Four Bienen School of Music students have been named 2025 fellows by the Luminarts Cultural Foundation. Canon Shibata, a master’s cello student of Hans Jørgen Jensen; Eli Sullivan, a jazz saxophone student of Rob Dixon; Paul Williamson, a doctoral piano student of James Giles; and Jungah Yoon, a doctoral flute student of John Thorne, each received a $10,000 award.

The Luminarts Cultural Foundation supports exemplary young artists through its competitive programs that offer financial awards, artistic opportunities, and mentoring that bridge the gap between education and career.

More information about each winner is available below.

Canon Shibata

Luminarts Fellow in Classical Strings

Celebrated for her "technically flawless and extraordinarily expressive playing" (Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi), cellist Canon Shibata has established herself as one of the most notable Japanese cellists of the rising generation.

A native of Japan, Canon was the first prize winner of the 14th Viva Hall International Music Competition and the second prize winner of the 92nd Music Competition of Japan. In 2022, she won the Grand Prize at Canada’s Robert W. and G. Ann Corcoran Concerto Competition, and the following year, achieved first prize in the Duo and Chamber divisions of the GGS Chamber Music Competition. In November 2024, Canon was selected as a 2025 CHANEL Pygmalion Days Artist.

As a soloist, Canon has performed with prestigious orchestras such as the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa, and the Gumma SymphonyOrchestra, collaborating with notable conductors including Joshua Weilerstein, Naoto Otomo, and Toshiaki Umeda. In October 2023, Canon gave the Japanese premiere of Fazil Say’s Cello Concerto, "Never Give Up," alongside Shimpei Sasaki and Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa.

In January 2023, Canon debuted her first album, "Canon Shibata in Concert," released under Octavia Records, and was featured in Record Geijutsu Magazine. That October, she also began writing serializations for the Japanese Classical Music Magazine, Sarasate. Canon is currently pursuing her master’s degree under the acclaimed pedagogue Hans Jørgen Jensen at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. She received her bachelor’s degree at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music, studying under Andrés Díaz and Hans Jørgen Jensen.

Canon Shibata plays on a rare 1694 Giovanni Grancino cello generously loaned by the Munetsugu Collection, and a Eugène Sartory bow loaned by Mr. Kenji Nishimura. She is supported by the Ezoe Memorial Recruit Foundation, Rohm Music Foundation, Yamaha Music Foundation, Rotary Japan Showa, and the Tokuji Munetsugu Music Foundation, and has been awarded the Daiko Foundation’s Scholarship Study Prize.

Eli Sullivan

Luminarts Fellow in Jazz Improvisation

Eli Sullivan is a saxophonist studying with Rob Dixon in the Bienen School of Music’s jazz department and a neuroscience major in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Originally from Seattle, Washington, he began playing at age eleven, inspired by the city’s vibrant public school jazz scene. He refined his skills under Alex Dugdale and Scott Brown at Roosevelt High School before enrolling at Northwestern. His musical influences include Lennie Tristano, Hermeto Pascoal, and Mark Turner. His senior recital, featuring original compositions and arrangements, will take place on Friday, May 30, at 8:30 p.m. in McClintock Choral and Recital Room.

Paul Williamson

Luminarts Fellow in Classical Piano

Included in CBC Music’s 2017 edition of “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians under 30,” Paul Williamson has established himself as one of Canada’s promising young pianists. He received first prize at both the 2014 Canadian National Music Festival and the 2017 Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Association National Piano Competition in addition to three semifinal awards. He is also a prizewinner of the 2020 WMC McLellan Competition and received 3rd prize at the 2022 Shean Piano Competition and the 2023 Bader and Overton Canadian Piano Competition.

Williamson completed his bachelor’s degree from the University of Manitoba, studying under David Moroz. In the first year of his studies, he won both of the school’s competitions: the annual concerto competition and the Lawrence Genser Music Scholarship competition (given to the most outstanding undergraduate performer). Williamson went on to study at the Colburn School under Fabio Bidini, earning a master’s degree and an Artist Diploma. He is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Musical Arts degree program at Northwestern University in the studio of James Giles.

An advocate of new music, Williamson regularly performs contemporary repertoire and has worked alongside many living composers. He has participated in the Morningside Music Bridge International Music Festival, the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Orford Academy program, the Scotia Festival of Music, the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, the Music Academy of the West, the Saline Royale Academy, Creative Dialogue XIII, and held residency at the Avaloch Farm Music Institute. Alongside flutist, Arin Sarkissian, Williamson is a winner of the 2023/2024 IMAGINE Arts Incubator. In the spring of 2023, Williamson recorded his debut solo album featuring the music of Franz Liszt for Naxos Records. He has also recorded an album of the music of Canadian composer Tristan Zaba alongside Canadian soprano Mckenzie Warriner for the Centrediscs label. Williamson is grateful to have his career supported by the Amron-Sutherland Grant for Young Pianists from the Colburn School.

Jungah Yoon

Luminarts Fellow in Classical Winds

Renowned for her beautiful sound and remarkable technique, Jungah Yoon has established herself as a leading flutist on national and international stages. She has won top prizes in prestigious competitions, including the Donald Peck International Competition, Seattle Young Artist Competition, Australian Flute Festival Competition, and the Osaka International Competition in Japan. She was also the winner of the Woolsey Hall Concerto Competition, where she performed as a soloist with the Yale Philharmonia. Most recently, she gave a solo recital for the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series in Chicago.

Based in Chicago, Jungah is a regular member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and serves as a substitute flutist for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and New World Symphony in Miami.

She has participated in renowned festivals such as Tanglewood Music Center, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. As a passionate chamber musician, she was a quarterfinalist in the 2024 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.

In addition to performing, Jungah is committed to teaching. She served as affiliate flute faculty at Bradley University in 2024 and taught undergraduate students at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music from 2022 to 2024. Since 2024, she has also been mentoring local high school students with the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative.

She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. She holds master’s degrees from the Yale School of Music, where she was awarded the Thomas Nyfenger Prize for excellence in woodwind performance, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Korea National University of Arts, graduating early due to outstanding academic achievement. Her principal teachers include John Thorne, Ransom Wilson, and Joohee Lee.