Name: 2026 Young Artist Competition for Piano, Strings and Voice
Start: 2026-04-11T08:30:00-05:00
End: 2026-04-11T17:30:00-05:00
Location: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

2026 Young Artist Competition for Piano, Strings and Voice

Competition for students in grades 6-12. Categories are Piano, Strings and Voice. The student or their teacher must live within a 100-mile radius of St. Louis, Missouri.
Sponsors are Top Notch Violins, Ariel Premium Supply, Inc. and The Marjorie Balafas Memorial Music Student Award Fund.
Judges:
Thomas Pandolfi (Piano): American pianist Thomas Pandolfi is a dynamic virtuoso praised worldwide for his passionate artistry and exceptional technique. Renowned for his interpretations of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Chopin, Liszt, and Gershwin, he has captivated audiences as a beloved concerto soloist across the globe. His international career has taken him to Europe and China, where he has performed concerts and led masterclasses, with plans to return later this season. A dedicated champion of contemporary music, Thomas recently released a recording on Seafront Records featuring Polo Piatti’s Bohemian Concerto, performed with Maestro John Andrews and The National Symphony Orchestra of London. His performances continue to win acclaim from critics and audiences alike, solidifying his reputation as one of today’s most compelling pianists.
Julia Sakharova (Strings): Julia Sakharova is a Moldovan-born Russian violinist celebrated for her early talent and international career. Born in Zheleznovodsk, Russia, she debuted with the Moldova Symphony Orchestra at age eight and was recognized as a child prodigy by eleven. At fifteen, she won the top prize at the International Competition for Music of Eastern and Central Europe, receiving Vladimir Spivakov’s bow in honor. She studied violin performance at Oberlin College, graduating in 2003 under Milan Vitek, and placed sixth in the Concours International de Montréal des Jeunesses Musicales that year. Sakharova performed internationally, served as Assistant Concertmaster of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra (2008–2012), joined the Arianna String Quartet at the University of Missouri–St. Louis as Associate Professor, and in 2024 became Concertmaster of Orchestra Iowa.
Mat Pankratz (Piano): Mat Pankratz holds an MM in Piano Performance from Louisiana State University and a BM in Piano Performance (summa cum laude) from Webster University. He is adjunct faculty at Webster University and its Community Music School, lead accompanist for the CMS Suzuki Strings program, and co-director of the Chamber Music Encounter. Former teaching and accompanist positions include Louisiana State University, Performing Arts Academy of Louisiana, Jackson Pianos, and Masterwork Chorale of Belleville, Illinois. A student of Daniel Schene, Sheila Paige, and others, Pankratz is a scholarship and competition winner, including the Webster University Concerto Competition. He emphasizes healthy piano technique based on the Taubman Method.
Mini Wang (Voice): As a lyric soprano, Nini Wang has performed in collaboration with numerous renowned conductors and artistic directors across the United States, France, China, and South Korea. In December 2019, she participated in a joint production of Bizet’s opera Carmen by the China National Opera House, Fujian Opera House, and Hong Kong Opera, performing the role of Micaëla. She is a long-term contracted artist with the Northwest Lyric Opera in the United States, where her principal roles have included Angelica in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Musetta in La Bohème, Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata, Pamina in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and the Page in Verdi’s Rigoletto.
Nini Wang currently serves as an Assistant Professor and doctoral advisor at Midwest University in Missouri. She holds a Graduate Diploma in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music, and earned her DMA degrees in Vocal Performance from Kunsan National University in South Korea and Midwest University in the United States.