The highly anticipated 2021 Kayserburg International Youth Piano Competition came to a spectacular close on November 15th! This year’s event featured an impressive lineup of eight regional representatives from overseas, who competed in the Grand Finals Overseas Group. With over 2,000 participants hailing 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, the competition was fierce as contestants vied for entry into the Grand Finals Overseas Group.
For the 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 the 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
Now, let’s take a closer look at the noteworthy highlights and activities from each of the participating regions.
Singapore: Cristofori Music Pte. Ltd, a renowned authorized dealer of the Pearl River Piano Group, organized the various rounds of the competition in Singapore, attracting an impressive number of over 600 contestants. With a longstanding partnership spanning over 40 years, Cristofori has established itself as one of the largest Pearl River dealers globally. Notably, Cristofori has also evolved into the largest music school in Southeast Asia, boasting a staggering enrollment of over 15,000 students.
The Singapore regional finals featured a distinguished panel of judges including Miki Arimura from Japan, Gan Xun from China, Gwen U and Vivian Reiko Chan from Singapore, and Law Leh Sang from Malaysia. Adhering to strict pandemic semi-lockdown guidelines, the judging process combined remote live streams with in-person auditions to evaluate the 108 semi-finalists. Ultimately, Estelle Goh (age 14) and Michael Abimanyu Kaeng (age 17) emerged as the representatives from Singapore for the Grand Finals Overseas Group.
Hong Kong, China: The China Hong Kong regional finals were organized by Greenery Music Limited, the authorized organizer for the event. The preliminary rounds took place at One Stage Academy of Music & Arts, a subsidiary of Greenery Music, and showcased the talents of 30 semi-finalists. With intense competition, Yim Cho Ting (age 17) and Shuen Tsz Ying (age 14) emerged as the qualifiers for the Grand Finals Overseas Group representing China Hong Kong. Congratulations to the entire team at Greenery Music for their exceptional work in making the event a success!
Manila, Philippines: Sounds Kradle Inc., the organizer of the event in Manila, Philippines, successfully managed to overcome various challenges posed by the pandemic restrictions. Despite the circumstances, contestants had the opportunity to perform live on the Kayserburg GH275 full-size concert grand at a designated studio, with appointments made in advance. The musical community in Manila showed remarkable support for the regional auditions, and after rigorous rounds of selection, the judges provided positive feedback for Catherine W. Li (age 14) and Pauline A. Aguila (age 23), who have qualified to compete in the Grand Finals Overseas Group. Congratulations to Sounds Kradle and the entire community for their outstanding achievement!
United States: Contestants from Chicago, Illinois, Tacoma, Washington, and Irvine, California participated in the US regional auditions for the first time, showing remarkable enthusiasm. The auditions were jointly organized by Skelley Piano, Grand Piano Haus, and Opus 119 The School of Music. Among the talented participants, Jayden Yeung (age 16) from Irvine, California emerged as the representative of the USA for the Grand Finals Overseas Group.
Australia: Australia saw participation from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane in the Kayserburg International Youth Piano Competition. Despite Sydney’s strict lockdown mandates, The Piano Fantasy, the official host of the Sydney regional auditions, ensured that contestants were provided with appointed professional piano studios throughout the city. The sponsorship of a Kayserburg concert grand piano, model KA212, was greatly appreciated by the candidates who participated in the local auditions.
Melbourne witnessed a strong participation of over 200 contestants who qualified for their local auditions in the Kayserburg International Youth Piano Competition. The event was made possible by the official sponsorship of Australian Music World, with support from the local piano teacher’s association. The Melbourne teachers association, parents, and students involved in the auditions were impressed by the presence of the official piano, a Kayserburg KA275Z, a full-size 9′ concert grand piano generously sponsored by Australian Music World.
Brisbane, in collaboration with YW Music PTY LTD, Griffith University, and The University of Queensland, successfully recruited a remarkable number of top-level young artists, resulting in an impressive 100 entries for their local auditions in the Kayserburg International Youth Piano Competition. The Pearl River Piano Group extends its deep appreciation to YW Music for their generous sponsorship of the official piano, the Kayserburg GH275Z, a magnificent 9′ concert grand, for the Brisbane regional auditions. The students and teachers were delighted with their first-hand experience performing on the GH275Z, with many reporting favorably on its exceptional quality and performance.
Australia has achieved tremendous success in its second term as the regional host for the Kayserburg International Youth Piano Competition. The number of entries has exceeded expectations, with more than quadruple the participation compared to the previous year in 2019. This remarkable growth is a testament to the growing enthusiasm and talent within the Australian piano community.
A remarkable number of over 400 entries were received from Australia, showcasing the immense talent and dedication of young pianists in the country. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Roy Zhang (age 13) from Sydney and Yi Zheng Cai (age 28) from Brisbane for their exceptional performances, earning them a well-deserved qualification for the Grand Finals Overseas Group. We wish them the best of luck in the next stage of the competition.
Quito, Ecuador: We express our sincere gratitude to Almacenes Juan Eljuri Cia. Ltda., our official host in Ecuador, for their generous sponsorship of the Kayserburg grand model GH188A, which served as the official piano for the regional auditions. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Almacenes Juan Eljuri Cia. Ltda. opened their showroom to contestants from diverse backgrounds and achieved remarkable outcomes. We extend our congratulations to Guaitara Macias Jair Anibal (age 16) and Lucas Santiago Bravo Lituma (age 30) for their outstanding performances, earning them the opportunity to represent Ecuador in the Grand Finals Overseas Group.
Jakarta, Indonesia: In their inaugural year as a sponsor, PT. Citra Intirama from Jakarta made remarkable efforts in promoting piano education and live performance art across Indonesia. Their extensive coverage of the Kayserburg International Youth Piano Competition included Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, and Medan, reaching aspiring young pianists throughout the country. We extend our congratulations to PT. Citra Intirama for their outstanding contribution. Among the talented participants, we are proud to announce that Wilson Matthew Jogi Lincoln (age 18) and Alexander Ravel Kristono (age 16) have emerged as the representatives for Indonesia in the Grand Finals Overseas Group. Well done, PT. Citra Intirama!
Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam: In their second term as the official sponsor, Ted Saigon from Ho Chi Minh City exhibited exceptional dedication in preparing for the competition well ahead of schedule. They initiated “Kayserburg Piano Got Talent” in December 2020, which marked the beginning of official auditions for Vietnam. After ten months of concerted efforts, the auditions concluded successfully in October 2021. Ted Saigon left no stone unturned in their promotional endeavors, orchestrating an extensive 10-month campaign on various social media platforms and websites, including Facebook and YouTube. Their efforts garnered immense support from the communities of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
The thrilling lineup of events saw enthusiastic involvement from prominent Vietnamese conservatories and music schools. As a result, Nguyen Hoang Anh (age 18), Nguyen Mai Chau Giang (age 14), and Tyann Nathan Ly (age 19) emerged as the representatives for Vietnam in the Grand Finals Overseas Group. The official piano used during the Vietnamese regional finals was the Kayserburg GH275Z, a magnificent full-size concert grand. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Ted Saigon for their exceptional efforts and a job excellently accomplished!
In summary, the Overseas Group Auditions witnessed a remarkable growth in the number of participants, surpassing expectations and setting new records with over 2000 young artists taking part. This achievement was made possible by the tremendous support of teachers, students, and regional dealers worldwide, who played a pivotal role in nurturing the development of talented young individuals. With the global sponsorship of the Pearl River Piano Group, the influence of piano education continues to expand on a global scale. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our partners for their invaluable contributions in making 2021 yet another resounding success!
The World’s First 3D Printed Piano: Celestial Harmony Spacewalk
Music China, the leading music industry event in Asia, witnessed a groundbreaking moment with the debut of Pearl River Piano Group’s 3D printed grand piano. Taking place over four days in Shanghai and drawing more than 11,000 visitors from 81 countries, the spotlight was captured by the Kayserburg futuristic spacecraft concept grand piano, aptly named ‘Celestial Harmony Spacewalk’. Among the 2,252 exhibitors representing 31 countries, this innovative creation stood out as a highlight of the exhibition.
Leng Tshua, the Global Sales and Marketing Director of Pearl River Piano Group, states that the piano’s futuristic design is a natural result of combining highly advanced CNC processes with 3D printing technology. Leng emphasizes their commitment to advancing technology and innovation for future keyboard instruments. To showcase this objective, they believe there is no better approach than creating a piano that embodies the aesthetics of space exploration through harmonious convergence.
Pearl River Piano Group representatives claim that the 8-foot grand piano was manufactured from carbon fiber polyester material, which is ideal for producing superior sound quality. A large 3D printer was used to create the piano’s unique Celestial Harmony Spacewalk shape. To create a sense of a spacewalk while observing celestial beings in an unknown universe, the piano was finished with changing and overlapping colors. These colors, according to Pearl River representatives, combine with the instrument’s soothing rhythmic notes to provide a calming experience.
