Simon Karakulidi Takes Gold, Xiaoya Liu and Xuesha Hu Take Silver and Bronze

Gold Medalist Simon Karakulidi

Silver Medalist Xiaoya Liu

Bronze Medalist Xuesha Hu

With the gold medal, Karakulidi won the William Peyton Shehee and Virginia Kilpatrick Shehee cash prize award of $5,000; a website design, as well as orchestral engagements with the Shreveport Symphony and other orchestras throughout the United States.

The silver medal went to Xiaoya Liu of China with her performance of Prokofiev’s Piano concerto No 3 in C, Op. 26. She takes home a $3000 cash prize given by John and Alice Frazier in memory of Genevieve and Carlton Frazier.

Another Chinese contestant, Xuesha Hu, who studies at Colburn, won the bronze medal with her performance of Liszt’s Piano Concerto No 1 in E flat, S 124. Her Magnolia Award -- given by the family of the late Marilyn Johnson King -- includes a $1,500 cash prize.

>>read more

Judges for the competition were Lucille Chung of New York, a concert pianist who has performed with over 60 orchestras worldwide; Alfred Moledous of Dallas, professor of piano at SMU Meadows School of the Arts and former pianist for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra; and Kermit Poling of Shreveport, conductor, composer, violinist and general manager of KDAQ radio station.