Young Asian pianists take home top prizes as Chopin competition concludes in Warsaw

Young pianists of Asian descent delivered outstanding performances at the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, which concluded in Warsaw on Tuesday.

First held in 1927 and organized every five years, the competition features a repertoire solely from Polish composer Frederic Chopin (1810-49) and is regarded as one of the world's most prestigious music events. It's open to pianists aged 16-30 from around the world.

This year's winner was 28-year-old Chinese-American pianist Eric Lu, a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Robert McDonald and Jonathan Biss. Lu has also studied with Vietnamese-Canadian pianist Dang Thai Son, who won the Chopin competition in 1980.

Previously, Lu won first prize in the Leeds International Piano Competition in 2018 and placed fourth in the Chopin competition in 2015.

Among the 11 finalists this year, nine were of Asian descent, including three from China.

Chinese-Canadian pianist Kevin Chen, 20, claimed the second prize, while Chinese artist Wang Zitong took third place, in addition to the Krystian Zimerman Award for the best performance of a sonata.

Chinese artist Lyu Tianyao, 16, shared fourth prize with Japanese pianist Shiori Kuwahara. Lyu also received the Warsaw Philharmonic Award for the best performance of a concerto for her interpretation of Chopin's Piano Concerto No 1 in E Minor, Op 11.

Malaysian candidate Vincent Ong and William Yang from the United States ranked fifth and sixth, respectively. Chinese pianist Li Tianyou was honored with the Fryderyk Chopin Society Award for the best performance of a polonaise.

Throughout the years, Chinese pianist have done well in the competition. In 2000, Chinese pianist Li Yundi won the competition, with Chen Sa winning fourth. Yang Yike took fifth prize in 2015.