Originally from Uzbekistan, Cellist Dilshod Narzillaev came to Park University to study with cello professor Daniel Veis in 2015. In 2019, Dilshod won Fourth Prize at the famed Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition in Zagreb, Croatia. Beginning in 2020, he will be studying under full scholarship with Laurence Lesser at The New England Conservatory of Music. But as Dilshod says himself, he will always be returning to Kansas City and Park University as it is his “second home.”

Violinist Igor Khukhua won the Bronze Medal in the 2019 Elmar Oliveira Violin Competition in Florida. Originally from Siberia, Igor has studied with violin professor Ben Sayevich at Park International Center for Music since 2016. In 2020, Igor will begin his work toward an Artist’s Diploma in Violin Performance.

Meet Pianist Kenny Broberg, Bronze Medalist of the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition. Kenny was the only American to make the finals of the most prestigious piano competition in the world, held every four years in Moscow. A Minnesota native, Kenny came to study with Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Stanislav Ioudenitch in 2016 and is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree at Park.

A highly decorated musician, Pianist Kyoshiro Hirama, originally from Osaka, Japan, Kyoshiro earned Fifth Prize in the Sendai International Music Competition, in Sendai, Japan in 2019. Having completed his bachelor’s degree in 2020 at Park, he will return this fall to begin his Master’s Candidacy, continuing his studies with Stanislav Ioudenitch.

Born in Novorossiysk, Russia in 1997, Pianist Simon Karakulidi earned the 2019 Gold Medal of The Wideman International Piano Competition in Shreveport, Louisiana. In 2019 alone, Simon won an amazing FOUR medals (three gold medals and one bronze medal) in international piano competitions. Simon has just completed his bachelor’s degree at Park University.