Kevin Chen, a 20-year-old pianist hailing from Calgary, secured the second position at the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, while American Eric Lu clinched the top spot. Chen, among the 11 finalists, showcased his skills by performing a concerto with the Warsaw Philharmonic under the baton of conductor Andrey Boreyko during the final round held on October 18, 19, and 20. This year’s competition saw a total of 84 competitors, including five Canadians: Victoria Wong, Ryan Wang, Eric Guo, and Athena Deng.
The winner emerged after extensive deliberations by a 17-member international jury led by American pianist Garrick Ohlsson. The prestigious first prize in this 98-year-old competition includes a cash award of 60,000 euros (approximately $98,000 CAD) and a gold medal presented by the President of Poland. Kevin Chen was awarded the silver medal along with 40,000 euros (around $65,000 CAD), while Zitong Wang from China, securing the third position, received a bronze medal and 35,000 euros (approximately $57,000 CAD).
Janet Lopinski, the President and Artistic Director of the Canadian Chopin Society, expressed her excitement at Chen’s achievement, noting his youth and promising future. Chen, who began his piano journey at the age of five and debuted with the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra at age seven, has garnered accolades over the years. His musical talent and sensitivity have been praised by Calvin Dyck, the director of the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra.
Having won several prestigious competitions in recent years, including the Arthur Rubinstein Piano Master Competition in Tel Aviv, the Geneva International Music Competition, and the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition in Budapest, Kevin Chen is now based in Hanover, Germany. To reach the final stage of the Chopin Piano Competition, Chen navigated through a preliminary round involving 171 pianists, followed by three solo recitals in October.
Canadian pianists have showcased their prowess in previous editions of the Chopin Piano Competition, with notable successes by artists like Bruce Liu, Charles Richard-Hamelin, and Dang Thai Son. The competition, held every five years around the anniversary of Chopin’s death on October 17, has seen esteemed laureates such as Maurizio Pollini, Martha Argerich, and Yundi Li, propelling winners to international fame through concert engagements and recording projects.