​Artists 2026

Tehya Shapiro

Daughter of two classically trained musicians, WIYAMS Young Artist Tehya Shapiro has been immersed in music from an early age. She began piano lessons at five and started studying trumpet at ten. Since then, she has built an impressive record of performances on national and international stages. Tehya has participated in prestigious programs including the Taipei Music Academy and Festival, the New York String Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, Round Top Festival Institute, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Young Artist Orchestra, and the National Youth Orchestra of the United States (NYO-USA), touring North America. She previously toured Europe with the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra and was one of only two young brass musicians invited to perform with the United States Army Orchestra in 2023. At 15, she won First Prize in the high school solo division of the International Trumpet Guild Competition and was named a 2023 YoungArts Winner in Classical Music. She is currently pursuing undergraduate studies at Northwestern University under David Bilger, former Principal Trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Nicholaus Poelwijk

WIYAMS Artist Nicholaus Poelwijk has performed extensively across the United States, including appearances at Steinway Hall in New York City, the New World Center, and the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. He earned his Bachelor of Music on full scholarship at the University of Oregon, studying with Alexandre Dossin, and completed his Master of Music at the University of Miami under Kevin Kenner, where he also served as a teaching assistant. During the pandemic, he received an Advanced Certificate in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from NYU, studying with Barry Snyder, and a Professional Studies Diploma from the Mannes School of Music under Eteri Andjaparidze. He continues doctoral studies at NYU as part of its inaugural DMA cohort and serves as a graduate adjunct instructor. As part of his doctoral research, Poelwijk focuses on the music of American composer Donald Keats. He is among the few pianists to have recorded Keats’ Piano Sonata and is currently preparing a two-piano reduction of the unpublished Piano Concerto.

Danielle Kim

WIYAMS Artist Danielle Kim, a flutist from Northern Virginia, has studied internationally throughout her childhood in South Korea, Qatar, and India. She won First Prize at the 2022 William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition and the 2024 Artist Presentation Society Competition. Danielle performed Carl Reinecke’s Flute Concerto with the Flint Symphony Orchestra during the 2022–2023 season and presented a solo recital for the Artist Presentation Society in 2024. She has been a fellow at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, NYO-USA, and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. She earned her Master of Music from The Colburn School under Jim Walker and her Bachelor of Music from the University of Michigan, studying with Amy Porter. In addition to performing, she has worked as a personal assistant to internationally renowned flutist Claire Chase.

Jianan Xu

Chinese pianist and WIYAMS Artist Jianan Xu is recognized for his refined musicianship and commanding technique. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kansas, where he also served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. He earned his Master of Music from the Mannes School of Music and his Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory, studying with Vladimir Feltsman, Alvin Chow, Alan Chow, and Angela Cheng. Xu has performed solo and chamber recitals throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States. He is a prizewinner of several international competitions, including First Prizes at the Charleston International Piano Competition and the Four Cities Piano Competition, and was selected to perform during the Beethoven Festival in Bonn, Germany. A dedicated chamber musician, he has organized major multi-piano concerts in China and is known for performances marked by clarity, depth, and expressive elegance.

Julia Hananel

WIYAMS Artist Pianist Julia Hananel has performed at venues including the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall (on both piano and violin), the Guggenheim Museum, Strathmore Mansion, and the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music. She participated in 11,000 Strings at the Park Avenue Armory, a microtonal work written for 50 pianos. In 2024, she performed on a Steinway Spirio at Steinway Hall in New York City, with her performance simulcast to the University of Maryland. Julia serves as a Graduate Adjunct Instructor at NYU while pursuing her Master of Music with Eteri Andjaparidze. She is also a Met Opera Student Ambassador and is passionate about expanding access to classical music. Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, she graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland on full scholarship.

Ido Yehonatan Shalom

Pianist Nolan Alexander Ancil is praised for his “clarity”and “singing tone.” He has performed both nationally and internationally (South Korea, Italy), as well as via simulcast (Spain). Notably, Nolan has performed with the University of Louisville Symphony Orchestra (2021) as the winner of the 2021 Concerto Competition. He also performed as a soloist, via global simulcast with the Festival Internacional de Música de Tecla Española (FIMTE) Granados Marathon (2018), and as a soloist and chamber player in the Orfeo Summer Music Festival (2018). Nolan is currently a doctoral candidate in piano performance at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. under Dr. Ivo Kaltchev, and the recipient of a piano scholarship. He has also received his MA in Piano Performance from The University of Louisville (UofL) studying with Dr. Anna Petrova. At UofL, Nolan was the recipient of a full graduate teaching assistantship. He received a BA in Piano Performance from the University of Texas El Paso, where he was the recipient of the William K. Hill Scholarship for Piano Performance and received the 2020 award for most outstanding performer.

Weijia Chen

Classical guitarist and WIYAMS Artist Weijia Chen is an active performer and educator whose work bridges European and Latin American traditions. Originally from China, he earned his undergraduate degree from Guangdong University of Finance and Economics before completing two master’s degrees in classical guitar performance in Spain. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Shenandoah University under Colin Davin. Chen has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in Spain, China, and the United States. His repertoire spans Classical and Romantic works through contemporary music, with a particular emphasis on the solo guitar tradition. With more than a decade of teaching experience, he is dedicated to promoting classical guitar through both performance and education.

Yuan Du

Chinese tenor and WIYAMS Artist Yuan Du is pursuing his Master’s degree at the New England Conservatory, studying with Jane Eaglen. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the Xinghai Conservatory of Music. His operatic roles include Lucano and First Soldier in L’incoronazione di Poppea, Rodolfo in La Bohème, Prince in Rusalka, Don Basilio and Don Curzio in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi. As a concert soloist, he has performed at the Guangzhou Opera House. Yuan is a prizewinner of several competitions, including awards from the Gala Opera Competition, MIOpera International Vocal Competition, and the Macao International Art Open.

Huihui Lou

Soprano Huihui Lou, a WIYAMS Artist, is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance at the UMKC Conservatory. She previously earned her Master of Music from the University of Southampton and her Bachelor of Music from the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music. Her performance experience spans the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Serbia, and Italy. Recent roles include Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro, Musetta in La Bohème, Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, and Susanna in concert performance. She has also participated in major productions of Turandot, Die Fledermaus, and Carmen. In addition to performing, Huihui is active as a vocal coach and opera director’s assistant and has received numerous scholarships and awards.

Sheena Hui

WIYAMS Artist Sheena Hui, a musician from Hong Kong, is active as a performer, scholar, composer, and educator. She has appeared at the Fontainebleau Conservatoire Américain in France and Porto Pianofest, where she served as artist-in-residence. She is the founder and director of the Athenaeum Concert Series in Claremont, California. Her scholarly work includes editorial contributions to Gershwin publications and research on Borodin’s early compositions, including completion of his unfinished Piano Trio. She has served on the faculty of several international music festivals and is currently a lecturer at the University of Rochester while completing graduate degrees at the Eastman School of Music. Sheena’s work reflects a deep commitment to artistic and intellectual inquiry.

Jiwon Lee

South Korean pianist and WIYAMS Artist Jiwon Lee is pursuing a Master of Music in Piano Performance at the University of Louisville under Dr. Anna Petrova. He previously earned his Bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Chung-Ang University. Lee has appeared as a soloist with the University of Louisville Wind Ensemble and has won prizes at competitions including the Korea Brahms Association Competition and the T&B International Artist Competition. He serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Louisville and has participated in masterclasses with internationally recognized pianists. He was selected as an artist for the 2026 Washington International Young Artists Music Series (WIYAMS).

Nan Hu

WIYAMS Artist Dr. Nan Hu is a pianist and chamber musician who has performed throughout the United States, China, and Romania. She earned degrees from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, the Mannes School of Music, and the University of Kansas, where she completed her DMA with honors in 2025. Her awards include Second Prize at the Città di Barletta International Competition, Gold Prize at the KAWAI Piano Competition, and the Crystal Award at the Sauter Piano Competition. An active collaborative pianist, she performs regularly with instrumentalists and vocalists and has presented international piano duet concerts with Jianan Xu since 2016.