The 5th Steinway Youth Piano Competition
2020 will see the 5th edition of the Steinway Youth Piano Competition for young aspiring musicians age 17 and below. The winner of the National Finals will proceed to The Regional Finals, where he or she will compete for the honor of representing Southeast Asia as a performer at the International Steinway Festival 2020 in Hamburg.
About Steinway Festival
Since 1987, the much anticipated International Steinway Festival takes place every two years in Hamburg, Germany. Young pianists from different countries come together for a musical congregation, also known as a “Laeiszhalle”. Programs such as harbour tour or an exclusive dinner at the Steinway Factory would be amongst the many highlights of the Steinway Festival; where an important aspect of the festival is for these young talents to experience the culture of performing on stage, without having competition pressure.
The competition
THE AMATEUR CLASS
For 2020, Steinway Gallery Singapore is proud to introduce a new component to the 5th Steinway Youth Piano Competition. The inaugural Amateur Class is for students who enjoy playing the piano for leisure but wish to have a formal recognition of their progress in their musical journey. Here the competition requirements are more flexible with no compulsory work required hence students have the freedom to choose pieces that would best represent their musical development. The First prize winner from each category will have the opportunity to participate as an observer in the International Steinway Festival 2020.


#STEINWAYIGSTARS2020 VOTING CONTEST
Want to be the FIRST IG Star at Steinway Singapore?
Winners of the IG Stars will get their very own video professionally produced by Steinway Singapore!
To be eligible for the IG Star public voting contest, all you have to do is to take part in the 5th Steinway Youth Piano Competition.
Here is what you need to do:
- Register to take part in the 5th Steinway Youth Piano Competition by filling out the registration form here
- Next, record a short video of 30 seconds or less of you playing your favorite piece on the piano.
- Remember to introduce your name and age in the video.
- Upload the video on to your Instagram account.
- Tag us @SteinwaySingapore
- Include the hashtag #SteinwayIGStars2020
Winners of the IG Stars will be announced on 12 June 2020.
Remember, creativity and uniqueness help you stand out! So get creative!
Schedule
Professional Class
Audition
Date: 24 – 25 February 2020 (Monday – Tuesday)
Venue: Steinway Gallery Singapore*
* The organiser reserved the right to cancel, postpone or change the venue of the competition.
Grand finals
Date: 10 June 2020 (Wed)
Venue: Victoria Concert Hall
Amateur Class
Heats
Date: 4 & 5 June 2020 (Thur – Fri)
Venue: 10 Square Auditorium
* All venues and dates of the competition correct at the time of publication and subject to change in response to the COVID-19 situation.
Grand finals
Date: 10 June 2020 (Wed)
Venue: Victoria Concert Hall
Class, Repertoire requirements & Entry fee
Professional Class
Category 1 - Ages 11 and below (i.e. born on or after January 1, 2009)
Repertoire requirements
- Participants must present 3 contrasting selections.
- Repertoire must include the first movement of a Sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Clementi or Schubert.
- No concerti or transcriptions are allowed.
- Participants are required to perform the exact same repertoire for further stages of the
competition. - Auditions will be conducted in a continuous, live-recording manner. Re-takes are not
allowed.
Duration
Maximum 20 minutes
Entry Fees
$250
Category 2 - Ages 12 to 14 (i.e. born between and inclusive of January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008)
Repertoire requirements
- Participants must present 3 contrasting selections.
- Repertoire must include the first movement of a Sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Clementi or Schubert.
- No concerti or transcriptions are allowed.
- Participants are required to perform the exact same repertoire for further stages of the
competition. - Auditions will be conducted in a continuous, live-recording manner. Re-takes are not
allowed.
Duration
Maximum 20 minutes
Entry Fees
$250
Category 3 - Ages 15 to 17 (i.e. born between and inclusive of January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2005)
Repertoire requirements
- Participants must present 3 contrasting selections.
- Repertoire must include the first movement of a Sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Clementi or Schubert.
- No concerti or transcriptions are allowed.
- Participants are required to perform the exact same repertoire for further stages of the
competition. - Auditions will be conducted in a continuous, live-recording manner. Re-takes are not
allowed.
Duration
Maximum 20 minutes
Entry Fees
$250
Amateur Class
Please inform us your repertoire of choice to be performed at the Finals, via email when you are notified for the Finals on 6 June 2020.
Category 1 - Ages 6 and below (i.e. born on or after January 1, 2014)
Repertoire requirements
- Participant’s own choice of 2 works of contrasting style
- Participants are required to perform the exact same repertoire for further stages of the
competition.
Duration
Maximum 5 minutes
Repertoire requirements – Grand Final
Participant’s own choice of 1 work from previous choice of works
Duration
Maximum 3 minutes
Entry Fees
$250
Category 2 - Ages 7 to 10 (i.e. born between and inclusive of January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2013)
Repertoire requirements
- Participant’s own choice of 2 works of contrasting styles
- Participants are required to perform the exact same repertoire for further stages of the
competition.
Duration
Maximum 8 minutes
Repertoire requirements – Grand Final
Participant’s own choice of 1 work from previous choice of works
Duration
Maximum 4 minutes
Entry Fees
$250
Category 3 - Ages 11 to 14 (i.e. born between and inclusive of January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2009)
Repertoire requirements
- Participant’s own choice of a minimum of 2 works of contrasting style.
- Participants are required to perform the exact same repertoire for further stages of the
competition.
Duration
Maximum 12 minutes
Repertoire requirements – Grand Final
Participant’s own choice of 1 work from previous choice of works
Duration
Maximum 5 minutes
Entry Fees
$250
Category 4 - Ages 15 to 17 (i.e. born between and inclusive of January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2005)
Repertoire requirements
- Participant’s own choice of a minimum of 2 works of contrasting style.
- Participants are required to perform the exact same repertoire for further stages of the
competition.
Duration
Maximum 15 minutes
Repertoire requirements – Grand Final
Participant’s own choice of 1 work from previous choice of works
Duration
Maximum 5 minutes
Entry Fees
$250
* All pertinent program details (Composer, Work, Key, Op., No., Hob., K.designations) for
each movement of the work intended for performance must be listed
Prizes for the National Competition
Professional Class
Category 1 - Ages 11 and below (i.e. born on or after January 1, 2009)
First Prize
$400 Cash Prize, Trophy & Certificate of Recognition
Second Prize
Trophy & Certificate of Recognition
Third Prize
Trophy & Certificate of Recognition
Category 2 - Ages 12 to 14 (i.e. born between and inclusive of January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008)
First Prize
$600 Cash Prize, Trophy & Certificate of Recognition
Second Prize
Trophy & Certificate of Recognition
Third Prize
Trophy & Certificate of Recognition
Category 3 - Ages 15 to 17 (i.e. born between and inclusive of January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2005)
First Prize
$800 Cash Prize, Trophy & Certificate of Recognition
Second Prize
Trophy & Certificate of Recognition
Third Prize
Trophy & Certificate of Recognition
Amateur Class
Category 1 - Ages 6 and below (i.e. born on or after January 1, 2014)
First Prize
The First prize winner will have the opportunity to participate as an observer in the International Steinway Festival 2020.
Second Prize
$200 Cash Prize & Certificate of Recognition
Third Prize
$100 Cash Prize & Certificate of Recognition
Category 2 - Ages 7 to 10 (i.e. born between and inclusive of January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2013)
First Prize
The First prize winner will have the opportunity to participate as an observer in the International Steinway Festival 2020.
Second Prize
$200 Cash Prize & Certificate of Recognition
Third Prize
$100 Cash Prize & Certificate of Recognition
Category 3 - Ages 11 to 14 (i.e. born between and inclusive of January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2009)
First Prize
The First prize winner will have the opportunity to participate as an observer in the International Steinway Festival 2020.
Second Prize
$200 Cash Prize & Certificate of Recognition
Third Prize
$100 Cash Prize & Certificate of Recognition
Category 4 - Ages 15 to 17 (i.e. born between and inclusive of January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2005)
First Prize
The First prize winner from each category will have the opportunity to participate as an observer in the International Steinway Festival 2020.
Second Prize
$200 Cash Prize & Certificate of Recognition
Third Prize
$100 Cash Prize & Certificate of Recognition
adjudicators
Grand Finals
Dr John Sharpley
Dr John Sharpley
JOHN SHARPLEY, composer, pianist and lecturer earned a Doctorate in Music Composition from Boston University; a Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of Houston; and, music diplomas from the National Conservatory of Music in Strasbourg, France. Formerly Assistant Professor of Music at Boston University co-directing a pioneering music program in Singapore, he is often featured as both composer and pianist in concerts and festivals world-wide: recently including; Kyoto City University of the Arts, Illinois Wesleyan University, the Texas Music Teacher’s Association Convention, Across Oceans International Festival (Toronto), the Hong Kong Asian Arts Festival, multiple Asian Composers League Festivals and Our Music Foundation Nepal (Kathmandu). Honors include the Texas Music Teacher’s Association Composition Prize, an American Cine-Eagle Award and a New York Film Festival Award and a composer-in-residency for the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Sharpley currently lectures at LaSalle College of the Arts (Singapore)
Dr Lee Pei Ming
Dr Lee Pei Ming
Founder of Staccato! with a Doctorate degree in Piano Pedagogy and Performance
Dr Lee Pei Ming was previously an Assistant Professor in Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at National University of Singapore. Lee graduated with a Doctorate in Musical Arts (DMA) in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2005 and achieved her Licentiate and Fellowship (F.T.C.L.) from Trinity College in London with honors prior to her degrees. Lee’s research paper on “Infant Musicality in the New Generation” was published in INTED conference in Spain, and she has presented her papers at the prestigious World Piano Pedagogy Conference at Texas, USA and in Malaysia.
Lee is also the founder of the music program Staccato! Music, which specializes in early childhood music and movement program. Due to the success of the program, Staccato! Music was awarded Promising SME 500 in 2013. Lee has conducted several pedagogy workshops and lecture recitals held in Singapore for the People’s Association, The Arts House, Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) and Ministry of Education (MOE) schools over the years. Lee also founded the Pedagogy Series in 2015 to help raise funds for the financially-challenged students and the less-privileged in collaboration with RICE Holdings. Symphony Music in Brunei franchised her early childhood program in 2016, and in 2018, a new school named Prodigy Music was started in Shanghai, using the early childhood curriculum that Lee has created.
In recent years, Lee has several students who had achieved distinction in their ABRSM or Trinity diploma piano examinations. One of her students, Ong Weng Yee, is currently in Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester to pursue a music education, after achieving her grade 8 with distinction when she was 8 years old.
**Dr Lee will only be judging for amateur class.
Professor Bernard Tan
Professor Bernard Tan
Composer and Member of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra Council
Bernard Tan is currently Emeritus Professor of Physics at NUS. He is a member of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra Council and was Chairman of the Musicians’ Guild, the Singapore Youth Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Music Makers and the Singapore Arts Festival Steering Committee and served on the boards of the Singapore Symphonia Company and the Esplanade. His Guitar Concerto was premiered in 2013 by the SSO with Kevin Loh and his ‘Cello Concerto was premiered in 2016 by the Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra with Noella Yan.
Mr Frank DeMeglio
Mr Frank DeMeglio
Classical Music Teacher, Lecturer and Writer
Frank DeMeglio is a classical music teacher, lecturer and writer. He has taught at both the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (Keyboard Literature) and LASALLE College of the Arts (Coordinator of the Classical Music Specialism) since 2003.
Of particular interest to Frank is the efficient technical approach to the keyboard that aligns with sound biomechanical principles, especially with respect to injury prevention and cure.
He studied piano at the University of Michigan and earned a Bachelor’s degree in performance. After graduating, he taught with Randy and Nancy Faber, authors of the best-selling Piano Adventures library of piano books. He returned to the University of Michigan for an MBA in marketing in 1992, and was hired by Steinway & Sons as their New York Institutional Sales Representative. While working for Steinway & Sons, part of his duties included managing the famed Steinway Selection Room of concert and studio grand pianos.
In 2000, Frank moved to Singapore where he wrote classical music reviews for The Business Times from 2001 to 2004. He continues to guest review (including for the 2007 Singapore International Piano Festival) and his interviews of international pedagogues and performers appear in print and on the web.
Frank’s performing career included recitals in Spain and Japan, where he recorded a special-release CD in honour of the 15th anniversary of the UNESCO chapter of Narita City, Japan.
Heats
Dr Khoo Hui Ling
Dr Khoo Hui Ling
Dr. Khoo Hui Ling, Academic Faculty (Contextual Studies), Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
For Dr. Khoo Hui Ling, playing the piano is a vulnerable and precious expression of what is in the heart. Sought
after as both a performer and teacher, she has inspired audiences and students alike.
Currently academic faculty at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST), she is also founder and
pedagogy consultant of The Music Studios where she coaches young pianists and piano teachers. A curious
soul, her artistic interests are diverse. Apart from performing solo recitals in the United States, Europe and
Singapore, she has also produced provocative cross-disciplinary collaborations and multimedia performances.
Hui Ling graduated with a Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Oregon under the tutelage of Dean
Kramer. She previously studied at the Peabody Conservatory of Music with Brian Ganz, and the Yong Siew Toh
Conservatory of music with Thomas Hecht. Now based in Singapore, she continues to develop her interests in
performance, teaching, and in innovative collaborations with other artistic fields.
Dr Nellie Seng
Dr Nellie Seng
Head of Keyboard Studies at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Dr. Nellie Seng is currently the Head of Keyboard Studies at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). Her formal music education began here in Singapore with Ms Lena Ching. With the support of the National Arts Council, she furthered her studies with Murray McLachlan at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, UK. After being awarded the Shell-NAC Scholarship, Dr. Seng went on to pursue her Bachelors and Masters’ degrees at The Juilliard School, New York City, under Oxana Yablonskaya and Jerome Lowenthal. She was later granted her Doctor of Musical Arts degree by The Graduate Center, City University of New York, where she studied with Thomas Sauer.
As a pedagogue, she strongly believes in nurturing a sense of historical awareness alongside a strong technical foundation in order for students to excel in their musical endeavours.
Dr. Seng is also a committee member and faculty member for the annual Nanyang International Piano Academy.
Mr Lionel Choi
Mr Lionel Choi
Director and Founder, Altenburg Arts
Lionel Choi is the founder of Altenburg Arts, a new independent presenter of classical music productions, built on Choi’s experience as Artistic Director of the Singapore International Piano Festival from 2010 to 2018, when he presented and formed meaningful friendships with many internationally celebrated artists, including Martha Argerich, Yuja Wang, Dang Thai Son, Seong Jin Cho, Nelson Freire and Stephen Kovacevich. Since 2011, Choi also sits on the Board of Directors of the Singapore Symphony Group.
For a decade since 1997, Choi was resident classical music reviewer with The Straits Times. Online, Choi has been described as an “early Internet Prokofiev pioneer”, having contributed many writings to the now defunct Prokofiev.org, an online database supported by the Prokofiev family and the Serge Prokofiev Archive at Goldsmiths College, London.
Choi was invited to be on the judging panel at the Shanghai International Piano Competition for Young Artists in 2019.
Ms Dorothy Chia
Ms Dorothy Chia
Founder of Forte Music Training, and Piano Pedagogy Expert
Dorothy Chia, author of Piano Pedagogy and Theory Explorer, is an active Piano Pedagogue in Singapore and Malaysia. Dorothy holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She is the first Singaporean to win the DH Baldwin Fellowship in 1992, a prestigious award given to outstanding new piano teachers in the USA. Dorothy owns and runs Forte Music Training, which organizes workshops and trainings to Music Teachers. Dorothy also has her own Youtube Channel "dorothychiapiano", where she puts out weekly vlogs on various topics pertinent to piano teaching. Dorothy is one of the organists serving at the Church of St. Peter and Paul.
Ms Lynn Tan
Ms Lynn Tan
Lynn Tan Piano Studio
Lynn Tan has over 20 years of experience as a music educator. She is a Licentiate (Distinction) of Trinity College London, and holds a Honours in Pianoforte from Guildhall, and a Diploma in Piano Performance (High Distinction), ABRSM. She graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), and was previously a government policy maker and diplomat.
Lynn’s interest’s are piano pedagogy, piano performance and childhood music programs, and her passion is to develop new teaching methods to apply at her studio, Lynn Tan Piano Studio, and share her knowledge. She authored the books “Starting Your Musical Journey”, “Parents’ Voices” and “Singapore Songs: Easy Piano Arrangements for Beginners”. She has also contributed many articles on music and piano learning for publications such as Singapore’s Child, Young Parents, Asian Parents, etc.
Mediacorp 95.8FM Capital Radio has interviewed Lynn on the subject of piano learning. She also produced a short video, ”Our Piano Stories”, which captures the candid sharing of parents and students. Her website can be found at http://lynntanpianostudio.com
Ms Zhou Yun
Ms Zhou Yun
Concert pianist Alumna of Royal College of Music WPTA China General Secretary
Yun graduated from the Royal College of Music in the UK with a Master in Music Performance 1st Class (Hons) . She was awarded the RCM scholarship during her study.
She performs actively in Singapore, Japan, UK, Spain, Italy and many other European countries, participating in both commercial as well as charity concerts.
Yun`s particular oriental elegance and exquisite performance obtain immense success and brilliant comment. Her impressive performance attracts European and Chinese medias. Chinaminutes reviewed Yun`s performance as “her performance sounds like a fairy, the clear, smooth sound flows from her fingertips fulfilled with dynamic and imagination.
Yun was invited to attend as adjudicate and master class lecturer at various music festivals and competitions in Singapore, USA, Japan, Europe and China. In 2019, she has been invited as adjudicate for the Pianohouse international competition final at Carnegie Hall in New York as well as Zhongsin International Music Competition.
Ms Jo Tee
Ms Jo Tee
Owner of Jo Tee Piano Studio, Co-founder of Amadeus Music Academy Pte Ltd
Ms Jo Tee is an experienced music educator. She currently oversees Jo Tee Piano Studio and co-founded Amadeus Music Academy. Combining the entrepreneurial and creative sides of her personality, Ms Tee conceptualised her teaching ideas and published the creative and interactive EasyScales visual guides that has been sold globally.
Ms Tee has dedicated her career to music education and has taught music at every level from pre-school through diplomas. She has formerly coached in primary and secondary schools, including planning and implementation of the music curriculum. She has worked with schools such as Anglo Chinese School Junior, Xinghua primary school, Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School, Woodlands Primary School and Orchid Park Secondary School.
Presently, Ms Tee devotes her time in nurturing the young generation of music learners. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she also mentors new teachers at Amadeus Music Academy to enhance their teaching skills. Many of her students have performed in various venues and masterclasses. They have also won prizes in piano competitions, above and beyond attaining outstanding music examination results and others have advanced their musical training in gifted young musician programmes. Please find more details at: https://www.amadeusma.com/
Audition
Mr Ricky Tsang
Mr Ricky Tsang
Artistic director of Hong Kong International Music Competition for Young Pianists
A Hong Kong versatile Pianist, Pedagogue and Entrepreneur, Ricky Tsang. Ricky had received his professional music training at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and later at Shanghai Conservatory of Music. His main piano teachers include Li Ming Qiang, Franz Mo Cheung Yu, Gabriel Kwok, Zhou Keng and Angela Cholakian.
He has toured Australia with engagements from Qantas Airways and Jayday Music, New Year Concert in China Xinjiang to perform "Yellow River" Piano Concerto and Chiangmai Ginastera International Music Competition, Thailand. He has been awarded “Teaching Excellence Award” from Pearl River Cup National Piano Competition in China, Guangzhou and twice nominated “Music Teaching Excellence” from China Shenzhen Piano Duo National Piano Competition and adjudicated in Chiangmai Ginastera International Music Competition, Thailand and China HAILUN Piano Competition, China ASEAN Piano Competition and others.
Nevertheless, Ricky is the Artistic Director of Hong Kong International Music Competition for Young Pianists, Artistic Director of The Amigos Music Society of Hong Kong, a committee member of Shanghai Conservatory of Music – Shanghai International Piano Festival & Master Class and presented a lecture about piano competition – Behind the Scene at Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Summer Piano Festival as a lecturer.
Entry Deadline
Professional Class – Registration Closed
Amateur Class – Registration Closed
Rules and Regulations
- The Professional class is only opened to all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents aged 17 and below.
- The new Amateur class is opened to all nationalities.
- Applicants for the Amateur category may not perform, teach, or compose music for primary professional pursuit or financial benefit.
- Previous winners of Steinway Youth Piano Competition are not eligible to participate in the same age category in previous participation.
- The registration fee of $250 SGD is payable upon application and is non-refundable.
- Please visit (www.steinway-gallery.com.sg/5th-sypc) to submit your online application.
- All decisions of the Jury are final.