Texas State International Piano Festival

06/21/2026

Dear TSIPF Nation,

I hope everyone has arrived safely at their next destination after our magical time together. We will be sharing many videos from the 16th TSIPF here so please stay tuned.

I do want to share this one video now. This was a little fun game the faculty had in place at our annual faculty Q/A forum. Before the session, I presented the faculty with six random (I mean RANDOM) words and challenged them to use one or two words in their answers. But then lightning struck, Dr. Sanchez managed to sneak in all six words in one answer. We are fortunate to capture this on video. Please enjoy, especially the reaction of Dr. Kesuma (who immediately caught on) and the reactions of Drs. Guzman, Elisi, and Choi, who all eventually caught on.

Miss you all already!

Lightning struck at the 16th TSIPF Faculty Q/A forum as we got the ...

06/15/2026

Dear TSIPF Nation,

I hope everyone has made it safely to your next destination. This is the official report to what we know was the best, smoothest, and most successful TSIPF in our history. Our entire team is very proud of everything that was accomplished in the past 8 days. We will be posting many memories through various platforms in the coming months. Please stay tuned.

In the opening address, I mentioned to everyone that you do not have any strangers at TSIPF. Instead, you have a bunch of friends that you have not met yet. This statement was especially true this year. By the end, we were a giant family who all shared the mission of making the world piano community better. For making everything happen, I would like to give my most sincere thanks to our incredible TSIPF team, including Associate Director Paul Sánchez, Program Director SungEun Park, Marketing Director Martin Kesuma, Head Counselor Mandy Faccenda, Counselors Sarah Bryan, Miles Love, JJ Miller, Cindy Tannos, Volunteers Walt Pilcher, Wendy Pilcher, Ezra Bartz, Performing Arts Center staff Candice Mongellow, Eaton Sailor, and Azariah Reese, and several other people who made everything happen. Furthermore, we are extremely lucky that TSIPF is strongly supported by our most incredible Dean John Fleming. Together, we were all able to provide an experience that will last a lifetime. Thank you everyone! Very soon, we will celebrate everything properly.

I would like to specially point out two people on our team. Throughout the festival, the most consistent compliment we heard was our organization and our efficiency. This is because of two of our stellar leaders, Dr. SungEun Park and Ms. Mandy Faccenda. We have the two best in the world of piano festivals, and in my opinion, this is not debatable. Thank you Dr. Park and Ms. Faccenda for making us stand out amongst everyone.

The immediate appeal to any festival is the faculty line-up. Once again, our faculty line-up is unparalleled. Furthermore, our faculty truly provided their very best to make everyone's experience unforgettable. I would like to provide my most sincere gratitude to my esteemed colleagues Professors Michelle Cann, So Yong Choi, Enrico Elisi, Washington Garcia, Sophia Gilmson, Christopher Guzman, Marina Lomazov, Spencer Myer, Joseph Rackers, Boris Slutsky, Hyeyoung Song, and Steven Spooner. Moreover, I would like to thank our Rising Faculty Stars Nick Zehao Bai and Coco Ke'er Wang. Together, Together, we all shared the same mission of making the piano world improve in every way.

As always, the heartbeat of every festival are the students. This year, we hosted our biggest group of students and auditors ever. Everyone was simply incredible in every way. Thank you all, you all made the 16th TSIPF extremely special.

With all of this in mind, please allow me to announce the various winners of the 16th Texas State International Piano Festival:

1st Steve Kahng Piano Competition

Winner: CHONGLIN XU
For winning the competition, Chonglin will receive a professional recording session for a full CD. Moreover, the CD will be released on a major label. Finally, Chonglin will also receive a professional, multi-camera video of two or three of his performances.

Runner-up/Second Place: MATTHEW FIGEL
Matthew will fill in for the winner should the winner not be available.

Betty Dickinson Award: VANESSA YU
Vanessa will receive a full tuition scholarship to the 17th Texas State International Piano Festival. Furthermore, Vanessa will be invited back to Central Texas in the upcoming year to provide a full recital with all expenses paid.

Patrick W. Price Award: ELIJAH ORLENKO
Elijah will receive a full tuition scholarship to the 17th Texas State International Piano Festival.

Good Citizen Award: BELLA BERMAN AND MEINING WU
Bella and Meining will receive automatic admission to the 17th Texas State International Piano Festival.

Thank you all once again. We have made so many special memories this summer. Our TSIPF family has grown so much, we look forward to following each of your careers. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your musical journey.

With love, gratitude, and admiration,
Jason Kwak
TSIPF Director

06/14/2026

Dear TSIPF Nation,

After the finale concert tonight, we officially closed the 16th Texas State International Piano Festival. Like every year, I am currently lost with what I should be feeling. We've enjoyed the most intense, busy, inspiring week ever but like every year, the end feels sudden and the sad feeling is extremely overwhelming. As I reflect hours after the close, I am finding some clarity on what we just accomplished.

Like every year, after a good amount of sleep, I will provide a full recap. Right now, I would like to provide an initial reaction for the 16th TSIPF.

My first thought is TSIPF's sense of community is bigger than ever, much bigger than we ever imagined. I've always known this but this year's edition absolutely confirmed it.I'm very thankful.

Second, TSIPF's leadership is way, way bigger than one person. This year especially, I am grateful that many of the leaders of TSIPF received credit, praise, and gratitude from many people, especially from our artist faculty. No one can do a project of this magnitude alone, and I am thrilled to see the shared praise unfold.

Finally, we are especially inspired to take this to the next level. The compliments we've received from many often include two words: Special and Unique. We take these compliments to heart and will work hard to reach the next level. We are unique and we are special. We will continue to prove that.

Tomorrow (or later today) our wonderful participants of the 16th TSIPF will head towards their next destination. It has been a pleasure of a lifetime to be part of your musical journey. Please stay in touch everyone and see you very soon!

Jason Kwak

06/13/2026

Dear TSIPF Nation,
I cannot believe we are at the final day! We are already extremely sad that the end is near. However, like every year, we will end this year's festival with a bang.

Please join us as we present our finale concert featuring our 16th TSIPF Concerto Competition winners, tonight at 7PM.

06/11/2026

We are so exited to welcome back Professor Spencer Myer as we look forward to his colorful performance of the Debussy Préludes. If you are in the area, please join us!

06/11/2026

Dear TSIPF Nation,

On Wednesday, the 16th TSIPF, after a long day, enjoyed a nice break with some Texas BBQ and a pool party. We are now rejuvenated for the final push to the end. Let's have a great finish everyone!