2016-2017 Academy News
July 25 - ORMTA Provincial Finals
Lauren Esch (representing GTA Zone) wins first place in the Level B category and a generous $800 scholarship at the ORMTA Provincial Finals.
June 2017 RCM Exams
Antian Jiang - Licentiate Diploma - First Class Honors with Distinction
Lauren Esch - ARCT - First Class Honors with Distinction
Christopher Choo - ARCT - First Class Honors
Joelle Wong - First Class Honours
Vanessa lee - Grade 10 - First Class Honors
Kaitlyn Chen - Grade 9 - First Class Honours with Distinction
Wesley Chen - Grade 8 - First Class Honours with Distinction
Sophie Jin - Grade 8 - First Class Honors with Distinction
Annie Chung - Grade 7 - First Class Honors
Kaivan Malek-Zadeh - Grade 6 - First Class Honors
Joshua Li - Grade 3 - First Class Honors
June 25, 2015 - GTA Zone Winners Concert at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Richmond Hill
Lauren Esch and Gregory Vandikas were featured performers on this recital.
June 2017 TBA - Canadian Music Competition 2017 Edition
Lauren Esch and Greg Vandikas performed as Duo con Fuoco in the Canadian Music Competition National Finals in Gatineau QC. They received first prize in their age category with a mark of 94%.
May 29-June 3 - OMFA Provincial Finals
Concerto Class - Antian Jiang - First Place
Open Level - Anthony Vandikas - 3rd Place
Open Level - Antian Jiang - Honourable Mention
ARCT Class - Greg Vandikas
Grade 10 - Mattia Mihajlovic
Grade 10 - Sandra Wang
Grade 9 - Michelle Yu
Grade 9 - Kristen Chen - Honourable Mention
Grade 7 - Annie Chung - Honourable Mention
Grade 7 - Harry Tang
Grade 6 - Kaivan Malek - Zadeh
Grade 6 - Nina Yu
May 22, 2017 - GTA Zone Competition/ORMTA
Gregory Vandikas and Lauren Esch received generous scholarships from the ORMTA GTA Zone
Lauren Esch, ARCT Class - First Prize
Gregory Vandikas, Young Artist Class - First Prize
April 29, 2017 Markham Stouffville ORMTA Chapter Year End Recital at Steinway Piano Gallery
Awards and Scholarships
Gr. 3-5
Michelle Yang - First Joshua Li - Third
Gr. 6-7
Nina Yu - First
Annie Chung - Second
Harry Tang - third
Gr. 10/ARCT
Lauren Esch - First
Felix Du - Second
Enoch Wei - Third
Young Artist
Gregory Vandikas - First
Piano Duet: Senior
Lauren Esch & Gregory Vandikas - First
The following students were featured on this recital:
Michelle Yang, Joshua Li, Annie Chung, Nina Yu, Harry Tang, Lauren Esch, Felix Du, Enoch Wei, Joelle Wong, Mattia Mihajlovic, Luka Mihajlovic, Gregory Vandikas, Duo Con Fuoco, Marcus Ling, Bryan Chen, Maggie Guo, Rachel Yu, Kaivan Malek-Zadeh, Tianyi Li,
RCM Exams, April, 2017
Greg Vandikas - ARCT - 95 - First Class Honours with Distinction
Ethan Chen - Grade 4 - First Class Honours with Distinction
2017 North York Music Festival
Provincial Representative - Anthony Vandikas - Open Level
Provincial Representative - Antian Jiang - Concerto Level
Provincial Representative - Annie Chung - Grade 7
Antian Jiang, Lauren Esch and Gregory Vandikas were featured performers on the Festival Gala
Best Advanced Pianist - Anthony Vandikas
Most Promising Trophy - Antian Jiang
Michelle Yu received a generous scholarship
Sandra Wang
Grade 10 List B - 3rd place
Grade 10 List D: 1st place
Michelle Yu
Grade 9 List C – 1st Place
Grade 9 Canadian Composer – 1st Place
Luka Mihajlovic
Grade 8 List D - 2nd place
Annie Chung
Grade 7 List A - third place
Provincial Qualifying - Qualified for Provincial competition
Kaivan Malek-Zadeh
Grade 6 Study - 3rd place
Michelle Yang
Grade 4A - Second
Grade 4 - Third
Grade 4C Second
Grade 4 Study - Second
2017 Newmarket Lions Festival
OMFA Provincial Representative
Sandra Wang - Grade 10
Best Pianist of the Festival Award - Greg Vandikas
Leon Nash Scholarship - Greg Vandikas
Most Promising - Antian Jiang
Michelle Yu and Sandra Wang received generous Scholarships
Lauren Esch, Antian Jiang and Gregory Vandikas were featured performers
Felix Du ARCT LIST A - 2nd place ARCT LIST B PIANO SOLO - Third ARCT LIST C PIANO SOLO - Third ARCT LIST D PIANO SOLO - First
Chrstopher Choo
ARCT List A - Third
ARCT Sonata - Third
ARCT List D - Third
ARCT List E - Second
Sandra Wang
Grade 10 List A - First
Grade 10 List B - First
Grade 10 List C -First
Sophia Joulaei
Grade 8 List A - Second
Grade 8 Studies - Second
Grade 8 List C - Third
Michelle Yu
Grade 9 List A – Third
Grade 9 List C - Second
Grade 9 List D – First
Annie Chung
Grade 7 List A - Second
Grade 7 List C - Second
Grade 7 List A - Second
2017 Yips Music Festival
OMFA Provincial Finalist - Kaivan Malek-Zadeh, Grade 6
Best of Grade 6 - Kaivan Malek-Zadeh
Felix Du
ARCT List A - 3rd place
ARCT Sonata - 3rd place ARCT Chopin - 1st place ARCT List D - 2nd place
Enoch Wei
ARCT List A - First
ARCT Sonata - Third
Mattia Mihajlovic
GRADE 10 SONATA - 3rd place GRADE 10 List E - 3rd place
Marissa Hughsam
Grade 10 - Chopin - 3rd
Grade 10 Bach - 3rd
Joelle Wong
Grade 10 List A - Third
Grade 10 - List C - Third
Kaivan Malek-Zadeh
Grade 6 List A - First
Grade 6 List B - First
Grade 6 List C - First
April 7 - Taylor Young Artists Performance Academy/RCM
Dr. Esch presented a masterclass for the senior piano division of the Taylor Young Artist Performance Academy
March 24, 2017 - Classical 96.3fm
Gregory Vandikas and Lauren Esch were featured performers in a live noon hour concert celebrating the North York Music Festival and Robert Lowrey's Piano Experts. http://www.classicalfm.ca/concerts/wunderkind-meet-wunderpiano-live-zoomer-hall/
Pickering Rotary Music Festival - Results TBA
Greg Vandikas - Winner of Senior Festival Trophy and $1000 scholarship
Christopher Choo - Best of Bach Trophy
Enoch Wei - Most Promising Trophy
Gregory Vandikas - Provincial Representative - Open Level
Gregory Vandikas
ARCT Recital - First
ARCT Sonata - First
ARCT Canadian - First
Christopher Choo
ARCT Bach - First
ARCT List D - Third
Enoch Wei
ARCT Bach - Second
ARCT Sonata - Third
ARCT List D - Second
Oshawa Whitby Music Festival - Results
OMFA Provincial Representatives
Mattia Mihajlovic - Grade 10
Kaitlin Chen - Grade 9
Kaivan Malek-Zadeh - Grade 6
Mattia Mihajlovic: CLASS 8036A ADVANCED GRADE 10 – OPEN LIST A 2nd place (French Suite, by Bach) CLASS 8062A ADVANCED GRADE 10 – OPEN LIST B 2nd place (Sonata by Beethoven) CLASS 8109A ADVANCED GRADE 10 – OPEN LIST E 1st place (Six Variations by Gallant)
Luka Mihajlovic:
GRADE 8 List A - 3rd place
GRADE 8 – List C - 2nd place
GRADE 8 – List D 2nd place
Kaitlin Chen:
Grade 9 List A - First Grade 9 List B - First Grade 9 List C - First Grade 9 List D - First
Wesley Chen
Grade 8 List A - Second Prize Grade 8 List B - Third Prize Grade 8 List C - 91%, Second Prize Grade8 List D - First Prize
Sophia Joulaie
Grade 8 List A - Third
Grade 8 List B - Second
Grade 8 Chopin - Third
Kaivan Malek-Zadeh
Grade 6 List B - Second
Two Contrasting Studies - First
Recital Class - First
Marcus Ling
Grade 7 List C - 2nd place
Markham Music Festival - results TBA shortly
Antian Jiang was a featured performer on the festival gala
Antian Jiang receives the Most promising Trophy
Anthony Vandikas
ARCT Etude - First
Age Achievement - Age 20 and under - First
Artist Class 3rd
Antian Jiang
Concerto 12 and under - First
Age Achievement 18 and under - Second
Artist Class - Second
Felix Du
ARCT Bach - Third
ARCT Sonata - Second
ARCT Chopin - Second
ARCT List D - Third
Gregory Vandikas
ARCT Sonata - Third
ARCT Canadian - First
Age Achievement age 16 and under - First
Benjamin Choo
Age Achievement Class - 18 and Under - First
Kaivan Malek-Zadeh
Grade 6 List A - 3rd
Nina Yu
Grade 6 List A - 3rd
March 6 - Steinway Piano Gallery.
Dr. Esch and students Anthony Vandikas, Antian Jiang, Gregory Vandikas and Lauren Esch performed in a scholarship fundraising gala for Markham Stouffville ORMTA. This highly successful event raised in excess of $1,000 for Markham Stouffville ORMTA scholarship fund.
February 2017 - Kingston Kiwanis Music Festival and Oshawa Whitby ORMTA
Dr. Esch adjudicated the senior piano classes for the Kingston Kiwanis Music Festival as well as the Oshawa Whitby ORMTA annual auditions.
February 13, 2017. Masterclass with Curtis Institute Professor at Steinway Factory, NYC
Gregory Vandikas, Antian Jiang and Lauren Esch were featured with masterclass with master teacher and Curtis Faculty Prof. Meng-Chien Liu at the Steinway Piano Factory in NYC.
February 12, 2017. Crescendo International Piano Competitions at Carnegie Hall
Lauren Esch, Antian Jiang and Gregory Vandikas all won their age groups and took home generous scholarships in this prestigious International Piano Competition held at Weill Recital Hall/Carnegie Hall.
February 2017 - Pickering GTA Music Festival
OMFA Provincial Representatives
Antian Jiang - Open Level
Michelle Yu - Grade 9
Harry Tang - Grade7
Best of Class Awards
Harry Tang - Grade 7
Evelyn Esch - Grade 5
Michelle Yang - Grade 4
Antian Jiang
Senior Concerto - First
Senior Bach - First
Senior Sonata - Second
Sandra Wang
Grade 10 Recital Class - First
Michelle Yu
Grade 9 List A - First
Grade 9 List B- Second
Grade 9 List C - First
Grade 9 List D First
Harry Tang
Grade 7 List A - First
Grade 7 List B - First
Nina Yu
Grade 6 List A - First
Grade 6 List B - Second
Grade 6 List C - Second
Evelyn Esch
Grade 5 Studies - First
Grade 5 List A - First
Grade 5 Concert Group - First
Michelle Yang
Grade 4 List B - First
Grade 4 List C - Second
Grade 4 List C - Second
February 2017 - Toronto Kiwanis Festival
Senior Scholarships - Antian Jiang $350
- Greg Vandikas $250
Gregory Vandikas
Beethoven Sonata Class - Gold
Provincial Qualifying Class - Gold
Concert Group - Platinum (Best of Class)
Antian Jiang
Provincial Qualifyng Class - Platinum
Haydn/Mozart Sonata Class - Platinumum
January 2017 - Glenn Gould School Concerto Competition
Dr. Esch Adjudicated this competition.
January 2017 - RCME Exams
Alain Lou - ARCT
Micheline Alban - Grade 7 with First Class honors
Evelyn Esch - Grade 5 with First Class Honors with Distinction
Dylan Ng - Grade 3 with First Class Honours
December 7th - Winterfest Art Unionville
Lauren Esch was a showcased performer at Markham Theater
December 5th - Winterfest Art Unionville
Greg Vandikas was a showcased performer at Markham Theater
November 2017 - Royal Conservatory/Glenn Gould School Symphony Orchestra
EMA Alumni Charissa Vandikas made her Keorner Hall Debut with the GGS Orchestra and Maestro Tito Munoz in Ravel's G-major Piano Concerto.
November 2017, Remenyi House of Music Distinguished Masterclass Series
Lauren Esch is featured in masterclass with the famed Swedish Pianist Carl Petersson.
October/November 2016 ORMTA YOUNG ARTIST Tour
EMA Alumni Andrew Fu won the ORMTA Young Artist Tour. Andrew will make a 6 concert tour throughout the Province.
October 2, 2016 - Cathderal Bluff Symphony Orchestra
Lauren Esch and EMA Alumni Charissa Vandikas performed concerti with this distinguished orchestra under the direction of Maestro Norman Rentamm
