Joshua Kováč, 16, from Johnson City, Tennessee, studies with Daniel Veis, a renowned cellist and Professor at Park University. Joshua has won top prizes at numerous national and international competitions, including 1st prize at Nashville Symphony Curb Concerto Competition, 1st prize at the Gustav Mahler International cello competition, 2nd prize at the MTNA National Competition, 1st prize at Rudolph Barshai International String Competition, 1st prize at Park-Na International Competition, 2nd prize at Hilton Head Symphony Youth Concerto Competition, 2nd prize at Heran International Competition, and 1st prize at ProBohemia International Competition. Joshua has performed the Dvořák Cello Concerto with the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra. His other solo appearances with orchestra include Kinnor Philharmonic, ETSU Chamber Orchestra, and Scruffy City Orchestra. On February 6, 2020, Joshua appeared on NPR's radio show From The Top and performed at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. He is also a recipient of the From The Top's 2020 Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. Recently, Joshua attended the prestigious cello masterclasses at the Kronberg Academy in Germany, where he was accepted into the class of renowned cellist and professor of Paris Conservatoire, Jérôme Pernoo. Joshua has taken part in various music festivals, including Music@Menlo Chamber Music Institute, Jérôme Pernoo Cello Workshop in France, and Heartland and ETSU Chamber Music Festivals. Joshua played in masterclasses with Zlatomir Fung, Gilbert Kalish, Matt Haimovitz, Steven Doane, Jérôme Pernoo, Keith Robinson, Johannes Moser, and the members of the Harlem and Parker String Quartets.