THIRTIETH EDITION | JULY 18-26, 2026
NEW ORLEANS
C O M P E T I T I O N I N T E R N A T I O N A L SPONSORSHIP
BE AN INSTRUMENT FOR GOOD AND A SYMPHONY OF SUPPORT.
The Musical Arts Society of New Orleans, home of the New Orleans International Piano Competition, celebrates its 46th anniversary of supporting New Orleans’s vibrant musical arts by providing opportunities to hear some of the world’s best musicians, developing enthusiastic audiences, nurturing talent, and championing music education
Melvin Alford and Julianne Nice founded the organization originally called the New Orleans Institute for the Performing Arts (NOIPA) in 1980 to provide students and teachers in the area with master classes, workshops, and performances by acclaimed performers. Here began the annual summer New Orleans Keyboard Festival, featuring master classes, lectures, and recitals. In 1989 the program was enlarged to include the New Orleans International Piano Competition, which is currently regarded as one of the finest showcases for pianistic talent
Today, through the generosity of philanthropic music lovers, donors, and sponsors, MASNO continues building upon its legacy by providing both artists and students an opportunity to perform for appreciative audiences and to further develop skills and their artistic discipline within a comfortable and supportive environment
PROUDLY SUPPORTING A VIBRANT MUSIC COMMUNITY AND THE ARTISTS VITAL TO ITS FUTURE.
For 46 years, the Musical Arts Society of New Orleans has united artists and audiences through a shared love of music We’ve dedicated ourselves to making the most of our funding to educate, enrich, and celebrate the vibrant culture of the city we call home, while sharing the beauty of New Orleans with the world. Through vital sponsorships, philanthropic support, and enthusiastic patrons, we continue to be an instrument for good
I
AM FOREVER GRATEFUL TO MASNO
Winning the New Orleans International Piano Competition in 2024 marked a turning point in my career, greatly enriching my artistic journey and expanding my profile The many performanceopportunitiesofferedmeinvaluable exposure and shaped my growth as a solo artist JustasmeaningfulwasthewarmthandsupportI receivedfromtheNewOrleanscommunity
Photo by Kate Byars Photography ZHU WANG 2024 NOIPC Gold Medalist
A RICH HISTORY OF BRINGING THE WORLD TOGETHER THROUGH MUSIC.
In 1989, Madelyn Trible and Raymond Gitz founded the New Orleans International Piano Competition (NOIPC) as an augmentation to the summer keyboard festival. Without delay, the competition began expanding in scope, attracting competitors and audiences from around the globe, and quickly becoming regarded as one of the finest showcases of pianistic talent Putting New Orleans on the map in the world of classical piano, the NOIPC celebrates its 30th edition as a proud member of the Alink-Argerich Foundation and the World Federation of International Music Competitions, and a proud recipient of major support from Steinway & Sons - the official piano of the New Orleans International Piano Competition.
PLEASE, PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER AND GIVE MORE THAN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
With generous support from our sponsors, the New Orleans International Piano Competition will continue to play a vital role in launching young careers of countless artists around the world and highlights New Orleans and Louisiana as a cultural center of classical music and a premier performance destination for international artists.
E Y P L A Y E R S
KEVIN AHFAT Canada
WOOYOUNG CHO South Korea
SHANGRU DU China
YUANG FAN China
MITSUKI FUKUHARA
Japan
MIAO GAO China
EVGENY KONNOV
Russia
MODAN OYAMA
Japan
SEIRAN TOZLIAN
Russia
JIACHENG XIONG
China
JIHYUNG YOUN
South Korea
ADRIA YE
United States
K E Y P L A Y E R S
ANGELA CHENG
Special Guest Artist
Canadian pianist Angela Cheng will open the week’s events with a solo recital as special guest artist and jury member of the 30 New Orleans International Piano Competition. Consistently praised for her brilliant technique, tonal beauty and superb musicianship, Cheng has appeared as soloist with more than 100 orchestras, including the Israel Philharmonic, Boston Pops, Buffalo Philharmonic, and the symphonies of Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, St Louis, Houston, San Diego, Indianapolis, Syracuse, Utah and Colorado th
COURTNEY BRYAN
Ancestor Tree
NOIPC proudly presents the world-premiere of Ancestor Tree by New Orleans pianist and composer Courtney Bryan Honoring the emblematic tree of Congo Square, Ancestor Tree was commissioned with generous support from the Edgar “Dooky” Jr and Leah Chase Family Foundation and the Thistlewood Foundation in memory of long-time friends, ardent supporters and former Board Presidents of the Musical Arts Society of New Orleans and the New Orleans International Piano Competition, Edgar “Dooky” Chase III and Richard Goula, and will be performed live by each competitor July 19-23, in the Semifinal Rounds I and II
LOUISIANA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Final Round Part II
This 30th competition proudly debuts concerto performances of the 3 Finalists with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in Final Round, Part II
MASNO BOARD
Robert Edgecombe, President
Jason Burge, Immediate Past President
Terry Voorhies, President-Elect
Bruce Crutcher, Treasurer
Leo Landry, Secretary
Paige Bennett-Primke
Hristo Birbochukov
Michael Boucree
Courtney Bryan
Louise Bush
Trey Cassels
Mary Sue Chambers, Emeritus
Rosalind Hinton
Steve Kinchen
Leo Landry
Julianne Nice, Emeritus
Igor Resnianski
Barbara Sands
Anne Sumich
Madelyn and Bruce Trible, Emeritus
Patrick Widhalm
Qifan Wu
Victoria Zangara
MASNO STAFF
Cara McCool Woolf, Executive & Artistic Director
Daniel Weilbaecher, Director Emeritus
Alan Chow, Jury Chair
NOIPC JURY
Recorded/Preliminary Round
Lydia Artymiw
Alan Chow
Jack Winerock
Live Semifinal and Final
Rounds
Angela Cheng
Alan Chow, Jury Chair
Alvin Chow
Sofya Gulyak
Christopher Harding
Igal Kesselman
Yong Hi Moon
Yoshikazu Nagai
Sponsor’s name and logo and mention of the Sponsorship featured on the MASNO website, in the live competition broadcast, in appropriate publicity, in the program book for the New Orleans International Piano Competition and Keyboard Festival, and mentioned from the stage during the New Orleans International Piano Competition Award Ceremony
Invitation to the Post-Finals Reception following the Final Round and Awards Ceremony of the New Orleans International Piano Competition
Two tickets to subsequent local performances of the prize winner as a result of the prize
Annual membership to the Musical Arts Society of New Orleans SCAN FOR MORE INFO
$ , Benefits to
the Sponsor
All-Event Passes (number dependent on amount of sponsorship) to the New Orleans International
Piano Competition | Keyboard Festival
Sponsor’s name, logo, and mention featured on the MASNO website, in the live competition
broadcast, appropriate publicity, and highlighted in Competition and Keyboard Festival program
Attend Post-Finals Reception and Awards Ceremony
Annual Membership to the Musical Arts Society of New Orleans
Invitation to the Post-Finals Reception following the Final Round and Awards Ceremony of the New Orleans International Piano Competition.
Tickets to MASNO’s annual gala Nocturne XXIII (number dependent on amount of sponsorship)
Annual Membership, Musical Arts Society of New Orleans
Tickets to MASNO’s annual gala Nocturne XXIII (number dependent on amount of sponsorship)
Annual Membership, Musical Arts Society of New Orleans
for the New Orleans International Piano Competition and Keyboard Festival, and mentioned from the stage during the New Orleans International Piano Competition Award Ceremony
•Invitation to the Post-Finals Reception following the Final Round and Awards Ceremony of the New Orleans International Piano Competition
•Annual Membership, Musical Arts Society of New Orleans
A NOTE OF GRATITUDE
Since my introduction to MASNO and the New Orleans International Piano Competition in the early 2000s, I’ve witnessed firsthand how this extraordinary organization and its internationally renowned program have transformed countless lives My journey began volunteering for the NOIPC as a fellow pianist and teacher, grew into years of service as a board member, and ultimately led me to my current role as Executive and Artistic Director Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the profound impact MASNO has had on musicians, students, audience members, and supporters alike
Through this program, careers have been launched, families supported, lives changed, peace cultivated, children inspired, hearts healed, and listeners renewed. The arts community has been fortified, our city enriched and celebrated, and the power of music continues to bring beauty and unity in ways only it can None of this would be possible without the unwavering support of our friends, patrons, and sponsors
We are incredibly fortunate to be in the business of supporting the work of music far and wide Thank you for partnering with us in advancing our mission and for your role in making the world a better place through music
With gratitude,
Cara McCool Woolf Executive & Artistic Director
Musical Arts Society of New Orleans
P.O. Box 750698
New Orleans, LA 70175
wwwmasnoorg
THE MUSICAL ARTS SOCIETY OF NEW ORLEANS IS A 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
TheMusicalArtsSocietyofNewOrleansissupportedbyagrantfromtheLouisianaDivisionoftheArtsOfficeofCulture,Recreation,and Tourism,incooperationwiththeLouisianaStateArtsCouncil,andtheNationalEndowmentfortheArts,aFederalagency,andbya CommunityArtsGrantmadepossiblebytheCityofNewOrleansasadministeredbyArtsNewOrleans