Evan Kaplan is a rising senior at Pelham Memorial High School in Pelham, New York. Evan has studied piano since the age of five at the Pelham School of Piano under the instruction of Natalia Budyonny, and he studies viola at the Viola Studio of Lani Chang. Evan has been awarded gold and silver medals at the International Young Gifted Musicians Festival (“The Passion of Music”) 2026, 2025 and 2024, he was awarded first prize at the 2026 International Music Competition “Berlin” Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition, he placed second (piano and viola) in the 2026 San Francisco Innovative International Music Competition, he placed second in the 2025 US International Open Music Competition, he was an award winner in the 2025 New York Laureate International Music Competition, he is a five-time winner of the American Protege International Music Competition, he was a finalist in the 2025 American Prize Competition in Piano Performance (Concerto-The Lorin Hollander Award) and earned second place in the 2023 American Prize Competition in Piano Performance (solo-high school division), and he earned awards in the 2025 and 2024 London Young Musician Competition and the 2025, 2024 and 2023 Charleston International Piano Competition. Evan is a member of the Westchester Youth Symphony (principal violist) and the Pelham Memorial High School Orchestra (principal violist) and the founder of the Pelham Chamber Music Group. Evan is a member of the New York State All-State Orchestra and the New York State Area All-State Orchestra and has been a member of the Westchester County Area All-State Orchestra. Evan is a member of the Pelham Memorial High School Varsity Swim Team, and he plays tennis for the Pelham Memorial High School Varsity Tennis Team.
Watch Evan Justin Kaplan perform Rachmaninoff Elegie Op. 3 No. 1 in E-Flat Minor by Sergei Rachmaninoff for the 2023 International Piano Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Watch Evan Justin Kaplan perform Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 (Pathetique) by Ludwig Van Beethoven on the piano for the 2024 Classical Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Watch Evan Justin Kaplan perform Rhapsody in Blue (for solo piano) by George Gershwin on the piano for the 2024 Summer Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Watch Evan Justin Kaplan perform Rhapsody in Blue (for Solo Piano) by George Gershwin on the piano for the 2024 Contemporary Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Watch Evan Justin Kaplan perform Moments Musicaux, Op. 16, No. 3 & 4 by Sergei Rachmaninoff on the piano for the 2025 Winter Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Watch Evan Kaplan perform Moments Musicaux, Op. 16, No. 4 by Sergei Rachmaninoff on the piano for the 2025 Classical Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Watch Evan Kaplan perform Sonata No. 8, Opus 13 “Pathetique” 2nd Movement by Ludwig Van Beethoven for the 2026 International Piano Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Watch Evan Kaplan perform Liebestraum by Franz Liszt on the piano for the 19th Century Music Competition 2026 as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Watch Evan Kaplan perform Romanian Folk Dances by Bela Bartok on the viola for the 19th Century Music Competition 2026 as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.