Now in its 50th year, the Heida Hermanns International Music Competition is a showcase for exceptional musicians from around the world. The Competition is held on a rotating basis in voice, strings, and piano and is a springboard for the careers of extraordinarily talented musicians.
Held in preliminary and final rounds, prizes and performance opportunities are awarded to the most outstanding competitors chosen by a distinguished jury.
Heida Week
The Heida International Music Competition
August 11-13, 2022
2019 Finalists
2019 Winner
Priscila Navarro
An exceptionally accomplished pianist, this 26-year-old has won a number of competitions across the US, Europe, and South America. Her work continues at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami where she is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Piano Pedagogy under Santiago Rodriguez.
Finalist
Veniamin Blokh
Passionate about piano from a young age, this 28-year-old Russian-born musician has been pursuing vocal and chamber music ever since. He has studied and performed in venues across the globe, collaborating with musicians of great pedigree. Just this year he was accepted to the TCU School of Music with a full scholarship for the Artist Diploma Program.
Finalist
Sahun Sam Hong
Praised as an “artist already of enormous prowess” (Verbier Festival Newsletter), pianist Sahun Hong brings his colorful style and riveting energy to the solo, chamber, and concerto stage. Currently a student of Leon Fleisher, Hong is pursuing a doctorate at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University.
Finalist
Stephanie Tang
This 26-year-old Los Angeles native is currently studying at the Yale School of Music as a master of music candidate with Peter Serkin. Her solo and chamber performances have garnered enthusiasm around the world at renowned competitions and recital halls, including Carnegie Hall at the age of 12.
Past Winners
2019 Priscila Navarro (piano)
2016 Bryan Murray (baritone)
2015 Wenjie Lu (piano)
2014 Xiao Wang (violin)
2013 Joshua Wright & Timur Mustakimov (piano)
2012 Kathryn Leemhuis (mezzo-soprano)
2011 Yue Chu (piano)
2010 Elizabeth Baldwin (soprano)
2009 Alexei Tartakovski (piano)
2008 Yohan Yi (bass baritone)
2007 Jonathan Yanik (saxophone)
2006 Sangyoung Kim (piano)
2005 Wen-lei Gu (violin)
2004 Elisa Vilbergsdottir (soprano)
2003 Dwight Parry (oboe)
2002 Spencer Myer (piano)
2001 Elena Hirsu (violin); Mary Petro (lyric soprano)
2000 Lluís Rodríguez Salvà (piano); Ashu Kejariwal (saxophone)
1999 Alison Trainer (soprano); Aurelien Sabouret (cello); Valissa Wilwerth (violin)
1998 Juyeon Kang (piano); Patrick Messina (clarinet)
1997 Amit Peled (cello); Younmok Jeong (tenor)
1996 Yi Dong (piano); Otis Murphy, Jr. (saxophone)
1995 Joohee Choi (soprano); Inbal Segev (cello)
1994 Andrew Russo (piano); Mark Timmerman (bassoon)
1993 Janna Baty (soprano); Francois Salque (cello)
1992 Andrew Armstrong (piano); Igor Begelman (clarinet)
1991 Bradley Garvin (bass baritone); Varty Manouelian (violin)
1990 Max Levinson (piano); Viviana Guzman (flute)
1989 Rajan Krishnaswami (cello); Christopheren Nomura (baritone)
1988 Yu-Sheng Ma (piano); Todd Palmer (clarinet)
1987 Alexander Simionescu (violin)
1986 Frederic Chiu (piano)
1985 Timothy McGovern (bassoon)
1984 Sharman Plesner (violin); Jeffrey Jamner (piano)
1983 Boston University Honors Woodwind Quartet
1982 Bart Feller (flute); Claudio Jaffe (cello); Barbara Kilduff (soprano)
1981 Alexander String Quartet Arioso String Chamber Ensemble
1980 Judith Malafronte (mezzo-soprano); John Sharp (cello); Richard Lalli (baritone)
1979 Madison Trio Schmidt-Verdery Duo (flute/guitar)
1978 Nai-Yuan Hu (violin)
1977 Rymour String Quartet Stephanie Conte (soprano); Diane Lesser (oboe); Kurt Nikkanen (violin)
1976 Amina Trio (including Christopher O’Riley, piano)
1975 New England Woodwind Quintet Tibor Szasz (piano)
1974 Laurian Laufman (cello)
1973 Eugene J. Moye, Jr. (cello); Emilia Simonem (soprano)
1972 Emilia Simone (soprano); William Westney (piano).
