2026 Concerto Competition Results
Concerto with Orchestra Awards
2026 Grand Prix Winners
Everett Leigh, 15, California
Will perform with the NH Philharmonic Orchestra in the 2026-2027 season
Under the mentorship of Professor Ethan Dong since age nine, fifteen-year-old Everett C. Leigh’s artistry has drawn acclaim from renowned pedagogues including Wha Kyung Byun, Boris Berman, William Grant Naboré, Robert McDonald, Inna Faliks, Alessandro Deljavan, and Eric Lu.
His record includes over 50 international competition victories, among them the Bösendorfer and Yamaha USASU International Piano Competition, Pianist of the Year at the AD LIBITUM Warsaw International Piano Competition, and first prizes at the Hong Kong International, Pearl River Kayserburg, and Vienna International Virtuoso Festival, where he also earned the Best Performance Award. As a soloist, Everett has performed with the SoCal Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and Santa Barbara Symphony at places such as Carnegie Hall and Disney Hall.He has also been featured as a cover story in Maestro Magazine and WOMCO.
As the sole Junior Piano Soloist appointed by the United Nations, representing UNITAR, his UN Plaza performance was featured in a UN documentary. He is president of the Opus Music Foundation and founder of EverEverest, a social entrepreneurship nonprofit empowering underprivileged students. He has received three consecutive Presidential Gold Volunteer Service Awards and recognitions from the U.S. Congress and Senate. Everett is also a champion swimmer and Taekwondo Black Belt.
Benjamin Mandigo, 15, New York
Will perform with the Nashua Chamber Orchestra in the 2026-2027 season
Benjamin Mandigo is a 10th grade cellist at Juilliard Pre-College, where he studies with Clara Kim. He previously studied with Alex Croxton at School for Strings and was a member of the NY Youth Symphony. Ben is a high school student at the Horace Mann School in New York City.
In 2024, Ben won First Prize at the Charleston International Music Competition and in 2025, he won First Place at both the International Grande Music Competition and the Protege International Piano and Strings Competition. In 2026, he was awarded the Grand Prix Prize at the New York Concert Festival International Competition, Grand Prize at the Young Artist International Premier Competition, Grand Prize at the New York Laureate International Concerto Competition, First Place winner of the Mary Roebling Concerto Competition, and Grand Prix winner of the Sempre Musick Concerto Competition. He has performed as a soloist at the Dimenna Center and at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Ben has participated in several distinguished summer music programs, including Greenwood Senior Music Camp, Kaufman Strings Festival, Bowdoin Summer Music Festival, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and this summer he will attend the Heifetz Institute Summer Program Senior Division. He has performed in master classes for renowned cellists Zvi Plesser, David Ying, Christine Lamprea, and Elizabeth Simkin.
Vivaldi Four Seasons Competition
2026 Winner
Julia Reifsnyder, 17, Maryland
Will perform with the Nashua Chamber Orchestra
in the 2026-2027 season
Young Artist Awards
The Sempre Musick Young Artist Award celebrates performers
who demonstrate outstanding artistry, technical ability, and musical maturity.
Stacey Kim, 16, New Jersey
Will perform with the NH Philharmonic Orchestra in the 2026-2027 season
Ryan Chung, 14, New Jersey
Will perform with the Nashua Chamber Orchestra in the 2026-2027 season
Ryan Chung has been an active student at the Juilliard Precollege division on scholarship since the age of 10 and is studying under his instructor, Catherine Cho. Ryan is also a student at the Perlman Music Program. Ryan has won top prizes at the Caprio Young Artists, Vitas International, New York Laureate, and the Ensemble 212 Young Artist Competition, in which he was given the opportunity to record with the Ensemble 212 Orchestra.
Rising Star Awards
The Sempre Musick Rising Star Award honors budding musicians who demonstrate remarkable potential and promise.
Marina Herran, 11, New Jersey
Will perform with the New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra in the 2026-2027 season
Makana Herran, 6, New Jersey
Will perform with the New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra in the 2026-2027 season
Michell Zhu, 6, Massachusetts
