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.
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.
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.
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.
Joseph & Ken Gallwas - 1st Prize
Congratulations to the Gallwas Twins for winning the 2025 Ohio International Piano Duet & Duo Competition Senior Division First Prize.
Joseph Gallwas - First Prize
Congratulations to NMS House of Ravel student Joseph Gallwas for winning the 2025 Young Artist Auditions with the Dupage Symphony Orchestra. Joe will perform March 16th at 3PM with the orchestra. Tickets at link in bio.
Performing: Prokofiev Piano Concerto No 3 in C Major, Op. 26: 1, Andante - Allegro
Joseph Gallwas - Winner
Congratulations to NMS pianist Joseph Gallwas for winning the Open Senior Division of the 2025 O’Malley Foundation National Concerto Competition (formerly Walgreens).
Joseph Gallwas - Semi-Finalist
NMS Student Joseph Gallwas, pianist, has been named a Semi-Finalist for the 2025 International Young Artist Concerto Competition.
Performing: Prokofiev Piano Concerto No 3 in C Major, Op. 26: 1, Andante – Allegro
Joseph & Ken Gallwas - Live on WFMT
NMS Students Joe and Ken Gallwas aka Gallwas Twins perform LIVE on WFMT Introductions 98.7 this Saturday at 11AM. Listen live on the radio or via link in Bio. Program includes Mozart, Piazolla, Guastavino and Bach.
Both Joe and Ken are House of Ravel students at New Music School and study with Jeff Panko, Mary Sauer and a student of our Artist Development program with Sean Bennett.
Joseph & Ken Gallwas — 1st & 2nd Place
Congratulations Joseph Gallwas (@joegallwas.piano) and Ken Gallwas (@ken.gallwas) for taking first and second place at the 2024 Aloha International Piano Competition.
Joseph and Ken are House of Ravel (Level 4) students of Jeffrey Panko (@pankopiano) and Mary Sauer (@marysauerpiano) and coached by Sean Bennett (@seanbennettpianist) at @newmusicschool.
Zarin Mehta — 1st Place
Zarin Mehta (16) placed 1st in the 2024 Kaufman Music Center International Youth Piano Competition - Senior Division.