국제 전문 음악 교사 협회, 카네기 홀에서 음악적 기량의 밤을 선사합니다
뉴욕, 뉴욕 – 2025년 7월 1일 – 국제 전문 음악 교사 협회(IAPMT)는 2025년 7월 1일 화요일, 유서 깊은 카네기 홀 와일 리사이틀 홀에서 매혹적인 콘서트를 개최했습니다. 기온 약 25°C, 시속 16km의 부드러운 바람이 부는 약간 비 오는 저녁이었음에도 불구하고, 실내 분위기는 다양한 음악적 재능을 기대하는 활기로 가득했습니다.
이 콘서트에서는 24명의 헌신적인 참가자들이 선보인 고전 및 현대 작품의 풍부한 태피스트리를 통해 그들의 뛰어난 능력을 보여주었습니다. 프로그램은 애런 코플랜드, 벤지 파섹 & 저스틴 폴, 카미유 생상스, 칼 쾰링, 캐서린 롤린, 프레데리크 쇼팽, 요하네스 브람스, 요한 제바스티안 바흐, 모리스 라벨, 멜로디 보버, 모리츠 모슈코프스키, 파블로 데 사라사테, 로베르트 슈만, 볼프강 아마데우스 모차르트 등 다양한 유명 작곡가들의 작품으로 구성되었습니다. 각 공연은 IAPMT가 육성하는 음악적 예술성의 깊이와 폭을 강조했습니다.
이날 저녁의 특별한 하이라이트는 캐나다에서 온 8인조 음악단인 멜로디어스 얼후 앙상블의 특별 초청 공연이었습니다. 그들은 전통 중국 악기로 연주한 톈화 류의 “C단조 소나타, Op.13, No.8”과 “아름다운 저녁”을 절묘하게 재해석하여 프로그램에 독특하고 매혹적인 문화적 차원을 더했습니다. 앙상블의 얼후 및 다른 악기 연주 실력은 청중에게 깊은 감동을 주었으며, 기억에 남을 만한 문화 교류 음악 경험을 선사했습니다.
이 콘서트는 전문 음악 교육 공동체와 학생들의 헌신과 재능을 증명하는 자리였으며, 세계에서 가장 상징적인 장소 중 한 곳에서 참석자들에게 잊을 수 없는 음악적 탁월함의 밤을 선사했습니다.
카네기 홀 사실: 상징적인 메인 홀
카네기 홀의 중심이자 가장 유명한 공간은 아이작 스턴 오디토리움 / 로널드 O. 페렐만 스테이지입니다. 약 2,804석 규모의 이 웅장한 5층 홀은 탁월한 음향으로 전 세계적으로 찬사를 받고 있으며, 1세기 이상 동안 전설적인 예술가들을 끌어들이고 청중을 매료시켰습니다. 독특한 곡선형 디자인과 벽에 장식 요소가 없는 것은 단순히 미학적인 선택이 아니라, 비할 데 없는 선명하고 따뜻한 사운드에 기여하는 세심하게 제작된 특징입니다. 발코니의 높은 곳부터 1층 및 2층 박스석의 친밀한 경험까지, 모든 좌석은 놀라운 청각적 경험을 제공합니다. 현재 로널드 O. 페렐만을 기리기 위해 명명된 이 무대는 고전 명작의 세계 초연부터 재즈 및 대중음악 전설들의 획기적인 공연에 이르기까지 수많은 상징적인 음악적 순간들을 주최하며, 세계에서 가장 존경받는 공연 공간 중 하나로서의 위상을 확고히 했습니다. 이 오디토리움은 1960년대 카네기 홀이 철거되는 것을 막는 데 결정적인 역할을 한 전설적인 바이올리니스트 아이작 스턴을 기리기 위해 1997년에 명명되었습니다.
Featured Performers
April Zhang
Born in 2011 in Manhattan, New York, April Zhang is a piano prodigy. April spent much of her childhood in Colorado, where she began winning many piano competitions from an early age. At just eight years old, she made her orchestral debut performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 19 in F Major, K. 459 with the National Repertory Orchestra at the Breckenridge Music Festival.
Over the years, April has earned top awards in highly regarded competitions and festivals. Her accolades include: Grand Prize and First Place at Satori Summer Music Festival, Barum International Competition, International Association of Professional Music Teachers (IAPMT) Grand Autumn Competition; First Place at Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition (piano concerto), Bach International Music Competition; and top winners at International Keyboard Odyssiad and Festival, Bellflower Symphony Association Concerto Competition, CAPMT, IAPMT, Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC), and Music Teachers National Association (MTNA – California State). Recognized for her artistry, April was invited by the IAPMT to perform at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in July 2025.
In addition to piano, April is an accomplished young flutist. She has performed with several prominent youth ensembles, including the Young Artists Orchestra of Los Angeles, the Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra, and the Pacific Symphony Youth Concert Band. She has earned placements in the Irvine Unified School District Honor Band, Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association Honor Bands, and the California All-State Honor Band.
Committed to using her talents to serve the community, April has performed in numerous benefit and outreach concerts. In recognition of her volunteerism, she has received The President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award from the White House twice and was honored with the John Philip Sousa Band Award, one of the most prestigious awards for young musicians in the United States.
BIN GUI
Originally from Qingdao, China, violinist Bin Gui enjoys a career as an orchestra player and a soloist. Gui has been a first violinist with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra since June 2022, and an orchestra member of Symphoria since June 2023. She has performed orchestra concerts in Carnegie Hall as well as the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts. Previously, she frequently served as the concertmaster of Manhattan School Symphony Orchestra and Mannes School orchestra. She was also a member of Camerata’s NY orchestra 2018-2019 and a member of Charlottesville and University Symphony orchestra 2012-2014.
As a soloist, Gui won numerous competitions, including the Vivaldi International Music Competition in 2022, the New York Artists International Competition in 2017, and the First National Violin Grade Examination Competition for Excellent Players in the highest grade. Recently, Gui has been invited as a returning soloist to the Great Room Arts Salon Season 2 concert in Greater New York.
An avid participant in summer music festivals, Gui was invited to festivals such as the Texas Music Festival, the National Orchestral Institute, Orford Academy, and MusicAlps. She also performed in solo and chamber masterclasses given by Glenn Dicterow, David Kim, Stephen Rose, Andrzej Grabiec, James Dunham, and Levon Chilingirian.
Gui held a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in classical violin performance from Manhattan School of Music with Prof. Lucie Robert, and she has recently got her second master’s degree in Orchestral Performance from the same school under the tutelage of Glenn Dicterow, Lisa Kim, and David Chan.
Daniel Shan
Daniel Shan
Keyboard and Vocal
Music is big part of my life. Using music to serve people is my goal.
I've been practicing piano almost everyday since I was 4 years old. When I was 10, I started keyboard accompaniment regularly in occasions like summer camps and choirs. Coming to the Bay Area is a big move for my music journey. Now I study with Yung Mee Rhee in her piano studio where my horizon was greatly broaden and I found my interests in singing while still majoring in piano. I long for bringing music with passion to my audience and letting people experience joy, hope and love.
I like music but I am proud of my other hobbies, too. I am a big fan of rubik cube and lego models. I competed twice at World Cube Association games and surprised all my naysayers by finishing a hand-made 3D piano structure using cardboard after 2 months hard work.
Isabelle Zhen
Isabelle Zhen, age 15, is a sophomore at Westlake High School. She is emerging as a compelling young artist who brings passion and versatility to her performances. Isabelle began her musical journey at age five with piano and discovered her love for violin during the pandemic. She began violin lessons in 2023 and is a member of WHS’s chamber orchestra.
Currently studying violin under the guidance of teacher Shuwei Liu and piano with Shuting Chen, Isabelle has achieved many honors in music. Her piano achievements include State and Branch honors from the MTAC, multiple invitations to perform at the MTAC convention, and gold medals in both the MTAC Festimantic and Advanced Contemporary Music Festival. She was also selected as a winner of the Southwest Youth Music Festival. Additionally, she has performed both piano and violin concertos with the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic Professional Orchestra.
Isabelle's commitment to sharing music extends beyond the concert hall. She regularly performs at local nursing homes, school quartets, and the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House, where she brings comfort and joy to cancer patients and their families through her music. Isabelle is a straight-A-student with gold presidential awards. Her dedication to excellence extends to athletics as well, where she contributes to Westlake High School's varsity tennis team, 2024 Southern California Division 1 CIF champions.
Isaiah An
I was born in 2008 and started playing the piano when I was four years old. I loved playing the piano from a young age just as much as I enjoyed playing with other toys. I participated in various recitals and CM tests, continuously progressing, and on November 2, 2024, I performed Bach’s Concerto in A Major for piano with a conductor and an orchestra. It was the most memorable and rewarding experience of all the competitions I had participated in.
JIHOON LEE
Jihoon Lee started learning piano at the age of seven. He is currently studying piano under the guidance of Ms. Mikyung Kim and Professor Iljoo Kim.
Recently, he has achieved outstanding results in numerous competitions, including:
2024 Yeungnam University National Music Competition – 1st Place
2024 56th Nanpa National Music Competition – 1st Place
2024 22nd University of Ulsan National Student Music Competition – 1st Place
2024 33rd Sungjung Music Competition – Gold Prize
2024 London International Music Competition – First Prize
2024 UK International Music Competition – Absolute First Prize
2024 European Classical Music Awards – Platinum Prize
2024 Amadeus International Music Awards – Gold Prize
2025 1st Eugene On Music International Piano Competition – 1st Place (Elementary Division)
2025 1st Korea Competition – Carnegie Grand Prize
Aside from music, Jihoon enjoys K-POP dance and solving mathematical equations.
Le Ji
Le Ji, born in China, is currently working in Oakland University as a collaborative pianist, as well as choir accompanist in Carolyn Mawby Chorale, Verna D. Holley Project Community Choir, Olivet Community School Choir, and Mason First Presbyterian Church Chorale. At the same time, she also serves as the piano director of the Transcendence Performing Arts Center. As an instrumental accompanist, she had worked for Samuel Rhodes, Nicholas Mann, Patinka Kopec, Michael Parloff, Dmitri Berlinsky, and among others. As a vocal accompanist, she works for George Shirley, Richard Fracker, Marc Embree, Melanie Helton, and so on.
Sam Vaillancourt
Violinist Sam Vaillancourt served as concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, with whom he was featured as a soloist in 2024, and he served as concertmaster of the Youth Orchestra of Greater Columbus, with whom he was featured as a soloist in 2021, 2022, and 2023. He performed as a member of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra Chamber Players, and the Franklin Pond Chamber Music Program. He was chosen to represent the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra in a chamber concert where he performed with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He is currently a contracted violinist in the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and an Artist Ambassador for the Samuel Vargas International Music Foundation, for which he was on the jury for the 2024 SV Scholars violin competition.
In 2023, Sam attended the ENCORE Chamber Music Institute, where he worked with renowned artists and esteemed faculty, including but not limited to Paul Kantor, Jinjoo Cho, Brendan Shea, Steve Miahky, the Catalyst and Cavani Quartets, and more. In 2023/2024, Sam attended the Red Rocks Winter Chamber Music Festival, where he worked with renowned artists such as Shmuel Ashkenasi, Sheila Browne, and Tom Landshoot. In 2024, Sam attended the Bowdoin International Music Festival where he had the opportunity to work with Sergiu Schwartz, and give many featured performances. In 2022, Sam attended the Montecito International Music Festival where he performed in a masterclass for Rice University/Juilliard violin professor and international soloist, Cho Liang Lin. In 2021, Sam attended the Chamber Festival Intensive at the Idyllwild Summer Arts Academy where he was named assistant concertmaster of the festival orchestra and worked with Los Angeles’ Colburn School of Music faculty Sam Fischer and John Walz. In 2022 Sam’s quintet was featured in a masterclass given by Emerson String Quartet members Phil Setzer and Lawrence Dutton. Through the Schwob School of music, he has also had the opportunity to perform in a masterclass for the Quicksilver Baroque Ensemble, and serve as a featured solo artist for the Schwob School of Music’s Annual “Kaleidoscope” production in 2024, as well as a soloist in the Schwob School’s Opening Convocation in the same year.
Sam is involved in many ensembles at the Schwob School of Music, including but not limited to various chamber groups, faculty-student exchanges, the Schwob Philharmonic, where he served as rotating concertmaster in 2024, the Schwob Virtuosi Ensemble, the Schwob Opera Orchestra, and has served as Principal Second Violin for the Columbus Ballet pit orchestra since 2023. Sam has participated in All-State Orchestras annually since 2020, performing in leadership roles in 2023 (concertmaster), 2021 (concertmaster), and 2020 (principal second) and was a finalist in the 2021 Alpharetta Symphony Orchestra Youth Concerto Competition. He was awarded 4th place in the same competition in 2020. He competed in the Junior, Senior, and Young Artist MTNA competitions in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024, where he received Honorable Mention in 2021, 2023, and 2024. In 2024, Sam was named a finalist for the inaugural Panama City Symphony Emerging Young Artists Competition, and the Schwob School of Music Concerto Competition. In 2022, Sam was awarded 1st prize in the Great Composers Competition: Best Saint Saens Performance. He was also awarded 1st prize Great Composers Competition: Best Saint Saens Performance in the solo and chamber divisions. Sam was also awarded 1st prize in the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition in 2023. Sam was awarded 2nd Prize in the Great Composers Competition: Best Bach Performance in 2024. Sam was named as an alternate for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America in 2023 and is one of three winners of the Schwob School of Music’s Woodruff Scholarship. He was also awarded second prize in the Atlanta Federation of Musicians’ John H. Head Scholarship Competition. He currently studies violin performance with Prof. Sergiu Schwartz at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University. Sam currently plays on a violin made by Wojciech Topa in 2020.
Also, an accomplished pianist and composer, Sam received ABRSM Theory 5 distinction and Piano Performance Level 5 Distinction, the highest level for both categories. He was a National Award of Excellence winner & GA State winner of the 2018-19 PTA Reflections Music Composition competition. In 2017-18 he was the regional and Georgia state winner in the PTA Reflections competition for Music Composition. Sam was awarded an Award of Distinction for the 2021 ABRSM piano competition, a GMTA Honorable Mention award for his piano performance in the 2019 state auditions, and an Award of Excellence for 2020.
