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Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 celia Mendez
young pianists beethoven competition:
Winners:
Brian Lin (11th grade at Mission San José High School)
Xinran Shi (9th grade at Stanford Online High School)
Lero Wang (11th grade at Davis Senior High School)
Congratulations to the three runners up:
Benjamin Park (11th grade at Menlo School)
Andrew Gu (10th grade at Miramonte High School)
Jacob Rockower (10th grade at The Nueva School)
Applications are now closed for the 2024 Celia Mendez Young Pianists Beethoven Competition.
COMPETITION DETAILS:
Competition final:
Saturday, March 30, 2024
San José State University Concert Hall
9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Winners’ masterclass with fortepianist Eric Zivian:
Saturday, March 30, 2024
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies, San José State University
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Fortepianist Eric Zivian (Co-Founder and Co-Director, Valley of the Moon Festival) will lead a masterclass for the three competition winners, using the Beethoven Center’s historic keyboard collection. Free admission.
The Celia Mendez Young Pianists Beethoven Competition
Welcome to a celebration of young talent and Beethoven’s timeless compositions. The Celia Mendez Young Pianists Beethoven Competition is an annual event dedicated to nurturing the artistic growth of high school students in California. Established in 1987 by Celia Mendez, a passionate piano teacher, this competition offers an immersive educational experience that delves into the nuances of Beethoven’s piano sonatas.
PAST MASTER TEACHERS
1st (1987): Jörg Demus
2nd (1988): Alfred Kanwischer
3rd (1989): Richard Goode
4th (1990): Malcolm Bilson
5th (1991): Claude Frank
6th (1992): Garrick Ohlsson
7th (1993): Yefim Bronfman
8th (1994): Christopher O’Riley
9th (1995): Grant Johanessen
10th (1996): Steve Lubinn
11th (1997): Daniel Pollack
12th (1998): John O’Conor
13th (1999): Seymour Lipkin
14th (2000): Robert Taub
15th (2001): Malcolm Bilson
16th (2002): Russell Sherman
17th (2003): Ian Hobson
18th (2004): Anton Kuerti
19th (2005): Charles Rosen
20th (2006): Menahem Pressler
21st (2007): John Perry
22nd (2008): Craig Sheppard
23rd (2009): Angela Hewitt
24th (2010): Christopher O’Riley
25th (2011): Kirill Gerstein
26th (2012): Ronald Brautigam
27th (2013): Stephan Moeller
28th (2014): Angela Hewitt
29th (2015): Mari Kodama
30th (2016): Jonathan Biss
31st (2017): Ronald Brautigam
32nd (2018): Jon Nakamatsu
33rd (2019): Paul Lewis
34th (2020): Julian Jacobson
35th (2021): Stewart Goodyear
36th (2022): Ronald Brautigam
37th (2023): Nicholas Mathew
38th (2024): Erik Vivian
PAST FINALISTS
in alphabetical order by last name;
* indicates winners who participated in the master class
2023
MASTER TEACHER: Nicholas Mathew
WINNERS
Darren Lin (San José, CA), 12th grade Lynbrook High School, Sonata Op. 57
Jason Yang (Fresno, CA), 11th grade Clovis North High School, Sonata Op. 10, no. 3
Meryl Zhang (Fremont, CA), 11th-grade Basis Independant Silicon Valley, Sonata Op. 31, no. 2
RUNNERS-UP
Dayton Nguyen (Dublin, CA), 10th grade Dublin High School, Sonata Op. 31, no. 3
Chang Yu (Moraga, CA), 10th grade Campolindo High School, Sonata Op. 27, no. 2
2022
MASTER TEACHER: Ronald Brautigam
FINALISTS
*Munan Cheng (San José, CA), 10th grade Valley Christian High School, Sonata Op. 31, no. 2
Kylie Hu (Palo Alto, CA), 11th grade Stanford Online High School, Sonata Op. 10, no. 2
Sophia Jin (Folsom, CA), 11th grade Folsom High School, Sonata Op. 101
Alexander Lee (San José, CA), 11th grade Leland High School, Sonata Op. 109
*Siddarth Pant (San José, CA), 11th grade Stanford Online High School, Sonata Op. 111
*Ziyue Zeng (Aptos, CA), 10th grade Aptos High School, Sonata Op. 78
2021
MASTER TEACHER: Stewart Goodyear
FINALISTS
*Enoch Lee (Pleasanton, CA), 11th grade Amador Valley High School, Sonata Op. 53
Curtis Li (Pleasanton, CA), 11th grade Amador Valley High School, Sonata Op. 53
*Jeston Lu (Fremont, CA), 10th grade Valley Christian High School, Sonata Op. 28
*Yejin Song (Saratoga, CA), 11th grade The Harker School, Sonata Op. 78
Ziyue Zeng (Aptos, CA), 9th grade Aptos High School, Sonata Op. 31 no. 3
Nancy Zheng (San Jose, CA), 11th grade Leland High School, Sonata Op. 81a
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Celine Chen (Valencia, CA), 11th grade West Ranch High School
Audrey Yang (Pacific Palisades, CA), 10th grade Harvard-Westlake
2020
MASTER TEACHER: Julian Jacobson
FINALISTS
*Karina Tseng (Redwood City, CA), 12th grade at Carlmont High School. Sonata Opus 10, no. 2
Jade Lu (Los Altos, CA), 10th grade at Los Altos High School. Sonata Opus 27, no. 1
Ankur Mukhopadhyay (Lake Elsinore, CA), 12th grade at Elsinore High School. Sonata Opus 31, no. 2
*Christopher Yao (Palo Alto, CA), 11th grade at Henry M. Gunn High School. Sonata Opus 57
Yejin Song (Saratoga, CA), 10th grade at the Harker School. Sonata Opus 81a
*Ryan Andrew Chi (Cupertino, CA), 12th grade at Redwood Grove Academy. Sonata Opus 81a
ALTERNATE
Siddharth C. Pant (San Jose, CA), 9th grade at Stanford Online High School. Sonata Opus 81a
HONORABLE MENTION
Riley Kong (San Jose, CA), 10th grade at Archbishop Mitty High School. Sonata Opus 31, no. 2
Darren Shen (Woodside, CA), 10th grade at Crystal Spring Uplands School. Sonata Opus 90
Vivian Wang (Saratoga, CA), 9th grade at Saratoga High School. Sonata Opus 2, no. 3
2019
MASTER TEACHER: Paul Lewis
FINALISTS
Eugene Han (La Habra, CA), 12th grade at Orange County School of Arts. Sonata No. 7 in D Major, op. 10, no. 3
Jonathan Hou (Cupertino, CA), 11th grade at Menlo School. Sonata No. 12 in A-flat Major, op. 26
*Catherine Huang (San Jose, CA), 11th grade at Lynbrook High School. Sonata No. 26 in E-flat Major, op. 81a
*Parker Van Ostrand (Sacramento, CA), 10th grade at C.K. McClatchy High School. Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, op. 57
Richard Qiu (Newberry Park, CA), 12th grade at Newbury Park High School. Sonata No. 21 in C Major, op. 53
*Justin Wahby (Elk Grove, CA), 10th grade at Franklin High School. Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, op. 31, no. 2
ALTERNATES
First alternate: Grace Chen (Cupertino, CA), 10th grade at Monta Vista High School. Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, op. 57
Second alternate: Joshua Kushner (San Jose, CA), 11th grade at Leland High School. Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, op. 57
HONORABLE MENTION
Josephine Chou (Saratoga, CA), 10th grade at Saratoga High School. Sonata No. 15 in D Major, op. 28
2018
MASTER TEACHER: Jon Nakamatsu
FINALISTS
*Ethan Andrew Chi (Cupertino, CA), 12th grade at Redwood Grove Academy. Sonata No. 21 in C Major, op. 53
*Jessica Li (Santa Clara, CA), 9th grade at Cupertino High School. Sonata No. 24 in F-sharp Major, op. 78
Dominic Pang (San Jose, CA), 10th/11th grade (homeschooled). Sonata No. 16 in G Major, op. 31, no. 1
Zhuoran Tao (Palo Alto, CA), 12th grade at Gunn High School. Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, op. 57
Sally Yapto (Los Angeles, CA), 10th grade at American University Preparatory School. Sonata No. 2 in A Major, op. 2, no. 2
*Ethan Yuen (Palo Alto, CA), 10th grade at Gunn High School. Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, op. 57
ALTERNATE
Anna F. Yakura (Santa Monica, CA), 10th grade at Santa Monica High School. Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, op. 31, no. 2
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Grace Chen (Cupertino, CA), 9th grade at Monta Vista High School. Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, op. 31, no. 2
Hannah Lin (San Jose, CA), 11th grade at Los Gatos High School. Sonata no. 4 in E-flat Major, op. 7
Ankur Mukhopadhyay (Lake Elsinore, CA), 10th grade at Elsinore High School. Sonata No. 21 in C Major, op. 53
Roger Xia (Davis, CA), 10th grade at Davis Senior High School. Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, op. 57
2017
MASTER TEACHER: Roland Brautigam
FINALISTS
*Cameron Akioka, Palo Alto. 11th grade at Palo Alto High School. Sonata no. 4 in E-flat Major, Opus 7
*Caroline Ho, Santa Monica. 12th grade at Santa Monica High School. Sonata no. 23 in F Minor, Opus 57
Ophir Horovitz, Los Altos. 11th grade at Stardust Learning Studio. Sonata no. 26 in E-flat Major, Opus 81a
Catherine Huang, San Jose. 9th grade at Lynbrook High School. Sonata no. 3 in C Major, Opus 2, no. 3
Erica Mineo, Cupertino. 12th grade at Monta Vista High School. Sonata no. 17 in D Minor, Opus 31, no. 2
*Yoko Nagafuchi, Irvine. 12th grade at Woodbridge High School. Sonata no. 4 in E-flat Major, Opus 7
ALTERNATE
Charlotte Wong, San Mateo. 9th grade at Aragon high School. Sonata no. 2 in A Major, Opus 2, no. 2
2016
MASTER TEACHER: Jonathan Biss
FINALISTS
*Anna Boonyanit, Redwood City. 11th grade at Menlo School. Sonata no. 26 in E-flat Major, Opus 81a
*Heather Hsun Chang, Palo Alto. 11th grade at Gunn High School. Sonata no. 7 in D Major, Opus 10, no. 3
*Kyle Fang, Walnut Creek. 10th grade at Valley View Charter Prep. Sonata no. 13 in E-flat Major, Opus 27, no. 1
Erica Mineo, Cupertino. 11th grade at Monta Vista High School. Sonata no. 27 in E Minor, Opus 90
Yoko Nagafuchi, Irvine. 11th grade at Woodbridge High School. Sonata no. 23 in F Minor, Opus 57
Jessica Yeung, Davis. 11th grade at Da Vinci Charter Academy. Sonata no. 26 in E-flat Major, Opus 81a
ALTERNATE
Andrew Lin, San Jose. 10th grade at Lynbrook High School. Sonata no. 2 in A Major, Opus 2, no. 2
2015
MASTER TEACHER: Mari Kodama
FINALISTS
Wei-hsi Elaine Lin, Fremont. 11th grade at Mission San Jose High School. Sonata no. 18 in E-flat Major, Opus 31, no. 3
* Vincent Liu, San Ramon. 10th grade at Dougherty Valley High School. Sonata no. 23 in F Minor, Opus 57
Erica Mineo, Cupertino. 10th grade at Monta Vista High School. Sonata no. 15 in D Major, Opus 28
Yoko Nagafuchi, Irvine. 10th grade at Woodbridge High School. Sonata no. 2 in A Major, Opus 2, no. 2
* Han B. (Diana) Shin, Buena Park. 12th grade at Orange County School of the Arts. Sonata no. 3 in C Major, Opus 2, no. 3
* Jady Wei, Cupertino. 12th grade at Monta Vista High School. Sonata no. 2 in A Major, Opus 2, no. 2
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Jolie Huang, Granite Bay. 11th grade at Granite Bay High School. Sonata no. 23 in F Minor, Opus 57
Michael Ko, San Jose. 11th grade at Leland High School. Sonata no. 3 in C Major, Opus 2, no. 3
2014
MASTER TEACHER: Angela Hewitt
FINALISTS
*Tyler Hayford, Santa Cruz. 11th grade at Pacific Collegiate School. Sonata no. 15 in D Major, Opus 28
*Shota Homma, Los Gatos. 10th grade at Los Gatos High School. Sonata no. 12 in A-flat Major, Opus 26
Vincent Liu, San Ramon. 9th grade at Dougherty Valley High School. Sonata no. 21 in C Major, Opus 53
Eun Young Park, Santa Clara. 12th grade at Cupertino High School. Sonata no. 2 in A Major, Opus 2, no. 2.
*Hanson Tam, Hillsborough. 11th grade at Menlo School. Sonata no. 27 in E Minor, Opus 90
Carol Yao, Pleasanton. 12th grade at Foothill High School. Sonata no. 11 in B-fat Major, Opus 22
ALTERNATE
Yoko Nagafuchi, Irvine. 9th grade at Woodbridge High School. Sonata no. 21 in C Major, Opus 53
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Shiyi Andy Sheng, San Jose. 10th grade at Evergreen Valley High School. Sonata no. 7 in D Major, Opus 10, no. 3
Vivian Sung, Dublin. 12th grade at Dublin High School. Sonata no. 26 in E-flat Major, Opus 81a
Amy Zeng, Pleasanton. 11th grade at Foothill High School. Sonata no. 26 in E-flat Major, Opus 81a
2013
MASTER TEACHER: Stephan Moeller
FINALISTS
Madeline Anderson, 12th grade at Ocean Grove Charter School, Monterey. Sonata in A Major, Opus 2, no. 2. Teacher: Hans Boepple
*Alex Chein, 9th grade at Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose. Sonata in E-flat Major, Opus 81a. Teacher: Kai Chi Zhu
Connie Chen, 12th grade at Amador Valley High School, in Pleasanton. Sonata in D Major, Opus 10, no. 3. Teacher: Dr. William Wellborn
*Robert Pearce, 12th grade at Branson High School in Corte Madera. Sonata in E-flat Major, Opus 31, no. 3. Teacher: Dr. William Wellborn
*Cynthia Sun, 11th grade at St. Francis High School in Sunnyvale. Sonata in F Minor, Opus 57. Teacher: Thomas Schultz
Weian Wang, 12th grade at Lynbrook High School in Saratoga. Sonata in C Major, Opus 53. Teacher: Dr. William Wellborn
ALTERNATE
Jason Kim, an 11th grade at Westview High in San Diego. Sonata in E Minor, Opus 90. Teacher: Bernadene Blaha
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Andrew Chan, 11th grade at Gunn High School in Palo Alto.
Anyan Cheng, 11th grade at Lowell High School in San Francisco.
Zachary Isaac, 11th grade at Las Lomas High School Walnut Creek.
Agata Sorotokin, 10th grade at the Harker School in San Jose.
Elias Wu, 11th grade at Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose.
2012
MASTER TEACHER: Ronald Brautigam
FINALISTS
Shanice Aaron (Sherman Oaks), Sonata in B-flat Major, Opus 22 Teacher: Anli Lin Tong
Tyler Chen Hayford (Santa Cruz), Sonata in C Major, Opus 53, Waldstein Teacher: Vlada Moran
* Sam Kinsey (Northridge), Sonata in D Major, Opus 10, no. 3 Teacher: Antoinette Perry
* Kai Ono (Irvine), Sonata in E Minor, Opus 90 Teacher: Chi Asada
* Stephanie Tang (Upland), Sonata in F Minor, Opus 57, Appassionata Teacher: Ory Shihor
Rebecca Wuu (Fremont), Sonata in E-flat Major, Opus 81a, Les Adieux Teacher: Hans Boepple
ALTERNATE
Magdalene Peng (Palo Alto), Sonata in F-sharp Major, Opus 78 Teacher: Karen Lin Peng
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Renny Ko (San Jose), Teacher: Erna Gulabyan
Brandon Shih (Cupertino), Teacher: Jinye Wang
2011
MASTER TEACHER: Kirill Gerstein
FINALISTS
Amber Hou (Cupertino, CA): Opus 53
Joanne Kim (Carmichael, CA): Opus 78
Mai Mizuno (Campbell, CA): Opus 28
* Ben-Han Sung (Lake View Terrace, CA): Opus 78
* Wesley Tiu (Chatsworth, CA): Opus 57
* Ray Hua Wu (Fremont, CA): Opus 90
ALTERNATE
Christina Wu (Saratoga, CA): Opus 7
HONORABLE MENTION
Crystal Liu (Palo Alto, CA): Opus 90
2010
MASTER TEACHER: Christopher O’Riley
FINALISTS
Mai Mizuno (Campbell): Opus 13
*Hugo Kitano (San Francisco): Opus 27, no. 1
Crystal Liu (Palo Alto): Opus 31, no. 2
Jade Huang (Granite Bay): Opus 53
* Theodora Martin (San Jose): Opus 57
*Alex Y. Wang (Fremontl): Opus 90
Allison Hwang (Fremont) was unable to participate in the finals due to injury.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Taras Dreszer (Santa Cruz)
Vien Xuan Nguyen (Redwood City)
Clara Yunjoo Lee(Santa Barbara)
Jessie Li Wang (Irvine)
Stephanie Wang (Cupertino)
Amy Wann (Piedmont)
Amanda Zerbe (Woodside)
2009
MASTER TEACHER: Angela Hewitt
FINALISTS
Jeannie Chen (Northridge): Op. 13
*Fantee Jones (Roseville), Op. 53
Yoojung Kim (San Jose), Op. 31/3
*Alison Lee (Fremont): Op. 27/1
Clara Lee (Santa Barbara): Op. 22
*Amanda Wang (Palo Alto:, Op. 90
ALTERNATE
Chrystal Liu (Palo Alto):, Op. 2/2
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Theodora Martin (San Jose): Op. 31/2
Ben-han Sung (Lakeview Terrace):, Op. 31/2
Eike Hoffman (Irvine): Op. 14/1
2008
MASTER TEACHER: Craig Sheppard
FINALISTS
*Michael Delfin (Madera, CA): Sonata no. 21 in C Major, Opus 53 (“Waldstein”)
*Angela Hwang (Saratoga, CA): Sonata no. 3 in C Major, Opus 2, no. 3
Joy Kim (Irvine, CA): Sonata no. 27 in E Minor, Opus 90
*Victoria Kwong (San José, CA): Sonata no. 7 in D Major, Opus 10, no. 2
Alison Lee (Fremont, CA): Sonata no. 15 in D Major, Opus 28 (“Pastorale”)
Amanda Wang (Palo Alto, CA): Sonata no. 17 in D Minor, Opus 31, no. 2 (“Tempest”)
ALTERNATE
Andrew Hsu (Fremont, CA): Sonata no. 3 in C Major, Opus 2, no. 3
HONORABLE MENTION
Emma Podlesnik (Palo Alto, CA): Sonata no. 23 in F Minor, Opus 57 (“Appassionata”)
2007
MASTER TEACHER: John Perry
FINALISTS
*Ashley Hsu (Fremont, CA): Sonata no. 26 in E-flat Major, Opus 81a (“Les Adieux”)
Connie Kim-Shen (La Crescenta, CA): Sonata ino. 21 n C Major, Opus 53 (“Waldstein”)
*David Y. Ko (Millbrae, CA); Sonata no. 27 in E Minor, Opus 90
Calvin Lee (Sunnyvale, CA): Sonata no. 23 in F Minor, Opus 57 (“Appassionata”)
Monica Qiu (Newbury Park, CA): Sonata no. 26 in E-flat Major, Opus 81a (“Les Adieux”)
*Tiffany Yu (San Jose, CA): Sonata no. 15 in D Major, Opus 28 (“Pastoral”)
ALTERNATE
Mayumi Tsuchida (Mill Valley, CA); Sonata no. 21 in C Major, Opus 53 (“Waldstein”)
2006
MASTER TEACHER: Menahem Pressler
FINALISTS
Alison Lee, a 9th grader at Mission San José High School, played Sonata no. 18 in E-flat Major, Opus 31, no. 3
Angela Lee, a senior at Upland High School, played Sonata no. 26 in E-flat Major, Opus 81a (Les Adieux)
*Christina Lee, a 9th grader at Saint Francis High School, played Sonata no. 2 in A Major, Opus 2, no. 2
*Yi-Ju Lai, a senior at Idyllwild Arts Academy, played Sonata no. 7 in D Major, Opus 10, no. 3
Juliann Ma, a junior at Albany High School, played Sonata no. 23 in F Minor, Opus 57 (Appassionata)
*Vijay Venkatesh, a 9th grader at Dana Hills High School, played Sonata no. 8 in C Minor, Opus 13 (Pathétique)
Hear From Our Winners
“Participating in the Celia Méndez Young Pianists Beethoven Competition was a transformative experience. The master class with an acclaimed artist not only improved my technical skills but also deepened my understanding of Beethoven’s compositions. This competition is a beacon of support for young musicians like me.”
– Emily Carter, Competition Winner