2026 FIRST PLACE WINNERS OF THE MUSICAL LIFE COMPETITION TO DEBUT AT WEILL RECITAL HALL AT CARNEGIE HALL ON MAY 28, 2026, 7:30 P.M.
2026 COMPOSERS IN RESIDENCE WILL HAVE THEIR ORIGINAL WORKS PREMIERED AT: Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. and at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Selected through a rigorous live and virtual audition process held in March, winners represent exceptional young pianists, violinists, and cellists from across the United States, Europe, and Canada. The Carnegie Hall program features works by Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Brahms, Debussy, Ravel, Saint-Saëns, Herbert, Villa-Lobos, and others.
Carnegie Hall Performers: Amelia Josephine Bach, Frederik Butje, Noah Cheng, Edwin Cheng, Aidan Guo, Annelise Hartlage, Dylan Jiang, Rachel Jimenez, Lauren Kang, Connor Kromer, Kai Lin, Scarlett Moran, Ming Chun Ng, Masao Patel, Elaine Sun, Brendan Tan, Melvyn Tang, Audrey Templin, Gabriel van Kwawegen, Evander Vaubel, Jan von Styp Rekowski, Lauren Whang, Adele Xie and Qiyaqin Zhang.
A FEW FEATURED PERFORMERS
Rachel Jimenez, cello — Traveling from Columbia, Maryland for her Carnegie Hall debut, Rachel will perform the Rondo Concerto No. 2 in D Major by Jean-Baptiste Bréval/Louis Feuillard. Rachel studies with Deborah Kay Zagorin. She is also a winner of the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition.
Ming Chung Ng, piano — A resident of Irvine, California studying with John Gilmour. Ming will travel to New York to perform Preludes by Debussy and Prokofiev in his Carnegie Hall debut.
Kai Lin, violin — A student of Kimberly Fisher in Forest Hills, New York, Kai will perform Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28 by Saint-Saëns, and co-premiere Prärie-Nachthimmel für Violine und Cello with cellist Masao Patel.
Masao Patel, cello — A pupil of Alex Croxton at Special Music School in Brooklyn, New York, Masao will perform Movements II and III of the Victor Herbert Cello Concerto No. 2 in E minor. Masao will co-premiere Prärie-Nachthimmel für Violine und Cello with violinist Kai Lin.
Adele Xie, piano – is a student of Mrs. Joan Behrens Bergman at the Hoff Barthelson Music School and is a veteran performer at Carnegie Hall. She is also the First Place Winner of the Musica Talent Competition and American Protégé, 2025. Adele is performing Intermezzo from Faschingsschwank aus Wien Op. 26 by R. Schumann.
Jan Von Styp Rekowski, piano (Germany) — Studying at the Musikgymnasium Schloss Belvedere in Berlin under Michael Dorner, Von Styp Rekowski recently received the Gold Medal at the Manolov International Music Competition. Winner of the Primo Assoluto “First Absolute Prize” at Concorso Internazionale Lago di Como. Jan will perform a movement from Partita No. 2 by J.S. Bach and Étude in A minor by F. Chopin.
2026 COMPOSERS IN RESIDENCE
Composer, Gaoyuan Thomas Cheng (Canada) attends Westmount Charter Mid-High School and studies composition with Sarah Konecsni. The premiere of his composition Prärie-Nachthimmel für Violine und Cello will take place at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on May 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Composer, Theodore Tavi Hein, an honors student of composition, piano, voice and music theory at Mannes Prep in New York, will premiere two works — Anxiety (for piano), inspired by Rashid Johnson’s Untitled Anxious Audience) and Violin Sonata No. 1, II. Meditation — at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center on June 20, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Theodore studies composition with Meng Wang.
THE COMPETITION
Musical Life Competition is an international competition open to pianists and string players of all educational backgrounds, up to 18 years of age. Composers in Residence is a special opportunity for rising composers (ages 20 and under) to have original works premiered at world-class New York City venues. “Musical Life Foundation gives personal attention to each Competition Winner and Composer in Residence, helping guide their careers in the formative years,” says Emilia Oskotsky, Founder and Executive Director. “We believe Carnegie Hall performances should remain sacred and earned by hard work, talent, and dedication.”
2026 Jury: Dr. Tereza Lee (piano), Tamila Azadaliyeva (piano), Nicholas Pappone (strings), Grigory Smirnov (composition).
ABOUT MUSICAL LIFE FOUNDATION
Musical Life Foundation is a New York-based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing meaningful talent development opportunities for emerging musicians and composers. Founded by accomplished pianist, pedagogue, and artistic curator Emilia Oskotsky, the Foundation provides performance opportunities, professional artistic development, and a platform for the next generation of musicians to connect with concert audiences.
TICKETS
Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall Tickets: $65, May 28, 7:30 PM
Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center Tickets: $50, June 20, 6:00 PM
For a full list of 2026 First Place Winners and Composers in Residence, full biographies, or complimentary press tickets, please contact Musical Life Foundation:
www.musicallife.org | info@musicallife.org
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