Congratulations to 2025 Final Round Winners!
Dear Participants, Teachers, and Parents,
We are thrilled to welcome you to the 2025 (2nd Edition) of the US-Canadian International Music Competition and extend our sincere appreciation for your dedication, passion, and hard work. Since our inaugural edition, the competition has grown, bringing together musicians from an incredible 28 countries across the world. This year, we are honored to have participants representing Austria, Canada, China, France, Georgia, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Philippines, Romania, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan (ROC), Thailand, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, USA, Vietnam, and Yerevan.
Your exceptional performances have been truly inspiring, leaving a profound impact on our esteemed jury. We hope this experience fuels your artistic journey, encouraging you to strive for excellence, explore new creative horizons, and continue developing your unique musical voice.
Congratulations to each and every one of you for your hard work and achievements! It is with great pride that we now announce the final round results of this prestigious competition.
With best regards,
US-Canadian International Music Competition Committee
2025 US-CAnadian International Music Competition - Final Round Results
Grand Prizes & AWARDS
* Winners of the above prizes will be notified personally via email within two weeks following the release of these final results.
2025 US-Canadian International Music Competition Prize Winners' Concert
Absolute Platinum & Platinum Medalists
Panagiotis Fournarakis - Composition - Professional Category - USA - 99% - Absolute Platinum Medalist
Jammie Lee - Piano - Solo - Professional Category - Canada - 98.4% - Absolute Platinum Medalist
Valerie Tam - Piano - Youth Category - Canada - 98% - Absolute Platinum Medalist
Esme Tran - Piano - Solo - Junior Category - USA - 97.4% - Platinum Medalist
Tim Yan - Piano - Solo - Junior Category - USA - 97.4% -Platinum Medalist
Yena Oh - Violin - Solo - Collegiate Category - USA - 97% - Platinum Medalist
Charity Mapletoft - Voice (Soprano) - Solo - Professional Category -- United Kingdom - 96% - Platinum Medalist
Ming Yue - Composition (for Piano & Violin) - Professional Category - China - 95% - Platinum Medalist
Ariel Yixuan Liu - Piano - Solo - Youth Category - Canada - 95% - Platinum Medalist
Adrian Li - Violin - Youth Category - USA - 95% - Platinum Medalist
Brayden Wu - Viola - Solo - Youth Category - USA - 95% - Platinum Medalist
Darren Song - Viola - Solo - Collegiate Category - USA - 95% - Platinum Medalist
Alice Hu - Flute - Solo - Collegiate Category - USA - 95% - Platinum Medalist
Mijeong Lee - Piano - Solo - Professional Category - USA - 95% - Platinum Medalist
Zsófia Bátonyi- Bassoon - Solo - Professional Category - Hungary - 95% - Platinum Medalist
Yuki Tsukuda - Piano - Solo - Professional Category - Japan - - 95% - Platinum Medalist
Philip Sarrouy - Voice - Solo - Professional Category - France - 95% - Platinum Medalist
2025 US-Canadian International Music Competition (Top Gold MEDALISTS)
Queenie Wu - Voice - Solo - Junior Category - Canada - 94% - Top Gold Medalist
Stella Chiara Somogyi - Flute - Solo - Youth Category - Hungary - 94% - Top Gold Medalist
Chloe Chan - Piano - Solo - Youth Category - USA - 94% - Top Gold Medalist
Vivian Wu - Piano - Solo - Youth Category - USA - 94% - Top Gold Medalist
William Matthew Lim - Piano - Solo - Youth Category - Philippines - 94% - Top Gold Medalist
Matthew Mak - Cello - Solo - Youth Category - USA - 94% - Top Gold Medalist
Juhyun Kim - Piano - Solo - Youth Category - South Korea - 94% - Top Gold Medalist
Hélène Charest - Violin - Solo - Youth Category - Canada - 94% - Top Gold Medalist
Yiding Guo - Violin - Solo - Professional Category - Canada - 94% - Top Gold Medalist
Rui-Yun Lee - Piano - Solo - Youth Category - Taiwan - 94% - Top Gold Medalist
Sze Tung Ko - Piano - Solo - Professional Category - Hong Kong - 94% - Top Gold Medalist
2024 Grand Prize Winner of US-Canadian International Music Competition - Yifu Peng - Performance at our Prize Winners' Gala Concert at Carnegie Hall on 24th November 2024 (** Video used with permission from Carnegie Hall)
The video above has been granted copyright approval by Carnegie Hall for publication on this website.
2025 Winner's Biographies
(More Coming soon...)
Finalists, we invite you to share your achievement with a photo and 200-word biography. Submit these by April 16, 2025 to uscanadianmusiccompetition@gmail.com, and we'll proudly feature your success story on this page.
2025 Winners' Biographies
Yuki Tsukuda - Professional Category - Platinum Medalist - Piano - Japan
Yuki began playing the piano at the age of four. She pursued her music studies under the guidance of Kaori Sumitomo, Koichi Sumitomo, and Hiromi Ohmori, refining her technique and musical expression, while also majoring in English at a four-year university.
In 2023, Yuki won 1st Place and the Debussy Prize in the A Division (General Amateur) at the Debussy International Competition. The following year, in 2024, she received the Encouragement Award at the Chopin International Piano Competition in ASIA (Online Final). She also won 1st Place in the Amateur Division at the Shimoda International Music Competition. In 2025, Yuki earned 2nd Place in the Youth Class at the Hong Kong International Piano Invitation Competition.
Queenie Wu - Junior Category - Top Gold Medalist - Voice - Canada
Seven-year-old Queenie is currently studying vocals with Ms. Mao at MK Singing School. She began her singing lessons in September 2023, and after her first class, Ms. Mao immediately noticed her natural talent in rhythm, pitch, and voice intensity. Queenie's passion for singing and her dedicated attitude deeply impressed Ms. Mao, who encouraged her to participate in various music competitions and stage performances to broaden her horizons and enhance her musical knowledge. Her outstanding performance at the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival was highly praised by judge Marion Abbott, who recommended her for the 2024 OMFA Finals. Among many talented contestants from various cities, Queenie excelled and secured second place in the Screen Song Group (Ages 6-8).
Queenie has achieved remarkable success in numerous competitions throughout 2024 and 2025. She won first place in the Classical Voice (Ages 6-8) category at both the Unionville Music Festival and the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival. Additionally, she earned second place in Musical Theatre (Ages 6-8) and Screen Song (Ages 6-8) at both festivals. At the Take The Stage Festival, she secured first place in Screen Song (Ages 6-8) and second place in Musical Theatre (Ages 6-8). Her achievements extended beyond Canada as she participated in the National Student Auditions Great Lakes Region in Michigan, where she placed third in Classical Voice (Ages 6-10), Musical Theatre (Ages 6-10), and Commercial Music (Ages 6-10).
Beyond competitions, Queenie was invited by ORMTA to perform at the 2023 Markham/Stouffville Scholarship Holiday Concert, where she was accompanied by Ellen Meyer, one of Ontario’s most in-demand collaborative pianists. In October 2024, she successfully held her first charity concert in Toronto, inviting many government officials and raising over $2,160 for the SPCA. During the two-hour event, titled Heavenly Children’s Voices: Walking with Love, she performed nearly 15 selections from world-famous musicals and classical art songs. The concert, held at the Infinite Music Hall in Markham and organized by MK Singing School, featured Queenie alongside Charles Sun, performing nearly 30 classic songs across various genres. The repertoire included Disney favorites like Part of Your World and I Won’t Grow Up, Broadway classics such as Different, Where Is Love, and Wouldn’t It Be Loverly, as well as art songs like Silver Moon, Danny Boy, and Chinese classics Big Fish and The Sea, My Hometown. The event's proceeds were donated to the Ontario SPCA.
Apart from music, Queenie is currently learning piano, ballet, painting, swimming, and golf. She adores tomato sauce spaghetti, and her favorite color is purple. A passionate animal lover, she has one dog and four cats, whom she considers important members of her family. She is dedicated to helping animals in need and performed at the 2024 Markham Pets Carnival in support of pet rescue initiatives.
Faith Ng Wing Chi - Professional Category - Silver Medalist - Voice - United Kingdom
Faith Ng Wing Chi obtained her Master of Classical Singing from the European Union with a total average score of 96 and Master of Urban Design from the University of Hong Kong.
Faith has actively performed in many opera concerts in Europe, including Vienna (Austria), Barcelona (Spain) and all over different regions in Bulgaria. She also sang in Rome (Italy) and Luxembourg.
She was invited to be a guest singing model in the "Perfect Imperfections" Fashion Show held at the The Residence Of The Consul-General Of The Kingdom Of The Netherlands. She has actively promoted the popularisation of classical vocal singing and has been interviewed by various media in Hong Kong. She has been invited by the Hospital Authority and conducted singing classes at the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital to improve the heart & lung function, pronunciation, general health & self-confidence of the cancer recoverers. She also has been invited to be the conductor at the 135th Anniversary Thanksgiving Worship of the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Charity Foundation and the chief conductor for the 30th Anniversary of Manchester Alliance Church.
She has been invited by the Chinese Association for Cancer Care to conduct a talk regarding on "How singing enhance the path of cancer recovery" at London.
Since 2019, she has been invited by several churches conducting talks, lectures and seminars regarding on singing techniques and appropriate breathing techniques.
Faith also served as the main conductor in the Bulgaria Chinese Christian Church, trainer and leader of the Gospel Choir, teacher of Children Sunday School and trainer of Guitar class for youths in the church.
Quanxi Wang - Youth Category - Gold Medalist - Piano Concerto - China
Quanxi Wang, a 12-year-old from Xi’an, China, trains under Ms.
Mary Ko, protege of Michi Hirata North, mentored by Rosina
Lhévinne. At age 7, she debuted with a recital in Xi’an, China’s
ancient capital. Since then, she has performed with
orchestras at Beijing Concert Hall and the Central
Conservatory of Music (CCOM) Opera & Concert Hall in China.
Her competition highlights include: American Protégé
International Concerto Competition (USA) 2025 and 2020 –
Second Prize; International Mozart Competition (Vienna,
Austria) 2024 – Second Prize; World Classical Music Awards
(UK) 2023 – Bronze Medalist; Nouvelles Étoiles Music
Competition (France) 2021 – Third Prize; 11th International
Music Competition (Belgrade, Serbia) 2020 – Gold Medal; V
Madrid International Music Competition (Spain) 2020 –
Second Prize; VII International Piano Competition Smederevo
(Serbia) 2020 – First Prize. Drawing inspiration from her
studies in piano and ballet, Quanxi Wang is committed to
fostering East-West integration and mutual learning among
civilizations. She seeks to empower shared understanding
through collaborative projects that harness classical music’s
universal resonance.
Presenting Last Year’s US-Canadian International Music Competition Winners
Yifu Peng - Absolute Platinum Medalist - 99% - Piano - Professional Category - USA
Yifu Peng, a native of Shenzhen, China, has exhibited a profound dedication to music from a young age. Initiated into piano studies at the age of eight, his exceptional commitment and innate aptitude rapidly advanced his musical education. Peng's academic journey in music commenced with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the Xinghai Conservatory of Music, where he distinguished himself through his artistic prowess.
In pursuit of comprehensive musical development, Peng furthered his studies at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University Bloomington, earning a Master's degree. He is currently engaged in a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) program at Michigan State University, under the mentorship of the esteemed pianist Eric Zuber. This demanding program is significantly honing his artistry and technique, equipping him for an eminent career in professional piano performance.
Peng's outstanding abilities have garnered significant recognition within the classical music sphere, including prestigious awards such as the Distinguished Gold Medal at the 2023 Seattle International Piano Festival Classical Series and the Platinum Medal at the 2023 Quebec Music Competition. These accolades underscore his exceptional talent and deep musicality. Yifu Peng is undoubtedly emerging as a formidable presence on the global classical music stage, poised to leave an indelible mark with his contributions.
Jammie Lee - Absolute Platinum Medalist - 98% - Piano - Professional Category - Canada
Jammie Lee, from Winnipeg, has a distinguished piano background from when he was a native in Korea. With the prestigious Seoul Arts Center recognizing his exceptional talent, he began studying under Dr. Seo Jung Won. After immigrating to Canada, he continued his studies with Dr. Kyung Kim and Dr. Lawrence Jones at Brandon University. Despite his accolades in music, Jammie has recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science from McGill University, aiming towards a career in medicine.
Throughout his career, Jammie won prizes at numerous national and international music competitions, including a platinum medal at the Canadian International Music Competition, second prize at the International ENKOR Competition, third place and special award at the FCMF National Finals as its youngest competitor, and second prize at the Canadian Music Competition. Most recently, Jammie was declared one of three finalists for the McLellan Competition, where he will perform a full concerto with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in the finale.
Jammie launched his professional debut at the age of 15 with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, playing Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini". He was invited by the Agassiz Chamber Music Festival as its emerging artist to perform a solo recital alongside some of Canada's most renowned artists.
Alvin Lee - Platinum Medalist - Junior Category - Piano - South Korea
Alvin Lee, a 5th grader at Fernwood Elementary School, began studying piano at age 7 with Mr. Allan Park. In January 2024, Alvin made his debut at Carnegie Hall. He has earned numerous accolades, including Gold Medals from Sonafest and the Performing Arts Festival of Eastside (PAFE) for both Solo and Concerto categories, along with the Adjudicator’s Choice Award. He also received a Gold Seal from the Seattle Young Artists Music Association for both the Complete Program and Junior Concerto, 2nd place in the KMA Youth Music Scholarship Competition, a Bronze medal from the Chopin Northwest Festival, a Gold medal from the International French Music Piano Competition, and an Honorable Mention from the Bellevue Symphony Concerto Competition.
In 2023, Alvin performed with the Eastside Symphony and the Bellevue Chamber Orchestra, securing eight gold medals, including four Adjudicator’s Choice Awards and one Most Memorable Prize. Since 2020, he has consistently achieved Gold and Platinum Medals in various prestigious competitions such as the Bellevue Symphony Concerto Competition, SCMTA Concerto Competition, Eastside Symphony Concerto Competition, Pacific NW Concerto Competition, Chopin Northwest Competition, Pacific Northwest Piano Competition, Sonafest, Russian Chamber Music Foundation Competition, PAFE, Pacific International Piano Competition, the 9th Annual Rome International Music Competition, Convention Recital Competition, Canadian International Music Competition, International French Music Piano Competition, Brussels International Music Competition, and the International German Music Piano Competition.
GLORIALLE (Ludmila Pelahiy) – Gold Medalist – Professional
Category (Mezzo-soprano) – Operatic Pop – Austria
GLORIALLE is an Operatic Pop singer. She graduated with distinction from the
Conservatory Friedrich Gulda School of Music Wien. Now the young singer is
studying with great passion at the JAM MUSIC LAB Private University for Jazz and Popular Music Vienna. She has performed on the most prestigious stages in the world: Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Vienna State Opera, Opera of Burg Gars, Liechtenstein Palace, Burgtheater Wien, Wiener Musikverein, Wiener Konzerthaus.
GLORIALLE has been awarded first prize as a soloist at numerous national and
international competitions and festivals: VanBach International Music Competition
2024 (Diamond Medal); Carl Reinecke International Music Competition 2024
(Platinum Medal); Francesca Lebrun International Music Competition 2024
(Platinum Medal); US-Canadian International Music Competition 2024 (Gold
Medal); Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition 2023 (Winners‘
Concert at the Royal Albert Hall); Golden Classical Music Awards International
Competition 2023 (Winners‘ Concert at the Carnegie Hall); Certificate of
Achievement World Online Music Competitions Organization 2023 for outstanding multi-award achievement; European Classical Music Awards Grand Prix 2023 (Platinum Medal, Vocalist of the Year Award); European Classical Music Vocalist Award 2023 (Platinum Medal, Special Award for best representation of the country Austria, Artist of the Month Award); MLA Music Legend Award 2023 (Platinum Medal, Special Award for best representation of the country Austria); European Spring Music Competition 2023 (Platinum Medal, Special Award for best representation of the country Austria); Grand Master Music Competition 2023 (Platinum Medal); Nobel-Artist International Music Competition 2023 (Gold Medal); Global International Music Competition 2022 (Gold Medal); Super Cup Fiestalonia International Contest 2022; Canadian International Music Competition 2020-2021 (Platinum Medal).
GLORIALLE performed at several gala concerts and festivals: Winners‘ Concert of
the Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition 2023 at the Royal Albert Hall; Winners‘ Concert of the Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition 2023 at the Carnegie Hall; Benefit event for the people in Ukraine “Human being is bigger than war” at the Burgtheater Wien; Benefit concert for the collection of donations for Ukrainian refugees: Certificate of appreciation for generous contribution to the 2022 Ukrainian Charity Concert; Benefit gala evening Innocent 2021 at the Liechtenstein Palace in Vienna; Gala concert “Berühmte Opernchöre” with the Arnold Schoenberg Choir at the Oper Burg Gars; Gala events “CGDC Award” 2012 and 2013; “Junge Musik”-Concert of “Wien Modern”.
Naya Katrina Nassa - Silver Medalist - Voice - Youth Category - Bahrain
Naya Katrina Nassar is high school junior at the French International School of Bahrain. She has been singing since she was 4 years old and started taking formal classes for about four years now. Since then, she has participated in multiple national and international music competitions where she won many awards.
She started singing pop music, but her passion led her to singing opera, where she realized her true love for music and true potential.
She has completed Grade 5 Theory ABRSM and passed with distinction. Moreover, she is currently working on obtaining a Grade 8 ABRSM musical theatre diploma. During her free time, she enjoys singing songs from musicals at home, playing the piano and working on her school musical “Beauty and the Beast”, as a co-organizer.
Saadya Polavarapu - Silver Medalist - Voice - Junior Category - India
Saadya Polavarapu was born on 5th April 2013 in Bangalore, India. She started her music journey at the age of four with Carnatic vocals. At the age of 5 she took up Western vocal as well. She is a vocalist who enjoys singing Carnatic music which is a style of Indian traditional music as well as the repertoires Broadway & Musical, Classical & Jazz, and also Popular music. Saadya has a versatile voice, which she can adapt to many genre of music. Saadya has had the opportunity to sing at various prestigious concerts, famous temples. She has performed on many occasions with in India and abroad.
Saadya has won the First Place at The Canada Red Maple Competition 2023 as well as The Radiant Voice Award. She has performed at the Accolade Hall at the York University in Toronto. She has won second place in The American Protege International Vocal Competition 2023. She has won second place at The Clara Schumann International Competition. She has won, The Bronze Medal at The Global International Music Competition 2023. She has won The Bronze at The Grand Maestro International Music Competition 2023. In Carnatic music she has one first place in the Art of India music competition 2023. She has won The First place in the Royal Maas International Competition 2024. She has also won a Silver Medal in the 2024 Euro Elite International Music Competition. She has also won a Silver Medal in The US-Canadian International Music Competition 2024. She has won an Honourable Mention in The ARCADIA
Music Competition 2024. She will be performing at the Carnegie hall in New York the Summer of 2024.
Saadya is passionate about music and plans to pursue it by studying music and performing arts internationally.
Zda Sumbillo - Youth Category – Philippines - Voice – Silver Medalist
At a young age, Zda joined numerous competitions and achieved prestigious awards locally and internationally. At age 7, she won the 2018 Song Festival Music Competition at Miriam College, Philippines. In 2021, she received her first international award, a Bronze Medal, Rising Star Category - Voice in the 2020-2021 Canadian International Music Competition. Zda and her BEST team won third place when they participated in the 2021 Eurovision Musical Contest 2 - representing Denmark in Inspiration Theater Co., UK. She was a two-time Gold Medalist - Voice in the 2021 Trinity International Music and Quebec Music Online International Competitions. In the same year, she was one of the chosen few winners in an international playwrights contest who competed globally, performed as Super Z in the Voices of Youth Theater Festival, and a prize winner of the 2021 Power Performer Award in the Voices of Youth Talent Showcase by Powerstories in Florida, USA. Zda was nominated and won the Best Performer in a Musical at BroadwayWorld 2021 Tampa Awards – for her performance in Lights, Stage, Sing Cabaret under Broadway Everyday Star Theater (BEST). This year, Zda was a Silver Medalist – Voice under the Youth Category in the US-Canadian International Music Competition 2024. She won First Prize with Honors – Voice under the Junior II Category in the International Youth Music Competitions 2024 (Musical Theatre, Broadway, and Disney), Atlanta, USA, and performed live during the Winners’ Recital at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music on Sept. 1, 2024, in New York, USA. As a former prizewinner of the Quebec Music Competition 2021, Zda participated and won a Gold Medal – Voice, now under the Youth Category in QMC 2024. Zda is passionate about music and the performing arts. She has played diverse roles in acting and was a work shopper and thespian at Atlantis Theatrical (AT), Repertory (REP), Trumpets Playshop, Star Magic, G-Force, Phil. Educational Theater Association (PETA), and Broadway Everyday Star Theater. She is also into sports and enjoys fencing. Recently, she won a Bronze Medal Award during the Winter Cup 2024 Fencing Competition (U13 Novice Mixed Foil) organized by Hampton Court Fencing Club. She dreams big and loves to inspire people by sharing her talent for singing, dancing, performing arts, fencing, and the gift of sharing a story.
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