2018-2019 Academy News
Dec 14, 2019 - Dr. Esch to be featured with the Canadian Sinfonietta Chamber Players in 'Quinteteramma' - a concert featuring the Brahms and Dohyani piano quintets.
https://canadiansinfonietta.com/event/20191214/
November 9, 2019 - Lauren Esch to perform Mozart's piano concerto in A-major with the Cathdral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Norman Reintamm. http://cathedralbluffs.com
August 2019 Global Outstanding Chinese Musician International Competition held at Berklee College in Boston. http://gocaamusic.com
Greg Vandikas - FirstPrize/Top Performer Award.
- CD Contract and Young Artist Touring Award
Antian Jiang - Best Young Pianist Award
- Youth Artist Touring Award
Nina Yu - Level 9
- 3 part Invention - First
- Classical Sonata - Second
- Contemporary Class -Second
Christina Chen - Level 7
- 2 part Invention - First
- Classical Sonata - First
- Baroque Work - Second
- Romatic Work - Second
August 2019 RCM Exams
ARCT - Sandra Wang - With Distinction
ARCT - Joelle Wong - TBA
Grade 10 -James Zheng - With Distinction
Hilary Leung - Grade 10 - With Distinction
Grade10 - Juka Mihajlovic - First Class Honours
Grade 10 - Sophie Jin - First Class Honours
Grade 8 - Marcus Ling - With Distinction
Grade 8 - Stephanie Chen - With Distinction
August 2019 - Antian Jiang to compete in the Canadian Chopin Competition
http://www.canadianchopinsociety.com/piano-competition/2019-competition
July 2019 - Antian Jiang is accepted on full scholarship to the prestigious Morningside Music Bridge International festival for prodigious talent held at New England Conservatory of Music. https://mmb.international
ORMTA Provincial Finals
July 2019 - Sandra Wang to represent the GTA Zone/ORMTA at the ORMTA Provincial Finals
https://www.ormta.org/competitions-awards/instrumental
July 2019 - Greg Vandikas to represent Ontario/ORMTA at the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers National Piano Competition. https://www.cfmta.org/en/national-piano-competition/
June 29 - Esch Music Academy Student Showcase. Held at Infinity Strings. Junior Recital 10:30 AM. Senior Recital 12:30PM. https://infinitistrings.com/about-2
June 22nd 8pm - Greg Vandikas to present a full length recital presented by Steinway Piano Gallery of Toronto. http://www.steinwaytoronto.ca/news
June 2019 - OMFA Provincial Finals
https://omfa.ca
Open Level
Greg Vandikas - Second
Antian Jiang - Third
Enoch Wei - Did not compete
Advanced Concerto
Antian Jiang - First
ARCT
Sandra Wang - Playoff Finalist and Honourable Mention
Grade 10
Hilary Leung - Honourable Mention
Luka Mihajlovic
Grade 9
Annie Chung - Third
Grade 6
Christina Chen
May 29th - Antian Jiang presented a full length recital for the Kitchener Waterloo Chamber Music Society (return engagement). She has been invited back for 2020-2021
https://www.kwcms.com/KWCMS/Concerts/Entries/2019/5/29_Entry_1.html
June 1 - International Music Academy International Music Competition https://www.ksorchestra.ca
Grand Prize Winner - Gregory Vandikas. Greg will appear as a concerto soloist with the Kindred Sprits Symphony Orchestra at Markham Theatre during the 2020-2021 concert season. www.ksorchestra.ca
Senior Piano
Greg Vandikas
Bach Class - First
Sonata Class - First
Major Romantic Work - First
Major Contemporary Sonata - First
Senior Concerto Class - First
RCM Spring-June Exams
Greg Vandikas - Licentiate Diploma - First Class Honours/Distinction
Sophie Jin - Grade 10 Split Tech/Ear/Sight - First Class Honours
Michael Yuan - Grade 9 - First Class Honours
Kaivan Malek Zadeh - Grade 8 - First Class Honours
Frank Ding - First Class Honours
Stephanie Chenb - Grade 8 Piano - First Class Honours
Nina Yu - Grade 8 - First Class Honours
Joshua Li - Grade 5 - First Class Honours
ORMTA GTA Zone Competition May 25
Level A/Young Artist
Enoch Wei - Second
Level B
Sandra Wang - First
Level C
Annie Wang - First
ORMTA GTA Zone Masterclass - May 26
Jenise Pan, Annie Chung, Sandra Wang and Hilary Leung performed in masterclass for acclaimed performer/pedagogue Li Wang.
https://ormta.org/gta-zone/#Masterclass
2019 OYMI International Competition
https://www.oymimusicfestival.com
Antian Jiang, Greg Vandikas, Enoch Wei, Jenise Pan, Hilary Leung, Nina Yu and Christina Chen accepted to the final rounds of the GOACA International Piano Competition.
http://gocaamusic.com/competitions/7th-gocaa-international-piano-competition
Open Level
Antian Jiang
Open List B - First
Open Concert Group - First (Top Festival Performance Award)
Open Own Choice - Second
Greg Vandikas
Open List E - First
Open List C - Second
Open List B - Third
Open Concert Group - Second
Enoch Wei
Open Sonata
Open Own Choice - First
Open List C - Second
ARCT
Jenise Pan
Sonata Class - Second
Bach Class - - Third
Hilary Leung
Grade 10 List E - First
Grade 10 List B - Third
Grade 10 List C - Third
Nina Yu
Grade 9 List C - First
Grade 9 List A - Second
Grade 9 List B - Second
Christina Chen
Grade 6 List A - First
Grade 6 List C - First
Grade 6 Canadian Composer - Second
Joshua Li
Grade 3 List A - Third
Grade 3 List B - First
Grade 3 Etude - 2nd
Kaja Kengatharan
Best Performer Award
Grade 2 List A - Second
Grade 2 List B - First
Grade 2 Etude - Third
Anycka Choi
Prep A - List B - 1st
2019 Steinway Competition
Gala concert - Antian Jiang to be a featured performer at Markham Theatre.
Level II
Antian Jiang - Second
Grace Tan
Level III
Annie Chung - Honourable Mention
May 12th 8pm - Antian Jiang to present a full length recital presented by Steinway Piano Gallery of Toronto (return engagement). http://www.steinwaytoronto.ca/news
May 11 7:30pm Greg Vandikas to present a full length recital presented by Yahama Markham. http://yamahamusicschool.ca
May 3 noon - Antian Jiang to present a noon-hour recital for Westben's ClockTower Series. https://www.westben.ca/calendar/tickets/newnow
May 1-May 4 - Dr. Esch adjudicated the piano classes of the Brant Music Festival
April 27 8pm - Sick Children's Hospital Fundraiser at Markham Theatre sponsored by Steinway Piano Gallery Toronto. Student Antian Jiang performed Mozart's piano concerto in C-major K.503 with the Canadian Cultural Orchestra in support of this outstanding cause. https://www.sickkidsdonations.com/registrant/startup.aspx?eventid=277760&langpref=en-CA
2019 Markham Stouffville ORMTA Auditions
Level A - Young Artist
Enoch Wei - First
Level B (10/ARCT)
Sandra Wang - First
Joelle Wong - Second
Wesley Chen - Third
Level C - (8/9)
Annie Chung- First
Evelyn Esch - Third
Elementary (3/4/5)
Joshua Li - Second
Primary (1/2)
Kaja Kengatharan - First
Dylan Li - First
The following students to be showcased on MS ORMTA's annual recital gala at Infinity Strings on May 4, 2019.
Joelle Wong, Wesley Chen, James Zheng, Evelyn Esch, Jenise Pan, Tiffany Chen, Emma Yee, Greg Vandikas, Rachel Yu, Jack Li, Annie chung, Sandra Wang, Nina Yu, Harry Tang, Joshua Li, Dylan Li, Kaja Kengatharan
April 2019 - Dr. Esch to adjudicate Senior Classes for the North York Music Festival
April 4 - Johnathon Li and Greg Vandikas performed in masterclass for Internationally acclaimed pianist Mariam Batashnavilli https://www.mariam-piano.com
March 29th - Dr. Esch to present a masterclass for the Taylor Young Artists Performance Academy/RCM
2019 Newmarket Lions Festival
Gala Performers - Annie Chung, Greg Vandikas
Best Intermediate Pianist
Annie Chung
Scholarship Recipients
Tiffany Chan, Annie Chung, Hilary Leung, Greg Vandikas
Provincial Finalist
Hilary Leung - Grade 10
Karen Barker Memorial Scholarship $500
Gregory Vandikas - First
ARCT
Marissa Hughsam
List A - Third
List B - Second
ARCT
Tiffany Chan
List B - Second
List C - Second
ARCT
Jenise Pan
List B - Second
List C - Second
Grade 10
Hilary Leung
List A - Second
List B - First
List C - First
List D - Second
Grade 10
Luka Mihajlovic
List B - First
List C - Third
List D - Second
List E- Second
Wesley Chen
Grade 10
List B - Second
List C - Third
List D - First
Grade 9
Annie Chung
List A - First
List B - First
List C - First
List D - First
Grade 9
Nina Yu
List A - Second
List B - Third
List D - Third
Grade 8
Kaivan Malek-Zadeh
List A - Second
List D - Third
Yips Music Festival
Provincial Finalist - Sandra Wang (ARCT)
Gala Recital - Sandra Wang was a featured performer
Steinway Piano Gallery Trophy - Sandra Wang
Senior Piano Scholarship - Sandra Wang
ARCT
Sandra Wang
Recital Class - First
List B - Second
ARCT
Jack Li
List B - Third
List C - First
Grade 9
Rachel Yu
List C - Third
Grade 8
Stephanie Chen
List A - Second
List B - First
List C - Third
Grade 8
Kaivan Malek-Zadeh
List A - Third
List C - First
List D - Third
Grade 2
Kaja Kengatharam
List A - Second
List B - Third
Etude - Third
Grade 2
Dylan Li
List C - First
North York Music Festival
Gala Recital - Greg Vandikas was a featured performer
Best of ARCT - Jenise Pan
Provincial Finalist - Open level - Enoch Wei
Best of Grade 2 Award - Dylan Li
Open
Greg Vandikas
Schimmel Class (French Music) - First
Boesendorfer Class (Russian Music) - First
Advanced Performers Concert Group - First
Open
Antian Jiang
Schimmel Class (French Music) - Second
Concerto Class I - Gold
Concerto Class II - Gold
Open Level Provincial Qualifier - First
Open Concerto Class
Lauren Esch - Gold
Jonathan Li and Gregory Vandikas - Gold
Open
Enoch Wei
Open Provincial Qualifier Class - First
ARCT List B - Second
ARCT
Jenise Pan
Provincial Qualifier Class - 3rd
ARCT List B - First
ARCT Chopin First
ARCT
Jadon Wong
Bach P and F - Third
ARCT Sonata - Second
ARCT Chopin - Third
Grade 9
Nina Yu
Grade 9 List B - First
Grade 9 List D - First
Grade 9
Grace Tan
List B - First
Chopin Class - First
Grade 9 Provincial Qualifier - Third
Grade 9
Annie Chung
Age 12 - Age Achievement - 3rd
List C - First
List B - First
Grade 2
Dylan Li
List A - First
List B - Second
List C - Second
Etude - First
Grade 2
Michael Chen
List A - Third
List B - Third
Etude - Third
2019 Oshawa Whitby Kiwanis Festival
Provincial Representatives
Sandra Wang - ARCT
Luka Mihajlovic - Grade 10
Jack Li, Sandra Wang and Luka Mihajlovic were invited to play in the scholarship playoffs.
ARCT
Jack Li
ARCT List B - First
ARCT List C - Second
ARCT
Sandra Wang
Concert Group - First
List A - First
List C - First
Grade 10
Luka Mihajlovic
List B - First
List C - First
List D - Second
2019 Markham Music Festival
ARCT/Licentiate
Gregory Vandikas
French Music Trophy Class - First
Canadian Composer Trophy Class - First
Artist Class - First
Chopin Trophy Class - First
17 under Age Achievement - First
17 under concerto - First
ARCT
Enoch Wei
List B - Second
Age Achievement age 16 - Second
Grade 10
Sophie Jin
List C - Second
Grade 9
Annie Chung
Canadian Composer - First
Bach 3 part Invention - Second
List B - Second
List C - Second
Grade 8
Stephanie Chen
List A - First
List C - First
List B - Second
List D - Second
University Acceptences
Greg Vandikas - McGill University Music/Scholarship
Angela Zheng - University of Toronto Music/Scholarship
Michelle Yu - Western University Music/Scholarship
Charissa Vandikas (EMA Alumnus) - Artist Diploma/Full Scholarship - GGS/RCM
Canadian Sinfonietta Concerto Competition Finals
March 25 - Antian Jiang was selected as one of 8 finalists.
2019 Pickering GTA Music Festival
Annie Chung, Gregory Vandikas and Antian were featured performers on the Festival Gala concert.
Provincial Finalists
Open Level - Greg Vandikas, Antian Jiang
Open Concerto - Antian Jiang
Grade 9 - Annie Chung
Grade 6 - Christina Chen
Open Bach
Greg Vandikas - First
Open Chopin
Greg Vandikas - First
Antian Jiang - Second
Open Beethoven Sonata
Greg Vandikas - First
Antian Jiang - Second
Open Concerto
Antian Jiang - First
Open Concerto Group
Antian Jiang - First
Open List D
Antian Jiang - First
Open List E
Greg Vandikas - First
ARCT List A
Tiffany Chan - Third
ARCT List B
Tiffany Chan - Second
Jenise Pan - Third
ARCT Chopin
Jenise Pan - Second
ARCT List C
Tiffany Chan - First
Grade 9 Bach
Annie Chung - First
Grade 9 Liszt B
Annie Chung - First
Grade 9 Chopin
Annie Chung - Second
Grade 6 List A
Christina Chen - First
Grade 6 - List B
Christina Chen - First
Grade 6 List C
Christina Chen - Second
2019 Toronto Kiwanis Festival
Open Level
Antian Jiang
Provincial Qualifying Class - Gold
Open List D - Platinum
Open Chopin - Gold
February 2019
Student Jenise Pan accepted into the Arts Unionville piano program at Unionville High School
February 11 - Student Grace Tan performed at Weill Hall/Carnegie Hall as a prize winner in the Crescendo International Piano Competition
January RCM Piano Examinations
Maral Attarzadeh - ARCT
Michelle Yu - Grade 10 -First Class Honours
Cecilia Chan - Grade 10 - First Class Honours
Kaitlyn Chen - Grade 10 - First Class Honours
Wesley Chen - Grade 9 - First Class Honours
Luka Mihajlovic - Grade 9 - First Class Honours with Distinction
Caitlin Arnott - Grade 8 - First Class Honours
Nina Yu - Grade 8 - First Class Honors
November 24th - Crescendo International Piano Competition. Dr. Esch was the senior piano adjudicator for this international competition which affords winners Canegie Hall debuts.
November 24th - Hammer Band and Royal York Hotel. Student Lauren Esch performs along side internationally acclaimed violinist Moshe Hammer and the 'Hammer Band' for a fundraiser in support of Scottish Canadian Heritage.
November 8, 2018 - Alain Lefebre Masterclass. Students Jonathan Wang, Gregory Vandikas and Lauren Esch were showcased performers in masterclass for Internationally Acclaimed Canadian Concert Pianist Alain Lefebre.
October 13'th - 2018. Aurora Cultural Centre. Students Antian Jiang and Gregory Vandikas were featured performers in the ORMTA Young Artist Competition winners recital.
September 25th,2018 - Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. Dr. Esch alongside students Lauren Esch and Antian Jiang were featured in a 'Piano Legacy Concert' alongside GTA Master performer/pedagogues Li Wang and Michael Berkovsky. The concert was part of an International music festival cosponsored by IMEC and the RCM.
September 15, 2018 - Steinway Piano Gallery. Dr. Esch alongside students Gregory Vandikas, Lauren Esch and Antian Jiang performed in a fundraiser for the Markham Stouffville Chapter of ORMTA
August 27th, 2018 - Steinway Hall NYC. Students Felix Du and Antian Jiang were featured performers at Steinway Hall as prize winners of the 2018 Steinway competition.
July 2018 - CFMTA National Piano Competition - Gregory Vandikas wins top pianist Award in the ORMTA Provincial Finals and will represent the Province in the 2019 National Piano Competition held in Winnipeg.
