Aristo Sham, newly crowned Gold Medallist of the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the first Hong Kong pianist to win the title, has signed an exclusive recording contract with Universal Music Hong Kong. His success, which also includes the Cliburn’s Audience Award, is marked by the release of his debut album Timeline earlier this month. Inspired by his current world tour, the recording features Bach’s Toccata in C minor, Busoni transcriptions of Bach, Brahms and Chopin, and Grieg’s Holberg Suite.
Arabella Arts has welcomed the violin duo Hina and Fiona for general management. These New York-born sisters bring an exceptional artistic unity to their duo performances while maintaining flourishing individual careers. Hina, winner of the 2023 Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition, has performed at major venues including the Kennedy Center and begins the 2025–26 season with debuts across the United States. Fiona, who made her debut with the New York Philharmonic at 16, is a recipient of awards from Salon de Virtuosi and the Arkady Fomin Scholarship Fund.
Romanian violinist Ioana Cristina Goicea has joined LocksBridge Artist Management for worldwide general management. Praised for her passionate interpretations and commanding stage presence, Goicea is a laureate of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition (2017), the German Music Competition (2018) and the Queen Elisabeth Competition (2019). She has appeared with leading orchestras including the George Enescu Philharmonic and Romanian Chamber Orchestra and holds a professorship at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.
IMG Artists has welcomed violinist Julian Rhee for North American representation. A winner of the 2024 Avery Fisher Career Grant and a laureate of the Queen Elisabeth and Indianapolis competitions, Rhee has quickly established himself as an artist of striking maturity and poise. He has performed with major orchestras across North America, Europe and Asia, with forthcoming debuts including the Gürzenich Orchestra, Pacific Symphony and Richmond Symphony. A former US Presidential Scholar, he is also a First Prize winner of the Elmar Oliveira International Competition.
