2022 Appassionato International Youth Music Festival
Winners' Biographies
Winners' Biographies
Tiya Uthaisang - Piano - Absolute Platinum Winner - Thailand
Tiya, a year 6 student at Shrewsbury International School Bangkok, began her piano journey at the age of 4. She is currently under the tutelages of Dr Nopanand Chanorathaikul (Dr Nopanand’s Studio) and Mr Channarong Jantararat (Shrewsbury International School of Bangkok, Music Department). Luckily Tiya discovered her musical passion at a young age and now walks steadily towards her dream of becoming an artist to share her music.
At the age of 10, Tiya recently gave her first public debut concert at The Rising Stars Concert 2020 where she performed three solo pieces, as well as a duet (Mozart Piano & Violin Sonata in G Major) alongside another talented young violinist. Aside regular solo performances for concerts and recitals, Tiya also enjoys Chamber Music and she has been fortunate to join with other young music talents in her circle. Her ABRSM exams have all been successfully passed with Distinctions, with her grade 8 currently to be submitted. Tiya also plays the violin (ABRSM G 6) and is part of her school’s orchestra where she enjoys performing with peers on a regular basis. Competitions are also a constant part of her music journey that motivates her to strive for improvement. She has won many accolades both locally and internationally.
There has always been a strong emphasis on balancing music and academia. Tiya has been awarded Academic Excellence, represented her house for debates and most recently made deputy Head Girl. Always positively energised and inquisitive, Tiya is fully immersed into life at school.
During her free time, Tiya keeps herself entertained with other hobbies. She loves arts and crafts and most recently began exploring resin art media. Photography, reading, baking, swimming, badminton and spending time with her family, friends and pets fill up the rest of her free time.
Julia Gentry - Piano - Gold Winner
Julia Gentry of California was first exposed to piano when she was just one year old, beginning formal training at the age of three. Now, at 11 years old, Julia has performed on prestigious stages like Carnegie Hall-New York, Salzburg-Austria, and has earned Absolute First Prize at Golden Classical Music Awards 2022 and 2021 – Carnegie Hall, New York, First Place at the Canada Red Maple Competition 2022, Gold Hands Award at the Carles & Sofia International Piano Competition Girona, Spain 2022, First Place at the Charleston International Music Competition 2022, First Prize at the Appassionato Quebec International Youth Music Festival 2022, First Prize at Grand Prize Virtuoso 2021, Rome, Bonn, and Salzburg, First Place at the Carnegie Hall American Protégé International Competition of Romantic Music 2021, 2020, and 2018, First prize + Exceptional Young Talent Special Prize Winner at the Salzburg, Austria, Germany, Amsterdam 2019 and Rome competitions, 1st Place at the Musical Arts Competition of Orange County, 1st Place at the Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC) Baroque
Festival, and other awards at both local and international levels competitions. Julia is also currently working on her own piano compositions.
Izabela Wiktoria Oliwia Torfs - Piano & Violin - Gold Winner
Izabela Wiktoria Oliwia Torfs was born in 12 December 2012 in Antwerp, Belgium. She is bilingual as her mother is Polish and her father Belgian. She also speaks English. She started learning violin from Serdar Erkmenis in May 2019 (Vioolschool Leidschenveen), and in July 6 2019 she had her very first public concert (Student concert of Vioolschool Leidschenveen), where she enjoyed the the attention of the public. In September 2019, Izabela added piano to her curriculum by joining the Pianoschool Haagse Lande, under tutorship of Hulya Keser. Due to the Covid 19, Izabela was following both violin and piano lessons through Skype since the beginning of the pandemic. Recently, Gulmira Issabekova also became Izabela's piano tutor. In the summer of 2021, she also added vocal lessons to her curriculum. The singing classes are held by Kasia Olechno through Skype. Izabela likes a broad spectrum of artists, such as, A. Vivaldi, Bach family, F. Chopin, W. A. Mozart, O. Rieding, J.H. Fiocco, R. Schumann, but also A. Walker, and Y. Tiersen. She enjoys both classical pieces as well as pop music. At times, she composes some small pieces for piano or violin. In 2022 she has given violin and piano concerts at the Musikverein in Vienna, Royal Albert Hall in London, Mozarteum in Salzburg and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam; she is also invited to perform at the Carnegie Hall in NYC. In her spare time, Izabela enjoys rollerblades, reading books, comics, and construction things with Lego. She is an animal and nature lover. Izabela also loves to write book stories for children about animals. Awards: 2022: - Gold Medalist in violin - 2022 Appassionato International Online Youth Music Festival, - Gold Medalist in piano - 2022 Appassionato International Online Youth Music Festival, -1st Prize Winner in violin - 2022 "Golden Classical Music Awards" International Competition, -1st Prize Winner in piano - 2022 "Golden Classical Music Awards" International Competition, -5 prizes - LYM 2022 competition (Season 1): 2 Golds, 1 in violin, 1 in piano, 1 silver in violin, 2 bronzes in piano, and special award: All Round Musician Award; -1st Place Winner in violin - 2022 19th Century Music Competition in Charleston International Music Competition (Ages 9-10); -Gold Medal in violin - 2022 Quebec Music Competition (Age 9), and 2 Golds Medals in piano - 2022 Quebec Music Competition (Age 9); -3rd Place Winner in piano - 2022 20th Century Music Competition in Charleston International Music Competition (Ages 9-10); -3rd Place Winner in violin - Vienna Virtuoso Music Competition 2022 (Junior Category: 9-12 years old); -1st Prize Winner in violin - 2022 International Music Competition “Salzburg and Amsterdam’ Grand Prize Virtuoso (Junior category: 9-12 years old); -1st Prize Winner in piano - 2022 International Music Competition “Salzburg and Amsterdam’ Grand Prize Virtuoso (Junior category: 9-12 years old); -1st Prize Winner in violin - 2022 International Music Competition “Vienna and London’ Grand Prize Virtuoso (Junior category: 9-12 years old); -1st Prize Winner in piano - 2022 International Music Competition “Vienna and London’ Grand Prize Virtuoso (Junior category: 9-12 years old); - 1st prize in piano - Imka Internet Music Competition 2022 in Category Kids1»9-10 years old; 2021: -1st price in violin - Imka Internet Music Competition 2021 in Category «Prodigy Kids»: up to 8 years old; -1st price in piano - Imka Internet Music Competition 2021 in Category «Prodigy Kids»: up to 8 years old; -Gold Award in violin in the second round in Music@e-Contest international online music contest 2021 in category B (Aged 6-8) -Silver Award in piano the second round in Music@e-Contest international online music contest 2021 in category B (Aged 6-8); -1st price in violin - Music Online Competition (MCO) Paris Opus 2021 in category I (2012 and younger); -1st price in piano - Music Online Competition (MCO) Paris Opus 2021 in category I (2012 and younger); -3rd price in violin - VII Odin International Music Online Competition 2021 in group of 7-8 years; -3rd price in piano - VII Odin International Music Online Competition 2021 in group of 7-8 years; - Honourable Mentioned - piano in VII Odin International Music Online Competition 2021 in older group of 9-10 years; 2020: – Public Vote price - De Muziekwedstrijd April 2020 (playing her the very first concerto).
Richard Neo - Violin - Silver Winner
I am 9 years old and has been playing violin since age 4. I successfully achieved Distinction for his ABRSM Violin grade 8 examinations in 2021 (age 8) and had earlier this year achieved a Merit in his ABRSM ARSM diploma. I also participated and received awards in the
following:
2019 Cristofori Star Student Award
2021 Played with the Young Artists Orchestra in the “Heart Strings Concert” (in support of Viva foundation for Children
with cancer).
2022 Gold Award in 5 th Le Petit Performers’ Fest 2022
Happy Music Festival Competition 2022 (Solo and Duet category awaiting results in late August 2022)
Appassionato International Youth Music Festival (Online) Music festival 2022