The WIYAMS Story
OUR MISSION
Let the World Listen to Young Music
The Washington International Young Artists Music Series (WIYAMS) is dedicated to creating a professional and internationally minded platform for emerging musicians, offering meaningful opportunities to perform, grow, and be heard.
We believe that classical music is not only an art form, but also a universal language that connects cultures and fosters understanding. Through concerts, artist development, and artistic collaboration, WIYAMS seeks to support the next generation of musicians while bringing artists and audiences together through meaningful musical experiences.
OUR STORY
The Washington International Young Artists Music Series (WIYAMS) was founded in Washington, D.C. in 2023 with a shared vision: to create more than a concert series, but a platform where emerging musicians could perform, develop their artistry, connect with audiences, and become part of a growing artistic community.
WIYAMS was co-founded by Dr. Jinwei Zhang, Dr. Yi Xu, Dr. Jiayong Mei, and Dr. Xiaobo Liu. With the artistic guidance and mentorship of Dr. Ivo Kaltchev, the founding vision gradually developed into a structured and sustainable initiative. Early support and collaboration from the International Art Development and Promotion Association (IADPA), the Bulgarian Music Society (BMS), and The Catholic University of America (CUA) also played an important role in its development.
Today, WIYAMS is a signature program of IADPA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization, and continues to support, promote, and advance the arts through performance, education, collaboration, and cultural exchange.
FOUNDING TEAM
A SERIES BEGINS
In October 2023, WIYAMS presented its inaugural concert, LEVANA, at Ward Recital Hall at The Catholic University of America. The concert marked the beginning of a new platform for emerging musicians to share their artistic voices with audiences in Washington, D.C.
One month later, Melodies of Sofia was presented at the Embassy of Bulgaria, bringing together young musicians from six countries. The concert established cultural exchange as an important part of the developing WIYAMS identity.
What began with two concerts soon became the foundation for a broader artistic community.
A GROWING COMMUNITY
In 2024, WIYAMS welcomed young musicians from 12 music programs across the United States and presented three concerts in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Performances were held at the Embassy of Bulgaria, Ward Recital Hall, and McNeir Hall, expanding both the reach of the series and the community surrounding it.
In 2025, WIYAMS received applications from musicians representing 36 universities across 10 countries. This growth marked an important step in the series' international development and created new opportunities for artistic programming, institutional partnerships, and cultural exchange.
As the community continued to grow, WIYAMS evolved from a developing concert series into a broader platform connecting emerging musicians, institutions, audiences, and artistic communities.
Our Work Today
Today, WIYAMS presents professionally curated concerts and artist development opportunities through a selective application process. Artists are selected based on artistic merit and invited to participate in programs designed to encourage artistic excellence, professional growth, collaboration, and meaningful audience engagement.
Each season, WIYAMS presents a series of concerts featuring musicians from diverse backgrounds, institutions, and areas of study. Most concerts are free and open to the public, reflecting our commitment to making high-quality artistic experiences accessible to wider communities.
Beyond the stage, WIYAMS creates opportunities for artists and audiences to meet, exchange ideas, and build connections through receptions, interviews, collaborative projects, and other program initiatives.
More than a concert series, WIYAMS is an evolving artistic platform where emerging voices, artistic tradition, and international dialogue come together.