Strings Winners Winter 2026

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 Thomas Slobodnyak is an 8-year-old violinist from New York City. He has  been studying violin since age 4. He completed summer training programs  at Gnessin Academy and Tchaikovsky conservatory in 2024 and 2025. He has  an upcoming performance in Tashkent in spring of 2026. 

 Hanna is a talented 11-year-old violinist and a 4th-grade student at the  1st Degree State Primary Music School in Bochnia, Poland, where she  studies in the class of Ewa Olejniczak. Her musical education began  early. At the age of 5, she attended preschool music classes at the  State Music School in Stargard, laying the foundation for her artistic  development. Hanna’s journey is marked by rapid progress and numerous  awards. In the 2024/2025 season, she won Second Prize at the "Grand  Prize Virtuoso" in Austria, leading to a performance at Vienna’s  world-renowned Musikverein. 

 Anri Ko is a 14-year-old student at the Baldwin School in Pennsylvania.  She began studying violin at the age of 5, and currently studies with  Ms. Yayoi Numazawa of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She has been selected  as the concertmaster of her school orchestra for the past three years,  and has attended Temple University's Center for Gifted Young Musicians  (2023-2024) and (2025-2026). 

 Dallas Chu is a 16-year-old homeschooled sophomore who began violin at  age 6 with Ljubomir Velickovic. He studied extensively with Wendy  Waggener and now works with renowned pedagogue Linda Rose. He has served  as co-concertmaster of the Claremont Young Musicians Orchestra since  2024. He was a finalist for the Edith Knox Young Artist and the  Montecito IMF Competitions, placed second in the Bellagrande  International Music Competition, and won the Culver City Parness, OPUS  State, CYMO, and Pasadena Young Artist Competitions. He also enjoys  dabbling in classical guitar. Outside of music, Dallas focuses on  academics, swimming, and his pup, Levi. 

 Violinist Akash Vadali has spent the last six years cultivating a  distinguished musical profile characterized by technical precision and  orchestral leadership. He currently serves as the Assistant  Concertmaster for both the District Advanced Honors High School  Orchestra and his high school Chamber Orchestra. Additionally, he is a  member of the Philadelphia Sinfonia, recognized as one of the most  prestigious youth orchestras serving the Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New  Jersey regions.  On the international stage, Akash has consistently earned top honors. He  is a two-time First Place Soloist at the Crescendo International  Competition (2025 and 2026) and a First Place Soloist at the Little  Mozarts International Competition (2025). His versatility as a  collaborator is highlighted by a second-place finish in the trio  category at the 2025 Crescendo International Competition.  Akash’s commitment to musical excellence is further evidenced by his  perfect score on the ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory exam in 2025. A  dedicated mentor and community leader, he serves as a Director’s  Assistant at the Pennsylvania Youth Orchestra, where he instructs violin  and viola students, and performs as a violinist with the Villa Maria  Conservatory.  Beyond the concert hall, Akash serves as a student leader and President  of his school’s chapter of Music Angels, a non-profit organization  dedicated to spreading joy through musical outreach. Akash is currently a  student of Leah Kim-Tomilson. 

 Annalise has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City and for Mayor  Fernando Medina in Lisbon, Portugal. She was winner of the Milwaukee  Symphony Orchestra Bach Double Competition, multiple scholarships  awarded under the auspices of the Mary B. Galvin Foundation, honorable  mention at the Sejong Music Competition in 2022 and 2019, honorable  mention at the Depaul Concerto Festival in 2023 and 2018, and two-time  winner at the Granquist Music Competition. She has studied under the  auspices of instructors Michael Vaiman, Kyung Sun Lee, Grigory  Kalinovsky, Ryan Meehan, Danielle Belen, and Simon James. She has also  received coachings from the renowned groups such as the Dover quartet  and Calidore quartet. She also is a part of a baroque ensemble where she  collaborates with Apollo’s fire. Annalise now studies with Almita Vamos  and Davis King at the music institute of chicago.  

 Aiden Chang began studying cello at age 4 and made his solo debut at  Carnegie Hall at 9, after winning an international music competition in  2017. He earned Grade 8 with distinction at 12, ATCL with distinction at  14, and LTCL with distinction at 16. Aiden has served in his school  orchestra for over a decade and is currently its cello principal. He  also enjoys music composition. 

 Nate Fairhair began playing the violin at age nine, first inspired by  fiddle music before developing a deep passion for the classical  repertoire. He has since performed widely across the United States and  Europe as both a recitalist and soloist. As an orchestral musician,  Fairhair is on the substitute list for multiple professional orchestras  in Idaho, Montana, and Nevada. In addition, he has founded two  non-professional orchestras. Fairhair graduated from the Gruppman  International Music Institute at age 18 and continued advanced study  with the Gruppmans for several years thereafter. He currently attends  Utah Valley University, studying with Dr. Donna Fairbanks.