2016 EMA Academy News
All goals and achievements, at every stage of the journey, are celebrated: from personal bests to festival and exam success. Please take some time to see what our students have been up to!
October 2, 2016 - Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra. Lauren Esch and Charissa Vandikas to be featured concerto soloists.
July 2016 - Crescendo International Piano Competition Student Exchange concerts and masterclass with Jamie Parker (chair of piano at the University of Toronto). Antian Jiang, Lauren Esch, Charissa Vandikas and Greg Vandikas are invited performers in this event hosted at the University of Toronto and Steinway Piano Gallery Toronto.
July 2016 - Stecher and Horowitz New York International Piano Competition
Charissa Vandikas invited to perform all rounds of this distinguished international piano competition.
July 2016 - ORMTA Provincial Finals.
Antian Jiang to represent the GTA Zone at the 2016 ORMTA convention Level B (Diploma) Competition.
Andrew Fu, a former a long time student of Dr. Esch has won the ORMTA Young Artist Competition. He will tour the province in 2016 under the auspices of ORMTA.
July 2016 - Festival of the Sound. Charissa Vandikas to be a featured Young Artist in Residence at this most prestigious of Canadian Summer Music Festivals.
July 2016 - Stratford Summer Music - Charissa Vandikas to be featured in a masterclass with internationally acclaimed Bach specialist Simone Dinnerstein.
June 3-6 - Dr. Esch adjudicated the senior piano classes for the Saskatchewan Music Festivals Provincial Finals.
June 2016 - Antian Jiang becomes the second youngest person in the history of the RCM to earn the ARCT - which she earned with First Class Honors with Distinction (93!).
August 2015 to June 2016 RCME Exams
ARCT - Sean Hughsam - 95%
ARCT -Antian Jiang - 93%
ARCT - Benjamin Choo - 90%
ARCT - Clifton Cheng - First Class Honours
ARCT - Enoch Leung - First Class Honours
ARCT - Charis Wong
ARCT - Anthony Hua
ARCT - Alice Zheng
ElementaryPiano Pedagogy - Yoo Mi Chung- First Class Honours
Grade 10 - Adam Kulju - First Class Honours with Distinction
Grade 10 Felix Du - First Class Honours with Distinction
Grade 10 - Maral Attarzadeh - First Class Honours
Grade 10 - Enoch Wei - First Class Honours
Grade 9 - Sandra Wang - First Class Honours with Distinction
Grade 9 - Joelle Wong - First Class Honours with Distinction
Grade 9 - Sienna Gazmen - First Class Honours
Grade 9 - Yitang Wang (First Class Honours
Grade 8 - Michelle Yu - First Class Honours with Distinction
Grade 8 - Mattia Mihajlovic - First Class Honours with Distinction
Grade 8 - Jasmine Yen - First Class Honours
Grade 8 - Joelle Wang - First Class Honours
Grade 7 - Darren Leung - First Class Honours with Distinction
Grade 7 - Luka Mihajlovic - First Class Honours
Grade 4- Nina Yu - First Class Honours with Distinction
Grade 4 - Bryan Chen - First Class Honours
Grade 4 - Lazar Radonjic - First Class Honours
Grade 4 - Sarah Ling - First Class Honours
Grade 4 - Anastasia Wong- First Class Honours
Grade 3- Tianyi Li - First Class Honours with Distinction
Grade 1 - Joshua Li - First Class Honours with Distinction
Grade 1 - Dylan Ng - First Class Honours
May-June 2016 - OMFA Provincial Finals Festival
Lauren Esch - Open Level - Honorable Mention
Benjamin Choo - Open Level - Withdrawn due to conflict
Antian Jiang - Diploma Level - Honorable Mention
Gregory Vandikas - Diploma Level - Second Place
Christopher Choo - Diploma Level - Honorable Mention
Enoch Wei - Grade 10
Felix Du - Grade 10 - Honorable Mention
Sandra Wang - Grade 9 - Honorable Mention
Mattia Mahajlovic - Grade 8 - Honorable Mention
Michelle Yu - Grade 8 - Honorable Mention
Sophia Joulaie - Grade 7
May 2016 - Charissa Vandikas makes her European Debut with the Haydn Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands.
May 2016 - GTA Zone Competition/ORMTA
Gregory Vandikas - Level A/Young Artist - Runner Up
Antian Jiang - Level B/ARCT - First Prize
Michelle Yu - Level C/Grade 8-9 - Runner Up
May 2016. Dr. Esch adjudicated recitals for the class of legendary Irish pianist John O'Conor at the Glenn Gould School.
April 31, 2016 ORMTA auditions - Markham Stouffville Chapter Recital at Steinway Piano Gallery - Prizes and scholarship winners. ELEMENTARY: 3rd: Michelle Yang
JUNIOR: 1st: Harry Tang INTERMEDIATE: 1st: Michelle Yu 3rd: Mattia Mihajlovic
SENIOR: 1st: Antian Jiang 2nd: Felix Du 3rd: Lauren Esch
YOUNG ARTIST: 1st: Greg Vandikas
DUETS ELEMENTARY: 1st: Evelyn Esch & Harrison Vandikas SENIOR: 1st: Lauren Esch & Greg Vandikas
Candidates for zone competition Greg Vandikas – Level A Antian Jiang – Level B Michelle Yu – Level C
Showcased Recital Participants at Steinway Piano Gallery Toronto
Christopher Choo, Mattia Mihajlovic, Sandra Wang, Enoch Wei, Felix Du, Lauren Esch, Gregory Vandikas, Evelyn Esch, Antian Jiang, Michelle Yu, Rachel Yu, Joshua Li, Michelle Yang, Haotian Li, Alice Zheng, James Zheng, TianYi Li, Bryan Chen, Nina Yu, Kaivan Malek-Zadeh, Harry Tang, Marcus Ling, Sophie Jin.
Markham Music Festival
Lauren Esch, Greg Vandikas and Charissa Vandikas were showcased performers at the Festival Gala
French Music Trophy - Lauren Esch
Essex Trophy - Antian Jiang
Steinway Trophy - Gregory Vandikas
Artist Trophy - Charissa Vandikas
Lauren Esch - ARCT Duet - First
- French Composer Class - First
- Concerto - Second
- Age Achievement 18 & under - Second
Charissa Vandikas - Artist Class - First
Antian Jiang - ARCT Sonata - Second
French Music class - Second
ARCT Chopin - Second
Anthony Vandikas - Age Achievement Open - First
Gregory Vandikas - ARCT List A - Second
ARCT List B - Second
ARCT List C - First
ARCT Dist E - First
Canadian Composer Class - First
Duet (14 & under) Lauren Esch and Greg Vandikas - 1st
Dominic Muthukumaraswamy - Gr. 7: List C - Third
- Gr. 7 Study - First
Rachel Yu - Gr. 6: List C - Third
Michelle Yang - Gr. 3 List A - First,
Gr. 3 List B - First
Gr List C - First
Nina Yu - Gr. 5 List A - Second
Gr. 5 List B - Third
Tianyi Li - Gr. 4 List A - Third
Gr. 4 List B - Second
Gr. 4 List C - Second
Joshua Li - Gr. 2 List B - Second
- Gr. 2 Studn - Third
April 2016 - Dr. Esch adjudicates the senior piano classes for the North York Music Festival
April 2016 North York Music Festival
5 EMA students were featured in masterclasses with Professor Emeritus William Aide - former head of the keyboard department at the University of Toronto. Click here for details.
Anthony Vandikas - Best Advanced Pianist
Lauren Esch - Bosendorfer Trophy
Kaivan Malekzadeh - Best Grade 5
Felix Du - Best Grade 10
Lauren Esch - (Concerto, Gold) (Provincial Qualifying)
Lauren Esch and Greg Vandikas - (Duo, 1st) (Duet, 1st)
Michelle Yang - Gr. 3 (List A, B, C, 1st) (Study, 2nd)
Rachel Yu - Gr. 6 (List A, 2nd) (List C, 2nd)
Katie Li - Gr. 4 (List A, 3rd) (List B, 1st) (Study, 3rd)
Tianyi Li - Gr. 4 (List A, 1st) (List C.2nd) (Study 2nd)
Haotian Li - Gr. 2 (List A, 2nd)
Nina Li - Gr. 5 (List A, 1st)
Kaivan Malekzadeh - Gr. 5 (Study, 1st) (Study, 1)
(More Awards Coming soon)
2016 Yips Music Festival
Chrstiopher Choo Awarded Senior piano trophy$250 and was a showcased performer at the Festival Gala
Christopher Choo - Recital Class - First
- ARCT Bach - Second
William Li - ARCT List D - Second
- ARCT Chopin - Third
Darren Chen- Grade 7 List A - Third
- Grade 7 List B - Third
- Grade 7 List B - Second
- Grade 7 Study - Second
2016 Newmarket Lions Music Festival
Lauren Esch Awarded Senior Piano Trophy and Scholarship - $550
Greg Vandikas awarded generous scholarship - $250
Lauren Esch was a featured performer at the Festival Gala
Felix Du- Best of Grade 10 Award
Michelle Yu - Best of Grade 8 Award
Charissa Vandikas - Senior Concerto - First
Lauren Esch - ARCT Bach - First
- ARCT Concerto - First
- ARCT List D - Second
- ARCT Beethoven Sonata - First
Greg Vandikas - ARCT Beethoven Sonata- Second
- ARCTList E - First
- ARCT List C- First
Felix Du - Grade 10 List A- First
- Grade 10 List B- First
- Grade 10 List C - First
- Grade 10 List - First
Sandra Wang - Grade 9 List A - First
- Grade 9 List B - Third
- Grade 9 List C- Second
- Grade 9 List D - Second
Michelle Yu - Grade 8 List A - First
- Grade 8 List B- First
- Gr 8 List C- First
- Grade 8 List D - First
Mattia Mihajlovic -Grade 10 List A - Second
- Grade 10 List B- Second
- Grade 10 List C- Second
- Grade 10 List D - Second
April 2016 South Simcoe Music Festival
Greg Vandikas wins senior piano trophy and generous scholarship $300
Lauren Esch - ARCT List A - First
- ARCT List B - First
- ARCT List D - First
Greg Vandikas - Senior Concert Group - First
- ARCT List C - First
- ARCT List E- First
April 2016 Oshawa Whitby Music Festival
Provincial Finalists - Open Level - Benjamin Choo
- Diploma Level - Antian Jiang, Christopher Choo
Chariman's Scholarship - Antian Jiang awarded this $350 scholarship
Scholarship playoffs - Joelle Wong, Christopher Choo, Antian Jiang, Benjamin Choo, Enoch Wei featured perfomers.
Benjamin Choo - Open level List B - First
- Open Level List C - First
Antian Jiang - ARCT Bach - First
- ARCT Sonata complete - First
- ARCT List D - First
- ARCT List E - Second
- ARCT Recital class - First
Christopher Choo - ARCT Bach - Second
- ARCT Sonata - First
- ARCT Chopin - First
- ARCT List D - Second
Adam Kulju - ARCT Bach - Third
- ARCT Sonata - Second
- ARCT Chopin - Second
- ARCT List D - Third
- Own composition - First
Gregory Vandikas and Lauren Esch - ARCT Duet - First
- ARCT Duo - First
Enoch Wei - Grade 10 Recital - First
- Grade 10 Bach - First
- Grade 10 Sonata - First
- Grade 10 List E - First
Vanessa Lee - Grade 10 List B - Second
- Grade 10 List C - Third
- Grade 10 List D - Second
Joelle Wong - Grade 9 Bach - Second
- Grade 9 List C - Second
- Grade 9 List D - Third
2016 Guelph Kiwanis Music Festival
Alain Lou - ARCT Sonata - Second
- ARCT List E - Second
- ARCT List D - Second
March 31 - April 2 - Jessica Esch adjudicates the Newmarket ORMTA Spring Auditions
March 2016 Pickering Rotary Music Festival
Provincial Finalist
Lauren Esch - Open Level
Lauren Esch awarded $1,000 in scholarships including the Senior Piano Trophy
Lauren Esch (and Dr. Esch) to be a featured performer on the Festival Gala showcase.
Lauren Esch - Open Concerto - First
- Open Interpretive - First
- ARCT List D - First
- ARCT Sonata - First
Lauren Esch/Greg Vandikas - ARCT Duet - First
- ARCT Piano Duo - First
Evelyn Esch - Grade 4 List A - First
- Grade 4 List B - First
- Grade 4 List C - First
- Grade 4 Studies - Second
February 2016 Toronto Kiwanis Festival
Antian Jang awarded generous $250 scholarship.
Antian Jiang - ARCT Concert Group - First
- ARCT Complete Sonata - First
- ARCT List D - Second
Greg Vandikas/Lauren Esch - ARCT Duet - First
- ARCT Duo - First
February 2016 - Pickering GTA Music Festival
Provincial Finalists
Gregory Vandikas, ARCT
Felix Du, Enoch Wei, Grade 10
Sandra Wang, Grade 9
Mattia Mahjlovic, Michelle Yu, Grade 8
Sophia Joulaei, Grade 7
Gala Concert at Dumbarton Fairview United Church - Featured Performers: Gregory Vandikas, Lauren Esch, Felix Du, Michelle Yu, Mattia Mahjlovic
Greg Vandikas - ARCT List A - Second
ARCT List B - Second
ARCT List C - First
ARCT List D - First
Lauren Esch and Greg Vandikas - ARCT Duet - First
Lucie Jang - ARCT List A - Third
- ARCT List B - Third
- ARCT List C - Second
Felix Du - Grade 10 List B - First
- Grade 10 Chopin - First
- Grade 10 List E - First
Enoch Wei - Grade 10 List A - Second
- Grade 10 Chopin - Second
- Grade 10 Recital - First
Johann Muthukaraskamy - Grade 10 List A - Third
- Grade 10 Chopin - Third
- Grade 10 Concert Group - Second
Sandra Wang - Grade 9 Bach Sinfonia - First
- Grade 9 List B - First
- Grade 9 Chopin - Second
- Grade 9 List D - Second