National Piano & Violin Competition 2023: All Winners Revealed

Singapore, 4 December 2023 — The 14th edition of the National Piano & Violin Competition (NPVC) has concluded on a high note, following an intense nine-day competition of live performances.

Regarded as Singapore’s most esteemed music competition, the biennial competition aims to identify exceptional young artists with outstanding performing skills and musicality.

With over 200 applications received this year, 97 hopefuls were selected to compete in solo piano and violin performances from four categories: Artist (25 years and below); Senior (21 years and below); Intermediate (15 years and below); Junior (11 years and below).

The semi-finals of the Artist and Senior categories tasked competing pianists and violinists to perform set pieces by Singaporean composer  Terrence Wong.

All competition rounds were livestreamed on Singapore Symphony and Singapore National Youth Orchestra’s YouTube channels, in addition to free admission to 21 live performances, alongside the ticketed Artist Finals and Prize Winner’s Concert.

The participants performed before a panel of international adjudicators, featuring Christopher Park, Marianna Shirinyan, Noriko Ogawa for piano; and Erik Heide, Kevin Lin, and Yu-Chien (Benny) Tseng for violin. 

Piano adjudicator and Armenian pianist Marianna Shirinyan said: "It has been delightful to watch these young talented musicians perform with such high technical ability. I can see the amount of hard work and devotion in each of their performances. To learn, master and present an entire repertoire is a huge step forward for these young participants, which they have done so beautifully on the big stage. Keep up the good work!"

Violin adjudicator and American violinist Kevin Lin said: “For us adjudicators, it was difficult to decide on the deserving winners from the line-up of remarkable talents. These candidates have truly demonstrated their capabilities and forte in the selected pieces, which I had the immense pleasure of watching them perform. At the National Piano & Violin Competition, many have showcased their authentic self as a serious musician, and I hope they remain true to themselves in the following chapters of their career.”

Ms Goh Swee Chen, Chairman of the National Arts Council, was Guest-of-Honour at the NPVC Prize Winners’ Concert & Prize Presentation on 3 December.

Since 1997, the NPVC has provided a platform to showcase remarkable talents. Notable Singaporean musicians include SSO Artist-In-Residence Chloe Chua and SSO President’s Young Performer 2023 Wang Huang Hao Jia.

The top three winners in each category received trophies, certificates and cash prizes of up to $5,000. Winners of the four categories are:

PIANO CATEGORIES

Junior (11 years & below)
First prize winner: Newman Tong Kaihan
Second prize winner: Alexander Christian Tiemroth
Third prize winner: Foo Ming En

Intermediate (15 years & below)
First prize winner: Ethan Xuan Lei Peleg
Second prize winner: Luther Ong Boon Khang
Third prize winner: Ma Chun Yin Phyllis

Senior (21 years & below)
First prize winner: Adrian Tang
Second prize winner: Kayden Yap Shi Jie
Third prize winner: Goh Kai Cheng

Artist (25 years & below)
First prize winner: Joshua Lau Jin Quan
Joint third prize winners: Long Jing Xuan, Lee Ann

VIOLIN CATEGORIES

Junior (11 years & below)
First prize winner: Chua Suen Ern
Joint second prize winners: Cathy Chen Xi, Yoojun Curtis Lee
Honourable Mention: Wu Yueer Angela

Intermediate (15 years & below)
First prize winner: Kaleb Toh Yi Chao
Second prize winner: Low Peng Yang
Third prize winner: Lim Yongren Yuto

Senior (21 years & below)
First prize winner: Low Peng Guan
Second prize winner: Foo Yue Ning
Third prize winner: Cheng Wang Hoi Jacob Reuben

Artist (25 years & below)
First prize winner: Zou Meng
Second prize winner: Zou Zhang
Third prize winner: Datsiuk Leonid

Full list of competition results here

Enjoy a playback from the Finals here