George Gershwin International Music Competition

WINNERS 2026

6th Piano Competition-2026

Artists Category

I Prize: $1,000 USA - shared 3 ways + Concerts in the United States and abroad
Tzu-Yin Huang, (USA/Michigan), Polina Druzhinina (Russia/USA), & Veniamin Blokh (New York/USA)
Presented by Gershwin Music Competition
LINK MUSIC MANAGEMENT

II Prize: $500 USA - Concerts in the USA
Jose Manuel Cruz Vasquez (Mexico)

III Prize: $250 USA + Concerts in New York
Xiaolin Zhang (China)

IV Prize & Diploma
Michael Xiaoping Wang (China/New York, USA)

V Prize & Diploma
Seiran Tozlian (Armenia)

VI Prize & Diploma
Lisa Molinaro (Italy)

Honorable Mention Diplomas:
Azalea Kelley (New York, USA) ~ Kevin Zhang (USA/Canada)

Young Artists Category

I Prize - shared 2 ways: $250 USA each, Trophies, Concerts in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut
Agnus Cai (Massachusetts, USA)
Dana Zhang (USA/Illinois)

II Prize: $250, Concert in New York
Sophia Popescu (Massachusetts, USA / Romania)

III Prize: $100, Concert in New York
Daniel Liu (New York, USA)

Honorable Mention Diploma + Special Prize for Debussy Performance
Oliver G-Q (New York, USA)

Talent Show Category

I Prize: Trophy, Concerts in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut
Letao Li (New York, USA)

II Prize: Medal, Concert in New York
Alice Shen (New York, USA)

III Prize - shared 2 ways: Medals, Concerts in New York
Dylan Zhang, (Illinois, USA) & Matthew Popescu (Massachusetts, USA)

Honorable Mention Diploma: Concert in New York
Emily Xinyan Zhou (Canada/China)

Special Prizes

An award for the Best Interpretation of Music by G. Gershwin ~ Tzu-Yin Huang (Michigan/USA) - Gershwin-Scelton: Preludes

Audience Prize Diploma for Odessa Assembly ~ Elisabeth Levine (New York, USA)

Critic Award Diploma/Get Classical ~ Azalea Kelley, (New York, USA) & Jose Manuel Cruz Vasquez (Mexico)

Olga Kern Fund Award - $200 USA ~ Polina Druzhinina (Russia/USA)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF A WORK FROM THE BAROQUE ERA ~ Veniamin Blokh (Rochester, New York, USA) - J.S. Bach: Fantasie & Fugue in a minor & Matthew Popescu (USA/Massachusetts) - J.P. Rameau: Les Cyclopes

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF A WORK FROM THE CLASSICAL ERA ~ Tzu-Yin Huang (Michigan/USA) for the work by C.P.E. Bach

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF A WORK FROM THE ROMANTIC ERA ~ Alice Sorochan, (New Jersey, USA & Ukraine) - Chopin: Nocturne cis-moll, Op. Posthomous & Jose Manuel Cruz Vasquez (Mexico) - Schumann's Fantasie & Wai Ping Alice Yip (Hong Kong) - Mussorgsky's Pictures at the Exhibition

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF A WORK FROM THE CONTEMPORARY ERA ~ Tzu-Yin Huang (Michigan/USA) - Gershwin-Skelton & Seiran Tozlian (Armenia) - Scriabin's Sonata No. 9 - "Black Mess" & Lisa Molinaro (Italy) - Nocturne by Ottovino Respighi

Vertex Prize + Performance with Classical Hugs Orchestra in the festival 2027 ~ Tzu-Yin Huang (Michigan, USA) & Dana Zhang (Illinois, USA)

The Gershwin International Music Competition holds the right to:

Award additional prizes in any category
Split the prizes between several contestants in any category (Except I prizes and Grand Prix)
Not to award one or more prizes, if the performance level of the participants does not satisfy the artistic requirements of the Competition.
To cancel and/or unify one or more age categories, if the number of participants is less than 5

TOP

WINNERS 2026

6th Piano Competition-2026

I Prize: $1,000 USA - shared 3 ways + Concerts in the United States and abroadTzu-Yin Huang, (USA/Michigan), Polina Druzhinina (Russia/USA), & Veniamin Blokh (New York/USA)Presented by Gershwin Music CompetitionLINK MUSIC MANAGEMENT

II Prize: $500 USA - Concerts in the USAJose Manuel Cruz Vasquez (Mexico)

III Prize: $250 USA + Concerts in New YorkXiaolin Zhang (China)

IV Prize & DiplomaMichael Xiaoping Wang (China/New York, USA)

V Prize & DiplomaSeiran Tozlian (Armenia)

VI Prize & DiplomaLisa Molinaro (Italy)

Honorable Mention Diplomas:Azalea Kelley (New York, USA) ~ Kevin Zhang (USA/Canada)

I Prize - shared 2 ways: $250 USA each, Trophies, Concerts in New York, New Jersey, ConnecticutAgnus Cai (Massachusetts, USA) Dana Zhang (USA/Illinois)

II Prize: $250, Concert in New YorkSophia Popescu (Massachusetts, USA / Romania)

III Prize: $100, Concert in New YorkDaniel Liu (New York, USA)

Honorable Mention Diploma + Special Prize for Debussy Performance Oliver G-Q (New York, USA)

I Prize: Trophy, Concerts in New York, New Jersey, ConnecticutLetao Li (New York, USA)

II Prize: Medal, Concert in New YorkAlice Shen (New York, USA)

III Prize - shared 2 ways: Medals, Concerts in New YorkDylan Zhang, (Illinois, USA) & Matthew Popescu (Massachusetts, USA)

Honorable Mention Diploma: Concert in New YorkEmily Xinyan Zhou (Canada/China)