Pre-Selection Jury
Semi-Finals Jury – Category D (Friday, 27 March 2026)
- Gaia Federica Caporiccio
- Giuliano Adorno
- István I. Székely
- Helena Ha-Young Sul
- Tania Kozlova
- Danijel Gašparović
Semi-Finals Jury – Categories A, B, C (Saturday, 28 March 2026)
Finals Jury (Sunday, 29 March 2026)
Meet the Jury
Denise Lutgens, The Netherlands Pianist, Teacher at Globe CKC and Holland International Piano School, Artistic Director for Globe International Piano Competition.
Denise Lutgens was born in The Netherlands. From an early age it was clear that her passion was music and her love for the piano started at auctions where she went with her father as a toddler and preschooler.
She started her piano lessons with Marianne Maessen at the music school in Venlo. It soon became apparent that she was making great progress and at the age of 8 she was admitted to the Young Talent Class of the conservatory in Amsterdam. In 2000 she continued her young talent training with Ton Demmers at the Conservatory in Tilburg. In 2002 she continued her piano studies at the Anton Rubinstein Akademie with Alla Blatow. Here she became acquainted with Prof. Vladimir Krainev who immediately invited Denise to continue her studies with him in Hanover at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater. She studied here from 2002 - 2008.
In June 2008, Denise passed her grammar school exams at the St. Willibrord Gymnasium in Deurne and then continued her studies at the Royal College of Music in London. Denise was the first Dutch pianist to be admitted to this prestigious training. In 2009 she obtained her Propedeuse of Music at the Royal College of Music. She continued then her studies in The Hague, where she also graduated with Prof. Naum Grubert at the Royal Conservatoire.
During her studies, her love for teaching became apparent. During her 1st year in London she started giving general music group lessons to young children and lessons to beginning children. In 2015 she also organized an International Piano Competition for 83 international young talents in The Hague. Denise herself also participated in a number of competitions at a young age, which resulted in a first prize in the Steinway Competition Netherlands, Rotary Competition, Alexander Scriabin Competition Paris and DTKV Wettebewerb, Germany.
In 2009 Denise opened Holland International Piano School together with collegue pianist Dani Luca, which is still running succesfully in The Hague. Since 2018 she is also a teacher at Globe CKC located in Music Centre for the Broadcast Hilversum, The Netherlands.
In the past few years her students won multiple prizes in competitions amongst 1st prizes at Orbetello Piano Competition, Golden Piano Talents, Danubia Talents, Memorijal Jurica Murai, Monegrarte International Piano Competition, Steinway competition and many more. Her students were invited to play on numeral prestigious opportunities amongst Festival Classique in The Hague, a meet / tv appearance with prime minister Mark Rutte, several tv and news papers publications (Telegraaf, Ivo Niehe, Gooi en Eembode, etc).
Now another function is added and she is artistic Director for Globe International Piano Competition in Hilversum, The Netherlands.
Giuliano Adorno, Italy Piano teacher at the “D. Cimarosa” Conservatory in Avellino.
Giuliano Adorno, who graduated in Piano under the guidance of M° Antonio Di Cristofano, specialized in Paris at the Ecole Normale “A. Cortot” and subsequently in Madrid with Maestro Leonel Morales.
He has obtained prizes and awards in over 30 national and international piano competitions: "Accademia delle Muse" in Camaiore; “City of Pietra Ligure”; “Pinerolo city of chivalry”; “F.I.D.A.P.A”, Pisa; "City of Albenga"; “Giulio Rospigliosi”, Lamporecchio (PT), “Terme di Saturnia”, Saturnia; “Uliveto Terme”, Pisa; “Franz Schubert”, Tagliolo Monferrato; “City of Cesenatico”, “City of S.Giuliano Terme”(PI), Mallorca International Music Competition, Mendelssohn Piano Competition (Le), “Anton Garcia Abril” in Teruel, Spain.
He has held concerts for Italian and foreign institutions and has played at the Salle Munch and the Salle Cortot in Paris; Casino di Sanremo, Italy; Piano-Forte Foundation Chicago; Fundacion Manuel da Mota Oporto; Concert Noble and Maison du commune de Anderlecht, Brussels; Sala de Plenos, “Manuel de Falla” Auditorium, Alhambra Castle, Granada; Association of Ars and Music, Valencia; Parador de Xàbia, Alicante; Volkshochschule Reutlingen, Stuttgart; Powsin Festival, Poland; Sinkt Andraa Kirke, Salzburg; Dante Alighieri Society, Bern; Piano Festival of Grosseto, Terme di Saturnia, Theater of Cesenatico, Theater of Marina di Pietrasanta, Mendelssohn Festival (LE), Church of the Ss. Apostoli, Sala Baldini, Domus Talenti, Rome, Sala Monteverdi Cremona, Festival Echos Alessandria, Conservatory Auditorium of Cagliari, European Museum of Modern Art of Barcelona etc.
Among his latest appearances the concert in Chicago for Piano\Forte Foundation, the tour in Japan (Tokyo, Nagoya, Chiba) with a program on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and Japan and the concerts at Lazienki Park in Warsaw for the Chopin Society in 2018 and again in 2023.
His repertoire includes numerous authors, works for piano, chamber music and concerts for piano and orchestra. He has performed Mozart's Concerto K246 with the Sanremo Symphony Orchestra, G. Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue as a soloist with the TBSK Orchestra Tokyo and with the State Police Band directed by M. Maurizio Billi, and has performed as soloist with the Orchestra Città di Grosseto the concert op.18 by Rachmaninov and the concerts op. 15 and op. 58 by Beethoven, in addition to the Concerto n. 1 by Franz Liszt.
Since 2012 he has been the artistic director of the Orbetello Piano Festival and since 2017 he has been the founder and artistic director of the Orbetello International Piano Competition. He recently performed Camille Saint-Saens Concerto No. 2 with the Sanremo Symphony Orchestra. He is frequently invited into jury panels of International piano competitions, and he is the artistic director of Orbetello International Piano Festival and Orbetello International Piano Competition in Italy. He is currently a piano teacher at the “D. Cimarosa” Conservatory in Avellino.
István I. Székely, Hungary / Spain Professor at Katarina Gurska conservatory and Franz Liszt Center, Artistic director of multiple competitions/festivals.
Professor at the Katarina Gurska conservatory in Madrid and Franz Liszt Center for highly gifted pianists in La Nucia (Spain). István is a concert pianist and internationally recognised teacher: he has been invited to give Master Classes in the Bartók Béla Faculty of Arts in Szeged, Ádám Jenő Conservatory in Budapest (Hungary), the Kunstuniversität of Graz, the Gustav Mahler Universität in Klagenfurt (Austria), in Tel Aviv Conservatory, in Jerusalem Hassadna Conservatory, the World Teachers Conference in Novi Sad (Serbia), the Katarina Gurska Conservatory in Madrid, Forum Musikae (Madrid), in the International Piano Festival "UIS" in Bucaramanga, in Manizales (Colombia), Special School of Music in Apatin, Sombor, Senta, Backa Topola (Serbia), Conservatory in Alicante and Dénia, in the International Music Festival in Valencia (Spain) etc.
Mr. Székely is a frequent jury member in international competitions such as the Franz Liszt International Competition in Rome, Acquaviva International Piano Competition, Giulio Rospigliosi Competition (Italy), the Takács International Competition in Oberschützen, The Bartók Béla International Competition of Graz (Austria), the Scherzo International Piano Competition in Tel Aviv, The Stretto International Piano Competition in Tel Aviv, National Competition of Israel in Ashdod, Orbetello International Piano Competition, Bucaramanga International Piano Competition (Colombia), the IMFV Valencia competition, the Ibiza International Competition, the "Villa de Xabia" International Competition, the Alicante International Piano Competition (Spain), The Tartini International Piano Competiton (Slovenia), the Samson Francois International Piano Competition in Canne-S-M (France) etc. Winner of several awards in national and international competitions.
Since the age of 15 he has given recitals in Europe, the United States, South America and Asia. To name a few: Concerts in Russia with the Symphonic Orchestra A. Safonov, Gothenburg Piano Festival Sweden, Subotica Philharmonic Orchestra in Serbia, Piano Festival in Reunión Island, Liszt Institute in Zagreb, Liszt Institute in Ljubljana, Collegium Hungaricum in Belgrade, San Juan and Orihuela Orchestra in Spain, in Alexandria and New Harmony (Indianapolis, USA), the Hungarian Academy in Rome (Italy), in the International Piano Festival in Bucaramanga and International Piano Festival in Barrancabermeja, cycle "International Season in Manizales" in Colombia, "Kolarac" in Belgrade (Serbia), Liszt Center of Zagreb (Croatia), Liszt Institute of Ljubljana (Slovenia), Reunión Island, in the "Kodály" Institute, "Kodály" School, in the "Béla Bartók" Museum, in one of the most important festivals "Zsidó Kulturális Fesztivál" in Szeged (Hungary), recitals in Sweden, Greece, in the festival "Midis-minimes", in "Muziekacademie de Berchem-Sainte-Agathe in Brussels (Belgium) and in Spain in important auditoriums such as the Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid, Palau de la Música in Valencia, Teatro Principal de Alcoy, congress center" Victor Villegas "in Murcia, in the" Adoc", in the University of Burgos, in the International Chamber Music Festival in Calpe, in" Dénia Classics", Aula de la Cam in Alicante, Teulada Auditorium, La Beneficencia in Valencia, in the Auditorio de la Diputación, "ADDA" in Alicante, Auditorium Mediterrania in La Nucia among others. He has performed in private concert for the Princess of Thailand S.A.R. Chulabhorn Mahidol.
His mentors were Aleksandar Madzar, Daniel Blumenthal, Orsolya Szabó, Benjamin Oren, Michael Boguslavski, Mátyás Molcer, Valéria Utasi, Milica Dundjerov at the Brussels Royal Conservatory, Jerusalem Rubin Academy, Kodály Institute of Kecskemét, Conservatory of Subotica and Music School in Sombor. Through his professors he has not only inherited the finest Russian school, but has a direct musical-pedagogical line to Franz Liszt as well.
In 2017 István I. Székely the recording of several Chopin etudes of exceptional virtuosity for the sounding of the animated short film Impromptu, directed by María Lorenzo and produced by Enrique Millán, with the participation of Cultur Arts (Generalitat Valenciana) and the A Punt Media network. Impromptu has been one of the most relevant Spanish animation shorts of the last year, being shortlisted for the Goya 2018 Awards. It was premiered at the emblematic Alcalá de Henares Film Festival, and so far it has been screened in more than 50 events in 20 countries, such as the Animation Festival of Annecy (France), the Bristol Encounters (United Kingdom), Anima Mundi (Brazil) or the Animation Nights (New York). Prizes won: Best Art Animation at the Expression Art Movie Festival (Los Angeles, USA), Best Short Film (exaequo) at the Animaze Animation International Festival (Montreal, Canada), Best Experimental Animation Short at the International Animation Cardboard Festival La Tribu (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Best Animation Short Film at the Astorga Film Festival (Spain), Best Valencian Animation at the Cortoons (Gandía).
Mr. Székely is the Founder and the Artistic director of the Franz Liszt Center Piano Competition, the Great Piano Masters Competition, the Dénia International Piano Festival, the Alicante International Piano Competition and is the leader of the Sombor Philharmonic.
Gaia Federica Caporiccio, Italy Concert pianist and faculty member at the "G. Puccini" Conservatory in Gallarate, Italy.
Gaia Federica Caporiccio is a concert pianist and faculty member at the "G. Puccini" Conservatory in Gallarate, Italy. She has recorded several albums for the renowned label Brilliant Classics.
Born in Florence in 1988, she graduated with honors from the "Cherubini" Conservatory at the age of 18, simultaneously earning a classical high school diploma. She went on to obtain a Master's degree in Piano Performance with top marks. Her advanced studies include work at the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole with Pietro De Maria, and at the Imola Piano Academy under Vovka Ashkenazy. She also holds a Master in Musical Interpretation - Concert from the Haute École de Musique de Lausanne, where she studied with Jean-François Antonioli.
An avid chamber musician, she has trained with Bruno Canino, Pier Narciso Masi, Antonello Farulli, and Mario Ancillotti, and performed in numerous chamber ensembles ranging from duos to chamber orchestras. Ms. Caporiccio is particularly dedicated to the rediscovery of lesser-known Italian composers. Since 2020, she has been recording the Complete Piano Works of Giovanni Sgambati (4 CDs) for Brilliant Classics. Other notable recordings include Concerto Gregoriano by P.A. Yon with organist Tommaso Mazzoletti, recorded in Lausanne Cathedral.
She has performed as a soloist with the "Mihail Jora" Philharmonic Orchestra of Bacău (Romania), the Collegium Tibertinum Orchestra, the Calabria Youth Orchestra, and the Musici di Parma Orchestra. Her playing has been featured on various international media platforms, including RTS Espace 2 (Switzerland), Vatican Radio, Sky TV, and others.
She has participated in numerous masterclasses with internationally renowned pianists such as Andrzej Jasinski, Natalia Trull, Riccardo Cappelo, Aquiles Delle Vigne, Fabio Bidini, Vincenzo Balzani, Claudio Martínez Mehner, Jeffrey Swann, Andrea Lucchesini, and Piero Rattalino. She is the winner of over 14 first prizes in national and international competitions, and was selected to attend the prestigious Sommerakademie of the Mozarteum in Salzburg.
Alongside her performance career, she is also active as an organizer and artistic director. From 2019 to 2023, she served as president and artistic director of Les Concerts Vaudois in Switzerland. In 2017, she founded the Festival Santa Croce in Florence, successfully directing its first three editions.
A passionate pedagogue, Gaia Caporiccio began teaching at the age of 19 and earned a Master's degree in Music Pedagogy in 2015. From 2021 to 2025, she taught at the Conservatoire de l'Ouest Vaudois in Switzerland. In 2024, she won the national competition for a tenured position at the "G. Puccini" Conservatory in Gallarate, where she currently teaches.
Danijel Gašparović, Croatia Piano professor at the SUDIGO in Zabok, executive and artistic director of Cristoforium.
DANIJEL GAŠPAROVIĆ earned his bachelor's degree and master's degree (piano performance) at the Music Academy of the University of Zagreb. He specialized his skills at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Pécs (Hungary) under guidance of pianist Csaba Kiraly.
He is the winner of state, international and dean prizes, and was a scholar of the City of Zagreb. As a soloist and a chamber musician, he performed at the Les Nuites Pianistiques Festival in Aix—En-Provence, France, Algarve Music Series in Faro, Portugal, Grosseto International Piano Festival in Italy, Osor Musical Evenings, Hvar Summer Festival, Nights in Grich Summer Festival, Vinkovci Autumn Festival, PianoFortissimo Festival, Cristoforium series of concerts on historical instruments in Zagreb, Zagreb Piano Duo Festival, Stančić’s Pleyel Series, the Music Palette series, Nei Suoni dei Luoghi festival in Italy, Musica Maxima festival, May Music Evenings in Šibenik, Papandopuliana festival in Tribunj, Ohrid Summer Festival and Autumn Musical evenings in Macedonia, 32 Beethoven sonatas series, Chopin Piano Fest in Prishtina, concerts in Ljubljana, festivals in Dubrovnik, Losinj Festival and many others.
He has also participated in the organizing of a piano instrument exhibition called the Ten Pianos at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in 2012, performing the works of Schubert and Saint-Saëns as well as in numerous festivals and cultural projects. From 2009 to 2014 he was organizer and leader of the series of concerts of students of the Musical Academy in Zagreb called Virtuoso. He is actively engaged in organizational and productive work, so he collaborated on joint projects with the Concert Hall Vatroslav Lisinski, HRT, the Croatian Society of Musicians, the City of Zagreb, the Austrian Cultural Forum, numerous embassies and other partners.
He collaborated with eminent orchestras and conductors such as the Zagreb Youth Orchestra under the guidance of Zlatan Srzić, Zagreb soloists led by Rober Lehrbaumer and others. He was actively trained at seminars by eminent artists (Peter Eicher, Karl-Heinz Kämmerling, Eugen Indjic, Snežana Anastasova Čadikovska, Boris Romanov, Ruben Dalibaltayan). He participated in numerous television and radio shows. He won the Dean's Prize in 2010, and during his studies he was awarded with the full scholarship from the City of Zagreb.
Danijel Gašparović regularly performs in piano duo Kos-Gašparović and as well as with his father Ljubomir Gašparović in the piano duo Gašparović all over the country and abroad. He won the Best Artistic Collaboration Award at the Darko Lukić Competition in 2016. He is a piano professor at the SUDIGO in Zabok and the executive and artistic director of the Artistic Organization Cristoforium, which organizes top-class concert series, festivals and international competitions in Croatia and abroad (Vienna and London) and a host of other important cultural and educational content.
Danijel Gašparović is a CEO and founder of the company for artists management and services in culture CristoforiumArt representing some of the most respected local and international artists such as Julian Rachlin, Roman Simovic, Milos, Vadym Kholodenko, Andrey Gugnin, Janoska Ensemble and other and organizes a number of respectable cultural events in cooperation with partners from Croatia and abroad as well as providing various services in culture.
He was a jury member of the Santa Cecillia International Piano Competition in Porto, RPM IPC in San Remo, Gothenburg Piano Competiton&Festival in Sweden, WPTA IPC Spain in Madrid, Oskar Rieding IPC in Slovenia, New Generation IPC&Festival in Moscow, Grand Piano in Palace Festival&IPC in St. Petersburg, Alicante International Piano Competition in Spain, Orbetello International Piano Competition in Italy, Mimas International Piano Competition in Italy and many others. He acts as a board member of the national board for the competitions in Croatia. He is a co-founding partner of the Global Piano League, based in Singapore.
Danijel Gašparović is World Piano Teachers Association Croatia President and artistic and executive director of the Kašman Festival in Mali Lošinj. Together with his father, he is the owner of the largest and most valuable private collection of historical pianos in South – Eastern part of Europe - the Gašparović’s Piano Collection.
Tania Kozlova, Israel Piano teacher, Israel Conservatory of music Tel-Aviv.
Tania Kozlova is one of the leading piano teachers in Israel, she is a part of the piano faculty of the Israel Соnservatory of music Tel-Aviv.
Mrs.T.Kozlova graduated from the Tchaikovsky National Academy of Music in Kiev, Ukraine and since moving to Israel in 2000 she has been effectively implementing her professional knowledge and experience in her work in Israel and abroad.
T.Kozlova constantly teaches around the glob in the different music festivals and masterclasses (Music Fest Perugia, Florida Keys , Music Academy Forte in Brussels, Carmel Clavir, EPTA Prague), and in many Israeli conservatories.
Mrs. Kozlova serves as a jury member in various international piano competitions in USA, Spain, Belgium, Serbia, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Italy. She had been working as an artistic director of Scherzo International piano competition until 2023 and now she is lunching her new project Stretto international piano concerti competition in Tel-Aviv.
Markus Schirmer, Austria Professor of Piano at the Music University in Graz, Artistic director of ARSONORE.
Energy, expression and emotion characterise Austrian top pianist Markus Schirmer's music-making. No matter where he tours he receives audience acclaim for his charismatic musicianship and his ability to tell vivid stories with the instrument. One of his reviews sums him up precisely: "A pied piper on the piano...music that comes straight from the heart, the brain and the fingertips."
After intense studies with Rudolf Kehrer, Karl-Heinz Kämmerling or Paul Badura-Skoda the Graz born artist went on to win numerous prizes and honours and to take a number of major concert halls and festivals by storm: the Wiener Musikverein and Konzerthaus, Herkulessaal and Philharmonie am Gasteig/Munich, Suntory Hall/Tokyo, Wigmore Hall/London, Gewandhaus/Leipzig, Philharmonie and Konzerthaus/Berlin, Rudolfinum/Prague, Palais des Beaux Arts/Brussels, Finlandia Hall/Helsinki, Teatro Teresa Carreño/Caracas, Palau de la Musica/Valencia, Victoria Hall/Geneva, Festspielhaus/Baden-Baden, Teatro Olimpico/Vicenza, Megaron/Athens, Lucerne Festival, Rheingau Musik Festival, Festival international de piano "La Roque d'Antheron", Ruhr Piano Festival, "Stars of White Nights Festival" St. Petersburg, Festival pianistico internazionale "Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli" Brescia, Vilnius Festival, Kissinger Sommer, styriarte, Bregenz Festival, Schubertiade, ISCM Music Festival and many more.
He has worked with renowned orchestras: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Orchestra St. Petersburg, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Sinfonia Varsovia, the Radio Symphony Orchestras of Vienna, Munich, Leipzig, Sofia, Zagreb, Borusan Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic, the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Valery Gergiev, Adam Fischer, Sir Neville Marriner, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Lord Yehudi Menuhin, Jukka Pekka Saraste, Marie Jacquot, Sir Charles Mackerras, Michael Gielen, John Axelrod, Fabio Luisi, Philippe Entremont, James Judd, Paul Goodwin, Michael Gielen and Philippe Jordan among others.
He adores Schubert above all but is also enthusiastic about more obscure works such as Britten's ironic piano concerto, the transcendental solo piano oeuvre of Szymanowski or "Castelli Romani", an epic piano concerto by Joseph Marx. Chamber music plays an important role in his work and his partners have included Renaud Capuçon, Julian Rachlin, Vadim Repin, Benjamin Schmid, Sharon Kam, Nils Mönkemeyer, Christian Poltéra, Konstantin Krimmel, Angela Hewitt, Mnozil Brass, the Ensemble Wien-Berlin, the Hagen Quartet, the Jerusalem Quartet and many more.
His love affair with the unusual, his daring and his eagerness to explore new territories ensure the development of sensational events outside the traditional classical repertoire: SCURDIA is an improvisation project which brings together extraordinary musicians from all over the world on one stage, thus allowing new artistic and creative energies to be set free by bridging various cultures. Markus Schirmer has great pleasure in working with actors, combining literature and music, and has developed unusual programs which are celebrated by audience and critics alike. In collaboration with the American singer and actress Helen Schneider f.e. he presented his own adaptation of Kurt Weill's "The Seven Deadly Sins" for voice and piano.
For his exceptional artistic diversity Markus Schirmer was awarded the "Music Manual Award" and is a recipient of some of Austria's most prestigious awards, the Karl Böhm Interpretation Prize and the "Ehrenzeichen für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst". He received the German Record Critics' Award for his debut CD of Schubert Sonatas. Further recordings including works by Haydn, Beethoven, Ravel, Mussorgsky and his strongly acclaimed outing "The Mozart Sessions" together with the uplifting US chamber orchestra A FAR CRY have won numerous international prizes. 2025 Nimbus Records UK recently has released the complete sonatas for viola & piano by Julius Roengten (together with Herbert Kefer from Artis Quartet Vienna).
In the upcoming season he will be performing at many festivals and concert series in Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Denmark, the US, Japan, South Corea, China, Sweden, Brazil, Kosovo and Austria. In addition to his work as a successful Professor of Piano at the Music University in his hometown Graz - many of his students are acclaimed prizewinners - Markus Schirmer regularly gives international masterclasses for piano and is a sought after adjudicator at several prestigious piano competitions. Furthermore, Markus Schirmer is artistic director of the international music festival ARSONORE, which every September invites world class musicians to perform in the Hall of Planets at Eggenberg Castle (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage) in Graz/Austria.
Helena Ha-Young Sul, Sweden Concert pianist, Teacher/Coach, Founder and Artistic Director for the Gothenburg Piano Festival.
The Swedish-born concert pianist Helena Ha-Young Sul has her roots in Korea and Japan. A devoted and established concert pianist and teacher/coach, Helena Ha-Young Sul is regularly invited as a jury member and teacher in masterclasses and piano competitions nationally and internationally. Her passion for arranging events and activities for young musicians has established events including the Gothenburg Piano Festival in Sweden and music theatre. As a music manager she invites musicians from all over the world to Gothenburg.
Her first official performance, at the age of 7, won the 1st Prize at the Steinway International Piano Competition in Hamburg, Germany. After that she won a gold medal in Berlingske Tidende in Denmark, Ettlingen International Piano Competition, Germany, and Ljunggrenska Musiktävling, Kils Piano Competitions in Sweden and the Royal Academy Swedish Academy of Music, Stockholm. At 9 years old her debut as soloist with orchestra was with Malmö Symphony Orchestra and Trelleborgs Orkesterförening.
At the age of 15 Helena Ha-Young entered the ROYAL DANISH MUSIC ACADEMY in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her first teachers were her mother, Inga Törnblom, and Marianne Jacobs. Other teachers were Tom Ernst, Prof. José Ribera (solo piano), Amalie Malling, Anne Öland (chamber music), Friedrich Gurtler (accompanying). She graduated in 1998 with the highest marks in solo piano and chamber music. In 1998 she entered the Master Degree (Postgraduate Performance Course) and studied for 2 years at the ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC LONDON, England. Her teacher was Prof. Christopher Elton. 1999-2000 she also entered the Piano Teaching programme with Vanessa Latarche. In 2000 she continued at the CONSERVATOIRE DE MUSIQUE DE GENÈVE, Switzerland in Classe de Virtuosité and studied for 3 years with Prof. Dominique Merlet and Contemporary Music with Jean-Jacques Balet. She graduated with the highest mark Diplôme de Soliste and performed Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Geneva.
During her studies Helena Ha-Young took part in several international masterclasses such as Tel-Hai International Piano Master Israel with teacher Pnina Salzman and was awarded top scholarships from Kgl Musikaliska Akademien and Lions Rotary Club among others. She was selected as Young Artist at the University of Texas in Fort Worth, USA. In Fort Worth, she collaborated with Stanislav Ioudenitch, José Feghali, Yoheved Kaplinsky and Tamas Ungar. Other masterclasses she has attended were in Darmstadt with Prof. Hans Leygraf and further on with Liisa Pohjola (Finland), Romuald Sztern, Per Tengstrand, and Iliya Itin (Sweden), Paul Badura-Skoda and Charles Rosen (UK).
Helena Ha-Young has participated in many national and international piano festivals including the International Piano Festival in Eindhoven, Holland, Steinway & Sons Festival in Berlin, Germany, Piano en Saintonge, France, Festival Archipel, Switzerland, Helsingborgs Pianofestival and Båstads International Chamber Music Festival, Sweden. In 2011 she performed works by Liszt and she invited selected pianists for this event; Liszt jubilee at Stenhammarsalen at Concert House, Sweden and the concert was recorded by Swedish Radio P2. She appeared on television and radio (BBC, DR-radio, Swedish Radio P2, Suisse Romande and Swedish Television).
Helena Ha-Young is also an interpreter of new contemporary music and performed with Ensemble Contemporain in Switzerland, new music performed as Betsy Jolas, Lionel Rogg and Rolf Martinsson (dedicated especially the piano piece Aquarius for her) and latest Sofia Gubaidulina Chaconne that was received successfully with the composer herself at the Båstads International Chamber Music Festival. Among concerts she has performed piano concertos like Mozart Piano Concerto No. 19, No. 21 and Beethoven Triple Concerto with Royal Academy of Music, Copenhagen, Tchaikovsky No. 2, Mendelssohn No.1 with Helsingborgs Symphony Orchestra and Grieg Piano Concerto with Tivoli Symphony Orchestra among others. She has collaborated with conductors such as Arild Remmereit, Tommy B. Andersson, Olaf Henzold, Michael Tabachnik and Owain Arwel Hughes.
Helena has over 30 years of experience as solo pianist and chamber musician and has performed in Sweden, Denmark (1998-99 a concert with Beethoven sonatas and a concert only of works by Chopin at Tivoli's Concert Hall) as well as in Israel, Germany, France, Switzerland, USA, China and South Korea. Most recently she has given successful solo concerts in Montenegro, Zagreb, Torino and Budapest. A sought-after coach, jury member and pedagogue, she also travels to different summer courses and universities to teach in masterclasses. Since 2010 she is the Founder and Artistic Director for the Gothenburg Piano Festival in Sweden.