THE WINNERS OF 2025 COMPETITION

Ching-yu Tseng, cellist, was born in Taoyuan, Taiwan, and began his cello studies at the age of nine in the Music Program of Hsin-Shih Elementary School under the guidance of Professors Ching-chung Chen and I-chun Lin. His formative training continued through his middle and high school years with Professors Ying-chi Tang, Dr. Meng-feng Hsieh, and Dr. Hung-lin Lin. In 2020, he was admitted to the High School Division of the National Tainan University of the Arts, where he studied with Professors Li-mu Ya and Reiner Ginzel.

Ching-yu Tseng is currently pursuing his undergraduate studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where he studies with Professor Yeesun Kim.

Ching-yu Tseng has appeared extensively as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician throughout Taiwan. His solo performances include appearances at Zhongli Arts Hall (2018), Shin Kong Concerto Hall (2020), and Weiwuying National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (2023). He has given recitals at major venues such as the Siegfried Art Center (2019), Elite Performance Hall (2020, 2022, 2023), and the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall (2021). His chamber music collaborations have been presented at Chinese Culture University, National Chiayi University, and the Weiwuying National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts.

Ching-yu Tseng has distinguished himself in numerous competitions and festivals. He was awarded Third Prize at the 28th Japan National Classical Music Competition in Tokyo (2018), Second Prize at the National Student Music Competition in Taiwan (2019), and First Prize at the Tainan City Student Music Competition (2021). In 2020, he was a qualified participant in the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians. Most recently, he was named the Grand Prize winner of the 2025 American Soloist International Music Competition. He has participated in prestigious training programs such as the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra’s International Music Talents Training Program and served as a trainee under the Ministry of Culture from 2020 to 2023. In 2024, he was selected to attend the Heifetz International Music Institute, and in 2025, he was named a member of the New England Conservatory’s Chamber Music Honors Ensemble.

Ching-yu Tseng was admitted to several of the world’s leading conservatories, including the New England Conservatory of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music.

William Yeh (15), born in London, studies with Professor Naoko Tanaka at Juilliard Pre-College. William has been a full-scholarship recipient of the Aspen Music Festival and School since 2022 (three years in a row) and will be returning to Aspen for his fourth summer in 2025. William has won first prizes in numerous international competitions, including Camerata Artists International Competition (The Grand Prize), Adelphi Concerto Competition, New York Chamber Players Concerto Competition, NOMEA International Violin Competition (Italy), and EUROASIA International Violin Competition (Japan). In 2022, William had an honor to play with internationally renowned violinist Svetlana Makarova and the Accademia d’Archi Arrigoni orchestra in Italy, followed by his remarkable performance at the Aspen Institute’s 38th Annual Awards Dinner in NYC. In 2023, William astounded audience with his Paganini Violin Concerto and Wieniawski Violin Concerto with the New York Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and the New York Chamber Players Orchestra in New York. In 2024, William mesmerized full-house Merkin Hall audience with his Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the Camerata Orchestra, followed by a full-house performance of Wieniawski's Faust Fantasy with the London City Philharmonic Orchestra in London. William also enjoys playing chess, badminton, and competing in track & field meets at stadiums in New York.