Felix Sang-Zheng is a seventh grader at Luther Jackson Middle School in Falls Church, Virginia. He began studying cello at the age of seven and currently studies with Kerry van Laanen. He previously studied with Laurien Laufman, who has been an important influence on his musical development. Felix is a member of the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras, currently performing with the Concert Orchestra. Felix has earned numerous honors, including first place in the 2025 MSMTA Solo String Festival, second place in the 2024 AMMA Metropolitan Live Classical Music Festival, and first place in the 2023 AAMS Ensemble Competition.
As a chamber musician, Felix and his brother, Brandon Sang-Zheng, were finalists in the 2025 Misbin Family Memorial Chamber Music Competition and earned third place in the 2025 MSMTA Chamber Music Competition.
—
Brandon Sang-Zheng is a sophomore at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia. He began studying piano at the age of five and currently studies with Nancy O’Neill Breth. Brandon has received Honors in numerous NVMTA, MSMTA, and WMTA judged recitals, and is a winner of both the NVMTA Bach/Baroque Competition and the Piano Achievement Awards Competition.
In addition to piano, Brandon is also a cellist studying with Kerry van Laanen and Laurien Laufman. He has been a member of the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras for several years. Outside of music, he enjoys running cross-country with friends, volunteering with the Tacy Foundation, and tackling challenging math problems.
Brandon and his brother, Felix Sang-Zheng, were finalists in the 2025 Misbin Chamber Music Competition and earned third place in the 2025 MSMTA Chamber Music Competition. Together with his piano duet partner, Megan Lai, Brandon won first place in the 2025 MSMTA Chamber Music Competition and second place in the MSMTA Piano Ensemble Festival.
Watch Felix and Brandon Sang-Zheng perform Brahms Cello Sonata in E Minor, Op. 38, Mvmt. I by Johannes Brahms on the cello and piano for the 2025 Romantic Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.