International Talent Academy

Congratulations to Rodrigo Valencia Fuerte (age 12), recipient of the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award at the 2026 Rising Star International Competition!

Representing Spain, Rodrigo impressed our judges with his exceptional musicianship, artistry, and dedication, earning an outstanding 99/100 points!

Special recognition goes to his teacher, Maestro Giuseppe Devastato, for his guidance, mentorship, and dedication to helping Rodrigo develop his talent, musical sensitivity, and passion for music.

Congratulations, Rodrigo, on this outstanding achievement! We look forward to following your musical journey and celebrating your future successes!

Congratulations to Nicole Olena Cras (age 12), recipient of the Distinguished Performance Award at the 2026 Rising Star International Competition!

Representing Belgium, Nicole captivated our judges with her artistry, musical expression, and dedication, earning an impressive 96/100 points.

Special recognition goes to her teacher, Maestro Giuseppe Devastato, for his commitment to musical excellence and for helping Nicole develop her talent, deep appreciation, sensitivity, and passion for music.

Congratulations, Nicole, on this wonderful accomplishment! We wish you continued success and many exciting musical opportunities ahead.

Congratulations to Divyansh Joshi (age 12), recipient of the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award at the 2026 Rising Star International Competition!

Representing California, USA, Divyansh impressed our judges with his exceptional musicianship, artistry, and dedication, earning an outstanding 98/100 points.

Special recognition goes to his teacher, Christopher Drake, for his guidance, mentorship, and commitment to helping young musicians develop their artistic potential.

Congratulations, Divyansh, on this remarkable achievement! We look forward to seeing your continued growth and future successes in music.

Congratulations to Nora Xia and Katherine Xia, winners of the Artistic Excellence Award at the 2026 Rising Star International Competition!

Representing Bloomington, Indiana, these talented young pianists achieved an extraordinary accomplishment by earning perfect scores of 100/100 from both judges. Their exceptional skill, artistry, musical expression, and dedication earned them the highest possible scores and this special recognition.

A special congratulations and thank you to their teacher, Karina Cohen, whose outstanding instruction, encouragement, and dedication help inspire young artists to reach their full potential.

Bravo, Nora and Katherine! We look forward to seeing where your musical journeys take you next.

Congratulations to Kaise Sha, winner of the Most Promising Young Artist Award at the 2026 Rising Star International Competition!

Representing Bloomington, Indiana, Kaise impressed our judges with outstanding talent and artistry at only 6 years of age, earning an exceptional 95/100 points from both judges.

Special recognition goes to his teacher, Karina Cohen, for helping nurture Kaise's musical growth and fostering the confidence, skills, and love of music that shine through in his performances.

Keep shining, Kaise, and keep sharing your gift of music with the world!

We are truly grateful to our incredible international panel of judges for being part of the Rising Star International competition this year.

Thank you for your professionalism, expertise, thoughtful feedback, and dedication to encouraging young artists from around the world. Your time, knowledge, and support mean so much to all participants, teachers, and families.

It is an honor to have such talented and respected arts professionals from different countries united by a shared passion for music, performance, and arts education. Your inspiring comments and careful evaluations help motivate and guide the next generation of young performers.

Thank you again for being part of this special event and for helping make Rising Star International such a meaningful and inspiring experience for everyone involved!