The Stars

Born in Beijing, China in 2012, Selena Zhang started playing the piano at the age of five and a half. After trying various activities, including soccer, softball, ballet, tap, and chess, Selena discovered her love for the piano. Her first competition experience was in 2019 when she was seven, and since then, she has won several awards, including first place in the American Protege International Music Talent Competition Spring 2020, the 2021 Golden Classical Music International Competition, and the 2022 summer and fall Global Genius Competition.

In December of 2021, Selena Zhang began studying with Dr. Jenny Q Chai, founder of FaceArt Institute of Music. Under Dr. Chai’s tutelage, Selena Zhang has gained extensive knowledge about the piano and the different eras of music history. Dr. Chai has also taught her how to sight-read, identify wrong notes, and practice effectively. Selena Zhang’s dedication to practice, combined with Dr. Chai’s guidance, has helped her improve her technique, build confidence, and find joy in playing.

Selena Zhang practices for approximately two hours a day, beginning with 20 minutes of warm-ups, such as scales, arpeggios, Hanon exercises, and finger strength training. She then focuses on repertoire, with a keen eye on the quality of her playing. Selena Zhang favorite types of music are classical and pop. Classical music brings her a sense of calm, while some pieces evoke bold and strong emotions. Pop music is happy and upbeat, but can also convey strong feelings.

Selena Zhang’s greatest accomplishment to date is winning her first piano competition in 2019, with the help of her family, who provided support and guidance. Her piano teachers have also played a crucial role in teaching her how to express her feelings through music. To prepare for performances, Selena and her friends rehearse to build confidence and experience performing in front of an audience.

Selena’s ultimate dream is to become a professional pianist and use the power of music to bring joy and happiness to people’s lives. With her dedication and talent, she is well on her way to achieving this goal.

Hailey Chan, a young pianist from Richmond, BC, Canada, has been making waves in the music world since she began studying piano with Ms. Michelle Hsieh at the age of 7. Ms. Hsieh has been a great inspiration to Hailey and has motivated her to constantly challenge herself. As a result, Hailey has won various competitions and will soon be performing at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Hailey has a dream of becoming a professional musician when she grows up. Her ultimate goal is to travel around the world for performances and share her experiences through social media. However, Hailey is not just a talented musician; she is also passionate about environmental issues. She has chosen to focus on humanitarian projects that address the problem of plastic pollution.

According to Hailey, most plastic products ultimately end up as waste, polluting our environment. She hopes to use music to bring awareness to this issue and promote finding sustainable waste management solutions. Hailey is a young musician with a big heart and a passion for making a positive impact on the world.

“I was born in Switzerland in 2009, I started playing the cello at the age of 5 and a half with G. Leclerc, then with Emmanuelle Goffart at the Conservatoire de Lausanne. From the age of 8, I won national and international competitions and had the chance to play for many regional concerts. At the age of 9, I joined the Ministrings group of the Lausanne Conservatory (directed by T. Strinning and B. Batt), which allowed me to develop my skills in stage expression and improvisation and to give concerts in many countries. I love music so much that I also play other instruments for pleasure: oboe, violin, ukulele, guitar, piano etc.

I like a lot of music of different styles, but mainly classical, jazz and traditional (Celtic) music. For example, I like very much Handel’s concerto grosso and the concerto in B for oboe by A. Marcello.

If it’s a normal day, I start my practice with technical exercises (empty strings, scales, arpeggios) and then I work on my pieces. Normally, I work between 2 and 4 hours a day.

I practice my pieces more and more, I start slowly, then faster. When the piece is ready, I thread the pieces like for the concert or the competition. I also practice with accompaniment, to know perfectly my entries and the piano/orchestra part. I also use visualization before going to bed and in the car for example.

Currently, my teacher is Denis Severin at Zakhar Bron Zurich. I wanted to work with him after I met him during the masterclass SOMAK academy in Biel in 2020. It was also on this occasion that I had the chance to play as a soloist with an orchestra for the first time (Budweis, dir. D. Svec)! We got along well right away and I liked his way of working. I feel very privileged to be his student.

I have so many dreams at the moment, that they are always changing! At the moment I would like to work with Rega as an air rescuer.

I couldn’t choose, because I would like to support them all! I especially like the protection of the planet and the animals…”

“We are a Vienna-based ensemble with Polish origins. We all met in Warsaw during our studies and we decided to form an ensemble with the mission to promote unknown Polish chamber music. We have great love and appreciation for Polish music and we have always been very dedicated to the cause of finding and popularizing the music of the less fortunate composers. 

During our journey through the Polish history of music, we have found some true piano chamber music gems, which deserve to be presented to a wide, international audience. Our favorite Polish composers include Ludomir Różycki, Artur Malawski, Ignacy Feliks Dobrzyński and Franciszek Lessel. They all represent different times and styles, from late classicism until the second half of the XX century. Our research has led us to work as music editors for the EUPHONIUM Publishing House, for which we edited Lessel’s Piano Trio in E major op. 5. The score was published in 2020 as the first ever printed edition of this beautiful piece. We have also recorded three Polish piano trios for the biggest Polish label – DUX Recording Producers – and our performances have been very well reviewed both by critics and the audience. 

We believe that bringing newly discovered music to the public is our duty, as we are artists carrying the musical legacy of our country to the next generations. This is the main goal for which we aim through our studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, where we study in the class of piano chamber music of professor Avedis Kouyoumdjian. We also work with Sibila Konstantinova and Vida Vujic regularly. What we admire about our university is that it is very international and diverse. Coming from Poland, studying with teachers from Austria, Lebanon, Armenia, Bulgaria, Serbia, and other countries has been a true inspiration for us as young people looking forward to learning from different stories, habits, and experiences of our mentors. 

In the past few years, we have succeeded to present rediscovered Polish music to some prestigious concert halls around the world, such as the Polish National Philharmonic Hall and other wonderful concert halls in Lithuania, Italy, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Our highlight for the 2022/23 season is a concert cycle in Musikverein in Vienna, probably the most recognized hall in the world, where we will perform three concerts, each of them including a Polish piece. 

Our biggest musical dream is to travel with our music to all the countries, all the communities, and all the surroundings, to connect traditions of different origins and cultures throughout the world. We are delighted to be able to fulfill that dream already, but our aspirations and ambitions wander way further and we keep working on expanding our project.”

“My name is Emmanouil Makridis and I’m 16 years old. I’m from Greece. I’m studying now at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki, with Prof. Thanos Mitsalas. I have won 9 prizes in classical guitar and music Competitions since last year (when I started participating in competitions).

I like all kinds of music, especially Jazz and Contemporary Music (XX Century) because I feel free and I’m able to express myself easier. 

I practice about 4-5 hours per day (sometimes more, depending on the situation). At first, when I’m learning a new piece of music, I practice slowly, so I can think every single note and then  when the piece (or the part of the piece) feels secure, I raise the tempo, little by little until I reach the desired speed. After I reach a normal speed (sometimes is not the final tempo, but close to it) I start to consciously interpret the piece. Besides the musical interpretation, I try to “say’’ something deeper, in order to be able to connect with the audience. 

When I started playing guitar, my first teacher was Costas Bravakis, who really inspired me, made me love the guitar and connect deeply with music. So, every time I’m thinking about my relationship with Art in general, I always think about him. 

I try to participate in every competition possible, to gain experience and put myself out there.

My dream is to be the best and to truly express my “inner self” when on stage, to create that magical connection with other people.”

Award winning experience :
– 1^st Prize Music and Stars Music Competition
– 1^st Prize International Music Competition “The Muse”
– 1^st Prize Orpheus Soloists Music Competition
– 1^st Prize Palaio Faliro Guitar Festival (cat. Up to 18 years old)
– 2^nd Prize Palaio Faliro Guitar Festival (cat. No age limit)
– 2^nd Prize London Music Competition
– 2^nd Prize Tasos Pappas Music Competition (2021)
– 2^nd Prize Orpheus Soloists Competition (2021)
– 3^rd Prize Sofia Guitar Festival (cat. Up to 17 years old)

“I was born and grew up in Osaka, Japan. I’m 19 years old. I started playing the marimba 4 years ago. I performed on a  Japanese TV program in 2019 called “Untitled Concert”, which is listed in the Guinness World Records as the longest running  classical TV program. Recently, I have been studying with Mr. Shinsuke Ishihara for a year. I won the third prize in the 22^nd OSAKA International Music Competition in 2021 with his help. 

I like classical, jazz, pop, brass band, Japanese Anime songs, and marimba original songs. I especially like Symphony No. 9,  E MINOR, OP. 95, “From the New World” by Antonin Dvorak, and “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin. 

I practice the marimba almost every day. First, I do the scale sheet, chromatic scale, and arpeggio for about 10 minutes. Second,  I play the song that I am currently practicing from the beginning to the end. Third, I check the points I missed and the important  points that my teacher instructed me on in the last lesson for about 20-30 minutes. Finally, I repeatedly play the song from the  beginning to the end again for about 1 to 2 hours on average. 

I research the competitions in which I’m going to participate as some of them have different examination methods. I need to change the way I play depending on the competitions, so I spend some time studying the requirements. I put on the outfit which I wear at competitions and practice at home while wearing it right before competitions. 

I study with Mr. Shinsuke Ishihara. He is a great marimbist, performer, & teacher. He teaches me not only how to play but  also body movements and how to appeal to the audience. He always says that our goal is to make our audience happy. I think  it is very important. I am a scholarship student at Osaka University of Arts and Mr. Koji Takata, the Head of the Music  Department, also says the same thing. He tells me that I should always look up and be confident, and also to chase my dream. 

When I was 16, I won the music audition to be on a TV program called “Untitled Concert”. There were 749 performers on the  program, and only 6 performers were selected from among them. I was one of them. Then, I was given the chance to perform  with the world-famous conductor, Mr. Keitaro Harada, and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. It was such an exciting, fun  moment of my life and I will never forget it! Therefore, I would like to improve my skills and perform with them again as a  soloist in the future. I will keep practicing until I achieve this. 

Another dream is that I would like to have my marimba music used as BGM in the battle stage for the game called “Monster  Strike”. Its music is a mixture of classical and pop, and it’s very artistic. It would be so exciting if my music could be used  in a game! 

I would like to volunteer to perform in front of refugees and people in need. I would love to play some pieces of music for  them because I think it will help take their minds off their problems and give them a happy memory to hold onto. This is  actually why I started playing the marimba. I really feel that the sounds of the marimba have the ability to heal and bring joy.”

“Thank you very much for the opportunity to share my story. My name is Sakura Komatsu. I was born in Tokyo in 2013 and first started playing the violin when I was two years old. Although I do not remember it, my violin journey began when I pointed at a violin player on TV and said, “I want this, too.” My first competition experience was in 2019. Since then, I have won several prizes, including 1^st Prize at the Cecilia International Music Competition and 1^st Prize at the Japan Junior Violin Competition. I also won the Gold Prize at the Shimoda International Music Competition and performed as a soloist with a string quintet in a prize-winners’ concert. 

I am currently studying with Ms. Mitsuki Matsuda, who has guided me since the beginning of my journey, and Prof. Kazuki Sawa, the former president of Tokyo University of the Arts. I really enjoy their lessons because they teach me not only violin techniques but also the joy of playing music. After lessons, I always go home feeling inspired and with a sense of fulfillment. 

I usually practise for four hours a day, starting with 45 minutes on scales and Sevcik, 45 minutes on etudes, and the rest of the time on repertoires. Before and after my practice, I always do a set of exercises to avoid play-related pain. These also help me to get into practice mode. As I have grown older, it has become very important to keep the right balance between my academic work and violin practice, so I try to think about the quality of the practice rather than the quantity. To improve the quality, I thoroughly read the score and comments from my mentors before playing a piece. I love to practise because I truly enjoy the trial and error process, finding what works for me and what does not. This experiment-like aspect of practice is very exciting. 

One of my greatest aspirations is to become good at communicating through my violin as I dream of becoming a violinist who can express the various moods and characters of each piece of music. I would like to enable my violin to sing in many colours.”

“I was born in Toulouse, France, in 2006. I have been studying for 10 years at the Toulouse Conservatory with Véronique Grange and François Henry and I obtained my piano Diploma with the Congratulations of the Jury as well as my Chamber Music Diploma. This year, I passed the entrance exam to the National Superior Conservatory of Paris where I will study with Marie-Josèphe Jude from september. I also participate in masterclasses with great teachers such as Gérôme Granjon and Jacques Rouvier.

I practice the piano 5 hours a day. I did my first competition at the age of 8 and I won 14 first prizes, 2 second prizes and 1 third prize in national and international competitions.

I am lucky enough to be invited to play in festivals in France, solo or with orchestra and I also work with a soprano singer for opera recitals.

I am very attracted by the music of 20th century composers such as Ravel, Debussy or Rachmaninov and the Spanish music of Albeniz and Mompou. I also listen to great rock bands like Pink Floyd or Genesis to relax and have another approach to sound.

I’m very interested in video as a way to bring classical music to a wider audience and I’m very proud to have won the “Crown Of Stars” twice for best video!

I participate in charity concerts like the next one in october 2022. On this occasion I will be very happy to play with the great Cuban jazz pianist Rolando Luna and the famous French mandolinist Julien Martineau for the association “Action femmes 31” which helps women in need.

To end with, I would like to thank Music & Stars Awards for the encouragement to work again and again to reach the best!”

Classical Guitarist
Manni Wu was born in Jiangxi, China. Master and Concertexam Degree was graduated with the highest Marks  at Duesseldorf Robert Schumman Hochschule. She took successful part in several master classes with Carlo Marchione (Italy), Gabriel Bianco (France), Marcin Dylla (Poland), Marco Tamayo (Cuba), Ricardo Gallen (Spain) and Thomas Mueller-Pering (Germany). 

“I like to listen to different kinds of Music, Classical, Jazz, Pop and so on.

I like to practice, it’s interesting for me because I can get the fun and the achievement. It’s like climbing the Mountain, you meet the difficult points and you find a way to solve them and at the end, you will touch the Top. I practice a lot, 6 hours more or less. Then I do the warm-up exercises, which is very necessary. 

During the Bachelor, I studied at the Xinghai Conservatory of Music in Guangzhou where I studied with Prof. Bastian Hildner (Germany). He gave me many ideas on how to practice correctly, how to arrange my time for daily practice, and how to build confidence on the stage.

I studied Master and Concert exam Degree at Duesseldorf Robert Schumman Hochschule with Prof. Joaquin Clerch (Cuba). He is the greatest teacher in my mind. His lessons are relaxed, and you can change yourself immediately. You will know what real Music should be and how to create your own character.”

I am Nicny and my stage name is Nicny Hermione. I was born in the summer of 2012 in Bangkok. I attended CurtainCall Performing Arts Studio by Kru Jing. 

In 2022, I am honoured to have received a Gold Prize from Music & Stars Awards 2022, a Grand Prize from International Youth Music Contest (IYMC) 2022, a Gold Prize from the 2022 American Music Talent Competition, a 1st Prize from the International Association of Arts “Muse” International Music Contest 2022, a Special Award from London Young Musician of the Year 2022 for Creative Performance of the Year 2022 and an Annual Award for the Vocalist of the Year 2022 from the London Young Musician of the Year 2022 Annual Contest. In 2021, I am honoured to have received thirteen (13) Gold, Distinction and 1st Prize Awards; and seven (7) Silver and 2nd Prize Awards, and three (3) Bronze Awards from various International Music Competitions both singing and piano.

I love songs that bring out strong character and are empowering. I sing every now and then, and basically everywhere that is allowed. I love to perform on stage. I love to read the background of every song that I sing, and immerse myself into the character. I love both musical and non-musical. Since I am young, I want to explore all types of music genres including Rap, R&B, Jazz and Soul. 

Vocal warm up is very important, especially if we want to achieve high belting technique and avoiding vocal nodules. My vocal coach is Kru Jing, she will observe my vocal strength and range capability and prepare the appropriate warm up notes. Kru Jing is a very dedicated vocal coach especially for young children and is also a famous vocalist herself. 

I also love writing and composing songs, I am a beginner songwriter, I am honoured to have received 4 Star Awards with Commended Entry Position for 4 songs, and 3 Star Awards with Songwriter Position for 7 songs from UK Songwriting Contest 2021.

I love the sea and nature. I love surfing. I support equality and children’s rights. I hope to use music to promote awareness to protect nature and mental health.