Charleston International Music Competition Reviews | Musicians, Parents, Teachers & Judges

“Thank you very much — I have received all six of my teacher certificates! I am delighted that six of my students participated in the Charleston International Music Competition and became finalists. Our music studio (Elite Piano Studio) achieved excellent results! We earned one first place, two second places, two third places, and one fourth place.

As a teacher with 50 years of experience and a judge at many prestigious competitions in Armenia , I can confidently say that the Charleston International Music Competition is an excellent platform for musicians of all genres and ages, providing both an opportunity to test their skills and a strong motivation to continue developing professionally. As an experienced educator, I am always ready to support the Competition with advice and recommendations.

I sincerely hope that the Charleston International Music Competition will continue to reach new heights, attracting even more musicians into its welcoming family!” — Irina Amiryan

Alexander Romanov

Violinist • CIMC Prize Winner
Third Prize Winner
Participated on violin and trumpet

“I want to express my gratitude and share my thoughts on the Charleston International Competition, with a focus on the significant impact it had on my journey as a violinist.

Securing 3rd place in this respected competition is a meaningful milestone in my musical path. It’s a recognition of the dedication and passion I’ve put into mastering the intricacies of the violin. The acknowledgment from such a prestigious institution is an honor and a validation of the artistic expression I’ve worked hard to cultivate.

Participating in the Charleston International Competition allowed me to showcase my violin skills and connect with fellow musicians from diverse backgrounds. The competition’s accessible format even gave me the chance to present both the trumpet and violin, a challenging but exhilarating experience that pushed the boundaries of my artistic capabilities.

This transformative journey has been enriched by the unwavering support of my mentors, teachers, and family, whose guidance played an instrumental role in shaping my identity as a violinist. Winning 3rd place is a humbling affirmation of their invaluable contributions to my growth.

Beyond the accolades, the competition has left a lasting mark on my musical perspective and aspirations. It reignited a profound sense of passion and purpose, inspiring me to pursue excellence in every facet of my violin-centric musical endeavors. As I navigate my future professional career in music, the lessons learned in Charleston will undoubtedly continue to shape my artistic trajectory.

To fellow students and peers, I encourage you to embrace the opportunity to participate in such competitions, particularly if the violin is your chosen instrument. The Charleston International Competition not only fosters individual development but also strengthens our collective musical community. I’m grateful for this experience and look forward to the continued growth and exploration that the world of music has to offer.” — Alexander Romanov

“The Charleston International Music Competition is one of the best online global music competitions. My students were motivated by preparing for the Charleston International Music Competition which is open to all musicians from around the world and more accessible to participants by eliminating travel costs since it is an event that takes place entirely through video submissions. It provided my students with opportunities to be evaluated by world-class judges on their performance skills. The results were reasonable and respectful. My students’ portrait photos and music biographies are published on the results page of the Charleston International Music Competition with their performances on their YouTube channel after they became winners. They were encouraged by receiving top prizes for their hard work and dedication. I strongly recommend the Charleston International Music Competition to talented musicians who want to start their musical journey with global recognition.” — Sylvia Seunghee Kang

“Entering this competition is one of the coolest musical experiences I have participated in so far! Being able to be connected with, and watch the performances of finalists from all over the world was really inspiring and refreshing to watch, especially when it came to watching other young aspiring musicians like me. I was incredibly surprised and happy when I was a first prize winner for my age division and greatly enjoyed the videos of the other finalists. I feel a great honor with my achievement through this competition and will most certainly participate in future competitions!” — Cole Flores

Dr. Hanna Cyba & Dr. Adam Aleksander

Music Educators & Competition Organizers
Teachers of CIMC participants
CIMC Teachers of the Month • October 2025

“My piano and voice students have been taking part in the Charleston International Music Competition for the past two years with great success. We are very impressed with a high level of organization and professionalism of the Competition team. I believe my students benefit from participation that gives them more motivation to excel and build their artistic skills. The winners always get featured on my Perfect Pitch Music Studio Facebook page, and, in turn, their posts inspire others to grow. The most recent example of such inspiration is our Howard Douglass, who won the 1st Prize in his very first piano contest. We are looking forward to future competitions and are grateful for this opportunity CIMC provides for aspiring musicians.” — Dr. Irina Yurkovskaya

“I was honored to receive First Prize in the 2023 Classical Music Competition. I truly want to express how grateful I am for the opportunity to have competed in your competition. Receiving First Prize not only meant a great deal to me artistically, but it also played a meaningful role in my journey—helping me get into Stanford. I appreciate all the work your team does to support young musicians.” — Yuanxin Ma

Shanshan Gao

Music Teacher
Teacher of CIMC First Prize Winner Li Runzhi
Guzheng Instructor

“To be considered in a category with such a high standard of artistry and competition is a privilege in itself; to then receive this prestigious award (2nd place) is deeply humbling. This recognition amidst international competition is a significant milestone for Pranav and will serve as strong motivation and encouragement for him to pursue art with even greater dedication and responsibility.

Pranav is extremely thrilled to receive the special prize from judge – An Vedi. This is an immeasurable inspiration to him and he will always cherish this as one of the most treasured moments in his musical journey.

Our highest respect to the judge for this immensely encouraging and distinguished honor.

I am especially grateful to CIMC team for the guidance throughout this process. The seriousness, fairness, promptness and rigor with which the entire process was handled reflects the exemplary professionalism and organizational excellence of your team.

Thank you once again for this great opportunity and recognition.” — Pranav Sundarrajan & Family