2025 Preliminary Round — Boston Regional, MA

Date: May 17th, 2025

Location: Steinway & Sons

1069 Washington St, Newton, MA 02465

Application Fee: $150

Important Date:

  • April 1, 2025 - Applications Submission Deadline (Early Bird)

  • May 1, 2025 - Applications Submission Deadline

  • May 17, 2025 - Boston Regional Competition

  • May 17, 2025 - Finalists announced

  • August 6, 2025 - Final Round Competition (San Francisco)

  • August 7, 2025 - Awards Ceremony 

Meet the Boston Jury

Get to know the distinguished members of our jury, each bringing a unique perspective and wealth of experience to this year’s competition.

  • Jia Shi, pianist, embarked on a teaching career in the Boston region and was born into a musical family in Guangzhou, China. Strongly influenced by her grandfather, Mingxin Shi, a renowned conductor, her talent was evident at an early age. She received her initial piano instruction from her grandfather, laying the foundation for her success.

    Ms. Shi’s many competition awards include the Sendai Piano Competition in Japan, the Kaiserburg Competition in China, the Horowitz Piano Competition in Kiev, Ukraine, and in 2005, First Prize and Best Performance at the National Haiziman Piano Competition in China. She received scholarships for both her undergraduate and graduate studies, earning Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing under the guidance of the world-renowned professor Zhihong Guo. She furthered her studies with international soloist Alexander Korsantia at the New England Conservatory, where she earned a second Master’s Degree in Piano Performance. During her time at NEC, Ms. Shi also taught non-piano graduate students.

    Ms. Shi has performed across the United States, Europe, and China, with highlights including Jordan Hall, Tanglewood Music Theater in Massachusetts; Steinway Hall in New York; Basilica di San Pietro and Sala Dei Notari in Perugia, Italy; Centro Municipal Integrado de Pumarín Gijón Sur in Spain; and Beijing Concert Hall and Xinghai Concert Hall in China.

    In addition to performing, Ms. Shi is passionate about teaching students of all ages and levels, many of whom have gone on to study at leading music conservatories. Her students have earned numerous notable prizes, including the PianoTexas Festival Competition, International Chopin Competition in Hartford, Baystate Competition, and the Chopin Competition for Youth in Szafarnia, Poland.

    Ms. Shi is the Artistic Director of the New England Music Festival in Boston and has successfully organized international piano programs with Boston University at Tanglewood in 2016. She serves as the Chairperson of the Hamlet Davidson Piano Competition, the Music Teachers National Association (Massachusetts). In 2018, Ms. Shi was invited to join the Artist Faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory Music Piano Festival.

    Ms. Shi also integrates her passion for collaboration by participating in the Boston Modern Orchestra Project and adjudicating prestigious piano competitions in both the U.S. and China.

  • Hailed for her “electrifying performance” by music reviewers in Thailand and “melting performance of Brahms Op. 118” by the Boston Globe, Han Nah Son is a pianist of virtuosity and artistic sensitivity. The Chiang Mai Music Post remarked, “Her melodies

    were made to sparkle like diamonds.” Having performed across the world, Han Nah Son is widely recognized as a captivating and inspiring musician. Han Nah has performed at municipal concerts in Russia, Germany, Italy, France, Thailand and USA. She appeared as a guest pianist for National Public Radio WBUR On Point, soloist with Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra and pianist in Boston University Symphony Orchestra’s performance at Boston Symphony Hall. 

    Han Nah Son was born in South Korea and obtained her early music education from the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St Petersburg, Russia. She then went onto the Freiburg Musikhochschule and Hannover Musikhochschule in Germany for her Bachelor's degree and then a Master's degree from Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand. Han Nah Son completed her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from Boston University. Her musical awards include 1st prize of Young Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Russia, 1st prize of Ingrid Martin Foerder Foundation in Germany, 2nd prize of Richmond Piano Competition in USA, 3rd prize at the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition in Italy, special prize in the Rotary-Rotaract International Piano Competition in Spain, 1st Gold Prize at the ASEAN International Chopin Piano competition in Malaysia, 2nd  place at Costa Rica Piano Competition, 1st prize at the Thailand Beethoven Piano Competition and many others. Han Nah has studied with world class pianists and pedagogues. Her music mentors include pianist Vladimir Krajnev, Vitaly Berzon, Vitaly Margulis, Anthony di Bonaventura, Boaz Sharon, Galina Fyodorova, Vladimir Souslov, and Olga Terentyeva.

    Han Nah Son is determined to help and mentor young musicians in order to pursue their educational and professional dreams and holds a strong piano studio with many talented students. She has given piano masterclasses at Tanglewood Institute of Boston University, as well as at Chiang Mai Music Festival in Thailand. She served as a piano faculty at St. Joseph’s University and Montgomery County Community College in Pennsylvania.  Han Nah has also taught at the College of Fine Arts, Boston University and at Mahidol University College of Music in Thailand. Han Nah’s students have won numerous national and international competitions, including the Crescendo Piano Competition and the Distinction Award (ABRSM), earning them opportunities to perform at prestigious locations such as Carnegie Hall in New York City. Currently, Han Nah is a piano professor at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston. She resides in Needham, MA with her family and actively performs as a soloist and as a chamber musician.