied at Seoul National University in South Korea with Jong HwaPark and Hyeong-bae Kim, graduating ‘cum laude’ with a full scholarship from Seoul National University as well as funding from Sungnam City Association and Artsylvia Foundation. Afterwards she moved to the U.S. to complete her musical education with Alexander Korsantia at the New England Conservatory in Boston where she was placed on the Dean’s List. Beginning in the fall of 2016, she will be attending the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music for doctoral studies. Inyoung Kim has won top prizes at many competitions in the United States: Texas State International Piano Competition, New England Conservatory Honors Competition, Dallas International Piano Competition, and Bradshaw & Buono International Competition. Additionally, she has won numerous competitions in Korea such as the KookMin Journal Competition, Teenager Piano Competition, Music Journal Competition, SunHwa Arts Chamber Competition, Korea Piano Duo Association Competition, Seoul Music Competition, Sejong Music Competition and Music Educational Competition, and Samik Piano Competition. Upcoming and recent activities include performances at Jordan Hall Boston, Seoul City Hall, Munich Kammer Hall, Caruth Auditorium Dallas, Music Theater San Antonio, Kumho Arts Hall, and Youngsan Arts Hall. As an enthusiastic teacher and lecturer, currently Kim holds teaching assistant positions at the New England Conservatory. Additionally, she has held positions as a collaborative pianist at New England Conservatory Preparatory School, New England Conservatory Choir, a staff pianist of Vocal Department of New England Conservatory, and studio accompanist for faculty of the school. As a member of chamber groups, she has played an active part as a pianist in orchestras, piano duo and trio teams.

Pianist Minchul Shin has been studying piano since the age of six. He studied Seoul Gifted Children school of Music with Jung-Yeun Shin, and after graduation from Sun-Hwa Art High School, He is now studing Hanyang University of South Korea with Chong-Pil Lim. He began to show outstanding talent in music from his childhood. He graduated from Seoul Gifted Children School with honors and when he was in high school, he has won award for excellent practical. In addition, he attended Hanyang University in Seoul on a scholarship. Minchul Shin did very well in many competitions in Korea: Eumyeun Music Competition, L.V Beethoven Competition by Eumyeun and Dispatch overseas competition by Korea Music Society, Seoul National Orchestra competition. Moreover, he has won second prize at SunHwa Chamber Competition and piano duo performing at Kumho Art Hall, Universal Art Hall, Beak-Nam Art Hall in Hanyang University. Furthermore, he has received excellent reviews from audience to play chamber music as a Hanyang Piano Quartet member (such as G. Faure, J. Brahms, A. Dvorak). Also, Minchul Shin has held positions collaborative pianist as Seoul Public Official Choir and has recorded Korean songs with Robert Lee (professor of Hanyang University) as a vocal music collaborative pianist. He took lessons and master class at the 2006 NICE International Music Festival in Franch and Wuerzbrug Music School in German Master, participated in many past master class such as Dang Tahi Son, Yulianna Avdeeva, Attila Nemethy, Karl Betz.

Scott Sherman & Yaoyue Huang

Scott Sherman currently studies at The College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio under Soyeon Kate Lee. He is currently on scholarship for attaining his MM degree in Piano Performance. Previously he has worked under Minsoo Sohn at Michigan State College of Music for his BM in Piano Performance. Scott studied in the private studio of Catherine Rollin in his years prior to college, from the beginning of his training as a classical pianist. He has performed in masterclasses for Pianists Richard Goode, Pierre Van Der Weshuizen (CEO and president of Cleveland International Piano Competition), John Perry, James Tocco, Alon Goldstein, Ning An, Sara Davis Beuchner, Dr. Fang Luo (Associate Professor of Piano at the China Conservatory in Beijing), John Weems (Professor at University of Houston) and has had lessons with Robert Roux, Victor Rosenbaum and others. Scott Has attended Orford International Piano Academy under John Perry, and participated in the 10th Annual Pianopalooza Bearcat Festival at CCM. Scott also attended the Sid and Mary Foulger International Music Festival at Weber State University and The David D. Dubois Piano Festival. Scott and his Duo partner Yaoyue Huang received an Honorable Mention in the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano competition. Scott Also performed in the annual Bach’s Birthday Concert Held at MSU College of Music. Scott was the 2nd place recipient of the National Stillman Kelly Piano Competition, and the 1st place recipient of the Michigan Music Teachers Association (MMTA) Competition and 1st place recipient of the MTNA piano competition. He also received 1st place in the Birmingham Musicale and Hope College Piano Competitions. Scott also performed on local Oakland County Television as the recipient of the Birmingham Musicale Award.

Yaoyue Huang is a DMA student of Piano Performance at Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, where she is studying with Soyeon Lee. She is currently on scholarship for attaining her DMA degree. Previously she worked under Minsoo Sohn in Michigan State University, who she also studied with in her undergraduate and master years alongside George Vatchnatze. Yaoyue Huang is an international student from the south of China where she studied in Shenzhen Arts school in her middle and high school years. In 2014, she was one of the winners of the Birmingham Young Artist Concerto Competition and played the first movement of Chopin Concerto No. 1 with the orchestra. She was also the distinguished winner of the College of Music Concerto Competition where she played the full Prokofiev Piano Concerto no. 3 with the MSU Symphony Orchestra held in Lansing High School. The concerto was recorded and played in radio 90.5 M. She was awarded honorable mention in the 2016 Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition, Piano Duo division, with Scott Sherman. November 2009, she performed a Chopin Ballade in celebration of Chopin’s birthday in Cook Recital Hall, East Lansing, Michigan. In the spring of 2012 she played in the Bach’s Birthday concert held by the College of Music in Michigan State University. In April 2016, she performed two piano works by Dutilleux with Scott Sherman in the 10th Annual Pianopalooza Bearcat Piano Festival in Werner Hall, Cincinnati. She has also performed in Wharton Center (East Lansing, Michigan), Baoli Theater (Shenzhen, China)), Shenzhen Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Culture Centre, Xinghai Concert Hall (Guangzhou, China). She was also invited as a chamber and solo pianist in the Wave Elements Global Music Festival in Portland, Oregon. She has taken part in many festivals including the Gilmore Artists Festival, Beijing International Festival, Tuscany music festival in Italy and various masterclasses around the country. She has taken private and masterclass lessons with famous pianists such as Frank Glazer (who was Artur Schnabel's student), Sergei Babayan, Leif Ove Andesnes, Andrea Bonatta, Christine Otiz, Ahou Guangren and more.

Pearl-Lynne Chen & Carlisle Anderson-Frank

Pearl-Lynne Chen and Carlisle Anderson-Frank first met in high school, and soon after began their musical collaboration, playing the Schubert Fantasy in F minor for four hands. Their post-secondary musical studies took them as far as Scotland, where they both completed undergraduate studies in piano performance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. Together, Pearl and Carlisle won the school’s annual prize for duet-playing in their freshman year. In subsequent years, both garnered numerous accolades for their solo and collaborative playing, including the first and second prizes at the Moray Piano Competition in Elgin, capital of the Scottish Highlands. Within the Conservatoire, Pearl won the Classical Concerto Competition, and performed Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto with the RCS Orchestra. Carlisle was awarded the Governor's Prize for Piano, the Dunbar-Gerber prize for chamber music, as well as the first prize in the Bamber-Galloway Piano Competition. As they became increasingly active individually as solo pianists, however, the pair realized that their greatest wish was to form a professional ensemble together. Since completing their undergraduate degrees, Pearl and Carlisle returned to Toronto, where they began to focus on developing their ensemble playing in earnest. Together they won first prize in the 2014 North West International Piano Ensemble Competition in Vancouver, BC.