Adjudication Panel

Dr Nicholas Ong is the recipient of many international prizes, including First Prize at the Yvonne Lefébure International Piano Competition in France and finalist at the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in Switzerland. The New York Times praised him for his “firm rubber-ball touch and bounce” and Le Figaro for his “astonishing virtuosity.” 

He has performed in numerous concert halls across the United States, Europe, and Asia. As a versatile chamber musician, he has collaborated in chamber concerts with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra musicians, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts faculty chamber concerts, and concert tours with principals of major orchestras and young talented musicians. 

He received a Doctorate in Piano Performance at the Juilliard School in New York. Prior to that, he studied at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris under a French Government Scholarship, and Master of Music degree at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.

Dr Nicholas Ong is Head of Keyboard at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), University of the Arts Singapore. He is on the jury for many International Piano Competitions, and in demand for masterclasses, including the Asia International Piano Academy Festival (AIPAF) in South Korea.

Born and raised in Bandung, Indonesia, Iswargia Renardi Sudarno began his piano studies at the age of eleven, inspired by watching a friend play the instrument. He studied piano in Bandung with Wibanu, Partosiswojo, John Gobée, and Oerip S. Santoso. During this period, he was active as a performer in solo recitals and chamber music concerts, and received several prizes in regional and national piano competitions.

After completing his formal education in Architecture at the Bandung Institute of Technology (Institut Teknologi Bandung), Iswargia pursued advanced musical studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, where he earned the degree of Master of Music under the guidance of the distinguished pianist and pedagogue Karl Ulrich Schnabel, son of the legendary pianist Artur Schnabel. His studies with Schnabel not only deepened his admiration for the works of Beethoven and Schubert, but also shaped his strong commitment to the performance and development of new and contemporary music, particularly in Indonesia.

Another significant influence on his artistic outlook was the renowned pianist and musicologist Robert Levin, whom he encountered at the Mozarteum Summer Academy in Salzburg. Through Levin, Iswargia developed a lasting interest in Historically Informed Performance, an approach that continues to inform both his performance and teaching. He also participated in other international summer programs, including the Aspen Music School (USA) and the Johanessen International School of the Arts (Victoria, Canada), studying with notable pianists such as Béla Síki, Gabriel Chodos, and Rita Sloan.

Upon returning to Indonesia, Iswargia was awarded a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to further his studies in Germany, where he worked closely with Hansjörg Koch, focusing particularly on contemporary music.

In Indonesia, Iswargia has appeared with leading orchestras and ensembles, including the Jakarta Chamber Orchestra and the Nusantara Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his activities as a pianist, he is also active as a conductor, educator, and advocate for classical and contemporary music, contributing significantly to the development of Indonesia’s musical life.

M.Mus, B.Mus(Hons), LRAM, ARCM, LRSM, LTCL, LGSM(Dist)

Rena was born in Hong Kong where she received her foundation musical training under Professor Lam Hung Hee. Further studies took her to the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, University of Toronto. She continued with her postgraduate studies at the University of London, UK and Paris where she studied under renowned pianist Monique Haas. She received her Master Degree from Griffith University, Australia and the Post Graduate Diploma from National Technological University, Singapore. She was awarded the Licentiate Diploma from the London Royal Academy of Music and the Associate Diploma from the London Royal College of Music. She received a Distinction in Piano Performance for her Licentiate Diploma of Guildhall School of Music.

Rena has an illustrious career as a performer. Her musical performance activities have brought her to Canada, USA, Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and other parts of Asia where she frequently appears in concerts in collaboration with international artistes, vocalists and instrumentalists. She is frequently invited to give masterclasses at Singapore Music Elective Program, Royal College of Music, London,  Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Medan Symphony Centre, Indonesia, Ho Chi Minn City Conservatory of Music, Bangkok, Albeniz International Music Course in Spain, Gnessin School of Music, Moscow and most recently, at Krakow Academy of Music, Poland. She is also active as adjudicator for international music competitions in Belgrade, Indonesia, Canada, China, Manila, Spain, Moscow. Some of the International Piano Competition she has judged in recently are Chongsin International Music Competition, Singapore International China Arts Festival, Indonesia Medan Young Pianists Competition, Singapore International Classical Piano Competition, Malaysia Ipoh Music Festival, Macau-Asia Pacific Youth Piano Competition and the Singapore Asia Arts Festival. Since January 2019 she has assumed the position as Director of Music Department and Associate Professor at the Hong Kong Adventist College.

Rena has been external examiner for Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of the National University of Singapore.

At NAFA (Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts she has held essential roles as Member of the NAFA Scholarship & Financial Aids Panel (2007-2010, 2012-2017), Vice Dean at Office of Academic Affairs (2006 – 2010). Head of Keyboard Studies (2004-2015) and Senior Lecturer of Piano Studies, School of Music (2002 – 2015), Senior Teaching Fellow (2015-2019), Principal Study Lecturer (present). She was Lecturer for Music Degree Studies at SIA-LaSalle College for the Arts (1995-2003).

Rena sits in the Advisory Committee for National Piano & Violin Competition, National Arts Council from (2011-2017). She has been Secretary/Treasurer and Committee Member for Singapore Music Teachers Association since 1984-2015. She is the Vice President for the Chopin Society of Singapore since its inception in 2009. 

Jia Ran, Associate Professor, Piano Department, Shanghai Conservatory of Music: Pianist Jia Ran has been active on the international music scene with exceptional talent, having given over 100 concerts worldwide and released 10 records. Her debut Schubert album (released by Atarana in France) won the French Choc Record Honor Award in 2015. Industry assessments place her on par with masters such as Wilhelm Kempff, Lupi, and Hecht. She has collaborated with prestigious ensembles like the Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Turin National Symphony Orchestra. In 2016, she replaced Büyöv Langmann and performed with the Zurich Music Hall Orchestra and the Warsaw Beethoven Rhythm Ensemble, with her performance being broadcast live by radio stations in both cities. The event was highly successful. The same year, she was invited to give a solo concert at the Festival de Cannes-Tarenton in France, which was recorded by the Paris Radio and named the “Best Concert of the Year” by ELLE.

In 2017, she completed a performance of Schubert’s piano sonata cycle at the Berlin Philharmonic’s Chamber Music Hall, which was released on an album by Sony Classical’s RED SEAL label. The performance was praised for its authority by The Berlin Morning Post. Subsequently, she collaborated with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra to perform the complete cycle live, with the recording released by Shanghai Music Publishing House. In December 2019, she was invited to perform a solo concert at the Ruhr Festival in Germany. The live recording was recorded by West German Radio (WDR) and broadcast globally. Her performances have taken her to prominent stages in the Rhineland, the Mauriceburg Chamber Music Festival, and cities such as Paris and Sydney.

Jia Ran graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music in the United States and the Cologne Conservatory of Music in Germany, studying under Graffman and Nabore, respectively. In 2022, he was hired as an associate professor of piano at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, a highly skilled individual, and was also selected for the Shanghai Pujiang Talent Program the same year.

Indonesian pianist Randy Ryan began piano at the age of five, gave his first solo recital at ten, and debuted with orchestra at eleven performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto in A major, K.414. Since then, he has appeared as soloist with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, Yayasan Musik Jakarta Orchestra, Jakarta Sinfonietta, and Jakarta Simfonia Orchestra, performing concertos by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, and Saint-Saëns. His recital and chamber music appearances have taken him to the United States, Italy, Austria, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, and Indonesia.

Randy is a graduate of The Juilliard School (B.Mus.) and the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University (M.M. and Graduate Performance Diploma, both with full scholarships), where he studied with Leon Fleisher, Yong-Hi Moon, Hung-Kuan Chen, and Matti Raekallio. He has participated in leading festivals including Kneisel Hall, PianoTexas, Mozarteum Salzburg, Eppan Piano Academy, and The International Holland Music Session, and has worked with artists such as Paul Badura-Skoda, Arie Vardi, Robert Levin, and Pavel Gililov.

In addition to performing, Randy is committed to education. He is the founder and artistic director of Musicantus Academy in Jakarta, and also teaches at the Jakarta Conservatory of Music and Bina Musik Jakarta. Praised by Paul Badura-Skoda for his “poetic nature and warm touch,” Randy continues to balance an active international performing career with a dedication to nurturing the next generation of pianists.

Hailed as a “highly musical personality” by The Straits Times, Donald Law is a distinguished solo and collaborative pianist known for his expressive performances and technical mastery. A prizewinner in numerous national and international competitions, including 1st prize at the 7th Lucien Wang Piano Competition (2016) and 2nd prize at the Nanyang International Music Competition (2017), Donald has earned widespread recognition for his musicality and versatility.

Donald’s performance career has taken him to prestigious music festivals and concert halls across Europe and Asia, where he has shared the stage with renowned international artists in both solo and chamber music performances. He has received critical acclaim for his performances of works such as Smetana’s Piano Trio in G minor Op. 15 and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25 in C K. 503 as a soloist with the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) Wind Ensemble. He was invited to perform in Ru Gao, China, as part of the Musikschule Kirn-Meisenheim-Bad Sobemheim’s cultural exchange programme in 2018 and has performed at high-profile events such as a recital at the Beijing Kerry Center Hotel, marking Kerry Oils & Grains Co. Ltd.’s announcement as a supplier for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Donald’s participation in the Art of Healing series at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) also brought comfort and joy to patients and visitors through his piano recitals in the hospital atrium.

A dedicated scholar, Donald has received numerous prestigious scholarships, including the Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) Undergraduate Scholarship, Ngee Ann Kongsi Merit Award, and Tay Chay Bing Bursary. He graduated with distinction from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) with a Diploma in Music and went on to earn a First-Class Honours in Bachelor of Music in Performance from the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London. He furthered his studies with a Master of Music in Performance at RCM, where he was awarded the Henry Wood Trust Fund. Donald’s mentors include Lena Ching, Boris Kraljevic, Ashley Wass, and Dina Parakhina, and he has worked with renowned pianists such as Ivan Klánský, Hüseyin Sermet, Noriko Ogawa, and the late Dennis Lee.

In 2020, Donald signed with KNS Classical label and released his solo album Evolution, showcasing his ever-evolving artistry. As both a performer and educator, he continues to inspire audiences worldwide and is dedicated to advancing the art of music, sharing his expertise as a juror for competitions and masterclass instructor. Donald's passion for nurturing future generations of pianists remains at the heart of his career.

Hailed as a performer with an “artistry of the highest order” by Straits Times and “maturity of musicianship and virtuosity” by Pianomania, Kseniia Vokhmianina has gained critical and audience attention as a concerto soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. Her latest performances have taken her to prominent international venues, including the Seoul Arts Centre (South Korea), the Auditorium Olivier Messiaen (France), Institut Supérieur de Musique et de Pédagogie (Belgium), Mendelssohn-Haus Leipzig, and Schumannhaus Bonn (Germany), Yunduan-Tianfu Music Hall (China), Guarnerius Concert Hall (Serbia), Österreichisches Kulturforum, and Notre-Dame de Sion Istanbul (Turkey).

Kseniia began her music training at a young age in her native Ukraine. She studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts under Prof. Boris Kraljevic as a recipient of the Lee Foundation Scholarship. Her studies then took her to the Royal College of Music (UK), Kharkiv National Pedagogical University (Ukraine), and Zurich University of the Arts (Switzerland), where she was mentored by Prof. Konstantin Scherbakov.

A prizewinner in numerous piano competitions across France, Australia, Poland, Italy, Serbia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Germany, Kseniia has been a guest artist at various international music festivals. These include “Convivium Musicum” (Serbia), “International Piano Festival” (Vietnam), “Days of Music” (Montenegro), “George Town Festival” (Malaysia), “International Holland Music Sessions” (Netherlands), and the “Pablo Casals Festival” (France). She opened the 27th edition of the Singapore International Piano Festival in 2021 with a grand display of pianism in the tradition of great classical artists from her birthplace, such as Shura Cherkassky, Emil Gilels, and Sviatoslav Richter. Kseniia has performed as a concerto soloist with international symphony orchestras, including the Kaunas Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra (Lithuania) and Sichuan Symphony Orchestra (China).

In addition to her performing career, Kseniia is a dedicated music educator, having worked for several years at the Music Faculty of the School of The Arts (SOTA)  and recently joining Madison Academy of Music.  She is frequently invited to serve on juries for regional and international piano competitions, including the Steinway Youth Piano Competition, Le Magnifique Music Competition, the Overseas Performers’ Festival, WPTA Finland International Piano Competition, and the Indonesia Virtuoso Music Award. Since 2018, she has served as the President of the World Piano Teachers’ Association (Singapore affiliate).

Evelyn Handrisanto is an accomplished pianist, known for her versatility as a recitalist, chamber musician, concerto soloist, and repetiteur. She has performed at prestigious venues including Esplanade Concert Hall (An Afternoon in Paris), Esplanade Recital Studio (Trout), NAFA-Lee Foundation Theatre, Yale-NUS College (Singapore), Erasmus (Jakarta), the Opening Gala of the 6th ASEAN International Chopin Piano Competition (Malaysia), Fryderyk Chopin University of Music (Warsaw, Poland), International Piano Academy and Competition (Korea), and the Royal College of Music (UK).

Born in Indonesia, Evelyn began her piano studies at the age of 4. Her musical talent was soon recognized, and at 18, she received the NAFA Entry ASEAN Grant, NAFA Scholarship, and the Singapore Ministry of Education Tuition Grant to pursue a Diploma in Music Performance at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). She graduated with Distinction and was awarded the prestigious Leong Yoon Pin Scholarship to continue her Bachelor of Music (Hons) at the Royal College of Music, where she studied with Mrs. Rena Phua and Professor Gordon Fergus Thompson, graduating with First Class Honours.

Evelyn’s success in competitions spans the region. She was the Grand Winner of the 4th UPH Chopin Piano Competition (Jakarta), receiving multiple special prizes including Best Etude Performer, Winner of Impromptu and Rondo categories. She also won Gold Prize and Most Promising Artist Award at the 4th ASEAN International Chopin Piano Competition (Malaysia) and 2nd Prize at the inaugural International Chopin Piano Competition in Singapore. In Singapore, she won First Prize at the Lucien Wang Piano Competition and emerged Grand Winner of the Music Essential Concerto Competition.

Evelyn made her concerto debut in 2014, performing Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto in G minor with the NAFA Orchestra under Maestro Lim Yau. In 2015, she was selected to perform a specially commissioned work by Dr. Kelly Tang for 50 pianos and the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra at the Sing50 concert — a grand celebration of Singapore’s 50th year of independence.

Beyond performance, Evelyn is a sought-after accompanist, serving as resident accompanist for the Singapore Symphony Youth Choir and official accompanist at NAFA. Her students have achieved success in both national and international competitions and several have continued to pursue professional music studies.  In 2019, Evelyn founded Quatre Music Organization, promoting music education and performance opportunities. Recently, she was invited as a jury member for the Yamaha Competition in Indonesia and the Haydn Music Piano Competition in Malaysia, further cementing her reputation as a respected figure in the regional music scene.

Felix Rajali is a distinguished pianist and educator with a deep passion for nurturing young musical talent. He holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours) from the Royal College of Music in London and a Diploma in Music from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in Singapore. Felix’s musical education has been shaped by esteemed mentors such as Suriani, Lisi Julianto, Lena Ching, Dr. Nicholas Ong, Rena Phua, Prof. Boris Kraljevic, and Prof. Ruth Nye.

Felix has actively participated in numerous prestigious competitions and festivals, both locally and internationally, including the Lucien Wang Piano Competition (Singapore), NAFA Concerto Competition (Singapore), JCoM Piano Competition (Indonesia), Medan International Piano Competition (Indonesia), International Piano Academy & Festival (South Korea), and the Albeniz Summer Music Festival and Competition (Spain). His extensive experience in these events has influenced his versatile teaching approach and performance skills.

Recognized for his exceptional teaching abilities, Felix received the Teacher’s Excellence Award in 2019 and was honored with a Certificate of Recognition for his students’ remarkable achievements. Felix’s commitment to sharing his knowledge is reflected in his involvement in organizing and spearheading internal concerts, festivals, and competitions at Musical Mindset Academy. He continues to provide students with invaluable opportunities to perform, both in Singapore and abroad.

In addition to his teaching, Felix has organized significant performance events for his students, including concerts at the Victoria Concert Hall, where his students have showcased their talents in a professional setting. Felix is also actively involved in organizing outdoor performance events, such as the Great Christmas Village at Orchard Road in Dec 2024. These events provide students with exposure to different performance environments, helping them grow as artists.

Felix’s students have consistently excelled in various competitions, including the Batam International Open Piano Competition (Indonesia), the 7th Singapore Performers’ Festival & Chamber Music Competition (Singapore), and the International Piano Academy & Festival (South Korea), among many others. His students have also achieved distinctions in grade exams from ABRSM and Trinity College and diploma-level exams and have been selected to perform with prestigious ensembles, such as the Kids Philharmonic Orchestra at Esplanade.

Lisa Sia is a highly respected music educator born in Malaysia, with over 25 years of experience teaching piano and voice. Her musical journey began at the age of 3 when she first started playing the piano, igniting a deep passion for music that would guide her career. Fueled by this passion, Lisa pursued full-time music studies at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in Singapore, where she earned a Diploma in Music with a major in piano performance and vocal studies. 

Throughout her academic career, Lisa studied under the guidance of esteemed mentors such as Mr. Leong Oon Pin, Mdm Lim Geok Chu, Mr. Poon Yew Tien, and Mr. Benjamin Loh. Her vocal talents flourished through her involvement with the Singapore Symphony Choir, where she was mentored by the renowned conductor Lim Yau. Lisa’s education has shaped her into a highly skilled performer and a knowledgeable educator.

With over 25 years of teaching experience, Lisa has built a reputation as a highly respected instructor, imparting both practical and theoretical knowledge to students of all ages. Her students consistently achieve distinctions, and many have gone on to pursue careers in music, with some becoming music educators themselves. Lisa’s teaching encompasses a broad range of musical elements, from foundational piano skills to advanced vocal techniques, ensuring that her students are well-rounded musicians.

Lisa’s students have competed and excelled in various prestigious competitions, including the UCSI International Piano Festival & Competition (Malaysia), the 7th Singapore Performers' Festival & Chamber Music Competition (Singapore), the Brilliant Talent Discovery Awards International Piano Competition (Singapore), the Singapore International Classical Piano Competition (Singapore), and the Asia International Piano Academy & Festival (South Korea), among others. These achievements highlight her ability to prepare her students for success on both local and international stages.

As a passionate advocate for musical exposure and education, Lisa actively spearheads and organizes a variety of concerts, competitions, and performance events. She plays a key role in providing her students with opportunities to perform at high-profile venues such as the Victoria Concert Hall. Lisa’s dedication extends to organizing masterclasses and workshops to further enhance her students’ learning experiences, and she regularly attends seminars and overseas summer camps to stay current with the latest developments in music education.

Lisa’s outstanding contributions to the field of music education were recognized in 2019 when she received the Teachers’ Excellence Award. This accolade is a testament to her caring, impactful teaching style and her unwavering commitment to her students’ growth and success. Through her nurturing guidance, Lisa continues to inspire her students, leaving a lasting impact on their musical journeys and shaping the next generation of musicians.