Past Adjudicators

Japanese-American pianist Mai has appeared in various venues throughout the world, from Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage in Washington, D.C., to Miyama Conseru in Japan. Mai holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Indiana University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of North Texas.

Praised by Jean-Yves Thibaudet as “a rare talent who promises to become one of the leading pianists of her generation,” Sophiko Simsive is known for her expressive and personal artistry, appearing at renowned venues including Carnegie Hall, the Berliner Philharmonie, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. A passionate chamber musician, she is the pianist of the acclaimed Claremont Trio and a founding member of Trio Phōs.

Praised for “superb playing” and “poised, alert musicianship” by The Boston Globe and called “definitely a man to watch” by London’s The Independent, American pianist and Steinway Artist Spencer Myer performs internationally as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. He has appeared with The Cleveland Orchestra and other orchestras across North America, South Africa, Mexico, and China, including a 2005 South Africa tour performing all five Beethoven piano concertos. Recital appearances include Weill Recital Hall, 92nd Street Y, the Kimmel Center, and Wigmore Hall, with broadcasts on major U.S. stations. A renowned pedagogue, Myer is Associate Professor of Piano at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and a Steinway Artist, with acclaimed recordings on harmonia mundi and Steinway & Sons.

Hailed as an “expressive, intelligent, and meticulous performer,” Korean-born Canadian-American pianist Haewon Yang is sought after for her flexibility across different genres and carefully studied interpretations. She has won recognition for her performances and academic work, ranging from the Music Teacher’s National Associationto the Indiana University Concerto Competition to the Korean Canadian Scholarship Foundation.

Acclaimed for her “exquisite clarity” and “remarkable virtuosity,” Korean-American pianist Sun-A Park is establishing herself as one of the most exciting artists of her generation. Since making her orchestral debut with the New Jersey and Houston Symphony Orchestras, Park has appeared in major concert halls across the globe, including the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. A top prizewinner of numerous international competitions, she received first prizes at the Koussevitzky Young Artists Awards and the Kosciuszko Chopin Competition, and second prize as well as the Rosa Sabater Prize at the 2019 Jaén International Piano Competition. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of Piano at Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music and was previously Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida.