Jury 2025.
Members of the International Jury
Prof. Dr. Choi Insu
Pianist, University Professor
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Born in Tokyo in 1961
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Began his musical studies in Japan, then continued at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest
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Graduated as a concert pianist in 1987, studying with Ernő Szegedi, Péter Solymos, Imre Rohmann, and Ferenc Rados
🏆 Professional Awards and Honors
1987 – 1st Prize, Ernő Dohnányi Piano Competition
1993 – Rector's Commendation, Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music
2001 – Széchenyi István University Award
2008 – Special Prize of the Modern Music journal (Tokyo)
2013 – Doctor of Liberal Arts (DLA) degree
2018 – Special Teacher's Award, 16th National Piano Competition
2022 – Habilitation, Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music
2024 – Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary
🎓 Academic Career
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Since 1987, faculty member at the Faculty of Arts, Széchenyi István University (Győr, Hungary)
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Currently Professor of Piano and Chamber Music
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His students have achieved outstanding results in numerous national and international competitions
🎶 Artistic Activity
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Performed as a soloist and chamber musician:
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In Hungary's leading concert halls
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On television and radio broadcasts
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In Japan and France
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As a soloist with orchestras, he has collaborated with:
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Danube Symphony Orchestra
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Győr Philharmonic Orchestra
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Tokyo Strings
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Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
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Regularly holds masterclasses and serves as a jury member at national and regional piano competitions
🌟 Prof. Dr. Choi Insu's artistic and pedagogical work builds a bridge between the musical worlds of East and West, representing outstanding value in both Hungarian and international musical life.
Eszter Horgas
Internationally Renowned Flutist
🏆 Career and Achievements
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Released 30 CD albums, 3 DVDs, authored 1 book, and appeared in 6 live television broadcasts
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Awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Budapest
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Recipient of the Artisjus Award
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Decorated with the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary
🎵 Artistic Collaborations
Throughout her distinguished career, Eszter Horgas has performed with world-famous artists such as:
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Zoltán Kocsis
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János Rolla
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Al Di Meola
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Natalie Cole
Her collaboration album with Al Di Meola reached platinum status in just two weeks.
🎓 Teaching and Artistic Leadership
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Professor at the Leó Weiner Conservatory
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Her students achieve significant success worldwide
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For the past 15 years, she has served as the Artistic Director of the "Partitúra" Interdisciplinary Course
🌟 Eszter Horgas's artistry and vision leave a lasting mark not only on the concert stage but also in shaping future generations of musicians.
Silvia Colombini
Internationally Renowned Soprano
Soprano | Vocal Expert & Coach of ARS Singing Method | Artistic Consultant
🎶 Renowned Soprano
Silvia Colombini has performed on some of the world's most prestigious stages, including the Semperoper Dresden, Staatsoper Berlin, Salzburg Festival, Opera di Roma, La Monnaie Brussels, Teatro Regio di Torino, Fondazione Arena di Verona, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Teatro Massimo Palermo, Bunka Kaikan Tokyo and the Shanghai Concert Hall.
🏆 Acclaimed Artist
Winner of three international competitions, she is especially celebrated for her interpretations of Mozart's and Bellini's soprano roles, embodying both lyric and light-coloratura brilliance. She has also recorded for Decca Records and has appeared before two Presidents of the Italian Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi and Sergio Mattarella.
🌍 Global Presence
Gifted with the ability to sing in 14 languages, Silvia has become a true cultural ambassador of Italian opera.
🎤 Vocal Expert
She is the creator and teacher of the ARS Singing Method (Arte della Resistenza Superata – Art of Overcoming Resistance), an innovative approach that enables singers to overcome vocal challenges effortlessly. Since 2000, her method has been followed by singers worldwide, and it is internationally recognized through the Alloro Project, a music education collaboration between Italy and China.
🎓 Mentor & Jury Member
Silvia is regularly invited as juror and jury president at leading international singing competitions, where she evaluates hundreds of singers annually. She has served as artistic coordinator and jury president of the international competition Vincerò, the first Italian contest with worldwide selections and a final jury composed of representatives from Teatro alla Scala, Covent Garden, Paris National Opera, Semperoper Dresden, Bolshoi and the Metropolitan Opera.
🌟 Artistic Consultant & Teacher
Currently, she teaches opera singing at the Accademia Musicale di Brera in Milan, works as an artistic consultant for the Mozart Italia Association (Finale Ligure branch, twinned with the Mozarteum), collaborates with the Armonie d'Arte Festival, and advises several European and Chinese music agencies.
Giovanni Nesi
Internationally renowned pianist
Born in Florence in 1986, Giovanni Nesi is celebrated as one of the most fascinating pianists of his generation. He has appeared at Italy's leading festivals – Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Ravello Festival, Festival dei Due Mondi di Spoleto – and on prestigious international stages including the Salzburg Mozarteum, St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London, Yamaha Concert Hall in Vienna, BBC Concert Orchestra, Solis Theatre in Montevideo and many more across Europe and the Americas.
🎶 His artistry is closely associated with the music of Domenico Zipoli. Nesi was the first to perform and record the complete Suites and Partitas on modern piano, earning enthusiastic critical acclaim and the "Clef du Mois" award from ResMusica in France. His discography with Heritage and Tactus includes highly praised recordings of Bach (left-hand works), Mario Pilati, and Chopin, Scriabin and Debussy preludes.
🏆 Honored with major awards such as the William Walton Award and the Rudolf Serkin Prize, Nesi is equally devoted to teaching. He is Professor of Piano at the P. Mascagni Conservatory in Livorno and at the G. Verdi Music School in Prato, and regularly gives international masterclasses.
✨ Admired for the intensity and originality of his interpretations, his playing has been described by La Repubblica as "the intensity of a piano gesture that aspires to singing… arousing intellectual pleasure and admiration at the same time."
Jury
Our music competition jury is not only internationally recognized but also composed of members who approach each contestant's work with deep passion and dedication to music. Each juror brings their own artistic journey, experience, knowledge, and open-mindedness to provide every participant with support, encouragement, and valuable feedback.
We are proud that inspiring personalities contribute to our competition's evaluation—individuals who appreciate not only professional excellence but also the performer's unique individuality and commitment to the art. For our jury members, the growth and success of every participant are equally important, and we strive to create a welcoming and memorable atmosphere for all.