Training,
Developing,
Managing
Young Artists

Mika Matsuyama (16), student of Jeffrey Panko, and coached by Sean Bennett, was awarded 1st Place in the Senior Division of the 2026 NSMTA Karen Tobias Piano Competition.

Congratulations to Leo Ma for winning the 2026 Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras Concerto Competition for the Philharmonic Orchestra! Leo Ma @leo.ma.12 is a 13-year-old violinist from Chicago, currently studying with Professor Minghuan Xu @allthings.strings at New Music School.

Constantine Wang (13), student of Winston Choi, won First Prize in the Junior Category of the American Protégé International Piano & Strings Competition 2026. He will be performing in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in June. Additionally, as the winner of the GOLD HANDS of the Carles and Sofia Piano Competition, he has been invited to perform in Spain this summer. He also recently performed in the Intermediate Piano Master Class with Nancy O’Neill Breth at the 2026 MTNA National Conference.

Mika Matsuyama (16), student of Jeffrey Panko, Mary Sauer, and Sean Bennett, was awarded second prize in the American Protege competition and will perform in the coming months at Carnegie Hall. Mika also received Honorable Mention placement at the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra Stanger Concerto Competition.

Congratulations to Mika Matsuyama for receiving an Honorable Mention with Distinction at the 2026 DePaul National Concerto Competition. Mika is a House of Ravel (Level IV - Undergraduate Expectations) student, studying with artist faculty Jeffrey Panko & Mary Sauer, & artist development faculty Sean Bennett.

Many NMS students received Honors at the 2026 Chicago Area Music Teacher’s Association Sonata Festival.

Congratulations to Beatrice Valenzuela for making it to the Semifinals at the 2026 Sphinx Competition. Beatrice will compete Thursday AM. We are all wishing her the best of luck!!

Beatrice is a student of Desirée Ruhstrat & Timothy Hager at New Music School and is in the House of Beethoven (Level 3-College Preparatory).

Congratulations to Sebastían Jiménez for receiving a Gold Medal at the Sonatina Competition Northwest Suburban Music Teachers Association in October 2025.

Sebastían is a student of Clinton Velman in the House of Bach (I) at NMS.

KEN GALLWAS, FIRST PLACE
ROCKFORD SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA CONCERTO COMPETITION

Congratulations to Ken for winning the RSYO Concerto Competition performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37, III. Rondo. Allegro-Presto. Ken studies with Mary Sauer and Jeffrey Panko at New Music School.

IN Masterclass with Steven Osborne - NMS pianist Mika Matsuyama has been invited to perform in a Masterclass with pianist Steven Osborne at the Grant Park Music Festival. Mika will be performing Chopin’s 2nd Scherzo. Mika is a student of Jeffrey Panko at New Music School.

Congratulations to Raegan (6) and Kingston Lau (4) for placing 1st on Solo and 2nd as a duet at the Illinois Music Association competition. They will perform on the Winners Recital tomorrow in Lombard at the DuPage Concert Hall.

Raegan and Kingston study with Clinton Velman at New Music School.

Gavin Chiam, student of Jeffrey Panko, was a Third Place winner (13 - 18) at the American Protégé International Concerto Competition, and was awarded a performance in Carnegie Hall early this summer.

IN Masterclass with Imani Winds - the NMS Piano Trio featuring Tongbai Deng (piano), Kevin Hernandez (cello), and Gabby Joew (flute), were invited to participate in a Masterclass at Grant Park Music Festival. The Trio performed Weber’s Piano Trio for Flute, Cello and Piano, Op 63. I. Allegro Moderato, and were coached through the work by Grammy Winning Chamber Music Ensemble, Imani Winds. The NMS Piano Trio was coached by Steve Yepez, flute faculty at New Music School.

Congratulations to Genoa Sinno, student of Jeffrey Panko, who was a Third Place winner (12 & under) at the American Protégé International Concerto Competition. She has been awarded a performance in Carnegie Hall early this summer.

Tong-Bai Deng, student of Winston Choi, was named the winner of Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra’s 2025 Stanger Young Artist Competition. The announcement was made live at the conclusion of the Rising Stars of Stanger concert after he performed Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Movement IV. Congratulations, Tong-Bai!

Congratulations to NMS pianist Tong-Bai Deng for being selected as one of the Finalists for the 2025 Crain-Mailing Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition! Tong-Bai Deng is a student of Winston Choi and Sean Bennett at New Music School in Chicago.

At the YAC finals, he will perform Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, IV. Allegro tempestoso.

Congratulations to NMS pianist Joseph Gallwas for being selected as one of the Finalists for the 2025 Crain-Mailing Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition! Joseph Gallwas is a student of Mary Sauer, Jeffrey Panko and Sean Bennett at New Music School in Chicago.

At the YAC finals, he will perform Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, I. Andante-Allegro.

Congratulations to the Gallwas Twins for winning the 2025 Ohio International Piano Duet & Duo Competition Senior Division First Prize.

Congratulations to NMS House of Ravel student Joseph Gallwas for winning the 2025 Young Artist Auditions with the Dupage Symphony Orchestra. Joe will perform March 16th at 3PM with the orchestra. Tickets at link in bio.

Performing: Prokofiev Piano Concerto No 3 in C Major, Op. 26: 1, Andante - Allegro

We are thrilled for NMS violinist Olivia Fazio, student of Timothy Hager, to have received Honorable Mention in the MYAC Junior Orchestra Division of the 2025 O’Malley Foundation National Concerto Competition (formerly Walgreens).

NMS Student Joseph Gallwas, pianist, has been named a Semi-Finalist for the 2025 International Young Artist Concerto Competition.

Performing: Prokofiev Piano Concerto No 3 in C Major, Op. 26: 1, Andante – Allegro

NMS Students Joe and Ken Gallwas aka Gallwas Twins perform LIVE on WFMT Introductions 98.7 this Saturday at 11AM. Listen live on the radio or via link in Bio. Program includes Mozart, Piazolla, Guastavino and Bach.

Both Joe and Ken are House of Ravel students at New Music School and study with Jeff Panko, Mary Sauer and a student of our Artist Development program with Sean Bennett.

NMS violinist, Beatrice Valenzuela (13) received 3rd place in the 2024 Sejong Music Competition - Junior Division. Beatrice is a student of Desirée Ruhstrat and Timothy Hager at New Music School and in the House of Beethoven (Level III - College Preparatory Expectations).

Zarin Mehta (16) placed 1st in the 2024 Kaufman Music Center International Youth Piano Competition - Senior Division.