Suzhou symphony hosts piano competition

The second Suzhou Jinji Lake International Piano Competition will be held at Suzhou Jinji Lake Concert Hall, home of the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra, from Nov 27 to Dec 6, according to an announcement from the orchestra on April 15.

In 2017, the orchestra launched its first Suzhou Jinji Lake International Piano Competition, which attracted 44 competitors from 13 countries, including China, the United States, France and Russia.

Pianist Yeon Min Park from South Korea won the first competition and performed with the Suzhou symphony in 2018 in Suzhou, southern Jiangsu province. Chinese pianist Han Jiahao, who won third place at the first competition, is pursuing his studies at Juilliard School in New York.

The second Suzhou Jinji Lake International Piano Competition is open to young pianists from 16 to 28, with a top prize of $25,000. The top three winners will also have the chance to perform and tour with the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra.

As this year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827), Beethoven piano sonatas are listed as the repertories for competitors during the first round.

The Suzhou Symphony Orchestra, which was founded in 2016, is an orchestra of more than 70 musicians from about 20 countries and regions, including China, Japan, South Korea and the United States, with 30 being the average age of musicians.