HAPPENING
@ New Music School
Daniel Razminia - Toronto International Piano Competition
Pianist Daniel Razminia (15), student of Jeffrey Panko and Mary Sauer, performed in the finals of the Toronto International Piano Competition. 140 applicants world wide applied for admission to the competition, and we are so proud of Daniel for being selected for the opportunity!
Daniel performed:
S. Rachmaninoff: Prelude in G-sharp minor, Op. 32 No. 12
S. Rachmaninoff: Prelude in D major, Op. 23 No. 4
L. van Beethoven: Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2 (“The Tempest”) – I. Largo – Allegro
F. Chopin: Etude in B minor, Op. 25 No. 10
Constantine Wang — Gold Award
Congratulations to Constantine Wang (13) for being one of three winners of the Gold Award in the 2026 Singapore Raffles International Music Festival Competition Youth Category Piano Solo Online Competition. Constantine is a student of Winston Choi and Jeffrey Panko at New Music School. He has recently won First Prize in the Junior Category of the American Protégé International Piano & Strings Competition 2026 and 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.