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Meet Sherlita Mickens, a gifted Black American lyric soprano whose musical journey began at a tender age in the vibrant city of Richmond, Virginia. Her love for music blossomed as she sang with her church choir at the age of three and received a keyboard to explore her musical talents further. From listening to Mozart’s greatest hits to participating in school choirs, ensembles, theater, and orchestra, Sherlita’s passion for music knew no bounds.

Following her heart’s desire, Sherlita pursued her Bachelor’s of Arts in Music at Virginia Commonwealth University, guided by esteemed vocal instructors Sarah Walston and Melanie Day. While her undergraduate studies provided a solid foundation, it was during her graduate studies at Norfolk State University, under the tutelage of Dr. Biana Jackson, where Sherlita discovered the true essence of her craft. Embracing an hour of daily practice, she honed her vocal skills, focusing on diction, character expression, breath support, and creating a resonant sound.

Sherlita’s dedication and hard work have paved the way for numerous performing opportunities in her community, including singing The National Anthem at events, performing oratorios, masterclasses, and recitals at art museums. As she prepares for her Young Artist Program in Santa Clara, California, Sherlita feels blessed to have Dr. Jackson as her mentor, providing unwavering support and belief in her aspirations.

The stage is Sherlita’s canvas, where she shines bright, bringing life to her dream roles. From her ambition to portray The Queen of the Night in “The Magic Flute” to embodying Princess Turandot in “Turandot,” Effie in “Dreamgirls,” and Lucy in “Jekyll & Hyde,” Sherlita’s dedication to opera and musical theater knows no bounds.

Looking toward the future, Sherlita envisions herself as a concert recitalist, opera singer, and musical theater actress. Dreaming of solo debuts at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Sherlita’s vision extends beyond personal success.

Inspired by her journey, Sherlita hopes to make a difference in the lives of aspiring musicians, particularly those from historically Black colleges and inner-city schools. Her dream of donating funds to music programs is a testament to her commitment to nurturing future talents.

As Sherlita continues to let her light shine, she encourages young musicians to follow their hearts and embrace their musical dreams. With passion, hard work, and the unwavering support of mentors, the stage awaits those who dare to believe in the power of their melodies.

Lai Chun Wai, hailing from Hong Kong, is an exceptional pianist who began his musical journey at the tender age of seven, under the tutelage of renowned concert pianist and conductor, Mr. Andy Tung Yee Tsun. With a persistent and committed attitude, his masterful performances on stage in May 2022 showcased his deep emotional connection with the musical pieces, captivating the audience in a visceral experience. In recognition of his outstanding musical talents, he was bestowed the honour of best student pianist by his headmaster in August 2022.

“My name is Guilherme Arantes, I am 69 years old, Brazilian composer, singer and pianist, with twenty-seven recorded albums along with 47 years of artistic career. I was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

I started my passion for music at age of six when I got a little cavaquinho, a Christmas present, and later a mandolin. I was then sent by my parents to study piano using a Fritz Dobbert brand. Piano has become my passion since then.

I am quite unique since my songs are pretty much all authorial. I write the songs, the harmony, I play the piano and keyboard and I sing them. I have registered close to 400 songs.

Many songs that I’ve written were recorded by major Brazilian artists, like Roberto Carlos, Maria Bethania, Elis Regina, Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Leila Pinheiro, Nando Reis, Paulo Miklos, Fagner, Vanessa da Matta, Céu, Edu Falaschi amongst many others.

Since the year 2000, I belong to the Roster of Steinway Artists, the endorsees ́ Gallery of the famous piano factory of New York and Hamburg.

My composing style is considered a mix of pop, progressive rock, R&B, and much of the Brazilian heritage of bossa nova and “MPB”.

I have received many awards and special recognitions during my career.  Many of my songs were in the top 100 billboard charts for decades. My main hit “Meu Mundo e Nada Mais” has been acclaimed by Rolling Stone Brazil as one of the 100 greatest Brazilian songs of all time. My 2013 album Condicao Humana got best album of the year in 2013 by Rolling Stone Magazine and Multishow Award and considered the album of the decade by Redbull Brazil.

In 2021 I released a new album “A Desordem dos Templarios”, composed in Avila, Spain. During the pandemic period, I have studied orchestration and baroque music, and those classical influences, besides the Middle-Age atmosphere of the city, have been deeply imprinted on the recorded material.

Most of the songs are sweet piano ballads, very organic, with many layers of acoustic guitars, creating a very personal and classic pop dressing. The title song “A Desordem dos Templários” is a mix of north-eastern Brazilian “Baião”, with strong Zabumba percussion, building a very peculiar blend of this folkloric rhythm with a progressive Rock structure, building up a complete suite of many parts, in a total of seven minutes of listening journey.

I am very proud to say that my songs have an incredible crossover between all social classes, admired both on and off stage by audiences and critics everywhere. Making songs that get deep into the heart and emotions of people is my spiritual gift.”

Ryan is an 11-year-old boy, he also enjoys coding, reading, cubing, and table tennis. He started to learn piano at age of 4 in China. Now he studies piano in Toronto with Dr. Olga, the principal of CAMA.

He is a winner of numerous competitions: 1^st Prize, International Deutscher Irmler (Shanghai); 1^st Prize, Liszt International Piano Open Competition (Hong Kong); 2^nd Place, CFMTA Student Composer Competition (Canada); 1^st Place, Saskatchewan Music Festival Provincial (Canada); Gold Star, Music and Stars Awards Competition.  

Ryan likes classical music most, but he also enjoys jazz.
He practices piano about 3 hours a day, and more in competitions. Before going into pieces, he often practices warm-up exercises like scales and chords. 

From his teachers, he learned skills like musical dynamics, touch, how to make a beautiful tone, and the colors of pieces. His teachers also taught him to use his whole body when playing music.

His dream is to become a concert pianist and let everyone love and enjoy music.