2026 Competitors
Meet the pianists: M-Q
Iskandar Mamadaliev, 24
Uzbekistan
This competitor has now withdrawn from the competition.
Miki Matsumura, 29
JAPAN
Miki Matsumura earned her master’s degree in piano from Toho Gakuen Graduate School of Music and is currently pursuing a Master’s in piano chamber music at Universität Mozarteum Salzburg under Jacques Rouvier. Miki has won multiple prizes, and appeared extensively in Japan and Europe, performing Prokofievʼs Piano Concerto No.3 with the Toho Gakuen University Chamber Orchestra, and in 2025, Bachʼs Piano Concerto BWV1056 with the Südwestdeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim at the International Klavierfestival Junger Meister. She reached the second round of the 2018 Hastings International Piano Competition.
Mateusz Mikolajczak, 28
POLAND
Mateusz has established himself as one of the most promising pianists of his generation. Receiving prizes at international competitions he has performed at major venues across Europe, the United States, and Asia. Mikolajczak studied at the Reina Sofía School of Music and completed his master’s degree at The Juilliard School, where he now continues in the highly prestigious Artist Diploma programme under Soyeon Kate Lee.
Antoniu Nagy, 25
ROMANIA
Antoniu Nagy completed his Master’s in Piano Performance at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam under the guidance of Naum Grubert. Winner of over 20 national and international prizes, he most recently won 3rd Prize at the prestigious Dinu LipattiInternational Piano Competition in Bucharest. Antoniu has appeared with leading ensembles including the Romanian National Symphony Orchestra, the Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra.
Jinhyung Park, 29
SOUTH KOREA
Park has performed extensively across Europe, North America, and Asia, with appearances in Prague, Paris and Bratislava. He has collaborated with renowned orchestras such as RTVE Symphony Orchestra, Málaga Symphony Orchestra and top Korean orchestras. He was awarded First Prize at Orchestra Philharmonic of Morocco Competition. He earned his bachelor's degree at Yonsei University under Prof. Ian Yungwook Yoo and his master’s at the Hochschule für Musik in Hannover under Prof. Arie Vardi.
Mia Pečnik, 25
CROATIA
Mia completed her master’s degree at Hochschule für Musik und Theater Köln under Prof. Frölich and is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at the Royal College of Music with Prof. Dmitri Alexeev. She was named Young Musician of the Year by the Zagreb Philharmonic receiving Croatia’s prestigious Oscar of Knowledge award. Mia has won over 80 first prizes at international competitions. In 2025, she became a finalist at the Piano FVG Biennial International Piano Competition.
