Keys to Success Music Competition

6 & Under

Sanav Rajeev

First Place

Sanav is an enthusiastic young pianist who began learning piano at the age of 5. With a deep curiosity for music and a disciplined practice routine, he enjoys exploring both classical and contemporary styles. Growing up in a home where Indian music is often celebrated, he brings creativity and sensitivity to his playing. He looks forward to opportunities like this competition to share his love for music with others.

Alice Rumeus

Second Place

Alice is a beginner in the music world who started learning piano just two months ago. She enjoys discovering new notes and rhythms and brings a positive attitude to each lesson. With growing excitement and curiosity, Alice is taking her first steps on a joyful and inspiring musical journey.

Ishaan Ravi

Third Place

Ishaan just turned 6 and is the youngest participant in the competition. Bursting with energy and curiosity, he brings playful enthusiasm to every lesson. As he begins to explore the piano, Ishaan is developing a fun and promising connection to music that continues to grow each week.

7 Years Old

Georgi Enchev

First Place

Georgi began his musical adventure two years ago, almost as a joke—but it quickly turned into a true passion. With growing dedication and love for the piano, the instrument has become a close companion. Georgi dreams of playing so expressively that he can share the emotions and excitement he feels through music.

Daryna Pozdniakova

Second Place

Daryna is a 7-year-old pianist who began her musical journey just five months ago. Full of curiosity and enthusiasm, she enjoys exploring melodies and expressing herself through her favorite songs. With each lesson, Daryna grows more confident and creative at the keyboard, and she’s excited to continue learning and sharing her love of music with others.

Anastasia Bouza

Third Place

Anastasia finds joy and comfort in music—it’s her happy place. She began vocal and piano lessons less than a year ago and has already shown great enthusiasm and determination. With each practice session, Anastasia hopes to grow stronger in her skills and looks forward to all the progress that lies ahead.

8-9 Years Old

Aida Savova

First Place

Aida is an 8-year-old pianist with a natural talent and a love for music that shines through in every performance. She is known for her expressive playing and attention to detail. Aida approaches each piece with focus and joy, and her musicality continues to grow with every note she plays. She’s excited to keep challenging herself and sharing her beautiful music with others.

Murphy Wang

Second Place

Murphy started learning piano at age 6 and is now 8. She’s picked up basic music reading and can play simple pieces with both hands. With a cheerful attitude and plenty of enthusiasm, Murphy enjoys practicing and discovering new things on the piano every day.

Yulia Tsenkova

Third Place

Yulia is a 9-year-old pianist who has been taking lessons for two years. She enjoys participating in concerts organized by her teachers and loves practicing well-known pieces that her parents also enjoy. Yulia’s passion for music shines through in her dedication and joyful playing.

Kaia Cruz

Honorable Mention

Kaia has been studying piano for one year. She enjoys learning new pieces and improving her skills. Kaia looks forward to growing as a musician and sharing her love of music with others.

10 Years Old

Karina Petrova

First Place

Karina is a 10-year-old pianist with four years of experience studying at Stefanov Music House in Sofia, Bulgaria. Her strong foundation and dedication to music have helped her grow into a confident and expressive young performer. Karina enjoys exploring new repertoire and continues to develop her skills with passion and focus.

Arshawn Amirtabar

Second Place

Arshawn began piano at age 6 and is excited to join his third competition. He also plays flute in his school band and leads over 100 fourth graders as student band rep.

Outside music, he enjoys soccer, basketball, reading, and video games.

Talya Zayshlyy

Third Place

Talya loves playing piano and especially enjoys performing for her relatives during holiday gatherings. She received an award for her performance at a school talent show and attends piano lessons with great enthusiasm. Talya’s love for music continues to grow, and she also enjoys writing her own pieces, showcasing both her creativity and talent.

Sophia Madche

Honorable Mention

Sophia is a 10-year-old pianist who began her musical journey just six months ago. With a bright spirit and a love for learning, she has quickly made progress and enjoys discovering new pieces each week. Sophia brings enthusiasm to every lesson and is excited to continue growing as a young musician.

11 Years Old

Skylar Yoo

First Place

Skylar is an 11-year-old pianist who has been learning piano since he was six. In addition to piano, he has been exploring percussion for the past two years, showing a growing passion for rhythm and music. Skylar enjoys developing his skills on both instruments and looks forward to continuing his musical journey.

Mariam Todorova

Second Place

Mariam is a dedicated young pianist with an impressive record of achievements since 2022. She has earned 4 first-place awards, 10 second-place, and 7 third-place prizes, along with a consolation prize, a Golden Debut award, an honorable mention, and a laureate title. Mariam was also honored with the prestigious "Shining Star" trophy for receiving the highest score in a competition. Her commitment to excellence and passion for piano continue to inspire her musical journey.

Sophia Malinkin

Third Place

Sophia is an 11-year-old budding pianist who began her musical journey just over eight months ago. With a natural love for music, she approaches each lesson with enthusiasm and curiosity, quickly developing her skills and appreciation for the art. In addition to piano, Sophia is also learning violin, plays in her school orchestra, and enjoys dancing—making her a well-rounded and passionate young performer.

Adele Bokach

Honorable Mention

Adele is an 11-year-old pianist and a dedicated competitive swimmer. Balancing both music and sports, she brings focus and determination to everything she does. Music makes her happy and gives her a way to express herself creatively. Adele dreams of composing her own music one day and is excited to continue growing as a young musician.

12-13 Years Old

Darina Papazova

First Place

Darina is a 13-year-old pianist from Sofia, Bulgaria, who began playing piano six years ago. She has developed a well-rounded repertoire spanning different musical eras and has participated in numerous concerts, gaining valuable performance experience.

Isabella Valdez

Second Place

Isabella is a 12-year-old pianist born with a deep passion for music. Inspired especially by Beethoven’s masterpieces, she finds joy in expressing herself and connecting with others through her playing. Whether performing classical pieces or exploring new compositions, music is a meaningful and vital part of Isabella’s life.

Eric Hoxha

Third Place

Eric is a 12-year-old pianist who has been learning piano for six years. He loves the challenge of mastering new techniques and learning new pieces. His enthusiasm and dedication make every lesson an exciting step forward in his musical journey.

14 Years Old

Shraddha Parhy

First Place

Shraddha is a 14-year-old pianist who has been playing for four years. She has loved music from an early age, whether listening to her favorite songs or playing piano herself. What began as playing tunes she enjoyed has grown into a meaningful way to clear her mind and express herself. Music holds a special place in Shraddha’s life, and she hopes to continue playing and growing as a musician for years to come.

Emily Clark

Second Place

Emily is a 14-year-old beginner pianist in her first year of playing. She is excited to explore and get familiar with the world of classical music as she embarks on her musical journey.

Diya Mahesh

Third Place (Tie)

Diya is a 14-year-old pianist who began playing just four months ago. She is eager to learn and grow by competing and exploring new pieces, embracing every opportunity to develop her skills and passion for music.

Jonathan Su

Third Place (Tie)

Jonathan Su (Rixiun), 14, began exploring music by creating battle sounds on the keyboard. Inspired by a beginner’s book, he started formal lessons three years ago and has since studied mostly independently. He enjoys classical and romantic music, especially Beethoven, and is excited for his first competition.

15-16 Years Old

Boryana Papazova

First Place

Boryana is a 16-year-old pianist who started playing nonprofessionally seven years ago. She has developed a well-rounded repertoire spanning various musical eras and has performed in numerous concerts, gaining valuable experience and confidence as a young musician.

Radoslav Stefanov

Second Place

Radoslav is a 15-year-old from Sofia, Bulgaria, who began his artistic journey at age 8 as a student at Stefanov Music House. A dedicated hobby artist, he has developed his skills and passion through years of study and creative exploration.

Maya Varghese

Third Place (Tie)

Maya, 15, is a high school freshman who began piano at age 7 and returned to it nine months ago. She’s passionate about vocal music and has performed in school choirs and the Washington State Honor Choir in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Creative and well-rounded, Maya also enjoys drawing, reading, and playing tennis.

Claira Hopper

Third Place (Tie)

Claira is a 16-year-old pianist who began taking lessons four months ago. She is currently following the ABRSM curriculum and is excited to develop her skills and knowledge as she embarks on her musical journey.

18 and up

Ying Lou

First Place

Ying began learning piano as a young child in China, where she was trained in classical music. Deeply inspired by the emotional depth and technical beauty of composers like Chopin, she built a strong musical foundation early on. Recently, Ying has returned to formal lessons with renewed passion and has started exploring jazz, embracing its spontaneity and richness. Balancing classical precision with jazz freedom, she enjoys the variety both styles offer and looks forward to continuing her growth as a versatile pianist.

Victoria Murphy

Second Place

Victoria Murphy began her piano journey in January of 2025. Originally from Bellevue, Washington, she has found great joy and fulfillment in learning to play the piano. Though still in the early stages of her musical development, Victoria is excited to continue exploring music with enthusiasm and dedication.

Willow Wiley

Third Place

Willow is an 18-year-old pianist who has been playing and learning for around six years. She mainly plays for fun and enjoys exploring music theory as well as performing a wide variety of songs. Her love for music keeps growing as she continues to discover new pieces and styles.

Cello & Vocals

Anastasia Bouza

First Place (Age 7) Vocals

Leilani Tan

First Place (Age 16) Vocals

Leilani is a 16-year-old vocalist who has been singing all her life and developing her talent for over eight years. She is currently exploring musical theatre both at school and with community companies. Leilani also enjoys songwriting, often accompanied by her guitar or piano. Her love for reading and writing fuels her creativity, and she hopes to soon perform her music at small venues.

Konstantin Velkovski

First Place (Cello)

Konstantin is a 10-year-old cellist from Sofia, Bulgaria, studying for three years at the National Music School Lyubomir Pipkov under the guidance of Miss Teodora Atanasova. He is dedicated to developing his skills and enjoys exploring the rich sound of the cello as he grows as a young musician.

Ukrainian Performers (Piano)

The following participants are from Ukraine and are part of a separate category reserved exclusively for Ukrainian performers. This special category was created to show our support for these young musicians, who continue to pursue their art despite the unimaginable challenges brought on by the ongoing war in their country. As a gesture of solidarity, proceeds from this competition will go toward helping these students with their music-related needs, ensuring they have the resources to continue their musical education during these incredibly difficult times.

Darya Ohrimova

First Place (11 Years Old)

Darya is an 11-year-old pianist from Ukraine who has been playing for four years. Despite the challenges of growing up in a war-torn country, her dedication to music remains strong. Piano has been a source of strength and hope for Darya, inspiring her to keep learning and expressing herself through her playing.

Yana Snitsaruk

First Place (12 Years Old)

Yana is a 12-year-old pianist from Tulchyn, Ukraine, who has been playing for three years. She is currently studying at the 1st basic sublevel of her local music school. Yana is dedicated to developing her skills and passionate about her musical journey.

Yana Kovinko

First Place (14 Years Old)

Yana is a 14-year-old pianist who has been studying at a music school for six years. She has actively participated in competitions and achieved notable success, including 2nd place in the solo performer category at an international competition in 2021. Yana continues to develop her skills and pursue her passion for piano.

Ukrainian Performers (Domra)

Konstantin Obyhod

First Place (Age 10)

Kostya is a 10-year-old musician who has been studying the domra for three years. He is a student at the Tulchin Children's Music School and a winner of several All-Ukrainian competitions. Kostya’s dedication and talent continue to shine as he grows in his musical journey.

Anna Kovalchuk

First Place (Age 15)

Anna is a 15-year-old domra player and a student at the Tulchin Children's Music School. She is a winner of several All-Ukrainian competitions and continues to develop her skills with dedication and passion for music.