Texas Rising Stars Biographies 2025

Yida An was born in Lanzhou, China. He began to study violin with Prof. Li Shuming at the age of six, then with Prof. Chai Liang and Prof. He Xian. He entered Beijing Eastbank Academy of Music studying with Prof. Chai Liang in 2017. He was admitted to the undergraduate program at Central Conservatory of Music in 2018, studying with Prof. Xie Haoming. He was admitted to the graduate program at Bard College Conservatory of Music in 2022, studying with Prof. Gil Shaham and Prof. Adele Anthony. He was enrolled in the Artist Diploma program at UT Austin Butler School of Music in 2024, studying with Prof. Brian Lewis.

During his time so far at UT Austin, he had served as the concertmaster of UT Symphony Orchestra and has also been a member of UT String Project. Back to his time at Bard, he has been actively involved in various performances. He has served as concertmaster of the Bard College of Music Symphony Orchestra for several concerts. He has been a soloist collaborating with Tan Dun conducting The Orchestra Now at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and with the Bard College of Music Symphony Orchestra at the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. He had collaborated with Joan Tower on Music Alive! concert. He also participated in Leon Botstein conducting the 2023 Bard Music Festival. He has performed with The Orchestra Now at Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and several times with the Bard Chinese Ensemble. He organized two solo recitals in New York before graduating from the graduate program. Back to his time at CCOM, he has traveled extensively with the Central Conservatory of Music Youth Symphony Orchestra and has participated in numerous performances including chamber music and solo performances with various orchestras. Prior to studying at CCOM, he has collaborated and soloed with Chai Liang conducting the Accent Symphony Orchestra at the Beijing Concert Hall. Back to his time at BEAM, he has joined and organized several performances in various types, participated in the 4th BEAM International Chamber Music Festival.

Aytahn Benavi, born in Austin, Texas, is one of the eminent young guitarists in America. Aytahn began his studies with the Childbloom guitar program, under Chris Stone and founder Kevin Tayor. At age 12, he also began studying with Joseph V. Williams, and Adam Holzman. Currently Aytahn is working on his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas under Professor Holzman.

Aytahn has won numerous first prizes in 18 and under competitions throughout the United States, including the CSU Guitar Symposium and Competition, Boston GuitarFest academy competition, Texas Guitar Competition and Festival, Indiana International Guitar Festival and Competition, and James Stroud International Classical Guitar Competition. He is a three-time laureate of the Guitar Foundation of America’s International Youth Competition. Success has also come to Aytahn in open division competitions, with prizes won at the Houston Classical Guitar Festival, CSU Guitar Symposium and Competition, and Ex-Aequo International Classical Guitar Competition.

Aytahn has also been a part of some unique musical experiences. In 2017, he performed on the 340th episode of the NPR radio show From The Top, featuring the music of composers of Jewish heritage. In 2018, Aytahn premiered The Joyful Island, an original piece written for him by Italian composer and musicologist Angelo Gilardino.

Aytahn’s guitar was built by Glenn Canin.

Jason Sheng-Chieh Lan has rapidly established himself as a versatile violist through his extensive experiences and unconventional collaborations. He holds the distinction of being the youngest violist in history to present a debut recital at the Taiwan National Concert Hall, performing to a sold-out audience. In subsequent years, he has performed as a soloist with the Idyllwild Arts Academy Orchestra and the Austin Civic Orchestra. Beyond conventional venues, he was invited by Louis Vuitton to collaborate on concerts and was also honored to perform at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Davos World Economic Forum as an outstanding artist.

A Juilliard alumnus, freelancer with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and a teaching assistant and doctoral candidate at the University of Texas at Austin, Jason began studying the viola at the age of nine. He is a National Competition Prize Winner in Taiwan and has received top scholarships from Idyllwild Arts
Academy, as well as full scholarships and fellowships from Yong Siew Toh Conservatory, Tianjin Juilliard, and the University of Texas at Austin.

Chamber music has always been a significant passion for Jason. He participated in the inaugural class of the International Chamber Festival at Tianjin Juilliard School of Music, as well as in the Music Academy of the West and the String Quartet Seminar. He has had the privilege of working and performing with
esteemed musicians such as Richard O’Neil, Nobuko Imai, the Takács String Quartet, the Miro String Quartet, the Shanghai String Quartet, the Juilliard String Quartet, Scott Lee, and faculty members of the Tianjin Juilliard School.

Zichuan (Kevin) Wang is a Doctor of Musical Arts student majoring in violin performance at the University of Texas Butler School of Music. He earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Born in 1998 in Wuhan, China, Kevin began studying violin at the age of four with Mingjian Liu, a renowned violin maker and director of the Wuhan Chamber Orchestra. Under Liu’s guidance, Kevin gained extensive stage experience. In 2012, he joined the Wuhan Chamber Orchestra as assistant concertmaster, performing at local music festivals.

Kevin began his studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2016, where he trained with esteemed faculty including Ivan Zenaty, William Preucil, Brian Lewis, and Stephen Rose. In 2023, he joined the Butler School of Music to pursue his doctorate, continuing his studies with Brian Lewis.

An accomplished musician, Kevin has won numerous accolades. These include the Erudite Prize at the Huangshan International Art Festival (2006), the Golden Award at the 10th CCTV Young Artists Competition (2011), and First Prize in the Concerto Competition at the New York Summer Music Festival (2013). He also participated in the Aspen Music Festival and School in 2015.