Aaron Wang is a 17-year-old pianist whose performances are celebrated for their technical refinement, mature artistry, and expressive depth. He balances his studies as a senior student at Scarsdale High School with his role as a piano major student in the Pre-College Division at The Juilliard School, where he studies under the mentorship of distinguished pianist Hung-Kuan Chen.

Aaron began his musical journey at age six, making his public debut that same year. He has since performed on prestigious stages including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and appeared as a soloist with the Manhattan School of Music Symphony Orchestra in 2022. A top prize-winner in national and international competitions, his accolades include victories at Prima Music Foundation International Concerto Competition (2026), the 5th Fou petitoT’song International Concerto Competition (2025), Chicago International Music Competition (2023), Manhattan School of Music Concerto Competition (2022) , and multiple Steinway & Sons competitions.

Believing firmly in music’s power to connect and inspire, Aaron regularly shares his music at community gatherings. For him, the piano is a vessel for emotional storytelling and a bridge between cultures, an instrument through which he invites listeners to experience the profound beauty and nuance in every note.

Karen Matsui, 16, is a junior at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, California, and a third-year Music Honor Fellow in its Conservatory Program. She studies with Rose Chen and Elliot Wuu and receives mentorship from Victor Rosenbaum, former Piano Department Chair at New England Conservatory.

Karen has earned first prizes in numerous competitions, including the 2026 Harmony for Peace Ambassador Competition, 2025 Marian Filice Piano Competition, 2025 Pittsburgh International Performance Competition, United States Open Music Competition, and New Star International Competition. In 2026, she won First Prize at the Prima Music Foundation International Concerto Competition and will perform in Rome in 2027.

Karen has participated in leading summer programs including the Oberlin Summer Piano Festival, Texas State International Piano Festival, Flagstaff Piano Festival, and Boston University Tanglewood Institute, working with distinguished artists including Alexander Kobrin, Enrico Elisi, Michelle Cann, Spencer Myer, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, and Robert Shannon.

An enthusiastic chamber musician, improviser, and composer, Karen has received awards for her original works and was invited to perform her composition Awakening at the World Composers Recital in Vienna. Beyond music, she enjoys creative writing and caring for animals, including fostering neglected cats as they prepare for permanent homes.

Faith Eugenia Villar-Córdova Scott is an eleven-year-old pianist who won her first international piano competition at age five. Since then, she has earned numerous awards, including top prizes in the Memphis, Colors of Chopin, Radda Rise, Berlioz, Saint-Saëns, Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn, Franz Liszt Center, Royal, Florida Young Artists, and Carmel Klavier International Piano Competitions.

Faith is a recipient of the Coral Gables Music Club Scholarship and has received scholarships to attend the Palmetto International Piano Festival and Sewanee Music Festival. In 2023, at age seven, she made her orchestral debut performing a Haydn concerto under Maestro Alberto Bade and appeared at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall.

In 2025, Faith won the Central Iowa Symphony Concerto Competition and performed Mozart under Maestro Eric McIntyre. In 2026, she earned the Silver Medal at the International Keyboard Odyssiad and won the Orchestra Omaha Young Artist Concerto Competition, performing Bach under Dr. Kenneth Meints. She also received the PMF Merit Award and third prize nationally in the MTNA Elementary Composition Competition.

Faith also studies violin and cello and continues piano studies with Dr. Marion and Rosa Scott.

Hailing from the greater Richmond area of Virginia, pianist Stephen S. Chen is a dedicated young musician currently studying under Dr. Yinfei Wang. He began piano at age five with Ms. Ruta Smedina-Starke and has since earned numerous honors in international, state, and district competitions.

Stephen has received top awards including the Grand Prix at the XVI Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford and the Music Matters International Music Competition, as well as Platinum at the International Young Gifted Musicians Competition. He has also won First Place in competitions including the WPTA Spain International Piano Competition, V International Chopin Competition in Vienna, XV Savshinsky International Music Competition, American Protégé International Competition, Stockholm Tenth International Music Competition, and others.

In Virginia, Stephen earned First Place in the VMTA State Auditions in 2022 and 2024, and First Place in the RMTA Central Virginia District Auditions for five consecutive years (2021–2025).

His performance highlights include debuts at Carnegie Hall and Ehrbar Saal Vienna, followed by appearances at Harvard University, NIH, and Van Cliburn Hall. He has also performed at the Washington International Piano Festival and participated in masterclasses with distinguished international pianists.

Jessie won First Prize in the Yamaha Senior Division of the 11th Bösendorfer and Yamaha USASU International Piano Competition (2025), as well as the Kaufman Music Center and Metropolitan International Piano Competitions. In 2025, the Prima Music Foundation sponsored her Yamaha competition prize and a performance at Faust Harrison Pianos. She has appeared on NPR’s From the Top and participated in the Valissima Institute.

Jessie graduated from Juilliard Pre-College in 2025, where she studied with Ernest Barretta. She is a founding member of the Happy Feat Trio, which has won several international chamber music competitions. Jessie performed Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 at Curtis in 2026 and continues exploring chamber music and conducting. She believes music can uplift, unite, heal, and connect people through shared emotions.

Opal Garg, 11, studies classical piano with Daniel Epstein at the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division. She began piano at age four at Third Street Music School, where she performed regularly in concerts and master classes and at venues including Steinway Hall, Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater, Weill Recital Hall, and Merkin Hall.

A prizewinner in numerous competitions, Opal won Third Street’s 2025 Concerto Competition and made her soloist debut in March 2026 at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater at Symphony Space with the ISO at Third Street Symphony Orchestra under Barry Stern. She also performed with The Village Trip Festival Orchestra conducted by Victoria Bond in 2025. That same year, she won First Prize and the Dina Koston Women Composers Award at the Piano Teachers Congress of New York Honors Program Competition.

In June 2026, Opal’s four-instrument composition won Third Street’s inaugural “Thank You for Holding” Composition Competition. She has also received RCM State Awards for three consecutive piano examinations.

An enthusiastic collaborative musician, Opal was the youngest member of Third Street’s Barbara E. Field Chamber Music Program. Beyond music, she enjoys creative writing, art, mathematics, swimming, chess, ice skating, and cycling.

Dylan Conuel, 12 years old, has been playing piano for just two years but has deeply immersed himself as a student of the craft. 

At 11 years old he was discovered playing in the lobby of the historic Red Lion Inn by Deborah Burke, the Director of the Powerhouse Theatre in New Canaan CT., who commissioned him to write the score for the play, Terra Nova, which received enthusiastic reviews. 

Dylan plays regularly at several venues throughout the Berkshires, notably the historic Ventfort Hall, The Red Lion and Gateways Inn.  

Dylan attends Lenox Memorial middle and high school where he plays piano in the band. He takes lessons with Ms. Anastasia Dedik and attends piano / composition camps in the summer. Dylan also plays soccer and enjoys art, architecture, geography and science. 

Artois Sancho is a dedicated music student at the Berkshire Music School in Pittsfield, where he studies piano with Anastasia Dedik and Amy Renak. A rising junior at Wahconah Regional High School, 15-year-old Artois is an accomplished flutist in the school’s concert band and a regular participant in the annual MMEA District Music Festival as well as Prima Music Institute & Festival. Artois was awarded a full talent scholarship by to return to PMIF in the summer of 2026. 

In addition to his musical pursuits, Artois is a competitive swimmer and a proud member of the Wahconah Warriors swim team, which has earned the title of Berkshire South Division Champions twice during his time on the team.