Toronto
Ryan Huang
2018 Signatorry Youth Pianist Award Winner
Ryan Huang, age 7, currently studies piano with Dr. Olga Chichova. He won the Grand Prize (7-10 yr category)for all instruments in the 2018 Canadian Music Competition. He has also been awarded the 2018 GOCAA Young Pianist Contract award.
In the past two years, Ryan has won numerous first places/gold medals and scholarships in a wide variety of competitions including the OMFA Provincial Final, Peel music festival, the Burlington Music Festival, North York Music Festival, and Outstanding Young Musician International Music Festival.
Ryan was awarded runner up for most Promising Young Performer in the Burlington Rotary Music Festival. In Feb 2018, he played in the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and won First Place in the Crescendo International Music Competition.
Ryan was also invited to play at the American Prodigy Summer Gala Concert in the Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall in June 2018.
Connor Taylor
2018 Signatorry Youth Pianist Award Winner
Connor is 13 years of age and has been studying piano with Ms. Cheryl Graham since he was 5 years of age. Connor has accomplished many wonderful things, the least of which are not the value of hard work and a sense of pride in his personal accomplishments.
Connor has been the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards from various Music Festivals and the Ontario Registered Music Teacher Association, including being the recipient of the Canada Music Week Award for highest exam marks in his Royal Conservatory Practical Exams for several years. Connor regularly achieves First Class Honours with Distinction on both his practical and theoretical exams. He will be taking his RCM Grade 8 Piano exam in August.
This past spring Connor received Barrie Music Festival Association’s Scholarship for Outstanding Performer in Senior Piano along with First Place in Senior Piano at South Simcoe Arts Council Music Festival. As the top senior pianist, Connor was chosen to represent BMF and SSAC at the Ontario Music Festival Association Provincial Competition in June 2018 where Connor was honoured to be awarded First Place out of 45 amazing Grade 8 level pianists from across Ontario. As a result of these awards over the years, Connor has been invited to perform at many prestigious gala awards concerts.
Masterclasses have been taken with respected professionals including Dr. Dmitry Rachmanov, Dr. Michael Esch, Dr. Koichi Inoue, and Dr. Penny Johnson.
The OYMI competition has been a great experience! In addition to several first place awards in the OYMI Music Festival, Connor also received Most Gifted Award and Best Performance Award.
Most recently, Connor competed in the OYMI Global Final Competition hosted by the GOCAA at the University of California Northridge. Connor was awarded First Place in the Grade 8 Piano Graded Examination Group and First Place in the Youth Division C Professional Group. Connor was also honoured to be awarded the Overall Signatory Youth Pianist Award.
Connor always enjoys performance opportunities and has been happy to volunteer for several fundraiser concerts.
Here’s what Connor says about music:
“I love to perform because I love music. I feel music. I love being able to make people feel what I feel through music. Music is a gift, a universal language with the ability to make people feel. I enjoy performing for people and making people happy.
I like the challenge music festivals and competitions present, to push myself to be better and I enjoy the incredible competition of other talented musicians. I am truly grateful for all of these wonderful gifts and opportunities.”
When not playing piano, Connor can be found enjoying outdoor activities, playing Goalie for his hockey team or swimming as he completes his Lifeguard and Swimming Instructor courses.
Vancouver
Ranfei Wang
2018 Signatorry Youth Pianist Award Winner
Ranfei Wang began studying piano in August 2009 at the age of seven and one half with piano teacher Fafan Xiao. Later he studied Ellen Silverman in Vancouver, and Susan Starr in Philadelphia. Currently Ranfei is studying piano with Robert Silverman and Craig Sheppard.
Ranfei had a passionate connection with classical music and in three and a half years was able to complete his RCM grade 10 piano with first class honor. He has won numerous first places, medals, trophies and scholarships at BCCM music festival, BCRMTA SPG festival, CMTAC music festival, Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival and the North Shore Music Festival.
In May 2012, Ranfei won the Yamaha Grand Prize (best performance in all age groups) at the Piano Star Competition in Vancouver. In July 2012, Ranfei competed in the prestigious Canadian Music Competition National Final and won 2nd place in the piano age 10 category. In January 2014, Ranfei won the third prize in the age 11 - 14 group at the AADGT International Young Gifted Musicians Festival "Passion of Music 2014" at New York, US. In February 2014, Ranfei has been chosen as a Third Place Winner of the American Protégé International Piano & Strings Competition 2014 (age 11 - 14 group) and performed Chopin Nocturne in C minor at The Winners’ Recital on March 29th at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In October 2014, Ranfei was selected to be a finalist of the Canadian Chopin Competition Junior Division (16 years and under) in Toronto. This competitioin is held every 5 years. In July 2015, Ranfei won the gold medal of International Keyboard Odyssiad competition (level A, 13 years and under) in Fort Collins, USA, and was invited to play the “Carnival of the Animals” with Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra in April 2016. In 2018, Ranfei also won the first prize in the Professional group and Special Signatory Young Pianist award at GOCAA (Global Outstanding Chinese Artist Association) international piano competition in Los Angeles!
Ranfei has also performed in the Chinese New Year Piano Concert at the Aberdeen Centre in Richmond, Tzar’s Village Music Festival in St. Petersburg in Russia, Rising Stars Concert at Roedde House Museum in Downtown Vancouver, and played the first movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 with the New Westminster Symphony Orchestra at the Roy Barnett Recital Hall at UBC in Vancouver. Ranfei gave his first solo piano recital in January 2013 in Vancouver at age of 11, and a sold-out solo piano recital in March 2014 at Pyatt Hall at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music in Vancouver at age of 12.
Ranfei has participated in master classes with the prestigious pianist Dina Yoffe, Olga Kern and Dmitry Rachmanov.
Jessica Wang
2018 Signatorry Youth Pianist Award Winner
Jessica Linqing Wang (age 8) started piano at age 4 and half. She is a student of famous piano instructor Mrs. Fafan Xiao. She won prize of multiple 1st places, and the highest score trophies in piano solo and duet at Vancouver BCRMTA SPG and Vancouver North Shore Music Festival through 2015 to 2017. She got scholarship in 2015 at BCRMTA SPG. In the same year, Jessica successfully held a solo concert in VSO together with other three kids. In 2016, she received first place in Canada-China internet online piano competition in 5 years group. In 2017, she performed a concerto with West Coast Symphony Orchestra in the 3rd Vancouver Youth Piano Charity Concert at Chan Centre, Vancouver. Jessica together with other two kids held a Kids Helping Kids Charity Piano Concert with Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra at Vancouver Playhouse in 2018 and raised $4,350 fund to help the kids living with disabilities. In June 2018, Jessica received the prize of 4th place of piano 7 years old category in nation wide Canadian Music Competition (CMC). Jessica is an active and outgoing girl and enjoys figure skating and rhythmic gymnastic. She participated all the VYPC club activities and many charity performances.