Achievements

2022-2023 Year Achievements

Ukrainian Music Competition Gala – Carnegie Hall – November, 2023

Alina Hoxha – 1st Prize Winner

Holocaust Award Ceremony – January, 2024

21 students performed and awarded

National Federation of Music Clubs – 100% Success – March, 2024

Our students received:

• 75 Superior Certificates 12 NJ Trophies
• 12 1st Cups 10 2nd Cups

Carnegie Hall – Concert Festival International Competition – March, 2024

Grand Prize Winners:

• Adea Rreshka
• Alina Hoxha
• Biayna Tamoyan
• Gregory Yelizarov
• Maya Tamoyan
• Sena Kucukarslan
• Shivanshi Dutt

Lincoln Center – Concert Festival International Competition – April, 2024

1st Prize Winners: Rajanya Sengupta Ryan and Raynell Vincent (Duet)

Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition

Amsterdam, Netherlands – March, 2024
1st Prize Winners:

• Alina Hoxha
• Sena Kucukarslan

Vienna, Austria – April 2024
1st Prize Winners:

• Adea Rreshka
• Alina Hoxha
• Biayna Tamoyan
• Maya Tamoyan

Piano Teachers Congress of New York

Piano Plus Performance – New York – February, 2024
Tamoyan Sisters Duet

20/21st Century Piano Festival – May, 2024
Rajanya Sengupta Tugce Bahar

ABRSM – Royal School of Music Examination – May, 2024

ABRSM is world’s leading music examination board. It provides internationally respected music assessments for musicians
in about 100 countries. Many selective US colleges recognize ABRSM Certificate as indicator of musical proficiency.

20 Students successfully prepared and received high scores:

• 17 students – Practical Piano – Grades 1-7
• 3 students – Singing for the Musical Theatre – Grades 1-4

We’re so proud of our student’s achievements and we applaud to all of you! Bravi!

2022-2023 Year Achievements

NJFMC – National Federation of Music Clubs

• 84 Superior Rating Certificates
• 12 NJ Trophies
• 12 First Gold Cups
• 7 Second Gold Cups

2023 Holocaust Award Ceremony

• Alexa Elyash
• Alina Hoxha
• Benjamin Eydlin
• Dhruvil Pujara
• Kaelyn DCosta
• Kierra DCosta
• Mathew Elyash
• Noa Goldenberg
• Sena Kucukarslan

Carnegie Hall Grand Prix Winners

• Grand Prix Winner – Benjamin Eydlin
• Grand Prix Winner – Sena Kucukarslan
• Grand Prix Winner – Elizabeth Kochel

Lincoln Center – New York City First Prize Winners

• Alina Hoxha
• Rajanya Sengupta
• Raynell Vincent
• Ryan Vincent

International Competitions First Prize Winners

• Elizabeth Kochel – London, Salzburg, Paris, Barcelona
• Sena Kucukarslan – Salzburg, Los Angeles
• Alexa Elyash – Amsterdam
• Dhruvil Pujara – Los Angeles
• Alina Hoxha – Salzburg, Barcelona

ABRSM Associated Board of Royal School of Music (London)
Examination Honorees:

Piano:

• Aadya Nayal
• Alexa Elyash
• Alina Hoxha
• Arthur Asryan
• Biayna Tamoyan
• Dhruvil Pujara
• Elizabeth Kochel
• Kierra DCosta
• Rajanya Sengupta
• Raynell Vincent
• Ryan Vincent
• Samuel Verbitsky
• Sena Kucukarslan
• Shivanshi Dutt
• Siddhran Sen
• Volodymyr Korsun
• Yael Stolzenberg

Theory:

• Alina Hoxha
• Elizabeth Kochel
• Alexa Elyash
• Ryan Vincent

Musical Theater: Maya Tamoyan

2021-2022 Year Achievements

Carnegie Hall

• November 2021         Trio PriVeDi (Priya, Veena, Divyana Lokhnauths)
• March 2022                Dhruvil PujaraElizabeth Kochel, Sena Kucukarslan

Lincoln Center

• November 2021         Trio PriVeDi (Priya, Veena, Divyana Lokhnauths)
• April 2022                   Piano Duet (Mahika and Shivansh Dutt)

Royal Albert Hall – London

• April 2022                  Elizabeth Kochel – Grand Prize

Concert for Healing

Fundraising Concert to Support St. Jude Hospital efforts to evacuate children from Ukraine for cancer treatment.

• 16 students participated
• More than $6,000 raised

NJFMC – National Federation of Music Clubs

100% Success !

• 14 Superior Plus Certificates
• 64 Superior Certificates
• 20 NJ Trophies
• 4 First Place Gold Cups
• 3 Second Place Gold Cups
• 2 Third Place Gold Cups

ABRSM – Royal School of Music Examination

• 12 Certificates – Piano Solo Examination – Grades 1 – 8
• 3 Certificates – Theory Examination – Grade 5

Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition – Salzburg

• 1^st Prize Winners: Dhruvil Pujara, Sena Kucukarslan

Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition – Amsterdam

• 2^nd Prize Winners: Alexa Elyash, Piano Duet (Ryan and Raynell Vincent), Trio PriVeDi (Priya, Veena, Divyana Lokhnauth)

2020-2021 Year Achievements

COVID – 19 Tribute Concert

• During 4 episodes virtual fundraising concert performed by Believe in Music Studio students, $55,000 were collected and used to buy PPE for the local hospitals

ABRSM – Royal School of Music Examination – May, 2021

• 21 Students prepared for this International highly prestigious examination
• 10 students received ABRSM Certificate with Distinction mark (highest score)
• 2 students received ABRSM Certificate with Merit

NFMC – National Federation of Music Clubs

• Believe in Music Studio students were well prepared for this National level examination and received:
  • 72 Superior Certificates
  • 18 Trophies
  • 10 First Gold Cups
  • 6 Second Gold Cups
  • 4 Third Gold Cups

Utah University Virtual Holiday Concert

• 17 Believe in Music Studio piano, voice and guitar students were invited to participate in this Holiday Concert which was streamed worldwide on December, 22 2020

2019 – 2020 Year Achievements

Four Tribute Concerts to support COVID-19 Healthcare Heroes

https://youtu.be/6tBiJFxeYEg

https://youtu.be/21UQlUqIyjs

https://youtu.be/VQSn1E3pCe8

https://youtu.be/8DbV-KFTM8A

2018-2019 Year Achievements

Steinway Hall, New York City

• Aatish Kandaswamy
• Sena and Eliz Kucukarslan
• Mathew Elyash
• Alexa Elyash
• Kaelyn and Kierra D’Costa
• Divyana, Priya and Veena Lokhnauth
• David Wang
• Yo V.
• Jem Rich
• Alex Yakir
• Emilie Heller
• Rohan Joshi

Carnegie Hall – Concert Festival Grand Prix

• Aatish Kandaswamy
• Alexa Elyash
• Mathew Elyash
• Trio “Out… Standing”

Lincoln Center  – 1^st Place

• Emilie Heller
• Rohan Joshi
• Yo V.
• Alex Yakir
• David Wang

Baruch Performance Arts Center

• Sena and Eliz Kucukarslan
• Kaelyn and Kierra D’Costa
• Jem Riche
• Divyana, Priya and Veena Lokhnauth

Musical Summer Tour to Vienna, Austria

Four Believe in Music Studio students received a $500 scholarship to travel to Vienna, Austria to perform in the 2019 Concert Festival Musical Summer Tour:

• Alexa Elyash
• Mathew Elyash
• Sena Kucukarslan
• Eliz Kucukarslan

20^th – 21^st Century Festival, Greenwich Village, New York City

• Riya Rajesh
• Dyami Efroimson
• Alexander Popa
• Kirti Ganesan
• Elizabeth Kochel

Piano Plus Ensemble Festival, Greenwich Village, New York City

• Sena and Eliz Kucukarslan
• Rochelle Xavier
• Ryan Vincent

National Federation of Music Clubs – March, 2019

• 68 Superior Certificates
• 15 Trophies
• 4 1^st Place Gold Cups
• 3 2^nd Place Gold Cups
• 2 3^rd Place Gold Cups

ABRSM – Royal School of Music Examination – May, 2019

• 21 Students prepared and passed with highest International grades

Carnegie Hall – Crescendo International Competition

• 1^st Prize Winner – Aatish Kandaswamy (piano)
• 2^nd Prize Winner – Alexa Elyash (voice)
• 2nd Prize Winners – Kaelin D’Costa and Kierra D’Costa (voice)

Gold Cup Concert in Caldwell University

• Alex Yakir
• Simon Szotak
• Kirti Ganesan

National League of Performing Arts Competition

• Silver Prize Winner – Aatish Kandaswamy (piano)

2017-2018 Year Achievements

Benefit Concert for Hurricane Harvey Relief

With the help of our talented students, families and community, Believe in Music Studio raised $4369 to benefit the Aransas County independent school district in Texas to support its music programs.

Concert Festival Competition

Ten Believe in Music Studio students were invited to perform at Steinway Hall in New York City for the Concert Festival Competition:

• Alexa Elyash
• Mathew Elyash
• Maxwell Gong
• Aatish Kandaswamy
• Divyana Lokhnauth
• Priya Loknauth
• Veena Lokhnauth
• Trio “Out… Standing”

Carnegie Hall- Grand Prix Winners Concert

Three Believe in Music Studio students were invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City for the Grand Prix Winners Concert:

• Trio “Out… Standing”

Lincoln Center- 1st Prize Winners Concert

Two Believe in Music Studio students were invited to perform at Lincoln Center in New York City for the 1st Prize Winners Concert:

• Maxwell Gong
• Aatish Kandaswamy

Baruch Performing Arts Center- 2nd and 3rd Prize Winners Concert

Six Believe in Music Studio students were invited to perform at Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York City for the 2nd and 3rd Prize Winners Concert:

• 2nd Prize
  • Matthew Elyash
• 3rd Prize
  • Alexa Elyash
  • Divyana Lokhnauth
  • Priya Loknauth
  • Veena Lokhnauth

2018 Steinway and Sons’ Piano Competition

One Believe in Music Studio student won the 2018 Steinway and Sons’ Piano Competition:

• Yo V.

ABRSM Royal School of Music Theory Exam

Three Believe in Music Studio students completed the ABRSM Theory Exam:

• Kirti Ganesan- passed with Distinction
• David Wang- passed with Merit
• Alexander Yakir- passed with Merit

ABRSM Royal Schools of Music Piano and Voice Exam

Believe in Music Studio achieved a 100% success rate for the ABRSM Piano and Voice Exam- all 14 students successfully passed with Merit or Distinction.

• 8 students passed with Merit
  4 students passed with Distinction

National League of Performing Arts Concert

Three Believe in Music Studio students were invited to perform at Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City for the National Youth Performing Artists Concert:

• Maxwell Gong
• Aatish Kandaswamy
• Yo V.

National Federation of Music Clubs Festival

100% of seventeen Believe in Music Studio students achieved a superior rating at the National Federation of Music Clubs Festival. Our students also earned and received:

• 17 New Jersey Trophies
• 13 1st Gold Cups
• 4 2nd Gold Cups

National League of Performing Arts Competition

Two Believe in Music Studio students were invited to perform at Merkin Hall in New York City for the National Young Artists Chamber Music and Ensemble Winners Concert:

• Maxwell Gong
• Aatish Kandaswamy

Gold Cup Concert

One Believe in Music Studio student was invited to perform at Caldwell University in New Jersey for the Gold Cup Concert:

• Gregory Ekelov

Piano Plus Concert

Nine Believe in Music Studio students were invited to perform at Greenwich House Music School in New York City for the Piano Plus Concert:

• Maxwell Gong
• Aatish Kandaswamy
• Eliz Kucukarslan
• Sena Kucukarslan
• Divyana Lokhnauth
• Priya Loknauth
• Veena Lokhnauth
• Alexa Saracino
• William Saracino

20-21st Century Festival

Four Believe in Music Studio students were invited to perform at Greenwich House Music School in New York City for the 20-21st Century Festival:

• Dyami Efroimson
• Rohan Joshi
• Jem Riche
• Neha Vazarkar

Fair Lawn Talent Show Fundraising Concert

Six Believe in Music Studio students were invited to perform at the Fair Lawn Talent Show Fundraising Concert:

• O’Neil Burton-Freeman
• Maxwell Gong
• Rohan Joshi
• Elizabeth Kochel
• Jem Riche
• David Wang

Musical Summer Tour to Paris, France

One Believe in Music Studio student received a $500 scholarship to travel to Paris, France to perform in the 2018 Concert Festival Musical Summer Tour:

• Aatish Kandaswamy

2016-2017  Year Achievements

ABRSM Plaque for Outstanding Teaching

Marina Belkin received the ABRSM Plaque for Outstanding Teaching, denoting her achievement of the highest rate of distinction scores in the Tri-state area.

ABRSM Examination

(Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music headquarter is located in London; it has 99 centers all around the world)

Believe in Music Studio prepared 16 students for ABRSM examination. Once again, our students achieved 100% success rate.

7 students passed the examination with Distinction

7 students passed the examination with Merit

National Federation Exams

All Believe in Music Studio students achieved superior rating, continuing our history of 100% success.

17 trophies and 8 Gold Cups were awarded to our students.

ABRSM Diploma

David Belkin attained the prestigious ABRSM Diploma, passing the rigorous examination requiring skill in performance and sight-reading and a deep understanding of music theory and history.

This was a successful year for David Belkin – he won numerous competitions and attained the Award for Exception Piano Performance.

Carnegie Hall

Two Believe in Music Studio students placed highly in the Grand-Prix Piano Competition, earning them the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall:

• Annabelle Wu
• David Wang

Steinway Piano Competition

Duet Annabelle Wu and David Wang won Grand Prix at the Steinway Piano Competition in New York City, granting them the opportunity to perform in Carnegie Hall.

ABRSM Distinction Recital

Six Believe in Music Studio students were invited to perform at the Monmouth Academy of Musical Arts as recognition of their high scores on the ABRSM examination:

• Aatish Kandaswamy
• Maxwell Gong
• Neha Vazarkar
• Yo V.
• Annabelle Wu
• David Wang
• Jem Lauren Riche

20th-21st Century Music Festival

Three Believe in Music Studio students performed at the Greenwich School of Music in New York City as a part of a Celebration of the Music of Our Time:

• Dyami Efroimson
• Aatish Kandaswamy
• Maxwell Gong

Piano Plus Ensemble Festival

The following duets of Believe in Music Studio students performed in New York City:

• Yo V.
• Aatish Kandaswamy and Maxwell Gong
• Mathew and Alexa Elyash
• Semira Kizhakkey and Kirti Ganesan
• Annabelle Wu and David Wang

Gold Cup Recital

Two Believe in Music Studio students were invited to perform at the Gold Cup Winner’s concert at Caldwell University:

• David Belkin
• Alexander Yakir

Trip to Metropolitan Opera

Fifty Believe in Music Studio students and family members enjoyed performance of the Opera “Magic Flute” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the Metropolitan Opera.

2015-2016 Year Achievements

National Federation of Music Clubs

All our students achieve superior rating. Believe in Music Studio students received:

• 17 trophies
• 8 1st Gold Cups
• 6 2nd Gold Cups

ABRSM – Associated Board of the Royal School of Music

(headquarter is located in London; has 99 centers all around the world)

Believe in Music Studio achieved 100% success rating.

All 15 students passed the examination.

10 students passed examination with Distinction.

4 students passed examination with Merit.

Ensemble Festival Greenwich School of Music, NYC

The following duets of Believe in Music students successfully performed in New York City:

• Eva and Aren Finelt
• Henita Lawrence and Aatish Kandaswamy
• Veena and Priya Lokhnauth

Distinction Recital

Ten Believe in Music Studio students have been invited to perform in Monmouth Academy of musical Arts on ABRSM Distinction Recital:

• Alexa Elyash
• Aatish Kandaswamy
• Jem Riche
• Elizabeth Kochel
• Yo V.
• Semira Kizhakkey
• Dyami Efroimson
• Kirti Ganesan
• Annabelle Wu
• David Wang

Gold Cup Recital

Five Believe in Music Studio students have been invited to perform in Caldwell University on Gold Cup Recital:

• David Belkin
• Olivia Gomez
• Kirti Ganesan
• Frank Guadagnino
• Alexander Yakir

Congratulations Believe in Music Studio Students for Your Wonderful Accomplishments!