What is this about?
The Steinway Society of Riverside County Awards Festival takes place every year in March at Xavier College Preparatory High School in Palm Desert. Its purpose is to award talented young pianists and give them an opportunity to perform and work with master teachers.
Participants will play in a master class for each of two teachers and in a recital. Award winners will be selected on the basis of their performance in all three venues. Students’ teachers are strongly encouraged to attend.
Eligibility
Applicants must be residents of Riverside or San Bernardino County or be studying with a teacher who is a resident of these counties.
The student must have studied with the current teacher for six months prior to the festival.
Festival participants will be divided into Junior and Senior Levels.
Junior Level – through grade 8, level 5 literature and above.
Senior Level – grades 9 – 12
Awards
Four awards of $500 will be given at both Junior and Senior Levels.
Repertoire
Students will perform three pieces of contrasting style.
Participants must choose one Baroque OR Classical piece. Schubert may count as Classical. The third selection will then be Romantic or later.
Are you interested in participating?
2023 Winners
Senior Winners (grades 9-12):
Demi Jiaqi, 15, from Rancho Cucamonga, playing French overture in B Minor by Bac
Jadon Wu, 16, of Mission Viejo playing Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens/ Liszt
Isabelle Ragsac, 17, of Corona performing Prokofiev’s Toccata Op. 11
Junior Winners (ages 7-14)
Queenie Chen, 11, of Menifee playing Chopin’s Waltz in C sharp Minor, Op. 64. No. 2
Yuan Yin, 11, of Temecula, performing Muczynski’s Desperate Measures, Theme and Vars. 7 and 12
Melody Liu, 10 or Rancho Cucamonga, playing Liszt’s La Leggierezza
Edina Zhang, 9, of Highland performing Poulenc’s Toccata
2022 Winners
Senior Winners (grades 9-12):
Isabella Cao, 17, from Rancho Cucamonga, a student of Agatha Hou, Alta Loma
Kathleen Gurning, 15, and Matthew Gurning, 18, from Fontana, students of Elvin Rodriguez, Riverside
Christina Liu, 17, from Redlands, a student of Rodriguez; and Ben Phipatanakul, 14, from Loma Linda, a student of Prodan.
Master teachers for the event were Catherine Kautsky and Anthony Padilla, both from Lawrence University
Junior Winners (through 8th grade):
Ziyue Abby Bi, 13, from Temecula, a student of Eva Martin Hollaus, Perris
Matthew Sakata, 12, from Murrieta, a student of Yiyi Ku, Murrieta
Jadon Wu, 14, from Mission Viejo, a student of Angelica Prodan, Redlands
Evangelyn Wuchner, 13, from Murrieta, a student of Ku; Edina Zhang, 7, from Highland, also a student of Prodan.
Master teachers for the event were Giorgi Latso and Nelms McKelvain.
Previous Winners of the Steinway Society Piano Festival Competitions
2020 Steinway Society Piano Festival Competition Winners
Information about this years Winners will be posted here soon.
Meanwhile – enjoy performances by our 2020 Senior Winners by clicking the button below!
2019 Steinway Society Piano Festival Competition Winners
La Sierra University, Riverside
Senior Level Winners
Isabella Cao – Agatha Hou, teacher
Matthew Gurning – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Aaron Kwan – Agatha Hou, teacher
Yi Fang Demi Rong – Dr. Jeanette-Louise Yaryan, teacher
Xuerong Sharon Wang – Dr. Jeanette-Louise Yaryan, teacher
Juniors Level Winners
Kathleen Gurning – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Xuxuan Jin – Yiyi Ku, teacher
Matthew Sakata – Yiyi Ku, teacher
Lucas Schaefer – Yiyi Ku, teacher
Jadon Wu – Dr. Angelica Prodan, teacher
2018 Steinway Society Piano Festival Competition Winners
Helene Galen Performing Arts Center, Rancho Mirage High School
Senior Level Winners
Isabella Cao – Agatha Hou, teacher
Yilin Kevin Du – Dr. Doug Ashcraft, teacher
Matthew Gurning – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Aaron Kwan – Agatha Hou, teacher
Samuel Xu – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Juniors Level Winners
Emma Erickson – Yiyi Ku, teacher
Antoine Forehand – Jim McCormick, teacher
Kathleen Gurning – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Brian Huynh – Tatyana Maslova, teacher
Jadon Wu – Dr. Angelica Prodan, teacher
2017 Steinway Society Piano Festival Competition Winners
Helene Galen Performing Arts Center, Rancho Mirage High School
Senior Level Winners
James Antonios – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Karissa Juhas – Dr. Angelica Prodan, teacher
Joel Oswari – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Lydia Xu – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Samuel Xu – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Juniors Level Winners
Isabella Cao – Agatha Hou, teacher
Emma Erickson – Yiyi Ku, teacher
Kathleen Gurning – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Matthew Gurning – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Aaron Kwan – Agatha Hou, teacher
2016 Steinway Society Piano Festival Competition Winners
Helene Galen Performing Arts Center, Rancho Mirage High School
Senior Level Winners
Benjamin Champion – Dr. Jeanette-Louise Yaryan, teacher
Thomas Kim – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Han Xiao Helen Lai – Nelms McKelvain, teacher
Milaena Martinez – Dr. Stewart Gordon, teacher
Joel Oswari – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Juniors Level Winners
Emma Erickson – Yiyi Ku, teacher
Matthew Gurning – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Aaron Kwan – Agatha Hou, teacher
Jadon Wu – Dr. Angelica Prodan, teacher
Lydia Xu – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
2015 Steinway Society Piano Festival Competition Winners
Helene Galen Performing Arts Center, Rancho Mirage High School
Senior Level Winners
Marie Ananian
Yoonseo (Ted) Choi
Mileana Martinez
Joel Oswari
Ben Tecson (performing in video)
Junior Level Winners
Ranen Unger Hicks
Matthew Gurning
Emika Saito
Lydia Xu
Samuel Xu
Honorable Mention: Christina Lui
2014 Steinway Society Piano Festival Competition Winners
Helene Galen Performing Arts Center, Rancho Mirage High School
Senior Winners
Marie Ananian-Kate – Rubke-Foxworth, teacher
Matthew Evangelista – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Julian Jenson – Dr. Douglas Ascraft, teacher
Andrew Tang – Jennie Shin,teacher
Ben Tecson – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Honorable Mention: Ted Choi – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Junior Winners
Catherine Duan – Dr. Angelica Prodan, teacher
Karissa Juhas – James Ramos, teacher
Joel Oswari – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Emika Saito – Eva Martin – Hollaus, teacher
Ranen Unger Hicks – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Honorable Mention: Maggie Liu – Jenny Shin, teacher and Cricket Takeda – Jim McCormick, teacher
2013 Steinway Society Piano Festival Competition Winners
Annenberg Theater, Palm Springs Art Museum
Senior Winners
Brian Chan – Angelica Prodan, teacher
Jason Chan – Dr. Angelica Prodan, teacher
Jonathan Mamora – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Benjamin Tecson – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Xinran “Kelly” Xin – Dr. Douglas Ashcraft, teacher
Honorable Mention: Matthew Evangilista – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher; Saehee Jong – Anne Park Lee, teacher; Hannah Yaghoubian – James McCormick, teacher
Junior Winners
Yoonseo “Ted” Choi – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Ranen Unger Hicks – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Joel Oswari – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Andrew Tang – Jenny Shin, teacher
Lydia Xu – Huan Che, teacher
2012 Steinway Society Piano Festival Competition Winners
Annenberg Theater, Palm Springs Art Museum
Senior Winners
Julian Jenson
Dong Yeon Kim – Dr. Andrew Park, teacher
Benny Kleinerman – Nelms McKelvain, teacher
Jonathan Mamora – Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, teacher
Esther Yaghoubian – James McCormick, teacher
Junior Winners
Jason Chan – Angelica Prodan, teacher
Ranen Unger Hicks – Eva Martin Hollaus, teacher
Milaena Martinez – Dr. Stewart Gordon, teacher
Vevina-Anne Swanson – Professor Louanne Long, teacher
Andrew Tang – Yiyi Ku, teacher
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