HAPPENING
@ New Music School
Mika Matsuyama - 1st Place
Mika Matsuyama (16), student of Jeffrey Panko, and coached by Sean Bennett, was awarded 1st Place in the Senior Division of the 2026 NSMTA Karen Tobias Piano Competition.
Leo Ma - Winner
Congratulations to Leo Ma for winning the 2026 Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras Concerto Competition for the Philharmonic Orchestra! Leo Ma @leo.ma.12 is a 13-year-old violinist from Chicago, currently studying with Professor Minghuan Xu @allthings.strings at New Music School.
Constantine Wang — 1st Prize
Constantine Wang (13), student of Winston Choi, won First Prize in the Junior Category of the American Protégé International Piano & Strings Competition 2026. He will be performing in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in June. Additionally, as the winner of the GOLD HANDS of the Carles and Sofia Piano Competition, he has been invited to perform in Spain this summer. He also recently performed in the Intermediate Piano Master Class with Nancy O’Neill Breth at the 2026 MTNA National Conference.
Ken Gallwas — Winner
Congratulations Ken Gallwas @ken.gallwas for winning the DePaul National Concerto Competition for Young Performers. Ken performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, III. Rondo. Allegro-Presto with the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago on March 23, 2026 . Ken studies with Mary Sauer and Jeffrey Panko at NMS and is in the House of Ravel (Level 4 - Undergraduate Expectations).
Mika Matsuyama — 2nd Prize
Mika Matsuyama (16), student of Jeffrey Panko, Mary Sauer, and Sean Bennett, was awarded second prize in the American Protege competition and will perform in the coming months at Carnegie Hall. Mika also received Honorable Mention placement at the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra Stanger Concerto Competition.
Mika Matsuyama - Honorable Mention with Distinction
Congratulations to Mika Matsuyama for receiving an Honorable Mention with Distinction at the 2026 DePaul National Concerto Competition. Mika is a House of Ravel (Level IV - Undergraduate Expectations) student, studying with artist faculty Jeffrey Panko & Mary Sauer, & artist development faculty Sean Bennett.
NMS Students at the 2026 Chicago Area Music Teacher’s Association Sonata Festival — Placements
Many NMS students received Honors at the 2026 Chicago Area Music Teacher’s Association Sonata Festival.
Beatrice Valenzuela - Semifinalist
Congratulations to Beatrice Valenzuela for making it to the Semifinals at the 2026 Sphinx Competition. Beatrice will compete Thursday AM. We are all wishing her the best of luck!!
Beatrice is a student of Desirée Ruhstrat & Timothy Hager at New Music School and is in the House of Beethoven (Level 3-College Preparatory).
Sebastían Jiménez - Gold Medal
Congratulations to Sebastían Jiménez for receiving a Gold Medal at the Sonatina Competition Northwest Suburban Music Teachers Association in October 2025.
Sebastían is a student of Clinton Velman in the House of Bach (I) at NMS.
Joseph Gallwas - 1st Place
Congratulations to NMS pianist Joseph Gallwas for winning the ISMTA North Competition 2025 Senior II Division in October. Joe studies with Mary Sauer, Jeffrey Panko and Sean Bennett at New Music School in Chicago and is in the House of Ravel (Level 4 - Undergraduate Expectations).
Kenneth Gallwas — 1st Place
KEN GALLWAS, FIRST PLACE
ROCKFORD SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA CONCERTO COMPETITION
Congratulations to Ken for winning the RSYO Concerto Competition performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37, III. Rondo. Allegro-Presto. Ken studies with Mary Sauer and Jeffrey Panko at New Music School.
Mika Matsuyama - In Masterclass with Steven Osborne
IN Masterclass with Steven Osborne - NMS pianist Mika Matsuyama has been invited to perform in a Masterclass with pianist Steven Osborne at the Grant Park Music Festival. Mika will be performing Chopin’s 2nd Scherzo. Mika is a student of Jeffrey Panko at New Music School.
Raegan & Kingston Lau - 1st & 2nd Place
Congratulations to Raegan (6) and Kingston Lau (4) for placing 1st on Solo and 2nd as a duet at the Illinois Music Association competition. They will perform on the Winners Recital tomorrow in Lombard at the DuPage Concert Hall.
Raegan and Kingston study with Clinton Velman at New Music School.
Gavin Chiam - Third Place
Gavin Chiam, student of Jeffrey Panko, was a Third Place winner (13 - 18) at the American Protégé International Concerto Competition, and was awarded a performance in Carnegie Hall early this summer.
NMS Piano Trio - In Masterclass with Imani Winds
IN Masterclass with Imani Winds - the NMS Piano Trio featuring Tongbai Deng (piano), Kevin Hernandez (cello), and Gabby Joew (flute), were invited to participate in a Masterclass at Grant Park Music Festival. The Trio performed Weber’s Piano Trio for Flute, Cello and Piano, Op 63. I. Allegro Moderato, and were coached through the work by Grammy Winning Chamber Music Ensemble, Imani Winds. The NMS Piano Trio was coached by Steve Yepez, flute faculty at New Music School.
Constantine Wang - Gold Award
Congratulations to Constantine Wang who received a Gold Award in the Singapore Raffles International Music Festival Competition! After placing in the top four, he has been invited to perform in the Grand Prix for the Junior B Division. Additionally, he is a semi-finalist in the up-coming Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition and was recently a finalist in the Chicago International Music Festival.
Genoa Sinno - Third Place
Congratulations to Genoa Sinno, student of Jeffrey Panko, who was a Third Place winner (12 & under) at the American Protégé International Concerto Competition. She has been awarded a performance in Carnegie Hall early this summer.
Tong-Bai Deng - Winner
Tong-Bai Deng, student of Winston Choi, was named the winner of Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra’s 2025 Stanger Young Artist Competition. The announcement was made live at the conclusion of the Rising Stars of Stanger concert after he performed Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Movement IV. Congratulations, Tong-Bai!
Tong-Bai Deng - Finalist
Congratulations to NMS pianist Tong-Bai Deng for being selected as one of the Finalists for the 2025 Crain-Mailing Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition! Tong-Bai Deng is a student of Winston Choi and Sean Bennett at New Music School in Chicago.
At the YAC finals, he will perform Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, IV. Allegro tempestoso.
Joseph Gallwas - Finalist
Congratulations to NMS pianist Joseph Gallwas for being selected as one of the Finalists for the 2025 Crain-Mailing Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition! Joseph Gallwas is a student of Mary Sauer, Jeffrey Panko and Sean Bennett at New Music School in Chicago.
At the YAC finals, he will perform Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, I. Andante-Allegro.