2026 Emerging Artists

Concerto Soloists

Alex Wu

Alex is a 16 year old oboist, currently learning under Bede Hanley and Alison Jepson.

Alex started his musical journey in late 2018, when he first picked up the oboe, and he has achieved many awards ever since. From 2019 - 2021, Alex won the NZDRS Oboe Competition intermediate category twice, in the 2020 Yangtze Delta Youth Music Competition woodwind category, and he was awarded the “Most Promising Player” award in the ADRS Oboe competition intermediate section. In 2022 and 2024, Alex achieved 2nd place at the NZDRS Oboe Competition open category respectively, until he came back to win the competition in 2025.

Alex had performed various concerti with many orchestras across New Zealand, his debut concerto was played in April 2024, where he played Joseph Haydn’s Oboe Concerto with the AYO, he was invited to play with the NZSO as an Emerging Artist later that year, performing the 3rd movement of the same piece. After winning the AYO Soloist competition in 2024, he played the Vaughan Williams Oboe Concerto with the AYO in 2025. Later in the same year, he performed the Lebrun Oboe Concerto with the AMO. In July, 2026, Alex will be performing the Bach Concerto for Oboe and Violin, with the AMO.

In 2024, Alex Became the Principal Oboist of the AYO and AMO, where he played many programmes with them. The same year, Alex also played in the NZSSSO as First Oboe. And recently in 2026, the University Symphony Orchestra of UOA invited Alex to perform a programme with them as Principal Oboe. He was also invited to play as Associate Principal Oboe with the National Youth Orchestra. Earlier in the year, Alex successfully auditioned for the NSYO in Taiwan, where he took on the role of Principal Cor Anglais, and First Oboe under world famous conductor Shao-Chia Lü.

Outside of music, Alex is the current U20 Captain for the New Zealand Sabre Fencing Team.

Catherine Harrison

Catherine is a 16 year old violinist from Lower Hutt and has played the violin for 13 years. She started learning at the age of 3 with the Suzuki Method. Her teacher is Lynley Culliford. Catherine also plays piano under the tutelage of Catherine Norton, plus guitar and drums. Violin however, is her primary instrument. Catherine plays with the Wellington Youth Orchestra and in 2023 and 2025 was a member of the National Youth Orchestra. In 2024 and 2025, she was in the NZSSSO, and in April this year she was the concertmaster of the 2026 NZSSSO. In 2023, 2024, and 2025, she was fortunate to play in the NZSO Emerging Artists project as an orchestral instrumentalist. In early February this year, she attended the 2026 Adam Summer School run by the New Zealand String Quartet. Catherine has played in many string ensembles as part of Suzuki workshops and camps she has attended throughout New Zealand and Australia.

Catherine has been a member of a number of chamber music groups that have participated in the National Secondary Schools Chamber Music Contest. In 2021, her first year in the competition, her trio competed in the Regional Finals. In 2022, she was a member of a string quartet (The Hillbillies). They were the winners of the Regional Contest and were selected to play at the National Finals held in Auckland, where they won the award for the Best Performance of a New Zealand Composition. In 2023 and 2024, The Hillbillies were again selected for the National Finals. In 2025, she entered 4 groups; 2 as a violinist, and 2 as a pianist. Her string quartet (SCRAM!) placed 3rd in the Regional Finals, and her trio received a Highly Commended in the Regional Finals.

In 2021, Catherine was awarded distinction in her Grade 7 Trinity violin exam. In 2022, she passed with distinction in her Grade 5 ABRSM music theory exam, and in 2023 she was awarded a pass with Honours in her Grade 4 NZMEB (equivalent to Grade 6 ABRSM) music theory exam. In the same year she received high distinction in her grade 8 violin exam with NZMEB.

At 14, Catherine was fortunate enough to perform as a soloist with the Hutt Valley Chamber Orchestra under the directorship of Donald Armstrong. This was part of the prize that she was awarded in 2023, after winning 1st place in the Concerto category in the Hutt Valley Performing Arts competition. In the same competition, she also received the Most Outstanding Competitor award.

Catherine enjoys performing, whether it is in an orchestra, chamber music or as a soloist. She has 3 chickens, 2 cats and 1 dog, who likes to sing/howl along whenever she plays the violin.

Elise Tian

Elise Tian is a 16 year old music scholar at Rangi Ruru Girls’ School and started learning cello at the age of 5 with Galyna Zelinska and is currently under the tutelage of Andrew Joyce whilst participating in the VicStart course with Inbal Megiddo. Elise has performed with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Christchurch symphony across her development as a cellist. Throughout these years, Elise has also enjoyed holding recitals and lunchtime concerts.

Other than solo repertoire, Elise also enjoys playing chamber music. Her chamber music journey began in 2021, where Elise and fellow Rangi Ruru music students entered the NZCT Chamber Music Contest. Ever since, they were selected as a National Finalist for five consecutive years, winning in 2024 with Shostos and placing second in 2025.

Additionally, her piano trio, Senza Espressione, won first prize in the American Virtuoso International Music Competition, earning them an opportunity to perform in Carnegie Hall. Elise is also an alumna of the Adam Summer School, which she attended in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

As of recently, Elise has been accepted into the ASPEN Music festival and School for 2026 in July where she will be participating in during their Summer. In 2023, Elise was fortunate enough to be selected for the Allegro Vivo Masterclass under Professor Wenn-Sin Yang in Austria. Following this, Elise travelled to Italy to take part in the Cello Classicals Summer Course, where she was taught by Professors Raphael Wallfisch, Roel Dieltiens, and Sebastian Comberti.

Jerry Wang

Jerry Wang is a Year 11 student at Auckland Grammar school, he is currently studying piano with Stephen De Pledge, he has also learnt from Rae De Lisle and Yu Wang. He started to play piano at the age of 8 and he won many competitions, include semi finalist of National Concerto Competition 2024, several 1st prize of North Shore Performing Arts Competition Society (PACS), and 1st prize of IRMTNZ scholarship. Beyond the piano, Jerry is fascinated by all music genre, spending plenty of time listening classical, jazz, rock, and pop music etc. Jerry also loves playing golf with his friends in his spare time.

Steven Song

Steven Song is a Year 10 student at Auckland Grammar School. He began learning the piano in 2021 and currently studies under Stephen De Pledge. He has participated in several regional competitions, including NSPAS, SAPACS, and IRMTNZ, where he received various prizes. In 2024, he was awarded the prize for Best Performance of a New Zealand Work at the Lewis Eady National Piano Competition, and in 2025, he was a finalist in the NZCT Chamber Music Contest national final.

Steven also plays the clarinet, studying with Jonathan Cohen, to gain experience in collaborative music making. He has attended the APO summer and winter schools and is a recipient of a scholarship from the MSO. This year, he joined the AYO.

William Ding

William Ding is a Wellington-based pianist. He began piano studies at the age of seven with Chingfen Lee and has studied with Dr. Jian Liu for the past four years.

Over recent years, William has earned recognition at both regional and national level, accumulating prizes including First Prize in the Sonata Celebration in Wellington and a Grand Final placing in the Lewis Eady National Junior Piano Competition in Auckland in 2023, where his performance was broadcast on RNZ Concert.

His repertoire encompasses works from the Classical and Romantic pieces to twentieth-century music. He is particularly drawn to the clarity and elegance of Mozart and the rhythmic vitality of Prokofiev. William is also committed to the performance of New Zealand music, including works by Jenny McLeod.

An active chamber musician, William has performed repertoire including the Clarinet Trio in A minor, Op. 114 by Brahms, bringing sensitivity and attentive listening to ensemble performance.

Combining structural clarity with expressive depth, William is establishing himself as a compelling young musician within New Zealand’s classical music community.