Gershwin International Music Competition: Young Artists/Semifinal

Please join us for the delightful event: competition of talented young musicians from different countries!

You will meet with:

• Fatima Arencibia Corbera, Cuba, Viola – 15 y. o. http://tiny.cc/ijs4vz

Fátima is 14 years old. She studies at the Elementary Music School Alejandro García Caturla in Havana, Cuba. She is in her 6th year of music and in 2nd year of the viola. She also studies violin. Fatima participates in many national festivals and competitions. She likes to interpret classical music and other styles and genres.

• Hiaxin Gao, China, Guitar – 15 y.o.

https://youtu.be/7Zq31nqbhys

Xiaxin Gao was born in Shanghai in May 2007. In 2016 he started learning classical guitar. In 2018, he participated in the Aldamira Shanghai International Art Festival and won second place in the sketch group. In 2019, he participated in the Grand Canal Art Festival and won third place. In 2021, he participated in the 6th Hungary international online music competition and won the second prize.

• Abigail Butina-Sharay, Brooklyn, NY, Violin- 8 y.o. http://tiny.cc/qjs4vz

Abigail was born on September 26th, 2013, in Brooklyn, New York. In 2018 she started violin lessons under Dr. Yelena Savranskaya.  In 2019 she gave a solo violin recital.  In 2020 Abigail took part in the Concert Festival International Competition and became the 2nd Prize Winner.  The same year Abigail performed in Steinway Hall. In spring 2021 she took part in the Golden Key international music festival and Concert Festival International Online Concerto Competition where Abigail won the First Prizes.

• Jilun Wang, Queens, NY, Cello – 12 y.o. http://tiny.cc/7ks4vz

Jilun Wang, age 12, started her musical training at the age of 2. In June 2017, she was invited to play with the New York Philharmonic in the New World Initiative concert during the Concerts in the Parks series. Her appearance was photographic and showcased on the NY Philharmonic’s website. In the same month, Jilun made her first cello solo recital debut at Queens College. In July 2017, Jilun was selected to perform in a beneficial concert in Flushing Town Hall and was reported in the Chinese newspaper World Journal. In May 2019, Jilun won the CPSM Competition and performed at the Winners’ Concert at Queens College. She was also invited to play at Steinway Hall as a guest cellist in the same month. In February 2020, Jilun was the second-place winner at Rondo Young Artist Festival. In summer 2020, Jilun participated at Eastman Summer Cello Workshop, performed at masterclass in Cincinnati Young Artist summer camp. In December 2020, she also joined the International Cello Institute winter festival. In March 2021, Jilun won the competition of second place of intermediate division (up to 16 years old) of Society of American Musicians (SAM) and the first place of New York Laureate international Music Competition. In July, Jilun was the first-place winner at Rondo Young Artist Festival and performed at Carnegie Hall in May 2022. At the same month, she was also the first prize winner, best performance of an Italian Piece, and performance of most original work at Cremona International Music Academy and Festival. Jilun was also invited to perform with Cremona Orchestra in Italy in July 2022.
Jilun  won the Grand Prix of the Concert Festival and debuted the Haydn Concerto in C with her own composed cadenza in solitary of Ukraine at Carnegie Hall on March 20, 2022.
Jilun is currently a 6th grader at Special Music School in New York City. She was accepted in both Heifetz International Institute and Greenwood Music Camp in summer of 2022.

• Minna Krastev – Bulgaria – San-Francisco, USA, Violin – 15 y.o.

http://tiny.cc/aks4vz

Violinist Minna Krastev, age fifteen, currently studies with Natasha Makhijani at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre-College Division and continues her studies with Jory Fankuchen. She began her violin studies at age four. She is an independent student at the Sequoia Union High School District, San Mateo, California. Minna is a member of the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra (PACO) and has been among the winners of the PACO Concerto Competition. She has attended the Crowden Chamber Music Workshop in 2019 through 2022, PrestoPACO and PACO Camp, Villa Sinfonia. This summer she will attend the Brevard’s High School Orchestral Institute. She has performed in master classes with Robin Sharp, Ariana Kim, and Liana Bérubé. Minna has won top prizes at the Luigi Cerritelli International Music Competition and the Great Composers Competition Series. Minna loves organizing and performing home concerts and concerts for young kids. She enjoys running and hiking with her dog.

For more information call 718.368.1709 or go to bklynlibrary.org.