KERIKERI INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION
“Astounding”

RECORD AUDIENCES &
AMAZING MUSICIANS

The 2012 Kerikeri International Piano Competition has been heralded a massive success, with audiences sizes reaching record numbers and the calibre of musicians contesting the coveted event, truly world-class!

Singapore’s Yeh Shih Hsien (19) was declared the winner after three gruelling days of competition. Born in Taiwan and is now studying in Singapore with Professor Albert Tiu, Shih Hsien claimed the $12,000 prizemoney. He was a prize winner at the Singapore National Competition for Violin and Piano, the Kawai International Piano Competition (Taiwan) and the Taiwan National Competition (2010).

Second place was Poland-born Szczepan Kończal (27). A graduate of the Music Academy in Katowice, he was triple laureate of the National Chopin Competitions in Warsaw. He has performed in Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, South Africa, Japan and Canada, Turkey and England. He claimed $6000 in prizemoney.

Third was Christchurch’s Anna Maksymova, (21). Born in Ukraine, she moved to New Zealand in 2002. She is currently studying piano performance with Prof Michael Endres at the University of Canterbury.

Fourth was James Guan (21), a third year student at the Sydney Conservatorium. He was a finalist in the Vlassenko Competition in Brisbane in 2009. This year he has been accepted into the Sydney International Piano Competition.

The Sonata Prize was also won by Yeh Shih Hsien while the Encouragement Award went to Somi Kim and the People’s Choice award was won by Szczepan Kończal.

Rae de Lisle, Head of Piano, Senior Lecturer, School of Music, University of Auckland, described the event as “astounding”.

“This year’s competition has been a resounding success. International piano competitions are big business and do not happen without tireless workers and loyal sponsors. Kerikeri has the enthusiasm, the venue and the piano. It is not hard to imagine the possibility of it growing still further. This is an event to be proud of. “

Full review and details can be found at www.kipc.org.nz.