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Junwen Liang - Pianist
Originally from Nanning, China, Junwen began his piano studies at the age of nine and made his solo debut at thirteen. During his years as a student, he performed at distinguished venues across the United States, including Stockton University Performing Arts Center, The Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts in New Jersey, Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State, Barnes Hall at Cornell University, Cohen Family Studio Theater, Robert J. Werner Recital Hall in Cincinnati, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, and the Academy of Music at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia.
About Junwen Liang
As a soloist, Junwen collaborated with orchestras such as the Central Texas Philharmonic, Penn State Philharmonic Orchestra, and Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra. His interpretation of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra was broadcast on WSKG radio, further showcasing his growing presence in the classical music scene. Additionally, he was invited to present a solo performance on WRTI Classical Radio in Philadelphia, further establishing his reputation as a promising concert pianist.
Since 2023, Junwen's artistry has flourished with a rapidly expanding career as a versatile recitalist, leading to invitations from distinguished series such as Lake Barcroft Concerts (Falls Church, VA), Arts Club of Washington (Washington, DC), Sunday Recital Series at Saint Thomas (Manhattan, NY), Trinity Concert Series (Watertown, NY), Sevenars Music Festival (South Worthington, MA), and the Afternoon Recital Series at Grunin Center (Toms River, NJ). For the 2024/25 season, Junwen will debut across North America, performing in prestigious series including Fripp Island Friends of Music, Aiden Chamber Music Series at McLean Center, Saugerties Pro Musica, Chamber On The Mountain, Classical Series at Boston Court Pasadena, Charlotte House Series; as well as in residencies at universities in New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and California. (additional concerts for the 2024/25 season can be found here)
In addition to his solo career, Junwen extends his musical talents engaging as a collaborative pianist with professional instrumentalists and singers in the thriving music scenes of Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore County, Maryland. Recognized for his exceptional collaborative skills, he was honored with the Clara Ascherfeld Award in Accompanying, and the title of "Outstanding Collaborative Pianist" at the Peabody Institute, which he was featured in their esteemed Noon:30 Concert Series. In February 2024, at the invitation of concert pianist Chantal Balestri, Artistic Director of the Lunigiana International Music Festival, Junwen participated in the Puccini Concert Project held at NYU Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo. This special event, in collaboration with the Festival Puccini Torre del Lago, commemorated the composer's 100th Anniversary. Junwen showcased his talent through solo arrangements and engaging vocal duets alongside guest soprano Marina Medici.
Furthermore, Junwen's collaborative ventures led to his participation in a piano quintet, coached by Michael Kannen, director of Peabody’s Chamber Music Program. The quintet's outstanding artistry earned them the distinction of being the only chamber group from Peabody selected to perform at Carnegie Hall’s Master Class Series, offering a unique opportunity to collaborate with Ludwig Quandt, principal cellist of the Berliner Philharmoniker.
Junwen's commitment to musical excellence is also exemplified by his participation in prestigious music festivals, including Texas State International Piano Festival, Lunigiana International Music Festival, Art of the Piano at CCM, Atlantic Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, Orford Musique, and Philadelphia Young Pianists' Academy. He has worked with famous pedagogues and concert pianists including Piotr Paleczny, Stanislav Ioudenitch, Johnathan Biss, Gary Graffman, Jerome Lowenthal, Ching-Yun Hu, Andre Laplante, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Vladimir Feltsman, Robert McDonald, Ursula Oppens, Jeremy Denk, and more.
A recipient of numerous awards, Junwen's trajectory began with victories in esteemed competitions in China at the age of 12. This journey continued globally with triumphs in the New York International Piano Competition, Naftzger Young Artist Competition, Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, Juliusz Zarębski International Music Competition (Poland), Music International Grand Prix, and WPTA Spain. Notably, he secured first prizes in the Crescendo International Music Competition, Nouvelles Etoiles International Music Competition (France), The Princeton Festival International Piano Competition, YMIC International Music Competition, Philadelphia International Piano Competition, and The American Prize. In Spring 2019, Junwen's achievements were crowned with the exclusive Spencer Merit Award at the National Society of Arts & Letters in Bloomington, an honor given to only one pianist that year.
Most recently, Junwen graduated with a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, under the tutelage of Richard Goode. His past mentors include Christopher Guzman (Penn State), Roberto Plano, Edward Auer (Indiana University), and Charis Dimaras (Ithaca College).
Junwen currently teaches at the Music Department of University of Pennsylvania, and is represented worldwide by Price Attractions.
Emma Rush – guitar
Emma Rush has established herself as one of Canada’s top classical guitarists. Her career has commanded world recognition. Recent touring highlights include a four-city tour in China, starting with the Altamira Shanghai International Guitar Festival, appearances at guitar festivals including Festival de Guitarras Lagos de Moreno (Mexico), the Nyköping Gitaarseminarium (Sweden), and a prestigious concert at the Internationales Gitarren Symposion, Iserlohn (Germany). In 2023 Rush performs throughout Canada with stops in Nova Scotia, Québec, Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, with international appearances including the Minnesota Guitar Society and the Swedish Guitar and Lute Festival.
In 2020 Rush released Wake the Sigh, a collection of rare music written for guitar by women in the 19th century. Her earlier recordings are Canadiana, which includes a suite dedicated to her by composer William Beauvais, and Folklórica.
“Rush’s technique is flawless throughout…” The Whole Note
Emma Rush has received three City of Hamilton Arts Awards, and has had her work supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Hamilton City Enrichment Fund, and FACTOR.
Rush is a guest lecturer at colleges and universities throughout North America and was an Artist-in-Residence at the Fountain School of Performing Arts at Dalhousie University in the fall of 2016. She is active in presenting guitar events around the world and is Co-Director of GuitarFest West in Calgary and the Collegiate Peaks Guitar Retreat in Colorado.
Scott Macmillan – guitar
Scott Macmillan’s passion for creating music propels him forward in all aspects of music making, inspiring exploration into genres from rock to blues, classical to choral, Celtic to jazz, as well as modern and avant-garde.
In 2021 Scott composed the Dramatic Score for the film ‘Dawn, Her Dad and the Tractor’. In 2019 Scott premiered ‘12 & Change’ for Electric Guitar with SNS and ‘Woodland Revival’, an experiential composition performed by Mi’kmaw drummers, Persian, Celtic & Classical musicians.
Music has taken Macmillan to many places including Carnegie Hall performing his much loved ode to our world’s oceans ‘Celtic Mass for the Sea’, with partner/librettist Jennyfer Brickenden.
Multiple awards, appointments, commissions and critical reviews all reflect Macmillan’s contribution to the music of Nova Scotia and beyond. An integral contributor to the success of the late Rita MacNeil, Scott played an equally pivotal role in the rise of the Rankin Family Band, the Nova Scotia Mass Choir and led Symphony Nova Scotia’s Maritime Pops programming for 10 years in the 1990’s.
In 2008 Scott began mentoring a new generation of guitarists at the Fountain School of Performing Arts, Dalhousie University.
Colorado.
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