After eight months of pre-selection process in 15 different cities, more than 20 countries were represented in the final round. They included Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Italy, Sweden, Germany and USA etc, making it a highly competitive international event.
To meet the standard as a qualified member of the Alink-Argerich Foundation, a panel of well-qualified international jury was invited by the Global International Musicians Association.
Jury of the 2019 Competition
Xiaohan Wang, Artistic Director, Jury Chair | Head of Piano, Tianjin Juilliard School | Distinguished Professor, China Conservatory of Music
Matti Raekallio, Jury Chair | Professor, The Juilliard School
Jin Ju, Jury Chair | Concert Pianist
Chuifun Poon, Jury Chair | Executive Director, Arthur Rubinstein International Youth Piano Competition
Shizhen Ying, Distinguished Jury | Professor, Singapore Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Deyue Ge, Distinguished Jury | Professor, China Conservatory of Music
Yili Wu, Distinguished Jury | First Generation of Nationally Acclaimed Pianist and Pioneer of Western Piano Music in China
Raymond Young | Faculty member, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Ng Chong Lim Stm | Faculty member, University of Malaya (Malaysia)
Hui Ling | Professor, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Yizhie Dai | Associate Professor, Tianjin Conservatory of Music
Liping Li | Director, Teaching & Research in Keyboard and Orchestra, School of Arts Lanzhou University
Trán Thu Ha | Director, Vietnam National Academy of Music
Chenyi Lu | Head of Keyboard, School of the Arts, North University of China
Qingyi Zhou | Executive Director, Global International Musicians Association
Anthony Yu Say | President, Piano Teachers’ Guild of the Philippines Foundation
On January 27, the second day of the competition, three different categories took place simultaneously in three different halls at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. All three venues were equipped with Steinway grand pianos.
There are no shortcuts in the journey of a serious pianist, yet practicing alone endlessly is not the only answer either. A series of master classes that the Competition carefully organises provide the necessary professional exposure a young pianist needs to become an all-round musician and performer.
On January 28, many competitors came to the Singapore Cultural Centre to watch the final rounds. After the competition, there were several master classes given by the international jury members. These classes were highly insightful and informative, extremely valuable for all who attended.
The highlight of this Competition was a recital by the Chinese-Italian concert pianist, Jin Ju, whose impressive technical prowess and astonishing artistry fully captivated the audience.
Ziyu Liu, a well-deserved first prizewinner of the Concert Artist Class, will be offered 10 recitals in Asia in addition to SGD 3,000 cash prize, a trophy and certificate. This is an excellent opportunity for any young pianist to jump start his or her concert career. Here at the Award Ceremony, Ziyu gave a magnificent performance of Ravel’s La valse, sharing his joy and his artistic accomplishment with the audience in the hall.
There were many mixed emotions among the competitors at the conclusion of the Competition. Prizewinners felt triumphant while others were less encouraged. Yet, there were some among the latter who, despite their temporary set-back and because of their unwavering love of music, learned from their experience and felt even more motivated to work harder. Such kind of impact on these young pianists brought the greatest satisfaction to the Competition team and made all the hard work behind the scene worth every effort.