This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation presents not one but two competitions this month, one for musicians ages 11-14 and the other for those ages 15-18. The nearly 50 contestants chosen from about 300 applicants who auditioned in Salt Lake City and 11 other cities in Europe and Asia come from a dozen countries; four of them live in or near Utah and study with Utah teachers. At stake are medals and cash awards (including $10,000 for the top finisher in the Junior competition and $15,000 for the Young Artists winner).
The local contestants are Joseph Buck, 17, of Spanish Fork, a student of Irene Peery-Fox; Richard Sheng, 12, of Pocatello, Idaho, who studies with Gary Amano of Logan; Junhao "Austin" Wang, 15, of Sandy, who studies with Jie Lu and Ning Lu; and John Zhao, 14, of Midvale, a student of Ning Lu.
Though they're competing in different age divisions, John said there's a bit of "sibling pressure" knowing that another student in his teacher's studio is vying in the Bachauer as well. "You've gotta live up to that," he said.
"But it's more friendly, nothing antagonistic," Junhao added.
John is a longtime audience member at the Bachauer, so he's especially excited to be getting his shot on the Jeanné Wagner stage. "The Bachauer is basically the peak of junior piano competitions," he said. An incoming freshman at Hillcrest High next fall, he also plays violin and hockey, but "piano is my main passion."
Joseph auditioned for the Bachauer Junior Piano Competition four years ago but wasn't accepted, so he's "super excited to make it this year." A former soccer player, he now runs track and cross-country for Spanish Fork High.
Junhao, who just finished his freshman year at Hillcrest, also played soccer when he was younger, but he finds piano and math more interesting now. "I'm really proud to represent my home state," he said.
Richard was born in Canada, so he's representing that country in the competition; he and his family have lived in Idaho since he was 3, and he has been making the weekly trek to Logan for lessons with Amano for six years. Math and geography are among his favorite subjects at Grace Lutheran School in Pocatello.
Ruby Chou, the Bachauer Foundation's public-relations coordinator, is herself a former Bachauer Young Artists hopeful. "I was in their spot 11 years ago," said Chou, who grew up in Sandy and is working on her Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin. "I'm realizing I probably did not work half as hard as these kids. … Their performances are not childlike by any means."
Young, scrappy and hungry
The Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation presents two competitions this month: the Junior Piano Competition, for musicians ages 11-14, and the Young Artists Piano Competition, for those ages 15-18.
Where • All events are at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City, except as noted.
Tickets and information • Daily passes, $20 ($15 for seniors, $8 for students); competition passes, $75 ($60 for seniors, $30 for students); Young Artists final round with the Utah Symphony, $35 ($25 for seniors, $15 for students); bachauer.com
Junior
Opening gala • Monday, June 13, 6 p.m.; meet competitors, jury members and host families; open to the public
Round 1 • Each contestant will play a 25- to 30-minute solo recital; Tuesday and Wednesday, June 14-15, 1-5 and 7-9:30 p.m. (audience seating every half-hour)
Round 2 • Each contestant will play a second 25- to 30-minute solo recital; Thursday and Friday, June 16-17, 1-5 and 7-9:30 p.m.
Final round • Five finalists will each perform a concerto movement with second-piano accompaniment by Alexandra Nguyen; Saturday, June 18, 7 p.m.
Young Artists
Opening gala • Tuesday, June 21, 6 p.m.
Round 1 • Wednesday and Thursday, June 22-23, 1-5 and 7-9:30 p.m.
Round 2 • Friday and Saturday, June 24-25, 1-5 and 7-9:30 p.m.
Final round • Five finalists will each perform a concerto movement with the Utah Symphony in Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City; Tuesday, June 28, 7 p.m. The contenders
Contestants in this month's Gina Bachauer International Piano Competitions:
Junior (11-14)
Elijah Abraham, 14, Australia
William Chen, 13, USA
Raymond Feng, 14, USA
Felicia He, 13, USA
Uladzislau Khandohi, 14, Belarus
Dong Young Kim, 14, Korea
Min Sun Kim, 14, South Korea
Andrey Kurbet, 13, Armenia
Geonhee Lee, 14, South Korea
Nathan Lee, 14, USA
Shaun Hern Lee, 13, Australia
Lucia Li, 14, Australia
Tianju Liao, 13, China
Leonid Nediak, 13, Canada
Caitlan Rinaldy, 13, Australia
Richard Sheng, 12, Canada
Ryan Sheng, 12, USA
Yide Shi, 13, China
Miyu Shindo, 14, Japan
Talon Smith, 14, USA
Akito Tani, 12, Japan
Sarah Tuan, 13, USA
Chun Lam U, 13, Hong Kong
John Zhao, 14, USA
Jingfan Zhu, 14, China
Young Artists (15-18)
Giovanni Bertolazzi, 18, Italy
Anna Boonyanit, 17, USA
Joseph Buck, 17, USA
Eden Chen, 17, USA
Xuehong Chen, 16, China
Matthew Eng, 18, USA
Fujita Mao, 17, Japan
Xinhao Gu, 18, China
Wenfan Hang, 16, China
George Harliono, 15, UK
Nina Yifang Hu, 15, USA
Adrian Liao, 17, USA
Xingyu Lu, 17, China
Arsenii Mun, 17, Russia
Tristan Paradee, 15, USA
Chaeyoung Park, 18, Korea
Jae Hong Park, 15, Korea
Jing Tang, 16, China
Chanel Wang, 16, USA
Junhao Wang, 15, USA
Quanlin Wang, 16, China
Elliot Wuu, 16, USA
Andrew Zhao, 15, USA
Kaiwen Zhao, 15, China