ALIYA MARIE ALSAFA, 15, currently studies piano at the Juilliard Pre-College as a student of Prof. Matti Raekallio. She is a 2018-2020 Lang Lang International Young Scholar. Aliya has performed for several prestigious concert venues such as Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Ravinia Bennet-Gordon Hall, Harris Theater, Merkin Hall, and Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park. She also played for the “Keys to the City Festival” at Orchestra Hall, Symphony Center. Highlights and awards include Best Etude at the 2017 Seattle International Piano Competition. First prize in both state and regional, and 2nd prize nationally at MTNA for composition.

As the youngest contestant at MostArts 2017, Aliya played with the Festival Orchestra at Miller Theater and was awarded the Audience Favorite Prize. In summer 2018, through the Lang Lang International Music Foundation, she performed for the second Andermatt Swiss Alps Classics Festival. Aliya’s accomplishments include first place at the Chopin Youth Piano Competition, Sejong Music Competition, and Walgreens National Concerto Early Music Division. Her most recent recital was in Den Hoorn, Netherlands as part of Holland Music Sessions 2018. Aliya attends Special Music High School in Manhattan. Her other interests include dance, composition, computer science, and badminton.