Awards & Achievements - The Caedmon Music School

Each year, students from The Caedmon Music School are selected to participate in a number of competitions, both locally, and throughout the world.

The Caedmon Music School has graduated many top competitors from prestigious competitions. Please see below some of our most recent prize winners.

Colin Fuller, piano student of Ms. Chiou since 2015, has been gracing the stage at Carnegie Hall since he was in Second grade. Having placed in many musical competitions during his time at The Caedmon Music School, he was most recently awarded First Prize in the 2020 concert festival, and also placed as an Honorable Mention Winner (Young Musicians Category) of the American Protégé International Piano & Strings Competition in 2021.

Ana Benchimol & Leila Nashat were recently invited to perform at the FunikiJam Off-Broadway performance. The images show the students singing onstage with microphones, supported by creator and host Brian Barrentine and cultural consultant/teaching artist Beatriz Cavalieri. The event was part of FunikiJam’s family musical series, featuring live music, interactive storytelling, and opportunities for young performers to take the stage in a professional theater setting.

Nishta Roy, flute student of Ms. Hoffman, virtually participated with the Flute Center of New York, a worldwide flute choir, in April of 2020. Over 500 flutists from across the globe participated.

Lucy Castro and Jude Castro, piano students of Ms. Chiou are the First Prize Winners of the Concert Festival  International Competition and were selected to perform four-hand piano at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Lucy and Jude also received the Gold Prize from Music-Fest Rising Talents Festival Competition.

Annie Donohoe, voice student of Ms. Chang, won second place in the junior division at the Crescendo International Competition and advanced to the final round. She then was selected as the first place winner in 2021.

Brynna Portella, voice student of Ms. Collins, won 3rd place in the Children’s Classical category of the NATS Regional Auditions in Chester County, PA. She participated in three days of adjudications alongside students from five states.

Brynna performed in Carnegie Hall as a third place winner in the 2024 American Protege Competition. Brynna was also awarded second place in the 2025 American Protege Competition (classical category). 

Kai McKenzie-Ross, voice student of Brooke Collins, won 2nd place in the Children’s category of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) New York City Chapter Auditions.