Cynthia Kuo-Lo, Violinist

Taiwanese-American violinist Cynthia Kuo-Lo has performed extensively across the United States and Germany. In Europe, she served as Associate Concertmaster of the Landesjugendorchester Berlin (2023) and attended summer academies on full scholarship at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold (2023) as well as the Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber Dresden (2024). She has primarily studied under Dr. Yuan Wu, Miyuko Wahr, Professor Tomasz Tomaszewski, and Dr. Nicholas Hatt. Among her U.S. accolades, Cynthia won the 2024 Brazos Valley Youth Concerto Competition and took Second Prize at the 2025 Houston Civic Symphony Young Artist Concerto Competition. She has consistently earned top ratings at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest and recently received the prestigious Outstanding Performer Award. Beyond the concert stage, Cynthia is dedicated to the sciences, humanities, and community service. She was accepted into Jugend trainiert Mathematik, a highly selective, full-scholarship program preparing students for the International Mathematical Olympiad, and she recently qualified for the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad. Her distinction in cultural analysis led to an invitation to serve on the Youth Jury of the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) in 2024. Furthermore, she has launched science enrichment programs for young children and regularly curates and performs concerts at healthcare facilities in Germany, the United States, and Taiwan.

Émilie Tam, Violinist

Émilie is 13 years old and entering her fifth year at the Taylor Academy for the gifted young performers of the Royal Conservatory of Music under the guidance of Dr Conrad Chow and Ms Kelly Parkins-Lindstrom. She was privileged to perform in the masterclasses of Ida Kavafian, Ilya Kaler, Timothy Chooi, Vanessa Bruno, Erica Raum and Christopher Bagan. Her highlight performance was playing the Mozart and Vivaldi concerto in the Mazzolini Hall for the Academy’s concerto competition in the past years. She was honored to play a fine violin on loan from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Besides her busy activities at the Academy and school, she was invited to play the role of “the Fiddler” in the Spotlight theatre production of “The Fiddler on the roof” in November and December, 2024. In 2025, she had won the best violinist of the Yips Music Festival and was recommended to participate in the open level of the OMFA provincial final. Besides music, Émilie enjoys baking, bird watching and visiting different zoos in the world. She is studying full time in English, French, German at Toronto French School and speaks Cantonese.

Ioannis Papagiannopoulos, Cellist

Ioannis Papagiannopoulos is a talented and dedicated Greek cellist currently studying at the Haute École de Musique de Genève under Professor Denis Severin. He has been admitted to the Department of Music Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and holds a Diploma in Cello with highest distinction and a Gold Medal from the Attiko Conservatory in Athens. A prizewinner in numerous international competitions, he has been awarded with the Grand Prix at the Nouvelles Etoiles International Music Competition (2026), 1st Prize at the NY Classical Debut Awards (2026), Gold Prize at the Berlioz International Music Competition (2026), 3rd Prize at the Santo Tirso Cinday Festival (2023), the Absolute 1st Prize at the Fanny Mendelssohn International Competition (2023), and the 1st Prize with distinction at the Maria Chairogiorgou-Sigara Competition (2021). He has performed as soloist with the Athens Megaron Camerata Junior Orchestra and the Thessaloniki City Symphony Orchestra. He has also participated in the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra (2023–2024), the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Young (2022), and the Junges Philharmonisches Orchester München (2025 & 2026). In August 2025, he took part in the Tannay Music Festival in Geneva. He continues to refine his artistry through masterclasses with renowned artists such as Josephine Knight, Misha Maisky, Xenia Jankovic, Leonidas Kavakos, Wen Sinn Yang, Xavier Phillips, Razmann Suma, Joel Marosi, Martin Smith, Mattias de Oliveira Pinto, and Benedict Kloekner. He is a scholar from Tanner Foundation and Bourse De Geneve Foundation.

Peyton Yang, Pianist

Peyton Yang began studying piano at age four with a desire to honor God through music. He has received numerous awards, including Highest Honor at the North Carolina Music Teachers Association Piano Festival and First Prize at the Elite International Music Competition, which led to multiple performances at Carnegie Hall. In 2025, he earned Third Prize at the International Subcarpathian Chopin Piano Competition in Poland. Peyton has been selected with scholarship for several prestigious international music programs, including the Philadelphia International Music Festival and Chopin in Cyprus, where he was one of only 20 pianists worldwide chosen to participate. He is also an active chamber musician with the UNC Chapel Hill MYCO program. Beyond music, Peyton is committed to serving others. Since age 11, he has served as a pianist for his church worship team, teaches weekly Bible classes, and has participated in mission work in Taiwan. He enjoys using his musical gifts to encourage and serve his community while pursuing excellence in both his artistic and spiritual growth.

Tiffany Tong Xia, Soprano

Canceled due to visa issues

Xia Tong is a Chinese soprano based in the United States. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance, serves as a board member of the New York Opera Society, and is a soprano soloist with Bellevue Opera. She is also an external graduate advisor at the School of Arts of Shandong University. She earned the Advanced Professional Diploma in Voice from Berklee College of Music and received her early training at Xinghai Conservatory of Music under Professor Yang Yan. Her awards include recognition as the only Chinese finalist in the 2023 Manhattan International Music Competition, First Prize at the 4th New York Virtuoso International Music Competition, and the championship of the Shanghai Regional Division of the 23rd Pietro Argento International Music Competition. Her performances include appearances at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, as well as productions of Marco Polo, Turandot, L’elisir d’amore, Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, and La Bohème. She has performed with the Macao Orchestra, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, and Bellevue Opera.

Tsung-Jui Yang, Violinist

Tsung-Jui Yang is a young violinist from Pingtung, Taiwan, currently living and studying in Berlin, Germany. His musical journey began at the age of eight, when he started learning the violin, piano, and music theory. This versatile foundation sparked his passion for classical music and led to formal training for concerts and competitions. As a dedicated performer, Tsung-Jui has shared his music both as a soloist and an orchestral member, notably performing in his graduation concert and participating in national competitions in Taiwan. Eager to broaden his musical horizons, he moved to Germany to immerse himself in its rich classical traditions. He is currently refining his skills and preparing to pursue his dream of studying at a music conservatory.