16-Year-Old Pianist Wins Prize

Posted by Sarah Canice Funke Jun 30, 2008

The Gina Bachauer Young Artists International Piano Competition, a competition known for determining the next generation of classical performers, awarded the top prize of $8,000 to Si Jing Ye.

The young musician, originally from China, currently lives in New York City. In order to win the prestigious prize, he had to compete against a total of 29 contestants. When the panelists had narrowed the competition down to six finalists, Si Jing Ye performed the well-beloved (and difficult) Tchaikovsky's Concerto in B-flat Minor and was declared the winner on Saturday, June 28.

The second place winner, Kenric Tam of Los Altos Hill, Calif., received $6,000 and the third place winner, Jonathan Floril of Spain, received $5,000.

The 10-member jury included chairman Douglas Humphrey of the United States, Rolf-Dieter Arens of Germany, Paola Bruni of Italy, Alan Chow of the United States, Mirian Conti of Argentina, Mieko Harimoto of Japan, Faina Lushtak of Russia, Thomas Schumacher of the United States, Zhe Tang of China and Veda Zuponcic of the United States. The competition took place in the Jeanne Wagner Theatre of the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

For more information, please read the Desert News article.