Since 1958, the International Tchaikovsky Competition has been one of the grandest classical music competitions in the world. After more than 60 years, the brass category has been added to the competition. This year’s field certainly has not disappointed as the first round started with 46 contestants which then widdled down to 16 for the second round. Before the final round takes place on Thursday, June 27th, let’s take a more in-depth look at each of the remaining nine contestants.

 French Horn

Yun Zeng, China

From Chengdu, Sichuan, China, Yun Zeng has been on the competition circuit since 2012. Only 19 years old, Yun has already won prizes at the Jeju International Brass Competition, the International Competition for Young Musicians in Vladivostok, Russia, and the International Horn Competition of America. Yun first began studies on the horn with his father and then begin studies at Middle School of the Central Conservatory of Music. His teachers include Kerry Turner, Frank Lloyd, and Andre Cazalet.

Hae-Ree Yoo, The Republic of Korea

From Seoul, Korea, Hae-Ree Yoo is a 23-year-old master’s student of Christian-Friedrich Dallmann at the University of Arts Berlin. A graduate of Yonsei University, Hae-Roo has been a prize winner at competitions such as International Joseph Haydn Competition, Seoul National University Competition, Dong-a Music Competition, and the Music Association of Korea Competition.

Felix Camille Jean Dervaux, France

At age 29, Felix Dervaux has already attained many accomplishments in the classical music world. A student from Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon and the Berlin University of the Arts, Felix attended the Karajan Academy, the training school of the Berlin Philharmonic. After spending one year with the National Opera House in Lyon in France, Felix became the Principal Horn of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Eventually, Felix resigned from the Concertgebouw to pursue a solo career.

Trombone

Aleksey Lobikov, Russia

Since 2012, Aleksey Lobikov has been a solo member of the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra and teaches at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. A graduate of the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory, Aleksey has been a prize winner at the  Mravinsky International Competition, the Rimsky-Korsakov International Competition, and the Lion’s Club International Trombone Competition.

Peter Steiner, Italy

From Bolzano, Italy, Peter Steiner has quickly made a name for himself in the international brass community. A student at the Music Conservatory in Bolzano, Mozarteum of Salzburg, and the Juilliard School, Peter has held positions with the Vienna State Opera/Vienna Philharmonic and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. In addition to being a soloist, he has performed with the Munich Philharmonic, Staatskapelle Dresden, New York Philharmonic, and Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Trumpet

Zhasulan Abdykalykov, Kazakhstan

Originally from Astana, Kazakhstan, Zhasulan received his tutelage at the Kazakh National Academy of Music, the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory, and the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg. Zhasulan has been a recipient of prizes at the International Youth Competition for Winds and Percussion, the International Moscow Conservatory Competition for Winds and Percussion, and the Shabyt International Competition for Creative Youth.

Ansel Owen Norris, USA

A graduate of Northwestern University, Ansel Norris is the current Assistant Principal/Second Trumpet of the Naples (FL) Philharmonic. His teachers include John Aley, Charles Geyer, Thomas Rolfs, and Christopher Martin. As a soloist and chamber musician, Ansel has been a prize winner at the National Trumpet Competition and the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition.

Tuba

Henrique dos Santos Costav, Portugal

Only 26 years old, Henrique has studied at the Academia Nacional Superior de Orquestra da Metropolitana and the Zurich Hochschule der Künste. Inspired by Ricardo Carvalhoso and Daniel Perantoni, Henrique teachers include Adélio Carneiro and Anne Jelle Visser. As a soloist, he has been a prize winner at International Solo Competitions in Markneukirchen, Germany and in Pordenone, Italy.

Fedor Shagov, Russia

A prize winner since 2010, Fedor has received awards at the Tuba Competition in Brno, Czech Republic, Citta di Treviso International Competition in Italy, the International Competition in Chambray-les-Tours in France, the Michal Spisak International Music Competition in Poland, and many more. A member of the State Symphony Capella of Russia, Fedor teaches at the Chopin Moscow State College of Music and is a Buffet Crampon and B&S artist.

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