Awards/Activities in Piano

In Reverse Chronological Order

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Awards/Activities in 2016:

• Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)

  1. Finalist of U. S. National Competition in Senior Piano Duet in 2016

  2. Winner of U. S. Eastern Division Competition in Senior Piano Duet in 2016

  3. Winner of New Jersey State Competition in Senior Piano Duet in 2016

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Awards/Activities in 2015:

• Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)

  1. Finalist of U. S. National Competition in Senior Piano Duet in 2015

  2. Winner of U. S. Eastern Division Competition in Senior Piano Duet in 2015

  3. Winner of New Jersey State Competition in Senior Piano Duet in 2015

  4. Honorable Mention of New Jersey State Competition in Senior Piano Solo in 2015

• International Young Artist Piano Competition (IYAPC): 

• 1. Won both First Place and Chinese Prize  of 30th International Young Artist Piano Competition (IYAPC) in 2015.

  2. Performed on  June 28th, 2015  at Ward Recital Hall, Catholic University of America: 1) Jin Yang Zhao by Quan Jihao; 2) Sonneto 104 del Petrarca by Franz Liszt.  The recording of the concert is featured on youtube and will be broadcasted in WQXR, NYC on February 10, 2016.

  3. Performed at John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. for IYAPC Winners Concert.

  4. Click below for the performance video or view this full video directly from Kennedy Center starting at 34:16: http://m.kennedy-center.org/home/play/M6435

     1. Press Release/Commentary from Clifford Brody:    Talk About Commitment! The World Is In Good Hands … These Good Hands

• • Cecilian Music Club (founded in 1883) 

• 1. Solo winner of Cecilian Music Club Young Artist Competition in 2015 (winner for 13 times).  Irene will perform at New Jersey Performance Arts Center (NJPAC) on December 6, 2015.  

  2. Recipient of 9-Year Award, starting from 2006 at the age of 8. 

• Crescendo International Competition: 

  1. First Place in 2015

  2. Performed Solo in Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall. 

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Awards/Activities in 2014:

• Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)

  1. Winner of New Jersey State Competition in Senior Piano Duet in 2014 

• New Jersey Music Teachers Association (NJMTA) 

  1. Annual Spring Audition: 11-Year Award Winner in 2014. Won High Honor and Honor Awards for 11 consecutive years.

• New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA)

  1. Young Artist Masterclass Competition: Adell Williams Award Winner (3rd Time).  Selected after performing full Solo performance to have master classes with renowned pianist, Veda Kaplinsky from Julliard

  2. Annual Auditions.

• Cecilian Music Club 

• 1. Winner of Young Artist Competition (12-time)

  2. Recipient of 8-Year Award

  3. Selected to perform Solo and Duet at Grace Rainey Rodgers Auditorium in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. 

• Crescendo International Competition: 

  1. First Place in 2014 

  2. Performed Solo in Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall. 

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Awards/Activities in 2013:

• Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)

  1. Honorable Mention of New Jersey State Competition in Senior Piano Solo 

  2. Second Place Winner of New Jersey State Competition in Senior Piano Duet 

• New Jersey Music Teachers Association (NJMTA) 

  1. Young Musicians Piano Competition: 2nd place in age group (age 15) in 2013 at New Jersey State Competition.  

• • Cecilian Music Club 

• 1. Young Artist Competition Solo Winner in 2013 (11-time) 

     1. Recipient of 7-Year Award.

  2. Selected to perform Solo at Alice Tully Hall of Lincoln Center in New York City. 

  3. Winner of Music Scholarship: funded summer at Northern Lights Music Festival in Aurora, Minnesota and concert trip to Budapest, Hungary to perform at Hubay Jeno Music School & Rozsavolgyi Mark Arts School.

• National Young Musician Showcase Competition: 

  1. Grand Winner in 2013 (2nd time).

  2. Selected to perform Solo at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall.

• National Young Artists Chamber Music and Ensemble Competition:

  1. Grand Winner in 2013.

  2. Selected to perform Duet at Merkin Concert Hall in Kauffman Center in New York City.

• Crescent Concerts Series: Showcase for Exceptionally Talented Young Musicians

  1. Won 14th Crescent Concerts Series in 2013. 

  2. Selected through audition process as one of 5 high school musicians to perform full performance repertoire at Crescent Church.

  3. Invited to perform 43rd Annual Plainfield Area Children’s Choir Festival in 2013 as showcase musician from Crescent Concert Series. 

• Steinway Society Piano Competition:

  1. Finalist and Honorable Mention for Group 3 in 2013. 

  2. Two rounds: preliminary round with audition tape and final round with performance in front of live audience.

• Princeton Music Festival Piano Competition:

  1. Selected as top 3 Finalists in Junior Artist Group (Age 13-15) in 2013.

• Northern Lights Music Festival in Aurora, Minnesota

• International Musicians’ Performing Arts Cultural Troupe (IMPACT) Concerts in Budapest, Hungary

  1. Invited to perform Solo and Duet repertoire in concerts at Hubay Jenő Music School and the Rózsavölgyi Márk Arts School in Budapest, Hungary in 2013. 

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Awards/Activities in 2012:

• New Jersey Music Teachers Association (NJMTA) 

  1. Young Musicians Piano Competition: 4th place (age 14) in 2012 in New Jersey State Competition.  

• New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA)

  1. Young Artist Masterclass Competition: Adell Williams Award Winner.  Selected after performing full Solo performance to have master classes with renowned pianist, Douglas Humphreys from Eastman.

• Cecilian Music Club

  1. Young Artist Competition Winner (Solo and Duet)

  2. Selected to perform Solo and Duet at Alice Tully Hall of Lincoln Center. 

• National Young Musician Showcase Competition: 

  1. Grand Winner in 2012.

  2. Selected to perform Solo at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall.

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Awards/Activities in 2011 and earlier:

• New Jersey Music Teachers Association (NJMTA) 

  1. Young Musicians Piano Competition: 2nd place (age 13) in 2011 at NJ state-wide competition.  

  2. Commission Composer Competitions: 1st place in 2006 and 2007.

• New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA)

  1. Young Artist Masterclass Competition: Adell Williams Award Winner.  Selected after performing full Solo performance to have master classes with renowned pianist, Phillip Kawin from Manhattan  (2010).

  2. Young Artists Piano Competitions: 1st place in Solo (2011), Duo (2011, 2010, 2009, 2008), Duet (2006).

• Cecilian Music Club

1. Young Artist Competition Winner:  8-time winners (2006-2011) 

2. Recipient of 3-Year and 5-Year Awards

3. Selected to perform Solo and Duet at Alice Tully Hall of Lincoln Center, Zankel Hall of Carnegie Hall, and Grace Rainey Rodgers Auditorium in New York City.

• National Young Musician Showcase Competition: 

  1. Gold Winner in 2011.

  2. Selected to perform Solo at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall.

• Crescendo International Competition: 

  1. First Place in 2010

  2. Performed Solo in Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall. 

• “Rising Stars” Classicals at the Circle at Watchung Arts Center

  1.  Featured as Rising Stars to perform solo in 2011 at Watchung Arts Center.

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Other Piano Experiences:

• Junior Choir Pianist in Rutgers Community Christian Church  (RCCC): 

  • 1. Plays piano accompaniment in all weekly choir rehearsals and performances (performs for all holidays) in Rutgers Community Christian Church  (RCCC).

• 1. Must master 15+ songs per season. 

• • Music Camp Pianist in Rutgers Community Christian Church  (RCCC):

• 1. Played piano accompaniment of entire musical production (Table for Five Thousand) at performances and hours of vocal and choreography rehearsals (2015).

  2. Served as musical pianist understudy for production of The Tale of Three Trees  (2014) 

• Wind Ensemble Pianist in Bridgewater-Raritan High School  (BRHS):

• 1. Played piano for Give Us This Day by D. Maslanka in competition

• • Pantera Pianist (select orchestra) in Bridgewater-Raritan High School (BRHS):

• 1. Played harp part on piano for Vieuxtemps’ Violin Concerto No. 4, Adagio religioso

• • Piano Teacher  

• 1. Prepare and teach piano fundamentals and competition repertoire to beginners and intermediate level students ($40/hr) in 2014-2015. 

  2. Student won 1st in NJ state competition.

• • Piano Accompanist

• 1. Accompany voice and strings at musical workshops and recitals ($10-20/event).

• Pianist Volunteer

• 1. Played piano as a volunteer at Robert Wood Johnson University  Hospital Somerset.

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