Lauren Elder is an actress, director, singer-songwriter, and Champion Whistler (1st Place MMW 2017, 3rd place Global Whistling Championship 2020).

Lauren has been seen on Broadway in Side Show and Hair and in the West End in Hair.

On TV: Law & Order SVU, Heels, Boardwalk Empire, Louie, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, 2009 Tony Awards.

Other Theater: The Gospel According to Heather (Off-Broadway) Hair (Shakespeare in the Park/NY Public Theater), The Village of Vale (Lincoln Center), Orange Star Smasharoo; Regional: Mary and Max (World Premiere, BroadwayWorld Regional Award: Best Actress), Side Show (Kennedy Center, La Jolla Playhouse), Cinderella (Alabama Shakespeare Festival);

Lauren is also a private acting, voice, and career coach and an on-set acting coach for Disney. She performs regularly in nightclubs around Los Angeles and NYC, and is one of the hosts of Monday’s at the Club - a weekly Spontaneous Cabaret Curated on the Fly at Club Cumming.

Her debut album can be found on iTunes and Spotify!

Personal Website: http://laureneldermusic.com/

Yusuke Matsumura, from Tokyo, has a strong background in vocal music and whistling.

After graduating from Shinshu University, he earned a master's degree in Music Education from Tokyo Gakugei University and specialized in vocal performance at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Trossingen in Germany.
Since 2023, Matsumura has been a bass singer with the choir of the Theater Plauen-Zwickau in Saxony, Germany.

He began teaching himself to whistle at the age of 13 and has been performing publicly since 2014. His talent in whistling earned him first place in the Judges’ Award Category of the Global Whistling Championship in 2020 and the title of Global Champion in 2021.

In 2024, Matsumura performed with an orchestra at the Hagen Theater in Germany. He also achieved first place in the Recorded Accompaniment Category (Adult Division) and second place in both the Hikifuki and Allied Arts Category (Solo Division) at the World Whistling Convention (WWC 2024) in Kawasaki, Japan.

Yusuke Matsumura's extensive training and international accolades in both singing and whistling bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the judging panel, ensuring a thorough and insightful evaluation of the competitors.

Romu Aoyagi is a renowned whistling champion, celebrated for his exceptional skill and musicality. He graduated from the Department of Musical Creativity and the Graduate School of Music at Tokyo University of the Arts, where he studied music production, music education, and vocal performance.

Aoyagi's musical journey began at the age of five with violin lessons through the Suzuki Method. Although he explored various instruments, he was captivated by the vibrant and resonant tones of whistling, a talent he cultivated from a young age. In 2014, he made history at the 41st International Whistlers Convention (IWC) by becoming the youngest Japanese male to win the Grand Champion title.

In 2017, Aoyagi's remarkable technique and musicality earned him first place in the inaugural "Mezamashi Classics Extreme Techniques Championship" with his whistling performance. His appearance on the popular TV show "The World Unknown to Matsuko" in 2018 garnered significant attention, further establishing his reputation. That same year, he performed with the Super Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Yukihito Kobayashi.

Aoyagi has also contributed to numerous soundtracks as a studio musician, including for NHK's drama series "Toto Neechan." He continually explores new possibilities for whistling, incorporating live electronics and forming the innovative ensemble "AOI" with shamisen and piano.

Since 2020, Romu Aoyagi has served as a judge for the Global Whistling Championship. His extensive training, innovative performances, and dedication to the art of whistling make him a highly esteemed judge, bringing invaluable expertise and insight to the competition.

Personal Website: https://romuromoon.wixsite.com/romuromu