Dr. Ivo Kaltchev
President of Artistic Advisory Board
Prizewinner of international piano competitions and a Bösendorfer Concert Artist, pianist Ivo Kaltchev has enjoyed a successful performing career as recitalist, soloist with orchestras, chamber musician, and recording artist. “Formidable technique” (Piano Journal, England), “possesses the genius of rubato” (Diapason, France), “distinctive and original” (Soviet Culture, Russia), “impressive” (Frankfurter Neue Presse, Germany), “most beautifully and idiomatically played” (International Record Review, England), “glittering,” “big technique” (Washington Post, U.S.), “a master of the whole range of pianistic attacks and coloristic effects” (The Star Ledger, U.S.)—these are some of the words that music critics have used to describe Dr. Kaltchev’s artistry and piano playing.
Dr. Kaltchev has performed in musical centers throughout the world, including Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, Changsha Concert Hall, China Conservatory Concert Hall, Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory’s Malii and Rachmaninov Halls, St. Petersburg State Philharmonic Hall, Warsaw National Philharmonic Hall, Salle Moliere (Lyon, France), Tel Aviv Museum Recanati Auditorium, Mendelssohn Hochschule für Musik Hall (Leipzig,Germany), Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium, and the Bulgaria Great Hall. He has been a guest artist at music festivals in Austria, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, France, Bulgaria, Italy, Portugal, Finland, Ukraine, Korea, China, Singapore, Thailand, Canada and the U.S. Some of the highlights of recent seasons include a solo recital and a concerto performance with the EOS Orchestra in Alice Tully Hall, concert tours in Asia, as well as performances of the complete solo piano works of Claude Debussy as well as the complete art songs of Henri Duparc. A respected chamber musician, Dr. Kaltchev has performed with Shanghai String Quartet, Harrington String Quartet, pianists Ilana Vered and Milena Mollova, French actress Marie Christine Barrault as well with members of the New York Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
Dr. Kaltchev’s critically acclaimed commercial recordings for the Bulgarian “Gega New” label include an all-Charles Griffes CD (hailed by the French magazine Diapason as “the most accomplished interpretation known until now”), a CD with the world premieres of solo piano works by the French composer Florent Schmitt, as well as a recently released CD with works of Debussy.
Jinwei Zhang
Artistic Director
Dr. Jinwei Zhang is a pianist, arts leader, and Co-Founder & Artistic Director of WIYAMS (Washington International Young Artists Music Series). Based in Washington, D.C., he is dedicated to supporting emerging musicians through performance, mentorship, and international artistic collaboration. Dr. Zhang holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from The Catholic University of America, a Master of Music from Mannes School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music from Sichuan Conservatory of Music. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Chinese and Bulgarian Embassies in Washington, D.C., and at universities and cultural institutions throughout the United States. As Artistic Director of WIYAMS, he leads the organization’s artistic vision and programming, creating opportunities for young artists to perform, connect, and grow professionally. His work is guided by a commitment to artistic excellence, cultural exchange, and the belief that music can inspire dialogue, strengthen communities, and connect people across cultures.
Amy Chen
Operations Director
Yingjun (Amy) Chen is a pianist and educator from Guangzhou, China, who began studying piano at age four. She holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance from Western Michigan University, where she studied with Lori Sims, and a Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory, where she studied with Alvin Chow. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Pedagogy at The Catholic University of America under Dr. Ivo Kaltchev. Amy’s academic interests include Music Embodiment, exploring how movement, visual elements, and language shape musical expression and emotional response. She has integrated these concepts into her teaching through group instruction, her work at the Gilmore Piano Festival, and her position at the International School of Music. Passionate about fostering healthy and expressive musicianship, Amy encourages students to understand the connection between mind, body, and music while cultivating a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
Xiaoya Gao
Director of Content & Branding
Dr. Xiaoya Gao is an award-winning pianist and music educator from Urumqi, China. She has performed solo and chamber recitals throughout Italy, Austria, and the United States, appearing in cities including Vienna, New York, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and Princeton. Her achievements include the Diamond Prize at the Carl Reinecke International Music Competition and the Gold Award at the 2025 Mozart International Music Competition. Dr. Gao holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Pedagogy from the University of South Carolina, a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Advanced Certificate in Piano Pedagogy from New York University, and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Piano Performance and History from Lawrence University. A dedicated scholar, her research explores piano pedagogy, Baroque performance practice, and interpretive analysis. As a faculty member at the New School for Music Study, she combines performance, research, and teaching to inspire students of all ages and levels.
Mary-Victoria Voutsas
Development & Partnerships Coordinator
Pianist Mary-Victoria Voutsas has performed at distinguished venues including the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage and Terrace Theatre, the Harvard Hellenic Center, universities, and embassies throughout the United States. She has appeared as a soloist and collaborative artist with ensembles such as the Peabody Chamber Orchestra and musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra. Recent highlights include serving as pianist for the celebration of the 75th NATO Summit and completing a ten-week artist residency with the World Bank. Her recordings and arrangements of works by Manos Hadjidakis and other Hellenic composers are available on major streaming platforms. Voutsas holds doctoral and master’s degrees in piano performance and pedagogy and has studied with Nikita Fitenko, Yuliya Gorenman, and Tatyana Hearne. Her honors include the Bronze Medal at the 2023 Carles & Sofia International Piano Competition and top prizes with Salon Trio at international chamber music competitions. She currently teaches theory and serves as a collaborative pianist at Virginia Commonwealth University and as pianist-in-residence at the National Church.
Xiaojun Zhang
Communications Coordinator
Xiaojun Zhang is a pianist and educator originally from China who began studying piano at an early age. She has performed in international music festivals, chamber music events, and solo competitions, earning recognition for her expressive artistry and technical precision. Xiaojun received extensive musical training in both China and the United Kingdom, completing graduate studies with faculty from the University of Birmingham and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Her studies focused on Romantic, Impressionist, and contemporary repertoire, while collaborations with musicians from Asia, Europe, and North America broadened her artistic perspective. This diverse educational background has shaped her nuanced understanding of musical styles and historical traditions, informing both her performance and teaching. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Piano Pedagogy at The Catholic University of America under the guidance of Dr. Nikita Fitenko.
Nolan Alexander Ancil
Project Coordinator
Pianist Nolan Alexander Ancil is recognized for his clarity of expression, singing tone, and artistic versatility. He has performed throughout the United States and internationally in South Korea, Italy, and Spain. Highlights include appearances as soloist with the University of Louisville Symphony Orchestra following his Concerto Competition win and performances at the Festival Internacional de Música de Tecla Española and Orfeo Summer Music Festival. A frequent performer with WIYAMS, Nolan has appeared as both soloist and chamber musician at embassies and cultural venues in Washington, D.C. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at The Catholic University of America under Dr. Ivo Kaltchev. Nolan holds a Master of Arts in Piano Performance from the University of Louisville and a Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance from the University of Texas at El Paso. As an educator, he emphasizes strong technique, musical expression, theory, and aural skills while fostering a lifelong love of music.
Xueer Gao
Visual Designer
Xue’er Gao is a visual artist working with artist books, printmaking, papermaking, and sculptural installations. Her practice explores the material and structural possibilities of paper, investigating how traditional book forms can expand into spatial and poetic compositions. She received her MFA in Book Arts and Printmaking from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and her BFA in Studio Art from James Madison University. Gao’s work often combines handmade paper, natural dyes, pigments, and ink with processes such as cutting, folding, layering, and repetition. Through these methods, she creates modular systems that transform flat surfaces into dynamic sculptural landscapes. Her research draws inspiration from traditional Chinese crafts, particularly papermaking and binding traditions, while integrating contemporary material experimentation. By working between structure and fluidity, order and variation, Gao examines how individual units can accumulate into larger visual and conceptual systems. Her work has been exhibited in galleries, libraries, and cultural institutions across the United States.