I am excited to announce that I was awarded First Prize at the 67th Maria Canals International Music Competition in Barcelona, Spain. In the first round, there were 78 pianists representing 28 countries. It was truly inspiring to hear such a wealth of youthful musical talent. During the four rounds of the competition, I performed works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Scriabin, Albéniz, Rachmaninoff and Fábregas. In the final round, I had the unforgettable experience of performing in the stunning Palau de la Música Catalana, playing Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto with the Jove Orquestra Nacional de Catalunya and Maestro Manuel Valdivieso.
It is an immense honour to have won an award bearing the name of Maria Canals. I am inspired by her enthusiasm for Spanish and Catalan music, and her advocacy for music education. It is humbling to possess a personal connection to her extraordinary legacy.
I would like to express my gratitude to all of the competition organizers and to the Fundació Jesús Serra.
My performances from the competition can be viewed here:
First Round (Bach, Beethoven and Rachmaninoff)
Second Round (Fábregas, Chopin and Scriabin)
Third Round (Albéniz and Rachmaninoff)
Final Round (Rachmaninoff)
Performing Rachmaninoff in the Palau de la Música Catalana
With jury chair Carlos Cebro and brilliant finalists Antonio Chen Guang and Masaya Kamei