A blizzard postponed A.J. Trull’s Carnegie Hall moment in January, 2026. It did nothing to diminish the achievement that earned him a place there: the highest Royal Conservatory of Music Level 5 Voice practical examination score in the United States for the entire 2024–2025 academic year.
That achievement earned A.J., 17, of Franklin, the National Gold Medal. On Sunday, February 28, 2027, he will take his well-earned place on the Carnegie Hall stage for a solo performance in the Royal Conservatory’s National Celebration of Excellence.
At Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios, that national distinction is being celebrated alongside the 2025–2026 achievements of eight musicians, who earned five Regional Gold Medals and nine State Certificates of Excellence.
Regional Gold Medalists
Encore’s regional medalists earned the highest practical examination scores in their respective levels and disciplines across the Northeast for the entire 2025–2026 academic year. The RCM’s Northeast region covers 12 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia, plus the District of Columbia.
The medalists, listed alphabetically by surname, are: Alenka Cook, 16, of Medway, for Level 4 Flute; Tejas Kulkarni, 10, of Hopkinton, for Preparatory B Piano; Rishita Phanse, 19, of Mansfield, for Level 8 Voice; Swathi Rangamani, 15, of Lexington, for Level 4 Voice; and, Alice Val, 11, of Franklin, for Level 2 Voice.
All five have been invited to give solo performances in the RCM’s Northeast Celebration of Excellence concert at New York City’s Kaufman Center on Saturday, February 27, 2027.
State Certificates of Excellence
The students’ achievements also earned recognition closer to home. State Certificates of Excellence honor the highest practical examination score in Massachusetts for each discipline and level across the academic year. All five Regional Gold Medalists earned state certificates for the same levels and disciplines, and Tejas Kulkarni earned a second state certificate for Level 1 Piano.
Joining them as state honorees, also listed alphabetically, are: Yashick Dinesh, 14, of Hopkinton, for Level 2 Flute; Adrita Mukherjee, 14, of Acton, for Level 5 Voice; and, Ananya Sharma, 13, of Franklin, for Level 3 Voice.
Behind these achievements is the Royal Conservatory’s Certificate Program, which guides students from beginning lessons through advanced study in repertoire, technique, ear-training, sight-reading, and theory. Professional, independent assessments are conducted by trained members of the RCM’s College of Examiners from Canada and the United States, who travel to assessment centers for in-person examinations.
Their objective evaluations and constructive feedback give families a clear measure of progress against a national standard of excellence and help students and teachers plan the next steps. Each completed level offers a milestone to celebrate and a foundation for the next challenge, helping children grow into confident, well-rounded musicians.
Encore, a Royal Conservatory Founding School and Official Assessment Center at 3 Bent Street in Franklin, warmly congratulates these exceptional young musicians and celebrates the dedication behind their achievements, together with the families and teachers who have supported and encouraged their musical growth. Families interested in learning how this musical path could fit their child’s interests and goals can visit www.encoremusicacademy.net, email info@encoremusicacademy.net, or call 508-533-7700.
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