Lewis Eady National Piano Competition [LENPC] Competitors

ANNOUNCING PRIZE WINNERS

ANNOUNCING PRIZE WINNERS

  • WINNER - Alex Bai

    1st Prize | $5,000

    Donated by Murray Jacobs

    + Recital at Lewis Eady Steinway Showroom

    + Performance opportunity with the Auckland Philharmonia

    Henry Meng

    2nd Prize | $3,000

    Donated by Sally Evennett in memory of her late husband Derek Evennett

    Madeleine Xiao

    3rd Prize | $1,000

    Donated by Trinity College London

    Madeleine Xiao

    Best Performance of a Classical Sonata | $1000

    Donated by Auckland Branch of Institute of Registered Music Teachers

    Lifeng (Steven) Song

    Best Performance of a New Zealand Work | $500

    Donated by SOUNZ

  • After two days of intense semi-final performances, three top talents have emerged!

    ALEX BAI
    HENRY MENG
    MADELEINE XIAO

    These outstanding musicians will compete in the Grand Final, showcasing recitals by three pianists and three string players on Monday, 16 December at Westlake Girls High School Events Centre.

  • COMPETITION OPENING EVENT
    13 December     (invitation only)

    SEMI-FINAL ROUNDS
    14 & 15 December
    The University of Auckland School of Music
    - Tickets available on the door

    Per Session:
    General Admission / Adult / Gold Card - $15.
    Student - $10.
    Child (10 & under) - Free


    GRAND FINAL
    16 December
    Westlake Girls High School Event Centre
    - Tickets available on the door & via Humanitix

    General Admission / Adult - $50.
    Gold Card - $35.
    Student - $25.

  • 1st Prize | $5,000
    Donated by Murray Jacobs

    + Recital at Lewis Eady Steinway Showroom
    + Performance opportunity with the Auckland Philharmonia

    2nd Prize | $3,000
    Donated by Sally Evennett in memory of her late husband Derek Evennett

    3rd Prize | $1,000
    Donated by Trinity College London

    Best Performance of a Classical Sonata | $1000
    Donated by Auckland Branch of Institute of Registered Music Teachers

    Best Performance of a New ZealandWork | $500
    Donated by SOUNZ

  • - in alpha order

    Alex Bai
    William Berry
    Ozan Biner-McGrath
    Ciaran Carroll
    Hao Tian (Peter) Hu
    David Li
    Shan Liu
    Henry Meng
    Jesse Oh
    Ethan Rawhiti-Hotter
    Lifeng (Steven) Song
    Yixuan (William) Sun
    Dylan Tang
    Madeleine Xiao
    William Xu

  • 14 - 16 DECEMBER 2024

    SEMI-FINAL ROUNDS 1 & 2
    The University of Auckland School of Music

    SATURDAY, 14 DECEMBER - ROUND 1 | 9:30am | 1:15pm | 5:00pm

    SUNDAY, 15 DECEMBER - ROUND 2 | 9:30am | 1:15pm | 5:00pm

    Fifteen pianists each perform two 30-minute recital programmes of their choice including a work by a New Zealand composer.
    Three piano finalists announced at the conclusion.


    MASTERCLASSES
    The University of Auckland School of Music
    MONDAY, 16 DECEMBER
    Piano Masterclass - Dr Paul Rickard-Ford | 12:00pm


    GRAND FINAL
    Westlake Girls High School Event Centre
    MONDAY, 16 DECEMBER | 6:30pm

    Recitals from three string players and three pianists will be presented.

    At the conclusion, the adjudicators will announce the prize winners.

  • SESSION 1
    9:30am - William Xu

    10:00am - Alex Bai

    10.30am - William Berry

    11:00am -11.30am - BREAK

    11:30am - Ozan Biner-McGrath

    12.00pm - Ciaran Carroll

    SESSION 2

    1:15pm - Hao Tian (Peter) Hu

    1:45pm - David Li

    2:15pm - Shan Liu

    2:45pm - 3:15pm - BREAK

    3:15pm - Henry Meng

    3:45pm - Jesse Oh

    SESSION 3

    5:00pm - Lifeng (Steven) Song

    5:30pm - Yixuan (William) Sun

    6:00pm - Dylan Tang

    6:30pm - Madeleine Xiao

    Approx. 7:15pm - FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Fifteen of New Zealand’s most talented emerging piano players have been chosen to perform in the live Competition. They will join the fifteen National String Competition semi-finalists for two semi-final rounds, then a Grand Final where the top six will vie for a prize pool of $20,000, plus the opportunity to perform with the Auckland Philharmonia.

  • Alex Bai, 14, is a Year 9 student at Dilworth School, Auckland. He began learning piano at the age of five and has studied with renowned teachers including Tianhui Zhang (California), Able Zhu, Bryan Sayer, Stephen De Pledge (Auckland), Michael Endres (Christchurch), and Xin Wang (Germany). Alex has achieved outstanding success in numerous local and international competitions. In 2022, he became the youngest semi-finalist in the prestigious Lewis Eady National Piano Competition. He performed as a soloist with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) in Wellington in April 2023 and is scheduled to perform again in October. His recent solo recitals were held in Auckland and Aachen, Germany. In addition to his solo work, Alex is passionate about chamber music and regularly performs in retirement villages around Auckland with his friends. He also plays the clarinet and violin in his spare time and enjoys basketball as his favourite sport. 

  • William Berry, from Lower Hutt, completed his piano performance degree at Victoria University under Dr. Jian Liu in 2023. He has been taught by Elizabeth Marrison, Ludwig Treviranus, and Gillian Bibby. William has achieved notable success in competitions, winning the 2023 IRMT Wellington Sonata Celebration, and being a semi-finalist in both the 2022 National Concerto Competition and the 2022 Lewis Eady Piano Competition. He also won the 2023 NZSM Concerto Competition, performing Rachmaninoff's Concerto No. 2 with orchestra. In 2022, William was sponsored by Professor Jack C. Richards to attend the Semaine Internationale de Piano in Switzerland, where he was selected to perform as a young artist in 2023. He received the 2023 Upper Hutt Concert Grand Piano Trust Prize and has participated in masterclasses with Boris Berman, Edith Fischer, James Giles, and Joyce Yang. William is currently a second-year law student at Victoria University. 

  • Ozan Biner-McGrath, a Year 11 student at Logan Park High School in Dunedin, began piano lessons at a young age with Tom McGrath and John Colwill and has also studied with John Van Buskirk. He has participated in masterclasses with Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Terence Dennis, and Jian Liu. In 2023, Ozan won the IRMTNZ Otago Branch Senior Scholarship, performed Haydn’s D Major Piano Concerto with the Dunedin Collegiate Orchestra, and was a finalist in the Lewis Eady National Junior Piano Competition. He has also excelled in chamber music, leading winning groups in the last three NZCT Otago district contests. Beyond piano, Ozan plays percussion in the Dunedin Youth Orchestra and enjoys cricket and cooking. 

  • Ciaran Carroll, originally from Palmerston North, began piano lessons at the age of five. Throughout his schooling, he completed his piano grades, achieving his LTCL with high distinction. Now in his fourth year at the University of Auckland, Ciaran is pursuing a dual degree in Engineering and a Bachelor of Music. He is studying under Stephen De Pledge, whose mentorship has greatly enhanced his technique and musical insight. Ciaran’s piano journey includes performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto with the Manawatu Youth Orchestra and competing in national competitions, and regional chamber music competitions with friends. After completing his studies in New Zealand, Ciaran plans to explore further opportunities overseas, continuing his growth as a musician.

  • Hao Tian (Peter) Hu, 13, is a Year 9 student at Saint Kentigern College. He has achieved both LRSM and LTCL diplomas, along with Grade 8 Theory, and is currently preparing for his FRSM exam this year. Peter began studying piano at the age of four under the guidance of GaWon Kim and has since won numerous awards in national and international competitions. His accolades include 1st prize at the 2019 Melbourne International Piano and Strings Festival, a Gold award at the 2023 Aegio International Piano Competition, and the Most Promising Under 12 Years Old award at the Te Awamutu Performing Arts Competition. Peter has also excelled in various events like WAPAC, SAPACS, and NSPAS competitions. In addition to his solo accomplishments, Peter is a skilled chamber musician. His trio was invited to the final round of the 2024 NZCT New Zealand Chamber Music Competition in Wellington.  

  • David Li is a third-year student at the University of Auckland, pursuing a dual major in Classical Piano Performance and Information Systems. Under the guidance of Stephen De Pledge and Rae de Lisle, David has honed his skills as a pianist. He has received numerous accolades, including the Swedlund Music Bursary Scholarship (2021), 1st prize in the Institute of Registered Music Teachers of New Zealand’s DD O’Connor Instrumental and Piano Scholarship (2021), and 2nd prize in the Margaret Doone Sonata Competition (2023). In 2024, he was awarded the Haydn Staples & Auckland Philharmonia Piano Scholarship. David has extensive experience in both performance and teaching. He has worked as a private piano tutor, theory tutor, and accompanist at WE Music School and Maestro Music School since 2020. An enthusiastic chamber and collaborative pianist, David’s piano-percussion quartet also won first prize at the 2023 University of Auckland Chamber Competition.

  • Shan Liu is a 14-year-old student at Westlake Boys High School studying under Stephen De Pledge. His accolades include First Prize at the 2020 Cesar Franck International Piano Competition (Belgium), the 2022 International Piano Competition for Young Musicians (The Netherlands), and the Gold Award at the 2023 GOCAA New York International Music Competition. Shan also received the 2023 GOCAA Signed Young Artist Award and became the youngest-ever winner of the NZ National Junior Piano Competition. Shan has performed at Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, and Auckland Town Hall. In 2022, he earned acclaim for his solo recital at the International Music Festival Beethoven Orbit in Germany. In 2024, he will participate in the prestigious Morningside Music Bridge Programme in Boston, USA. Since the age of nine, Shan has appeared as a soloist with various orchestras, including the NZSO, NYO, APO Up Close Concerts, Auckland Symphony Orchestra, Manukau Symphony Orchestra, Bay of Plenty Symphonia, St Matthews Chamber Orchestra, and Orchestra Auckland.

  • Henry Meng is a pianist and composer studying at the University of Auckland, where he is mentored by Rae de Lisle and Stephen de Pledge. As a pianist, Henry has performed with both the Auckland Philharmonia and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. In 2023, he won second place in the National Concerto Competition, with his performance of Rachmaninoff’s third piano concerto. As a composer, Henry’s works have been performed by leading orchestras in New Zealand, including the Auckland Philharmonia and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO). He was the recipient of the 2023 TODD Young Composer’s Award, and one of his orchestral pieces, Fanfare, is featured in the NZSO’s 2024 concert season. Henry’s dual passion for performance and composition continues to drive his musical journey as he explores new creative avenues in both fields. 

  • Jesse Oh is in his final year of a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Piano Performance at the University of Auckland, where he studies under Sarah Watkins and Bryan Sayer. He is the recipient of the two-year Kathleen Mary Reardon Memorial Music Scholarship (2023/2024) and was awarded the Llewelyn Jones Prize in Music for Piano. Jesse has achieved first place in several local competitions, including IRMT, SAPACS, WAPAC, and TPACS. A passionate collaborative musician, Jesse has extensive experience working with chamber ensembles and choirs. In 2023, he was awarded First in Course for his university chamber music module and received the Carl and Alberta Rosenfeldt Prize in Chamber Music in 2022. That same year, Jesse joined the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra’s Aspiring Musicians Program, which provided him with numerous performance opportunities. In addition to his piano achievements, Jesse is also a dedicated violinist and violist, further enriching his musical versatility. 

  • Ethan Rawhiti-Hotter is a Wellington-born pianist in his third year of study majoring in piano performance at Victoria University of Wellington. He has studied under Dr. Jian Liu and Emma Sayers. 

    Ethan has enjoyed performing since he began learning the piano at the age of seven, and has played in many ensembles and groups. In 2023 he performed in an ensemble that won the 2023 NZSM ensemble award. In 2024, Ethan was sponsored by Professor Jack C. Richards to attend the Semaine Internationale de Piano festival in Switzerland, where he participated in Masterclasses with many renowned pianists, including Edith Fischer, François Dumont, and Juan Lago. 

    Ethan is dedicated to collaborating with other musicians and aims to achieve a career as a teacher and performer. 

  • Steven Song, a 13-year-old pianist, commenced his piano studies in 2021 and is presently under the tutelage of Stephen De Pledge. His exceptional talent has earned him notable accolades, including a second-place finish at the North Shore Concerto Competition and multiple awards at local competitions, such as the South Auckland, Christchurch, IRMT, and Singapore International Piano Competitions. In addition to his achievements in piano, Steven has been learning the clarinet for the past year and currently performs with the Aotea Youth Symphony Orchestra. 

  • William Sun, a talented pianist and student at the University of Auckland, studies under Rae de Lisle and Justin Bird. He began his musical journey at age four with his mother, a piano teacher, and has since achieved notable success, including winning two classes at the 2021 North Shore Performing Arts Competitions and receiving prizes in the 2023 Margaret Doone Memorial Piano Sonata Scholarship. In addition to his piano studies, William showcases his versatility as a trumpet player with the Tian Guo Marching Band, Auckland Youth Orchestra, and University of Auckland Symphony Orchestra. 

  • Dylan Tang, 18, is a first-year Bachelor of Music student at the University of Auckland, studying piano under Rae de Lisle. He began playing piano at the age of six and has since won several piano competitions in New Zealand, including the North Shore Performing Arts Competitions (NSPACS), Lewis Eady, and Institute of Registered Music Teachers (IRMT) competitions. Recently, Dylan advanced to the first round of the prestigious Vlassenko Competition. In addition to piano, Dylan is passionate about the violin, which he started learning at 11. He has been an active member of both his school’s orchestra and chamber orchestra and has participated in chamber music competitions, showcasing his dual talent for both piano and violin. 

  • Madeleine Xiao, 19, has completed her Bachelor of Music at the University of Auckland under Rae de Lisle, Bryan Sayer, and Katherine Austin. She has achieved top awards and scholarships internationally, performing in New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Germany, and the U.K. In 2024, Madeleine reached the semifinals of the Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition and won the Best NZ Pianist Award. She also received the Pettman Royal-Overseas-League Scholarship, supporting a career development tour across Europe. Madeleine has won the University of Auckland Concerto Competition, and the Auckland Youth Orchestra Piano Concerto Competition, and collaborated with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Benjamin Northey. As a chamber musician, she has performed with renowned artists and been featured in the At the World’s Edge (AWE) Festival. She is a Haydn Staples Auckland Philharmonia Piano Scholar for 2023/2024 and her ensemble, Kaha Trio is an Auckland Phil ‘Aspiring Musicians’ Ensemble, having been invited to perform across NZ and regarded as one of the top up-and-coming young ensembles.

  • William Xu, 13, has recently started college and has been studying piano for seven years, currently under Stephen de Pledge and Jian Liu. He has earned gold and first-place awards in several local competitions and achieved second place in the Ming Classical International Competition in Switzerland. In 2022, William was awarded a piano scholarship from the Chiron Lewis Eady Foundation. In addition to piano, William plays the cello and trumpet, receiving a music scholarship at St Kentigen College. He loves to be involved in various musical activities, such as chamber music, concert band, and choir.