Takeshi Nagayasu
is the Clara Wells Fellow, Collegiate Division, for 2025. He is a versatile pianist who has been recognized and won many top
prizes in competitions such as the Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin, Jacob Flier in
Piano Summer at New Paltz, Rosamond Haeberle, Borderland Chopin International, and
the International Robert Schumann Competition in Germany. He recently reached the
semifinal round and received a special prize for the best interpretation of a Fauré
Impromptu at the Concours International Long-Thibaud in Paris. Recent concerto
performances include the Clara Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra in Germany and
Ocean Foundation Festival Orchestra in New York. He has been featured in media such as
Nowy Dziennik, El Comercio, and on All Classical Portland Radio "Thursdays at
Three." He is a recipient of multiple scholarships, including awards from the Feltsman
Piano Foundation and the Detroit Federation of Musicians, as well as the Evelyn
Bonar Storrs Scholarship from the Musical Club of Hartford. He also received full
scholarships to attend major music festivals including Pianosummer at New Paltz,
International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York, and the Gijón International
Piano Festival in Spain. Takeshi studied at the Juilliard School of Music, the Yale School of
Music, and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in piano performance at the
University of Michigan. His teachers include Logan Skelton, Vladimir Feltsman,
Melvin Chen, Boris Berman, Joseph Kalichstein, Matti Raekallio, Antonio Pompa-
Baldi, Xiaohe Xie, and Oleg Roschin.
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Courtney Tam
is the Clara Wells Fellow, High School Division, for 2025. She has been a student of Dr. Yelena Balabanova at the International Conservatory Studio (now in Seattle)
since 2011. She recently presented a solo fundraising concert with an hour-long program to
support the Seattle Humane Society and the Cross-Border Pediatrics Foundation. Courtney has
performed with the Everett Philharmonic Orchestra as the Grand Prix winner of the SCMTA
Concerto Competition, as well as the Mukilteo Orchestra. She also performed at Carnegie Hall
as a 1st prize winner of 2023 American Virtuoso IMC. Courtney's other awards include the Platinum
medal from WPTA Singapore IPC; Adjudicator's Choice Gold medal from International German
MPC; Gold medals at Pacific NW, Chopin NW (solo and concerto), and Northern Lights
International Competition; EMTA Best of Festival for three years in a row; 1st prize at
Charleston International Competition; two times finalist at the Seattle Symphony Concerto
Competition, and many more. In addition, Courtney attended the Vancouver Piano Sessions
summer camp and Seattle Chamber Music Society Academy, and she received a full scholarship
to the Seattle Piano Institute at the University of Washington. Courtney is the president of
ConChord Music, a nonprofit dedicated to spreading mental health awareness through music
events, and has performed in over 20 concerts as part of the organization. She is the
accompanist for her school's choir.
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