The 2021 Kayserburg International Youth Piano Competition concluded on November 15 with great fanfare! This year involved eight overseas regional representatives for the Grand Finals Overseas Group, with over 2,000 participants from Singapore, Hong Kong China, Manila Philippines, Chicago/Tacoma/Irvine USA, Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane Australia, Quito Ecuador, Jakarta Indonesia, and Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi Vietnam competing for entries to the Grand Finals Overseas Group.
For Open Category, the Grand Prize Winners are:
First Prize – Yi Zheng Cai (age 28), Brisbane, Australia
Second Prize – Yim Cho Ting (age 17), Hong Kong, China
Third Prize – Wilson Matthew Jogi Lincoln (age 18), Jakarta Indonesia.
For Student Category, the Grand Prize Winners are:
First Prize – Jayden Yeung (age 16), Irvine, USA
Second Prize – Shuen Tsz Ying (age 14), Hong Kong, China
Third Prize – Estelle Goh (age 14), Singapore
The following are highlights of activity from each of the participating regions.
Singapore: There were over 600 contestants from Singapore who participated in the various rounds organized by Cristofori Music Pte. Ltd, one of the largest Pearl River Piano Group authorized dealers in the world. Cristofori has been an authorized Pearl River dealer for over 40 years and has grown to become the largest music school in Southeast Asia, with over 15,000 students.
The panel of judges for the Singapore regional finals were Miki Arimura from Japan, Gan Xun from China, Gwen U from Singapore, Vivian Reiko Chan from Singapore, and Law Leh Sang from Malaysia. The panel of judges worked under strict pandemic semi-locked down guidelines, by combining remote live stream as well as actual live auditions for the 108 semi-finalists. Estelle Goh (age14), and Michael Abimanyu Kaeng (age 17) were selected to represent Singapore for the Grand Finals Overseas Group.
China Hong Kong: Greenery Music Limited was the authorized organizer for China Hong Kong regional finals. The preliminary rounds were successfully conducted at One Stage Academy of Music & Arts, a subsidiary of Greenery Music. All 30 semi-finalists competed fiercely to qualify for the grand finals on September 12, with Yim Cho Ting (age 17), and Shuen Tsz Ying (age 14) qualified to enter the Grand Finals Overseas Group for China Hong Kong. Congratulations to all at Greenery Music for a job well done!
Manila, Philippines: Organized by Sounds Kradle Inc., and despite various challenges under the pandemic restrictions, contestants were able to perform live on the Kayserburg GH275 full-size concert grand, at a designated studio by appointment. The musical community in Manila reacted with strong support for the regional auditions, after rounds of selection the judges commented favorably for Catherine W. Li (age 14), and Pauline A. Aguila (age 23), who qualified for entries to the Grand Finals Overseas Group. Congratulations to Sounds Kradle and their community for a job well done!
USA: Entered for the first time, contestants from Chicago Illinois, Tacoma Washington, and Irvine California responded with great enthusiasm. The US regional auditions were jointly organized by Skelley Piano, Grand Piano Haus, and Opus 119 The School of Music, with Jayden Yeung (age 16) from Irvine California representing the USA for the Grand Finals Overseas Group.
Australia: In Australia, there were entries from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Despite Sydney being under strict lock-down mandates, contestants were provided with appointed professional piano studios throughout the city thanks to The Piano Fantasy, official host to the Sydney regional auditions. The sponsorship of a Kayserburg concert grand piano, model KA212 was highly appreciated by candidates who entered the local auditions.
In Melbourne, there were over 200 participants who qualified for their local auditions, thanks to Australian Music World for their official sponsorship, with support from their local piano teachers association. The Melbourne teachers association, parents, and students who were involved at their local auditions were impressed by the official piano; a Kayserburg KA275Z, a full size 9’ concert grand piano sponsored by Australian Music World.
Brisbane official host and sponsor YW Music PTY LTD collaborated with Griffith University and The University of Queensland to jointly recruit top-level young artists, resulting in an impressive 100 entries for their local auditions. Pearl River Piano Group greatly appreciated YW Music for their sponsorship of the Kayserburg GH275Z (9’ concert grand) as the official piano for Brisbane regional auditions, with many students and teachers reporting favorably upon their first experience performing on the GH275Z.
It has been a great success for Australia this year on its second term as the regional host for Kayserburg International Youth Piano Competition; the number of entries more than quadrupled as compared to year one in 2019!
In total there were over 400 entries from Australia who shared the valuable experience at their local auditions. Congratulations to both Roy Zhang (age 13) from Sydney, and Yi Zheng Cai (age 28) from Brisbane, for qualifying for the Grand Finals Overseas Group.
Quito, Ecuador: A huge thanks to our official host for Ecuador, Almacenes Juan Eljuri Cia. Ltda., for sponsorship of the Kayserburg grand model GH188A as the official piano for their regional auditions. Almacenes Juan Eljuri Cia. Ltda. opened their showroom to contestants from all walks of life during the pandemic period and came through with great results! Congratulations to Guaitara Macias Jair Anibal (age 16), and Lucas Santiago Bravo Lituma (age 30) for representing Ecuador for the Grand Finals Overseas Group.
Jakarta, Indonesia: As a first-year sponsor, PT. Citra Intirama from Jakarta did a great job in promoting piano education and the art of live performance throughout Indonesia; their coverage of the Kayserburg International Youth Piano Competition for Indonesia included Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, and Medan. Emerging as the two representatives for Indonesia for entries to the Grand Finals Overseas Group were Wilson Matthew Jogi Lincoln (age 18), and Alexander Ravel Kristono (age 16). Congratulations to PT Citra Intirama!
Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam: For their second term as the official sponsor, Ted Saigon from Ho Chi Min City started full preparation for the competition in advance of the date; “Kayserburg Piano Got Talent” was launched in December 2020 to begin the official auditions for Vietnam, which was successfully concluded ten months later in October 2021. No promotional efforts were spared as Ted Saigon created a widespread campaign over 10 months period on social media and websites, including Facebook and YouTube, to gain support from the Ho Chi Min City and Hanoi communities.
The exciting programming culminated in full participation from major Vietnamese conservatories and music schools, entries to the Grand Finals Overseas Group were Nguyen Hoang Anh (age 18), Nguyen Mai Chau Giang (age 14), and Tyann Nathan Ly (age 19). The Kayserburg GH275Z full-size concert grand was the official piano at the Vietnamese regional finals. Thank you, Ted Saigon, for an excellent job well done!
In conclusion, with just a few years, the numbers of participants for Overseas Group Auditions increased more than double the expectations, this year broke new records with over 2000 young artists involved. The tremendous support from teachers, students, and regional dealers all over the world paved the way for higher development to deserving young talents, and under the global sponsorship of Pearl River Piano Group, continues to expand the influence of piano education globally. Our sincere thanks to all our partners for making 2021 another great success!
Videos of the grand prize winners can be viewed by clicking on the links below:
Open Category – First Prize: Yi Zheng Cai – Chopin Etude
Open Category – Second Prize: Yim Cho Ting
Open Category – Third Prize: Wilson Matthew Jogi Lincoln
Student Category – First Prize: Jayden Yeung – Chopin, Beethoven and Bolcom
Student Category – Second Prize: Shuen Tsz Ying
Student Category – Third Prize: Estelle Goh
