Young Stars Program
Jointly established by VMS, New York Star Artist Management (USA), and Konzerte Soler (Berlin), the European-American InterArts Young Stars Program is dedicated to discovering and nurturing extraordinary young classical musicians aged 12–18 onto the global stage.
Our program provides an elite platform blending artistic excellence with targeted career development, positioning young musicians for international success.
Ziye Tao – Pianist
Pianist Ziye Tao received his early musical training in Beijing and is currently a student of Dang Thai Son at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
He is the winner of the Aarhus International Piano Competition in Denmark, where he was also awarded the Carl Nielsen Special Prize, and the recipient of First Prize at the Arthur Dann Competition (2025) in Oberlin. In addition, he has been a laureate of numerous national competitions in China.
Ziye Tao has appeared in performances at major international venues and festivals, including the Copenhagen Summer Festival (2025), Van Cliburn Concert Hall in Fort Worth, Xinghai Concert Hall in Guangzhou, Steinway Hall in Beijing, and concert venues in Xi’an.
Selected Upcoming Performances (2026)
September — Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Aarhus, Denmark
November — Copenhagen Philharmonic, Copenhagen, Denmark
Xinyi Jiao — Cellist
Cellist Xinyi Jiao began her musical training at a young age and was admitted to both the Primary School and High School of the Central Conservatory of Music with top rankings. She has studied with Professor Namula and Principal Cellist Xu Yulian of the China National Symphony Orchestra.
In 2023 she entered the Manhattan School of Music Precollege and joined the college division in 2024 at age 16, where she now studies with cellist David Geber. She has received top prizes at international competitions including Singapore, Prague’s Vechtal Competition, the Asia-Pacific Youth International Instrumental Championship, and multiple awards at MSM, including the Fuchs Competition (2025).
Her performance experience includes concerts at the Great Hall of the People, the National Centre for the Performing Arts, and major cello festivals. She has participated in masterclasses with renowned cellists such as Qin Liwei, Kirill Rodin, Boris Andrianov, Laszlo Fenyo, Martti Rousi, and others.
Erxi (Erica) Chen — Oboist
Erxi (Erica) Chen is a young oboist with foundational training from the High School Affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and continued studies at Putnam Science Academy. She has studied under oboists Zhe Cheng and Youshu Chung and has participated extensively in school orchestral programs.
Her repertoire includes major solo works by Françaix, Poulenc, Saint-Saëns, Schumann, Britten, and Pasculli, as well as chamber and orchestral repertoire spanning Rachmaninoff, Weber, Lalo, Tchaikovsky, and others.
Program Highlights:
ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE
– Auditions reviewed by world-renowned musicians, educators, and industry leaders
– Program focus on technical excellence, artistic expression, and long-term career potential
professional Artistic Training
– Customized development plans aligned with global performance standards
– Build your artistic brand and professional presence
– Learn from top conductors, soloists in exclusive masterclasses
PERFORM ON WORLD STAGES
– Perform at leading venues and festivals across North America and Europe
– Collaborate with top orchestras and compete internationally
– Get expert support for conservatory applications and long-term career planning
GLOBAL NETWORK & VISIBILITY
– Connect with a renowned network of orchestras, festivals, and elite institutions
– Gain the visibility and platform to grow your international presence