2026 Jury

Hailed as “...an artist of tremendous conviction, who fascinates even as she provokes... “ by Gramophone Magazine, “...a thrillingly good pianist...” by The New Yorker and for her "...big, gorgeous tone and a mesmerizing touch" by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Zhenni has given solo recitals internationally in such notable venues as New York’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, D.C’s Smithsonian Museum, Philadelphia’s Kimmel Performing Arts Center and the Berliner Philharmonie in Germany. 

Zhenni is looking forward to her next recording project with Marin Alsop in collaboration with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra next season. She has recently appeared as a soloist with orchestras such as the Bergen Philharmonic in Norway, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and the Knoxville, Fairbanks, Bucks County, Bay Atlantic, Dominican Republic National, Johns Hopkins, Lower Merion, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestras amongst others. 

Deeply committed to the art of recording, Zhenni has recently released her album for the Steinway & Sons label featuring works by the Ukrainian composer Sergei Bortkiewicz (A Letter), which was reviewed by Gramophone Magazine as “the most consistently beautiful Bortkiewicz recording in the catalogue” and “a must-add to your listening list” by American Record Guide. Zhenni’s next solo albums featuring Beethoven (Beethoven’s Apotheosis), traditional Chinese works (Legend of the Phoenix Queen), and in collaboration with Edmonton Chamber Orchestra are upcoming.  

She is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Opus 71 Concerts, a multidisciplinary concert series near New York’s Lincoln Center and is currently the Head of Piano Area and Associate Professor of Piano at University of Alberta.  Zhenni Li-Cohen is a Steinway Artist.

Daniel Scholz is a distinguished Canadian violist, educator, and conductor whose career has spanned three decades. He served as Principal Violist of both the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra for an impressive 27 seasons, establishing himself as a cornerstone of Manitoba’s classical music community before retiring from these roles in the fall of 2021.

In addition to his orchestral work, Mr. Scholz has been deeply committed to music education and youth development. He was a long-time faculty member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, where he mentored emerging Canadian talent, and taught at the University of Manitoba, inspiring the next generation of violists and chamber musicians. For 15 years, he served as conductor of the Winnipeg Youth Symphony Orchestra, fostering musical excellence and leadership in young performers.

Mr. Scholz is a founding member of the Clearwater Quartet, with whom he has performed extensively. His career as a chamber musician has taken him across North America, Europe, and Australia, earning him recognition for his expressive playing and musical insight.

A dedicated pedagogue, Mr. Scholz has taught at many of Canada’s leading universities and conservatories, and his students have gone on to successful careers as performers and educators across the globe.

Since relocating to Victoria, British Columbia, he has remained active in the Canadian music scene. He performs regularly with Kaimerata, a chamber music collective known for its intimate and engaging performances. He continues to teach privately, adjudicate festivals, and mentor young musicians, sharing his passion for music and his wealth of experience.

Hailed for his passion and natural musicianship, Rolf Bertsch has quickly become one of Canada’s leading conductors. Appointed Assistant Conductor of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal by Charles Dutoit in January 2000 and named Conductor in Residence for the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 seasons. He has built an impressive reputation as a conductor, pianist, communicator, teacher and adjudicator. His career spans a broad spectrum of musical experience and styles. Accordingly, it has taken him to Europe, Asia, and throughout North and South America.  

Mr. Bertsch began his musical studies on the violin and went on to study piano, cello, composition, jazz, and conducting. He also holds diplomas from many prestigious institutions including McGill University, the Mozarteum (Salzburg), the Conservatoire de musique du Québec (Montréal), the Folkwang Hochschule (Essen, Germany), and Phillips Academy (Andover, Massachusetts).

Laureate of numerous competitions, Rolf Bertsch served for many years as the pianist of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa. Additionally, as a solo pianist and also as conductor for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. His career as a pianist has included a solo performance with the OSM in New York’s legendary Carnegie Hall.

Rolf Bertsch’s career took an important turn when he was named Resident Conductor of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. He held the position from 1998-2001. During this highly successful tenure, he also served as Music Director of the Calgary Civic Symphony Orchestra and Altius Brass. He also worked regularly with Calgary’s chamber music ensemble Rosa Selvetica and at the University of Calgary.

Rolf Bertsch has conducted most of the orchestras in Canada including those of Montreal, Toronto, the National Arts Centre, Calgary, Edmonton, Québec, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Nova Scotia. While in those posts, he has collaborated with many of Canada’s and the world’s finest artists.

In 2005, he was part of an international faculty at the Canton International Summer Music Academy in Guangzhou, China. In the last year, he worked at the Canada Council for the Arts as the Program Officer for the Professional Orchestra and Opera/Music Theatre programs. He oversaw the federal granting process for those communities.

In addition to his duties as Music Director and Conductor of the Calgary Civic Symphony, he teaches piano and coaches Academy program students at the Mount Royal University Conservatory. He also works as a freelance conductor, pianist and arts consultant.