Maryland piano students perform at Sydney Opera House and Christchurch hall

Twelve young pianists from the European Academy of Music and Art in Silver Spring performed at the Sydney Opera House on June 23 and at The Piano in Christchurch on June 26. The concerts highlighted the students’ international reach, their recognition in IAMGC’s International Piano Contest, and a program built around Australian composer Percy Grainger.

Why it matters: - The performances put Washington-area music students on two of the Southern Hemisphere’s most visible stages in one week. - The concerts showed how a local music academy can place young students in high-profile international venues. - The program also underscored the role of classical music as a cross-border cultural exchange.

What happened: - Twelve pianists from the European Academy of Music and Art in Silver Spring, Maryland performed at the Sydney Opera House on the evening of June 23, 2026. - The same group performed again at The Piano in Christchurch, New Zealand on June 26, 2026. - The students honored Australian composer Percy Grainger in Sydney. - The performers were Jayden Zhou, Brian Liu, Arman Charnoubi, Kavin Charnoubi, Daya Wampler, Sarina Li, Aria Mahtani, Ahana Rao, Natasha Charnoubi, Kavan Wampler, Jonathan Wang, and Victoria Zhong. - The students were ages 11 to 17 and lived in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, including Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. - All of the performers study with Dr. Bella Eugenia Oster and were 2026 winners of IAMGC’s International Piano Contest.

The details: - The Sydney program centered on Percy Grainger’s piano transcriptions of Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Rachmaninov, and Schumann. - The programs also included works by Beethoven, Chopin, Saint-Saëns, Liszt and other composers. - Many of the students began studying at EAMA as early as age 3. - Dr. Bella Eugenia Oster said the Sydney dedication to Grainger fit the students’ repertoire and reflected the way classical music crosses borders. - A parent of one performer said the group’s strength came from individual excellence contributing to the whole. - The Sydney Opera House is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s most recognized buildings. - The Piano is a purpose-built concert hall in central Christchurch that opened in 2016 as part of the city’s post-earthquake rebuilding and marks its tenth anniversary this year.

Between the lines: - The trip functions as both a recital series and a showcase for EAMA’s training model. - Dr. Oster’s long teaching career has positioned EAMA students for performances at major venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Teatro Colón, Bastille Opera House, Dubai Opera, Musiikkitalo and Harpa Concert Hall. - The appearances also frame the students as cultural ambassadors for the Washington area on an international stage.

What’s next: - EAMA said its students continue to move from early instruction into advanced repertoire and performance opportunities. - IAMGC said it will keep supporting young musicians through annual international piano contests and concert performances. - EAMA said its students have also gained admission to universities including Harvard, MIT, Yale, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, Duke and UC Berkeley.

The bottom line: - A Maryland music academy used a June tour to place 12 young pianists in two landmark halls, reinforcing both their technical level and the school’s international reach.